No Clear Motive For Don Mattingly’s Separation From Dodgers

The Los Angeles Dodgers announced on Thursday that Don Mattingly, who had served as their manager for five years, will be stepping down as part of a mutual agreement between him and the team. The reason behind this separation remains unclear. Both Mattingly and two of the team’s top executives, President of baseball operations Andrew Friedman and General Manager Farhan Zaidi, revealed very few details about this sudden new occurrence.

The media has interpreted the team’s executives’ refusal to answer overly direct questions in press conferences as plain arrogance, a type of behavior and image that the team has displayed since became Stan Kasten president three years ago. Those who spoke refused to brand Mattingly’s departure as a termination or as a resignation. The Dodgers did announce, however, that they would like their next manager to begin working by baseball’s annual winter meetings in December. Mattingly’s severing of ties with the Dodgers is significant and surprising, since he was the first manager in franchise history to lead the team to three straight playoff appearances, and held a regular-season record of 446-363.

Of course, the Dodgers’ season ended Oct. 15 in Game 5 of the National League Division Series against the Mets. Furthermore, Friedman had previously stated that the Dodgers were prepared to keep Mattingly for more than one additional season, despite next season being the last year of his contract. Mattingly has also stated that he most certainly wishes to continue his career as a manager. The Dodgers are also willing to pay him a full salary for next season, despite his forthcoming absence.

After clarifying that the decision did not result from heated arguments between players and personnel or any other similar reason, Mattingly simply stated:”It was definitely a mutual decision,” he said. “I think as we kind of talked through the weekend and all different things, it just became, for me, clearer, for all of us, clearer, that this was the right time, best for me and best for the club.”

Will the Los Angeles Dodgers Fire Don Mattingly? by wochit