DONNY BASEBALL'S BACK

New York Post ^ | New York Post

[presidio9]

Welcome news comes out of Yankee- land this week as one of the team's great players of the last two decades returns: Don Mattingly will be the Bombers' hitting coach next season.

The Yankees certainly need his assistance: For the second time in the last three years, the team failed to hit during the World Series (news - web sites).

If there's one thing Mattingly knows, it's hitting. In a career sadly cut short because of back pain, Mattingly was, in his prime, a virtual hitting machine.

In 1985, he led the league with 145 runs batted in. He followed that up with perhaps his best season in 1986, with 238 hits and 53 doubles, and he tied a major league record by hitting home runs in eight consecutive games.

The man was amazing on defense as well - collecting nine Gold Gloves at first base.

Sadly, Mattingly starred for the Yankees during an historic drought in team fortunes: He joined the ballclub in 1982 - the year after the Yankees concluded a streak of four World Series appearances in six seasons - and left after the 1995 season, just before the Bombers began their recent run of six World Series and four world championships in eight years. He had only one playoff appearance in his 14-year career.

Perhaps his coaching wisdom can round the current team back into championship hitting form - and garner Mattingly a World Series ring as a coach that he never got as a player.

[presidio9]

The only negative for Yankees fans is this means that Seinbrenner will eventually have an excuse and the opportunity to fire him.

[RJCogburn]

Do they really call him "Donny Baseball"?

I suppose that is a poor copy of Williams "Teddy Ballgame", but then the Yanks always tried to promote the fiction that Dimaggio was better than Williams.

[nuffsenuff]

Donny Baseball is the epitomy of a Yankee...

When I saw him in the stands during the series I got goosebumps.

I love that guy. And it hurts everytime I think about the 94 season and the strike. We were going to win that year.

[XRdsRev]

Well now that he is back on the team (albeit as a coach, not a player), I hope the Yankees win a World Series for, and with, Don Mattingly.

Go Yankees !

[presidio9]

I suppose that is a poor copy of Williams "Teddy Ballgame", but then the Yanks always tried to promote the fiction that Dimaggio was better than Williams.

Sorry to burst your balloon, but "Teddy Ballgame" was borrowed from earlier players, as was another nickname of his "the kid." That's the way sports lore works.

Not sure who was better, Williams of Dimaggio, but I do know this: The Yankees were better than Boston this year, and for the last 80 years. Have a nice winter.

[jwalsh07]

Williams was a better hitter, DiMaggio was a better ballplayer.:-}

[ex-snook]

I hope he will be able to teach them how to move along a leadoff runner but then again 'today's Yankees don't get paid to sacrifice'.

[RJCogburn]

Thanks for that info.

The Yankees were better than Boston this year, and for the last 80 years. Have a nice winter.

Ouch!

[presidio9]

Ouch!

Please know that you should never take me too seriesly when it comes to baseball threads.

[RJCogburn]

DiMaggio was a better ballplayer.:-}

You talkin' Joe or Dom? ;^)

[jwalsh07]

Joltin'Joe of course!

[Guillermo]

Babe Ruth is dead, and he's never coming back.

Time to get used to that fact.

[RJCogburn]

Please know that you should never take me too seriesly when it comes to baseball threads.

seriesly

You're killin' me here. ;^)

[jwalsh07]

Of course the best baseball who ever lived was apug named George Herman Ruth.

Did you guys find that piano he threw in the pond yet? :-|

[jwalsh07]

Babe Ruth is dead, and he's never coming back.

Obviously you missed the seventh game of the Yankee/Red Sox series.

[Guillermo]

Then he's under contract.

[Hatteras]

When ever I think of Mattingly, I think of this story about Ted Williams, Wade Boggs and Don Mattingly that I originally read in SI a few years back. A great read for baseball fans.

Peter Gammons article reprinted from April '86

In part:

GAMMONS: Does anyone ever see the ball off the bat?

WILLIAMS: Now if the ball's coming real slow and you swing early, you can come real close. I've seen what I thought was the ball going over my bat -- I think.

BOGGS: You can't see the bat hit the ball if you're generating any bat speed. If you're just laying the bat through the strike zone, sure, maybe. Ted, ask Don the question you asked me about the bat burning.

WILLIAMS: Have you ever smelled the smoke from the wood burning?

MATTINGLY: I've had it happen. Yeah. Twice, for use. All of a sudden, I smelled a real big burn, and at the same time I was thinking, "I just missed that one." Two or three times I've never told that to anyone, because I didn't think anyone would believe me. I think one of the bat burns came off Nunez, too.

BOGGS: That's the damndest thing I've ever heard. I thought I'd heard everything about hitting, but that's unbelievable. Amazing.

Being an Oriole fan, I could always count on two players to ruin a perfectly good outing by the Oriole pitchers, Don Mattingly and George Brett. But I still would have to wonder just how much of that "expertise" can be taught. As an admirer of Mattingly's skills, I wish him the best. As an Oriole fan, I don't.

[presidio9]

But I still would have to wonder just how much of that "expertise" can be taught. As an admirer of Mattingly's skills, I wish him the best. As an Oriole fan, I don't.

I have to point out that
A) Boggs never smelled his bat burn because he swung like a woman.
b) Boggs had an ongoing affair with... (Oh my God, is it possible) Susan Waldman.
c) Hitting coaches are basically useless come playoff time, but they can make a difference during the season. D) If there is a "Next Mattingly" in the Yankees organization, It's probably this guy.

[spald]

Old number 23 was quite the ballplayer. But he couldn't drive the ball to the Yankee field left-center. I've seen what seems to be hundreds of fly balls off the bat of Mattingly just die in left center field. Of course, left center used to be a bit further when Don played (460 at that time I believe). And the ball didn't jump off the bat as much as today.

[GB]

Of the two, I'd take DiMaggio because he was the more complete player.

I might even take Musial over Williams as a left fielder for the same reason. Bill James, the baseball analyst, said that in one of his books. The quote was something like, "I'd take Musial over Williams in the clubhouse, in the dugout, on the basepaths and in the field ... and Stan could hit just a little bit too."

And I say that while conceding that Williams is probably the greatest hitter who ever lived.