Letter to the Editor: Goodbye Donnie Baseball

Los Angeles Times

October 17, 2015 Saturday 

Dear Editor,

I fully understand that a manager does not pitch, hit, run, throw or, in the case of the Dodgers, cover third base. But the main reason Don Mattingly has to be let go is his constant lineup changes, lack of team continuity and absolutely mind-boggling in-game maneuvers. Mattingly changed his lineup each and every game. If a player doesn't know if he's playing, where he's playing or where he's batting, there is no way for a team to jell.

Only Mattingly knows why he continued to bat a struggling Corey Seager second, third or fifth. Only Mattingly knows why he continued to play Yasmani Grandal even though he had one hit in his last 32 at-bats and four in his last 61. Only Mattingly knows why he would pinch-hit Carl Crawford, who at the time was one for 11, or Chase Utley, who couldn't hit his weight. Only Mattingly knows why he put Pedro Baez in with the bases loaded even though he knew his stats against the first batter he faced. Mattingly proved he could not handle a team filled with overblown egos, demanding veterans and coming-of-age rookies. Dodgers fans deserve better.

Geno Apicella

Placentia