This season, a big league bench might be managed by Los Angeles Dodgers manager Don Mattingly. According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, Mattingly, who is now the bench coach for the Toronto Blue Jays, may assume the manager position.
In a post published on Sunday, Nightengale stated, “The Toronto Blue Jays are one of baseball’s most underachieving teams once again, languishing in last place, with manager John Schneider on the hot seat.” Don Mattingly is anticipated to replace Schneider if the Blue Jays don’t improve and Schneider is used as a scapegoat.
Mattingly might take over John Schneider’s job as manager after three seasons in charge.
Mattingly played with Toronto for two seasons. The sixty-three-year-old is not so much a bench coach as he is an “offensive coordinator.” Mattingly also manages the hitting coaches and the team’s video coordinator.
Mattingly managed the Miami Marlins from 2016 to 22. He played just one postseason game in his seven seasons (443-587) at South Beach, which was an abysmal record.
Before relocating to Miami, Mattingly spent five seasons as a player for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Frank McCourt, the previous owner, was a thrifty man, but his first two seasons on the bench were tough despite finishing over $500 each season. Over the next three years, Mattingly guided the Dodgers to three straight division titles. The Dodgers tried their hardest, but they couldn’t go past the division round twice and win the World Series.
One year after Andrew Friedman was named president and Farhan Zaidi as president of baseball operations, Roberts—their personal favorite—succeeded Mattingly as general manager. When Mattingly left Los Angeles, he had a 446-363 record and a 551 win percentage.