Don Mattingly has a Managerial Record of 260 -225 (.536) in his 1st 3 years as Dodgers Skipper. Among the totals in this year – was that he guided the club to a 62 – 30 record during the last 92 Games this year. The Dodgers were knocked out the NLCS Round versus the Cardinals.  Mattingly’s $1.4 Vesting Option was picked up by that accord of being in the final 4 this season.  The Dodgers are only offering the one year of 2014, and Mattingly believes he has done a great enough job to earn a multi-year deal.

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The Dodgers are making a mistake in not signing Don Mattingly to a multi – year deal.  If you actually sit back and think about what he was able to do is a miracle this year.

Matt Kemp was 50% of himself – and also missed half of the year.

Hanley Ramirez played at an MVP caliber for the time he was in there, problem was – missed 74 games.

Carl Crawford was great, but he missed 45 Games.

Yasiel Puig came up – with 60 Games already taken off of the year.

Zack Greinke missed 2 months after Carlos Quentin charged him.

Brandon League was abysmal early as a Closer.

The 3rd base/Shortstop position featured an opening day of Luis Cruz and Justin Sellers.

Don Mattingly won 3 straight AL Sporting News Player of The Years – and was the best ALL-Around player in the game from 1984-1986 leading 13 Offensive Categories for the 3 years. His 145 RBI in 1985 was the most for a LHB since Stan Musial in 1949. He hit .340 with 656 Hits, 145 2B, 88 HRs, 368 RBI and only SO 112 times in 2131 PA’s. He also led the league in Doubles from 1984-1986. Mattingly’s 388 Total bases in 1986 had been the most in the Majors since Willie Mays back in the 1962 season. Mattingly won the first of 9 gold gloves in 1985. Donnie Baseball also won the AL MVP in 1985 and was boldly robbed in 1986 by the writers voting for Roger Clemens. In 1987, Mattingly hit 6 grand slams and also homered in 8 straight games(including 10 total which was higher than Dale Long and Ken Griffey‘s 8 during their consecutive streaks.) His average year for the 4 year stretch was .337, with 30 HRs, 45 2B and 120 RBI. He also averaged 110 runs and 210 hits. Mattingly only struck out 37 times a year for this span. He was clearly the best ball player in this era. What better guy to lead offensive superstars?

Also, when his team was fully intact, the club went on that 42 – 8 historic streak.  ALL – Star squad or not, that stretch had to have come with some great coaching,

I will give you that Mattingly has made some mistakes along the way.  But the dude is learning.  I think he is perfect for this ALL – Star Squad.  I mean who else can say that he doesn’t know what he is talking about?

Mattingly was a perennial ALL – Star and a borderline Hall Of Fame player, with this team he certainly has some clout when speaking,

The 52 Year old from Evansville, Indiana knows what it is like to play with the pressure is on.  Plus he learned under Joe Torre for 6 years before he was given his chance to skipper.

He is 260 – 225 (.536) during his three years in Los Angeles.

For the first season and a half, under the previous ownership in LA (Mccourt’s), Mattingly groomed his best work during that time span.

The team went from 82 Wins in 2011, to 86 Wins in 2012, and now 92 Wins.  The last thing this team should do is change at the guard.

By virtue of making the NLCS, Donnie Baseball will at least get $1.4 MIL given to him for the 2014 year.  Even if the Dodgers axe the former First Baseman, he walks away with that.

I hope it doesn’t come to this.  I think the tandem of Mattingly and hitting coach Mark McGwire have been superb for the players in LA.

This team should ante up the cash to retain the guy.

The Dodgers may sign former player Dusty Baker to take over the spot.  Bad move in my opinion.

The Dodgers were 62 – 30 during the last 92 Games of their schedule.  That equates to a .673 Win Percentage.

The only man that the club should shove aside for is Mike Scioscia.

The last time the Tigers won a World Series was 1984, the year that Don Mattingly won the AL Batting Title, led the league in Doubles and Hits as a 23 year old.  Like the departing Leyland, Donnie Baseball tends to think ‘old school’ towards his method of managing.  It could be a good move bringing him aboard.

Mattingly would probably benefit from a move to the American League.  I think he would be great in Detroit taking over for Jim Leyland.

Detroit’s best players Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder would love having an offensive mind like Mattingly be the new guy at the helm.

The Nats signing Mattingly to Manage their squad could end two of the biggest World Series drought’s ever. The Montreal/Washington club have never appeared in the World Series in 44 years of their existence – and Mattingly played in between the golden years of New York – of 1982 – 1995. He returned in 2004, after the team appeared in 6 of 7 World Series.  Maybe the two could unite for a run of World Series Appearances? The Mariners are the only other franchise not to appear in the ‘Fall Classic’ other than the Nats.

Either that, or he could manage the Washington Nationals – and be a great tutor to Bryce Harper and Gang.

The Nationals can’t go with Dusty Baker or some retread.  Just like they had interest in Joe Girardi, the Nats should realize that the best efforts of Mattingly as a Manager are still ahead.

Mattingly will never go to Seattle.

Mattingly has been a hitting coach or Manager for every since 2004 between the Yankees and Dodgers. He has seen many of playoff teams and LCS matchups as part of his time with the NL Dodgers (2008, 2009 and 2012. For a team that had exactly 2 managers in 42 years between Tommy Lasorda and Walter Alston, the franchise has seen way too many changes since 1996. Mattingly is the 7th Manager in that time frame. He actually has bested Joe Torre by 1 game for their 1st 3 years as Dodgers Skipper. Despite playing, coaching and managing for several great teams, Mattingly has never appeared in the World Series.

*** The views and opinions expressed in this report are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of mlbreports.com or their partners ***

A big thank-you goes out to Our ‘Chief Writer‘ Hunter Stokes for preparing today’s featured article.  Hunter is a Baseball Writer for MLB reports.

Hunter grew up in Lynchburg, Virginia and played baseball with Sheldon Bream (Sid Bream‘s son) at Liberty University in the NCAA.

His favorite player is Brian Wilson (how could you guess?), and he hates when people can’t think outside the box! 

His favorite expression – is ‘drive that one out that out and you have 110 LBS worth of crap in a 100 pound sack!

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