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Tuesday, January 22, 2008

MLB: Mattingly steps down as hitting coach

Boy...that gang of Yankees that followed Torre out west is really dwindling.

Don Mattingly, named by the Dodgers as hitting coach two months ago and the presumed eventual replacement for new manager Joe Torre, stepped aside on Tuesday for family reasons and was replaced by Triple-A hitting coach Mike Easler.

Mattingly will remain in the organization as a special assignment coach, but requested the change so he could spend more time at home in Evansville, Ind. He also requested that further details of his situation not be released. Mattingly took the Dodgers job after losing out to Joe Girardi for the Yankees’ manager job that Torre formerly held.

“I’m very grateful that the Dodgers have allowed me to take care of these family matters and I hope that everyone can respect our privacy during this time,” Mattingly said in a released statement. “I truly appreciate the support of all Dodger fans since joining the organization and I look forward to helping the team win in 2008 and beyond.”

Repoz Posted: January 22, 2008 at 08:49 PM | 8 comment(s)
Related News: General, LA Dodgers

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1. pthomas Posted: January 22, 2008 at 10:41 PM (#2674377)

Farking kids wouldn't listen to him, either.

2. AJMacaroni Posted: January 22, 2008 at 11:39 PM (#2674397)

He should've just shaved those sideburns.

3. TVerik, the world�s No. 1 hydrogen dirigible Posted: January 22, 2008 at 11:52 PM (#2674407)

It's been a bad winter for Don Mattingly. He was bench coach and heir apparent for one of the most successful franchises in sports (I wouldn't go as far as to say it's the best job - it's not) and then he took a job as a hitting coach (a step down from bench coach) for an also-ran franchise.

If he was Yankee manager today, d'ya think the "family issues" would take hold?

4. Dan Posted: January 23, 2008 at 12:53 AM (#2674433)

If he was Yankee manager today, d'ya think the "family issues" would take hold?

Perhaps not, but it's certainly possible that they would have negatively impacted his job performance, resulting in him being replaced anyway. So he might be lucky that he didn't get the Yankees job and fail due to this, in a roundabout way (at least as far as his managerial career).

5. Fred C. Dobbs Posted: January 23, 2008 at 01:13 AM (#2674441)

Seriously though, those kids aren't just going to beat themselves.

6. Justin T Posted: January 23, 2008 at 01:20 AM (#2674444)

I blame Plaschke.

7. Toolsy McClutch Posted: January 23, 2008 at 10:54 AM (#2674608)

Also ran? Really? I'd say the Dodgers coaching position would be one of the, say, 5 most prestigious jobs in baseball (coaching division). With their history and budget and such.

8. scareduck Posted: January 23, 2008 at 05:54 PM (#2674933)

The Dodgers aren't quite also-rans, but they can sure give off that aroma sometimes. Frank McCourt is a firin' machine; the only stable positions in the Dodger front office has been Logan White's tenure as scouting-something-or-other (he was recently given a title change to Vice President and General Manager so he can't be called on for any job save no-modifiers GM) and Kim Ng (full-fledged AGM). I'm not going to support Jim Tracy (who was inherited), but there's a compelling case that both Paul DePodesta and Dan Evans got the shaft for no compelling reason other than PR and the McCourts' timorousness when faced with public criticism. To the extent that Ned Colletti knows how to keep nitwits like Bill Plaschke soothed and well-fed, he's successful so far as Frank is concerned.

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Tuesday, January 22, 2008

MLB: Mattingly steps down as hitting coach

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