Colletti: Mattingly Will Return Next Season By Mike Axisa [September 15 at 8:51am CST] The Dodgers have won just seven of 19 games since their blockbuster trade with the Dodgers, and they're now one game out of a wildcard spot. Despite their second half slide, GM Ned Colletti told reporters (including Mark Saxon of ESPN Los Angeles) that manager Don Mattingly will return next season. "I think he's done a really good job of keeping it together and there's never an excuse," said Colletti. "He doesn't give any and he doesn't take any. I don't have any doubt that our efforts every day are there, and I think that's one of the main jobs of a manager, to make sure guys are into it ... You know that if you get beat, it's not a happy room, it's not one people take lightly and are cavalier. It means something to everybody and that's a credit to him and his staff." Mattingly is under contact through 2013, and in fact yesterday we heard that the Dodgers are likely to look into a contract extension for their skipper this winter. It's not uncommon for a new ownership group to make changes in the front office and/or coaching staff soon after taking over, but the Stan Kasten and Magic Johnson led group have been nothing but supportive of Mattingly since they took control of the team in April.
He should be back. His contract is through next season and he's done nothing worth firing. Next year is a big audition for him though.
