Adios Donnie Baseball

[bigh0rt]

Don Mattingly, named by the Dodgers as hitting coach two months ago and the presumed eventual replacement for new manager Joe Torre, stepped aside on Tuesday for family reasons and was replaced by Triple-A hitting coach Mike Easler.

Mattingly will remain in the organization as a special assignment coach, but requested the change so he could spend more time at home in Evansville, Ind. He also requested that further details of his situation not be released. Mattingly took the Dodgers job after losing out to Joe Girardi for the Yankees’ manager job that Torre formerly held.

“I’m very grateful that the Dodgers have allowed me to take care of these family matters and I hope that everyone can respect our privacy during this time,” Mattingly said in a released statement. “I truly appreciate the support of all Dodger fans since joining the organization and I look forward to helping the team win in 2008 and beyond.”

SOURCE: MLB.cm

[Diggin4third]

Hated to see him go. Good luck with daDodgers

[MikeYanks9]

Donnie Baseball appeared on Mike and Mike this morning, very interesting

[cstorms]

I think he is having problems with his ex wife. Apparently she is an alcoholic. Don was my favorite ball player ever, I would have loved to see him stay with the Yanks

[northjersey78]

Mattingly will always be my favorite player. I grew up watching the Yankees in the 80's when they stunk and Mattingly came along and just carried that team. it's too bad his back gave out and he left just before they went on their run of greatness in the mid-90's forward.