Blue Jays Bench Boss Don Mattingly: 'This is the best team I've ever been around'
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Toronto Blue Jays bench coach Don Mattingly didn't mince words when asked what his thoughts were on the 2025 version of the team he started with three years ago.
When baseball fans think of Don Mattingly, they usually think of New York Yankees legendary first baseman Donnie Baseball.
Mattingly was arguably the best player in baseball over a six-year span in the 1980's.
He started out his coaching career as bench coach for the Yankees and managerial career with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
He later became manager of the Miami Marlins winning manager of the year in 2020.
In his seven years there he was a man of few words, in 2022 when he was hired as bench coach in Toronto he was quoted as saying:
"There's passion around the club, I think all the ingredients are there to win."
"I'm here to help. My only success comes from their success," Mattingly said of his coaching approach. "It's not ever going to be about me.
"It's going to be about whoever the player is and whatever way we're trying to help him."
Blue Jays bench coach Don Mattingly shares his thoughts on the 87-62 Toronto Blue Jays
It's safe to say that three years later Donnie Baseball's thoughts on this team has come to fruition.
In a conversation I had with Mattingly prior to the finale vs. Astros, he told me:
"This is the best team I've been around."
Mattingly included, talent, likeability, team chemistry/camaraderie & fun in his assessment. He has really enjoyed being around, and coaching this group.
"This is the best team I've been around."
Mattingly included, talent, likeability, team chemistry/camaraderie & fun in his assessment. He has really enjoyed being around, and coaching this group.
John Schneider says Don Mattingly has remarked on how much Blue Jays players appear to be enjoying this run. "It's like the sandlot," Mattingly told Schneider. "These guys are just out playing baseball and having fun."
Previously on Blue Jays Central
| POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 15 | 198 ANSWERS Blue Jays Bench Boss Don Mattingly: 'This is the best team I've ever been around' Do you agree with Don Mattingly's thoughts on the 2025 Toronto Blue Jays? | ||
| Yes | 175 | 88.4 % |
| No | 23 | 11.6 % |
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