What do you think? The right move? Do you like the thought that Don Mattingly is next in line to be manager, maybe even by 2008? (Of course Joe Girardi could have something to say about that, being that he likely will be a YES broadcaster next season.)
Manager Mattingly. It's got a ring to it. I remember him telling me way back in spring training -- feels like ages ago -- that he has always thought about managing, even as far back as his playing days. He always watched his managers, taking note of how they handled situations. Hopefully he rid his mind of memories of Stump Merrill, or Bucky Dent.
Comments (21)
If Donnie is manager in '08 and we win it all, it would be awesome...it couldn't happen to a nicer guy. I think I would probably cry like a baby for him.
HE definitely deserves a ring.
I've said it before and I'll say it again. Donnie would make a great manager, but I will be very sad when the day comes, and it will, that he is fired. All managers get fired, it's just a part of the job, but to see Donnie get fired would be an extremely sad day. I think he would react like Yogi did, he'd pack up and leave town and not have anything to do with the Yanks, and that would be the worst thing. I'd like to see Chili Davis or Chris Chambliss as the hitting coach.
I would not make Mattingly mgr. of the Yanks till he had some legitimate managing experience. He should manage in the minors, and learn first- hand, how to handle the demands of the job. A great player does not automatically make a great mgr. Managing in NY requires experience, and being a "bench coach" is not that experience.
LET MATTINGLY MANAGE THE YANKEES BUT THE PROMBLEM IS NOT THE MANAGER IT'S THE OWNER
Great Players (see Mattingly) usually don't make good managers. In fact, they usually make lousy managers (see Ted Williams). And, they ALWAYS get fired, usually on bad terms (see Yogi). I love Mattingly the player and forever the Yankee, but let's not do the manager bit.
But Steinbrenner won't be around when Donnie's time is up as manager so somehow I don't think it will be as bad when that fateful day comes.
Plus the players won't turn on him like they did Trammell and he isn't an a-hole like Ted Williams was so I think it's a little different for Donnie.
The players respect the hell out of him and that will go a long way.
It’s foolish for anyone to dismiss someone for a managerial position because of whether they were great players on the field and because of past history of these kinds of players not working out for other teams.
There are several examples of players who were very good or great players on the field and have had good managerial careers as well:
Frank Robinson
Joe Torre
Lou Piniella
Mike Scoscia
There are major differences between the situations of great players like Ted Williams and Alan Trammell as managers in comparison to the potential circumstances in 2008 with Don Mattingly.
First of all, the Washington Senators were historically TERRIBLE teams, as evidenced by the teams moving to Texas [Rangers] and Minnesota [Twins] two different times and by different owners.
Williams inherited a Senators team in 1969 which had never finished above .500 in the eight seasons prior to him taking the job. He managed the team for 4 seasons and he did accomplish something that the team hadn’t done in the eight consecutive years prior to his reign; his team finished above .500 (86-76) during his first season as manager. Unfortunately, that was the only time his team finished with a winning record.
There were similar circumstances surrounding the hiring of fan favorite Alan Trammell to manage the Tigers in 2003. He inherited a really bad team that hadn’t finished with a winning record in nine seasons (since 1993) and had the worst record in the AL in 2002, the year prior to his hiring. Naturally, when you have a bad team, you’re not going to produce very good results.
The potential hiring of Don Mattingly as skipper of the Yankees in 2008 will be FAR different than Trammell and Williams with their respective clubs.
Unlike Washington and Detroit, Mattingly will inherit and very good Yankees team that will likely finish the season in 2007 with another winning record for the 15th consecutive season and perhaps another playoff appearance for the 12th consecutive season (w/ perhaps 10 consecutive division titles to boot).
Not only that, but Mattingly is being groomed for this position over a handful of years and is not exactly being tossed to the lions with no experience in the dugout and not having any idea how to manage this ballclub.
Isn’t there a WORLD of difference here?
It is completely foolish to dismiss Mattingly for the position because he was a great player and those kinds of players always haven’t had great success as managers in the past.
I would bet the ranch that none of those aforementioned great players inherited a very good or great team like Mattingly will probably take over, so they hardly set a precedent in regards to the winning tradition and star power of the New York Yankees over the past decade.
The Yankees have so much talent and resources that only a big "over-manager" could screw it up. I think Mattingly would do fine should he get the job in 2008, I just hope he gets a fair shot. I don't think lack of experience matters- check out Willie Randolph. Besides, how does a couple of years managing the Columbus Clippers prepare you for dealing with ARod, Big Unit, Pavano, etc.? Also, with a managerial change in San Francisco, I wonder if Righetti might return as pitching coach to help out Donnie Baseball(or maybe sooner if Guidry falls out of favor).
