Mattingly relishes his new role on the bench
BOSTON — Don Mattingly left the Miami Marlins last September after seven seasons as manager. All parties concerned agreed the timing was right for a change.
But Mattingly was not ready to leave baseball and became bench coach of the Toronto Blue Jays two months later. At 62, he’s the new guy on the coaching staff of a World Series contender.
“I love it, I really do,” Mattingly said this past week when the Jays were at Fenway Park. “This has been a great fit for me.”
The Blue Jays fired manager Charlie Montoyo last July and replaced him with bench coach John Schneider.
The Jays were 46-28 under Schneider, making the playoffs before losing in the wild card round against the Mariners. Schneider was retained as manager.
Toronto wanted a bench coach with major league experience and Mattingly was a perfect fit given his 12 seasons managing the Marlins and Dodgers. That run included four playoff appearances.
Schneider, 43, put his ego aside and supported the idea.
“Me understanding that I’m a young manager and it’s a relatively young staff, having that kind of voice for the players has been a real big addition,” he said.
Mattingly was a six-time All-Star and nine-time Gold Glove winner with the Yankees during his playing career. He was a hitting coach and bench coach under Joe Torre with the Yankees and Dodgers, then became a manager.
Whatever the task, he brings a base of knowledge.
“We’ve got him all over the place,” Schneider said. “He’ll talk hitting. Him and I talk a lot of fundamental stuff and strategy.”
Counting Schneider, the Jays have a 12-man major league staff and nine are 53 or younger. Several had major league experience, but nothing like the success Mattingly had over 14 seasons.
“He’s got a lot of knowledge and is kind of a calming presence,” shortstop Bo Bichette said. “He’s been through it all and had a lot of success. He doesn’t just help with baseball; he shows us how to be leaders and good teammates.
“I was thrilled, to say the least, just to have somebody like that to learn from. It’s something most players would never get the opportunity to do.”
Mattingly was worn down by managing and the demands off the field. Now his job is all baseball.
“This situation was what I wanted,” he said. “Talented team, a great city, and a chance to do the things I love. I like coming to the ballpark every day and working with these guys.”
Mattingly also was happy to be back at Fenway Park, where he hit his first major league home run. It was a solo shot beyond the Pesky Pole off John Tudor on June 24, 1983.
“I always loved playing here,” he said.