Don Mattingly admits he is in a tricky position, faithful sidekick to Joe Torre and yet perhaps with the most to gain should the Yankees manager be fired.
In a published report yesterday, George Steinrbrenner said if the Yankees are ousted in the first round again this year, Torre would almost certainly lose his job. Mattingly and Joe Girardi have generally been considered the frontrunners to succeed Torre, with The Boss privately expressing a favoritism toward Mattingly.
“Obviously it is an uncomfortable situation,” Mattingly said just outside the Yankees clubhouse before Game 3. “I don’t want to be caught in the middle of all of this. Joe knows me. He knows I wouldn’t do anything behind anyone’s back to backstab him. My loyalty to him is for as long as he is here, really forever, because he has treated me great.”
Mattingly did not join Torre’s staff until 2004 as the hitting coach, and this year he became Torre’s bench coach. But the two men quickly had a strong relationship. Their calm personalities meshed well, and Torre always has shared his insights and friendship with Mattingly even as it has become obvious Mattingly could be the next manager. In fact, their wives have become good friends, as well. Mattingly, while admitting he wants to manage, has always said he would willingly have the patience to wait until Torre’s tenure is over.
“Whatever happens, Joe needs to be treated with total respect,” Mattingly said. “People look at this organization and as a classy organization and Joe is a big part of that.”
Mattingly said he was not surprised by Steinbrenner’s threat, acknowledging this comes with the territory in New York and with the job of Yankees manager.
However, he also praised the work Torre did with a team that was 21-29 after 50 games, yet still stormed to the playoffs.
“Joe did a tremendous job,” Mattingly said.
“He never lost the club. He continued going forward and got us to where we wanted to get.”