It didn’t take long for Don Mattingly, former Los Angeles Dodgers manager, to find work. Almost two weeks after agreeing to part ways with LA, with whom he spent five years, he was officially announced as the next manager of the poorly-run Miami Marlins.
As far as the Dodgers are concerned, moving on was probably the right call for both sides. But, were the shortcomings—most notably the three consecutive early playoff exits—all his fault?
Not exactly.
First, let’s take a quick look at the 2011 and 2012 clubs. Offensively, Mattingly’s Dodgers boasted an MVP-like Matt Kemp, a serviceable Andre Ethier, and an over-performing 37-year-old Jamey Carroll.