They sure do know how to pack them in. Above is a view of the Dodger press room for yesterday's press conference to discuss the departure of manager Don Mattingly, and it was filled to the brim. Even with the World Series on the horizon the Dodgers became the talk of Baseball, and I suppose we fans would want nothing less. The photo above via Jon SooHoo/LA Dodgers 2015. Also, you can watch the entire press conference here.
There isn't much more that I can add to what's already been said and written. Donnie is gone, and the impression given by all parties is that it was an amicable split. Of course, that's like any breakup with a significant other that didn't end with screaming expletives and broken bottles.
"Sure... It just didn't work out... Let's just be friends... No, it's me... Really, it's me, not you."
Nevertheless, that's the story they are telling and nothing in the world will change their narrative. Via Jon Weisman at Dodger Insider:
“If there was a reason that this happened, we would share it,” Friedman said during a 45-minute session for him and Zaidi at Dodger Stadium. “There’s not. It was a collection of a lot of different conversations over many days that got us to this point. So it’s not so black and white here. There is a huge middle, and it’s gray, and that’s how everything played out.”Mattingly expressed similar words, as shared by Mark Saxon at ESPN:
"I can't sit here and say I'm just bubbling over," Mattingly said. "There are a lot of emotions that go into this, a lot of discussion, a lot of talk, but it gets back around to the same thing as we kept talking and going over it. We all came to the same conclusion. This is best for both parties."Wow! It's amazing how much this does sound like a high school breakup.
Below are more links to check out:
- Bill Shaikin at the LA Times suggest, "Five candidates to replace Don Mattingly as Dodgers manager."
- Via Howard Cole at Forbes, "BookMaker Names Bud Black Best Bet To Succeed Don Mattingly As Dodger Skipper."
- Justin Turner appears to be doing well after his surgery yesterday, via his tweet:
Surgery was a success! Thank you @NealElAttrache and thanks to everyone for all the well wishes!
#LA @Dodgers pic.twitter.com/V5Tj2HG3Cw
— Justin Turner (@redturn2) October 22, 2015
- Via Eric Stephen at True Blue LA, with Mattingly now out of the picture, "Dodgers coaching staff told they are free to look elsewhere for jobs."
"We talked to them this morning. Obviously we wish that we had more answers to provide but we don't. This process is just getting underway," Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said on Thursday. "We told them they are free to look elsewhere."
In fact, Eric wrote earlier that, "Tim Wallach interview(ed) for Nationals' managerial opening."
- To the surprise of no one, Mattingly's players come to his defense. Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com: "Dodgers players hold Mattingly in high regard."
"I loved playing for Donnie," said Clayton Kershaw, Opening Day starter for each of Mattingly's five seasons. "He has and will always have my utmost respect. I have nothing but positive things to say about him as a person and a manager. He will be missed."
Via Mark Saxon at ESPN, "A.J. Ellis has strong words of support for Don Mattingly."
"From my experience, rarely does a player you grew up idolizing come close to even meeting your expectations. To say Donnie exceeded mine is an understatement. Donnie is the most consistent, optimistic person I have ever been around, on or off the field. It was an honor playing for him, and to embrace each other as we did these past three years after clinching a division title are cherished memories. I have no doubt he will be a world champion manager some day, and I am grateful for the opportunity I had to play for him."
- Former Dodger pitcher Dan Haren has called it quits. He is retiring from the game, via his tweet:
Thank you baseball. I played this beautiful game for 30 years. I took my jersey off for the last time tonight. It was an honor. #ithrew88
— dan haren (@ithrow88) October 22, 2015
- Um.... What? Keith Hernandez told Dan Patrick that the Dodgers front office created an essay test for their scouts, and whoever didn't pass was fired. It starts at the 6:18 point. I want to know what the three test questions were.
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