Don Mattingly on why he left the Toronto Blue Jays, the IKF disaster and Phillies job opportunity
Photo credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Former Toronto Blue Jays bench boss Don Mattingly reveals in an interview why he stepped down, how the IKF disaster could have been averted and a job opportunity with the Philadelphia Phillies.
When Don Mattingly announced that he would be stepping down as the Blue Jays bench coach last week caught everyone by surprise, what he revealed in his latest interview with Mike Wilner of the Toronto Star may not be.
«Mattingly's decision to leave after three years as manager John Schneider's bench coach (plus duties as offensive coordinator in 2024) came as a surprise, but he feels as though his job was complete,» Mike Wilner wrote for the Toronto Star.
In his first comments explaining why he left his post, Mattingly revealed that he had taken the role with the Blue Jays to help manager John Schneider in his first years as the skipper.
But with Schneider leading the team to the World Series, that mission has been accomplished.
«I came to Toronto to be along John's side as he was getting started,» Mattingly said, per Wilner. «Just be a voice - an older voice, a more experienced voice - and just allow him to do his thing but kind of be an earpiece for him, another set of eyes.»
Mattingly on the IKF disaster and how it could have been averted
One of the biggest questions in the interview was: Why did Isiah Kiner-Falefa start his lead so close to third base, and why didn't he take much of a secondary lead after each pitch?
Kiner-Falefa detailed some of the fallout after the game, saying that Blue Jays fans had threatened him for not scoring the winning run.
«[The coaches] told us to stay close to the base. They don't want us to get doubled off in that situation with a hard line drive. [Daulton] Varsho hits the ball really, really hard. [Max Muncy's] right there,» Kiner-Falefa said. «I can't get doubled off right there, so it's almost like a bases loaded. They wanted a smaller lead and a smaller secondary, so that's what I did.»
Mattingly explained his point of view and said there was a detail the team may have overlooked with Kiner-Falefa at third base.
«The last thing you want is the guy to break on a line drive and get doubled up So he's probably doing the right thing,» Mattingly told Wilner. «The only variable that, if you look back at it, we could change a little bit and (Kiner-Falefa) would probably get more (of a lead) is Daulton (Varsho) doesn't really line the ball to third base, or hit the ball on the left side of the field that much.»
Mattingly also feels like there's not been one scapegoat for the play, but rather it was a few different actors, himself included, who maybe could've ended up influencing history in Toronto's favor.
«If you ask (Kiner-Falefa) now, he'd probably say: 'Man, I could have gotten another step,'» said Mattingly. «[Third-base coach Carlos Febles] would say: 'I probably should have pushed him down the line more.' And I would say: Man, we probably should have noticed that. Everyone's going to take accountability and I honestly love that.»
There is a good chance Mattingly will be going to the Phillies to fill the vacant bench coach position
Phillies manager Rob Thomson and Don Mattingly were coaches together for the New York Yankees, and Mattingly's son Preston is the Phillies general Manager.
According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Phillies have reached out to Mattingly for the vacant position.
Blue Jays bench coach Don Mattingly with son, Phillies GM, Preston Mattingly.
«The Phillies have reached out and expressed interest in hiring Don Mattingly, who just left his job as Blue Jays bench coach,» Jon Heyman reported for the New York Post. «Phillies president Dave Dombrowski is a big admirer of Mattingly's. And Mattingly's son Preston is the Phillies GM, and he's in favor, as well.»
So a fit with the Phillies seems to be on the table if Mattingly would like to pursue it.
However, after a high-stakes season, and a heartbreaking game 7 loss in the World Series, perhaps the legendary infielder would like to take a year off while he considers his options.
| POLL | ||
1 HOUR AGO | 85 ANSWERS Don Mattingly on why he left the Toronto Blue Jays, the IKF disaster and Phillies job opportunity Do you think Don Mattingly will take the bench coach job with the Philadelphia Phillies? | ||
TRENDING NOW
