MLB Los Angeles Dodgers

Don Mattingly Should Be Retained As Los Angeles Dodgers’ Manager

Fresh Videos

By

Don Mattingly

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

All of the talk about Don Mattingly being replaced as manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers is absolutely absurd. In the time he’s been there, the team has completely turned things around and doesn’t seem headed downhill anytime soon. Sure, their ascent also coincides with Clayton Kershaw becoming the best pitcher in MLB, but it’s more than that.

Mattingly will be questioned for starting Andre Ethier instead of Yasiel Puig in Game 4 of the NLDS against the St. Louis Cardinals and rightfully so, but that shouldn’t cost him his job. This is a team full of veterans that has been successful over the past two seasons. Those veterans aren’t going to want a coaching change while their championship window is still wide open.

More to blame for the Dodgers’ postseason woes is Kershaw. He had one of the best seasons for a pitcher in baseball history this season, but he collapsed in the postseason. That’s been the story for Kershaw’s entire October career, and he needs to turn that around if the Dodgers hope to win a World Series anytime soon. However, once again, that shouldn’t be pinned on Mattingly.

Let’s take a look at Mattingly’s work with the Dodgers compared to other managers before him in the 2000s. It’s clear that he’s doing a great job with this team.

Before Mattingly arrived (2000-10): 942-840 (.529) with four playoff appearances.

After Mattingly arrived (2011-14): 354-293 (.547) with two playoff appearances.

Teams coached by Mattingly have made the playoffs 14 percent more of the time than previous Dodgers teams of the 2000s. More importantly, the Dodgers have established consistency in the regular season. Before Mattingly arrived, it seemed like L.A. was only good every other year.

This team is going to get to the playoffs routinely with Mattingly at the helm. The question is whether they can get it done in the playoffs. So far their failure in the playoffs is more due to the struggles of Kershaw than the decision making of Mattingly.

Share Tweet
Trending Now on