Under manager Don Mattingly the Los Angeles Dodgers have won three consecutive National League West division titles for the first time in franchise history, and won 90 or more games for three seasons in a row for the first since since 1976-78.
From 2012-14, the Dodgers increased their win total each season. This year they fell two wins shy of matching their total from last season (94). For as much success as Los Angeles has had, a trip to the World Series continues to escape them.
The Dodgers were eliminated in the NL Division Series a second straight year, this time by the New York Mets and not postseason nemesis St. Louis Cardinals. And as a result, fairly or unfairly, the heat is again back on Mattingly.
According to Bill Shaikin of the LA Times, Dodgers controlling owner Mark Walter said team president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman has complete authority to determine a course of action as it pertains to Mattingly:
Mark Walter said Friedman has autonomy to decide Mattingly's fate: "You can’t hire guys like that and then make the decisions for them."
— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) October 16, 2015
When Friedman was hired away from Tampa Bay last October it was widely presumed Mattingly was on the proverbial hot seat. Expectations for Mattingly’s ousting intensified when Rays manager Joe Maddon abruptly exercised an opt-out clause in his contract.
However, Friedman continued to publicly back Mattingly, and the whispers subsided once Maddon agreed to a five-year deal with the Chicago Cubs.
Friedman’s public support of Mattingly carried over into the regular season, and general manager Farhan Zaidi praised the 54-year-old skipper prior to the NLDS beginning for his attention to detail and ability to foster chemistry in the clubhouse.
For his part, Mattingly routinely stated he’s had no issues working with the Dodgers’ revamped, analytically-driven front office. While there may be harmony among the group, should Friedman want to choose his guy certainly wouldn’t raise any eyebrows.
Already having overmade the roster, Friedman could of course elect Mattingly to remain as manager for the 2016 season, which is the final year on his contract, then decide roughly one year from now if the time has arrived for a full cleanse from the previous regime.
