DONNIE BASEBALL IN LOS ANGELES?

Don Mattingly will always be loved by almost every Yankees’ fan, including me.  It's unfortunate that the Yankees lacked solid starting pitching and keen player signings during his 14 years as a player.  As a hitter, he was one of the best of his time and, as a fielder, he was one of the best of all time. 

During those years, many compared him to his crosstown rival, Keith Hernandez.  Defensively, Keith often edged his way towards the batters he felt were bunting (a more common strategy within the National League, especially with pitchers batting), but Don Mattingly shined during his almost infallible defensive 3-6-3 double plays.  Undoubtedly, both of them were great defensive 1^st basemen (9 Gold Gloves won by Don & 11 won by Keith).  Of course, comparing the two in regards to character is like comparing A-Rod to Mariano; but, that's not what this article is mainly about:

While I have a great deal of admiration for Don Mattingly as a Yankees’ player, captain, coach, and a person, I can't help but express my controversial opinion for him as a Los Angeles Dodgers manager.   Back in 2008, when he joined Joe Torre to become his hitting coach for the Dodgers, I selfishly felt a bit of disapproval.  Although the Steinbrenners chose not to hire him months prior to that as the manager to replace Joe Torre and, even though Don had given all that he had during his Yankees’ tenure (especially his unbelievable efforts during the 1995 playoffs), I greedily felt that he needed to wait a few years in hopes that he might inevitably manage the Yankees in the near future.  Perhaps, I thought, he should manage in the Yankees’ minor league system first, so that he could gain experience.  Those pinstripes were just so suitable to a fan favorite like him; after all, he even originated from our own farm system.  In those days, no one ever excelled from our farm system and played his whole career for the NY Yankees!

Another factor that bothered me (and still does) is that he would be working for the "Hollywood" team, not the Yankees.  As a native New Yorker, Hollywood has always been a rival, not just in sports but also many other forms of entertainment, e.g., the Grammy Awards are sporadically held in Los Angeles instead of New York's own Radio City Music Hall.

From the early 1900’s, the Yankees and the Dodgers faced each other in the World Series 11 times - gratefully the Yankees won 8 out of the 11!  I’m glad I got to personally witness two of those winning years in 1977 & 1978.  In fact, 1977 was the first time they had faced each other as East Coast versus West Coast teams.  That’s because 1957 was when the Dodgers’ owner (Walter O’Malley) decided to relocate the Dodgers from Brooklyn, New York to Los Angeles, California.  That major move made all New Yorkers feel betrayed, as I've been told and fully comprehend.

So, when Don Mattingly became the Dodgers manager in 2011, many of my rivaling feelings (perhaps inconsiderately) heated up and ultimately helped me choose my dual love for the Yankees and dislike of the Dodgers versus my admiration I had for Don Mattingly.  Additionally, when one of the biggest cheaters of all time, Mark McGuire, was hired as the hitting coach, that fully overtook any slither of hope for me to be rooting for Donnie Baseball as it was being applied towards the Dodgers!

In summary, from a very selfish/dedicated Yankees’ fan, I cannot root for the "Los Angeles – Hollywood" Dodgers – unless they end up playing my absolute least favorite team, the Red Sox!  What I will root for, though, is that one day (probably not anytime soon) Don will eventually become the Yankees’ manager and finally win a championship ring with the only fitting team for him…the New York Yankees.