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February 09, 2008
Mattingly: I Would Have Quit The Yankees Too
Via the Daily News -
"As it turned out, it was just as well I didn't get (the Yankees) job," Mattingly - who last month had to withdraw as Joe Torre's batting coach with the Dodgers - told the Daily News at Mohegan Sun, where he was the honoree at the Connecticut Sports Foundation's annual cancer charity dinner. "That's because I would've had to walk away from it because of these issues."
Kim Mattingly, 45, was arrested last Saturday and charged with public intoxication and disorderly conduct after police say she refused to leave her estranged husband's property in Evansville.
"It's unfortunate what's happened," Mattingly said, "especially for my kids, being in the papers and all that. But we've just got to deal with it. And we will."
Then, in reference to 1995, when he left the Yankees and baseball to go home to Indiana for a self-imposed eight-year exile - after hitting .417 with six RBI against the Mariners in his one and only postseason series - Mattingly added: "This is not the first time we've all had to go through this" - suggesting his family's problems have lingered for years.
The Mattinglys filed for divorce in November, on grounds of irreconcilable differences.
Warning: If you follow the link back to the Daily News feature, their story includes Kim Mattingly's mugshot. I offer this up because I know that this picture is upsetting to some.
First, I note that Donnie said "This is not the first time we've all had to go through this." So, props to my friend for nailing this back in 1995.
But, more importantly, when Mattingly says "As it turned out, it was just as well I didn't get (the Yankees) job" - this is great news, to me. This could mean that Donnie is no longer upset that the Yankees passed on him for Girardi...and, maybe, that means he comes back to the Stadium this year for Old-Timer's Day, the closing of the Stadium ceremonies, and, hopefully, the post-season. For those events, it only seems right that Don Mattingly is there.
Posted by Steve Lombardi at February 9, 2008 09:07 AM
Comments
I give Mattingly a lot of credit for acknowledging that, but if in fact he did have to walk away from the job, after the Yankees had failed to hire Girardi, Cashman and/or Hank would likely have been killed by the media. I suppose someone like Tony Pena would have been named (interim) manager.
Posted by: Rich ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.waswatching.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at February 9, 2008 09:52 AM
This could mean that Donnie is no longer upset that the Yankees passed on him for Girardi
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He was disappointed but in follow up interviews he said he held no ill feelings. Unlike Joe Torre, Mattingly didn't say he wasn't sure if he'd come back. Of course, as a Dodger coach he wouldn't have been able to attend Old Timers Day, etc. But, I'm sure, unless family obligations or his Dodger contract prevent it, he'll be back.
Posted by: redbug at February 9, 2008 09:56 AM
I have to give him a lot of credit for walking away from the game in 1995
Posted by: Raf at February 9, 2008 10:56 AM
Like redbug said, Mattingly has already made his feelings clear -- he doesn't feel he was mistreated, he's not angry, and he hasn't ruled out one day being the Yankee manager.
Though Mattingly won't be the hitting coach for the Dodgers this year, he will be a Dodgers employee -- he's attending spring training, he'll travel occasionally with the team, and he'll be working with their minor-league players. So probably no Yankee appearances for a while.
Posted by: baileywalk at February 9, 2008 03:03 PM