Anaconda made some good points on how Mattingly would differ from other "Great player" managers who failed such as Ted Williams. Another reason he is different is that Donnie was not a great prospect as a young player. He was a very low draft pick and had to work hard to be a great hitter and great defensive first baseman. I remember going to a game in 1983 in which Donnie played rightfield because the yankees had many first basemen. He then was sent back to Columbus until the yankees could convince Bobby Murcer to retire. So I think Donnie knows the struggles of young players trying to fit in on the Yankees, and he also knows what it is like to be a superstar in NY. He's a great Yankee, and will be a very good manager.
Don't forget that Donnie was made Captain of the Yankees for a good reason. He knows how to lead a club and command the respect of the players. Any true Yankee would be fired up to play for Don Mattingly.
I don't remember anything about talking Murcer into retiring so Mattingly could play. What I do remember was King George going out and signing the "premier" free agent Steve Kemp to be the LF over the winter.
But then, low and behold, on opening day there was a rookie named Don Mattingly in the lineup and playing LF.
I'm sure the Boss wasn't pleased, but obviously the manager must have seen something that others didn't. Gee, who was that crazy manager....well it was none other than #1 Billy Martin (another so so player who became a GREAT manager).
I still contend that catchers and so so players with big hearts make the best managers. That's why Scoscia and Torre made your list (ex-catchers). And, look at what catcher Girardi did in Florida. It's catchers and guys like David Eckstein and Billy Martin.
Not saying Mattingly can't manage, just saying he is not the BEST choice!
cs06:
If you are such a big fan of ex-Yankee stars like Mattingly becoming manager, then why do you want to throw Guidry under the bus? What has Righetti done that Guidry hasn't? Just curious.
If any of you owned a company worth 1 billion dollars, would you let someone with no managing experience what-so-ever, manage that company? Not me. This is not a "knock" against Mattingly, just good common sense.
this reminds me a little of when the yankees named yogi berra manager in 1964. at least donnie's been retired for awhile. yogi went from player to manager and didn't get a lot of cooperation from his former teammates.
Managers are hired for various reasons. Short term hires with a dynamic personalities come and go. For some it's political. In the case of Don Mattingly, he's for the right reason. He's long been a student of the game both as a player and now as a coach. Just watching him behind the batting cage over the past few years speaks volumes about the man. Strict concentration to approaches of hitters. He's the same in the dugout. Nothing passes him by. A good choice as the next manager. He'll have the respect of his players and coaches.
Yes, Steve Kemp was a huge mistake, and there was alot of dead wood on that team. So many guaranteed contracts that Mattingly was riding the "columbus shuttle." As far as Murcer, he has told the story on air many times- Steinberenner called him in and asked him to retire and move up to the broadcast booth- the reason was that they wanted to promote Mattingly to be a regular player and they had no other roster spots. After Murcer retired, Mattingly was called up and he stayed for good.
Anyway- on to the point in discussion- you don't think Mattingly would be the best choice- who do you think would be? As far as "non-star" players doing better, I think some have succeeded (Girardi,LaRussa) and some have failed (Dent, Jeff Torborg, Bud Harrelson to name a few). I think it comes down to the individual, and most importantly to how good the team is.
Mattingly will make a very good manager combined with his knowledge of hitting and his outstanding defense in the field his over all outlook on the game will be very good.Also his work ethic and preperation has been praised through out the orginzation as one of the best.
Girardi might be the more logical choice because of his proven experience, but Mattingly could have the edge in dealing with Steinbrenner because of his past. Steinbrenner would be less apt to fire Donnie if there are a few missteps, because he would not want to anger the fans. That could make for a more comfortable clubhouse for the players. Also Girardi could always come in a few years from now if Mattingly did not work out, but if Girardi is given the job now, you might lose Mattingly from the Yankees for a long time.
If they don't pick Mattingly they are nuts. He knows the game, he's respected and he's a smart guy. I say give it to him, any other choice will just piss me off
I think Mattingly will be the best fit in NY. He has the players respect, the fans respect (What Yankee fan didn't like Donnie Baseball in the 80s and early 90s). He is a classy guy with alot of knowledge of the game. If he doesn't manage the Yanx in `08, I hate to know where Posada, Rivera and perhaps A-Rod may end up. I think the true Yankee fans want the best of both worlds: 1) Having a classy, humble, Yankee man himself managing while keeping the ones who help make the Yankees who they are in the Postseason. Win-Win situation for us! Why not?!! GO MATTINGLY and GO YANKEES!