Jon Heyman, in the New York Post, tells us that Don Mattingly is leaving the Blue Jays.
The story says that he is not retiring, but ‘looking for new opportunities’.
Mattingly isn’t loved around here, getting, likely, too much blame for their terrible 2024 season (and no credit for the excellent 2025 season). I was never sure what he actually did on the staff. We had him, the ‘bench coach’ and we had an ‘assistant manager’. Could you please tell me what the difference is between the two jobs? I’d appreciate
it.
He was a good choice for pre or post game interviews, if none of the players wanted to talk. Mostly, I think, he was someone for John to talk to before making a decision, which is useful I’m sure.
Mattingly is on the Veteran’s Committee Hall of Fame ballot this year. I don’t think he has much of a chance of making the Hall, but I guess it depends on how many of his old friends is on the committee.
In his long baseball career, this year was the closest he came to getting a World Series ring.
