MLB notebook: Don Mattingly returning to Dodgers next season
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Don Mattingly's job as manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers is safe heading into 2015.
Andrew Friedman, the new president of baseball operations, addressed a number of issues at his introductory news conference on Friday at Dodger Stadium. Mattingly's future topped the list.
"We're very aligned on a lot of things philosophically and have thoroughly enjoyed those conversations," he said. "We're going to get together next week and I'll look forward to building that relationship."
Friedman said he already has had two conversations with the Dodgers skipper.
There had been reports that Friedman might try to bring longtime friend and Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon to Southern California to replace Mattingly. Friedman quickly quashed that rumour.
"I have a tremendous personal relationship with Joe. He's a friend of mine. We have a really good professional relationship as well," Friedman told the Los Angeles Times. "That being said, Joe is now working with (Rays President) Matt Silverman and baseball operations people there. I'm excited about working with Donnie.
"I'm going into it with the mind-set that we're going to work together for a long time. ... I'm looking forward to working with Donnie for a long time."
Friedman, a 37-year-old former Wall Street analyst, does plan to hire a general manager. CBSSports.com says the most likely GM candidate is former Arizona and San Diego GM Josh Byrnes.
BANISTER INTRODUCED
The Texas Rangers introduced Jeff Banister as their new manager on Friday, hoping the former Pittsburgh Pirates bench coach can recreate the team's winning attitude after missing the postseason the last two years.
Banister replaces Tim Bogar, who served as interim manager for the final 22 games of the 2014 season after Ron Washington unexpectedly resigned.
"We need players that are multifaceted in a sense that they are capable of meeting the demands of the game," Banister said during his introductory news conference.
"The game presents different situations every single night. You got to be capable of executing, you got to have the drive, you need to be selfless."
Banister had been with the Pirates organization for the past 29 years, first as a player and then in a variety of capacities including minor league coach, manager and coordinator, and major league coordinator and coach.
Washington was the Rangers manager since the start of the 2007 MLB season and led the team to World Series appearances in 2010 and 2011. The Rangers lost both, including the second one despite twice being a strike away from the title.
Since then, the Rangers have missed the postseason each year, including in 2014 when they went 67-95 and finished with the worst record in the American League.
ASTROS NAME STAFF
The Houston Astros named former Kansas City Royals manager Trey Hillman as their bench coach and added former Texas Rangers third-base coach Gary Pettis to manager A.J. Hinch's staff on Friday.
Pettis will serve as the third base coach and handle baserunning and outfield play for the Astros.
The Astros also announced that Dave Hudgens will be the team's new batting coach and Rich Dauer will become the first-base coach and infield instructor. Hudgens held the same job with the New York Mets.
Hinch is keeping pitching coach Brent Strom and bullpen coach Craig Bjornson from last year's staff.
Pettis replaced Pat Listach, who was informed this week that he was not being retained. Listach spent one year with Houston.
"I'm very disappointed," Listach told MLB.com. "I understand it's a business, but I'm disappointed."
Listach managed in the Chicago Cubs' minor league system before joining the Washington Nationals as their third-base coach. He returned to the Cubs as a bench coach and a third-base coach and then spent one season as the Los Angeles Dodgers' minor-league infield coordinator before going to Houston.
Listach's playing career spanned from 1992 to 1997. He was named National League Rookie of the Year with the Milwaukee Brewers in 1992.
NO SECOND GUESSING
St. Louis Cardinals manager Mike Matheny knew he would be roasted if his decision to use right-hander Michael Wacha with the season on the line Thursday night backfired on him.
He did anyway. And he was.
Matheny was left to defend his decision.
"We like Michael's stuff there," he said shortly after Wacha gave up a season-ending, three-run home run to the Giants left fielder Travis Ishikawa that gave San Francisco a clinching 6-3 win in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series. "We put him in a tough place. That's on me."
Asked a second, third and even fourth time why he used a regular-season starter who hadn't pitched since Sept. 26 in a situation like that when he had so many other options, Matheny understandably got defensive.
"I liked him out there. I never don't like having him on the mound," he said. "We liked his stuff. We saw the (speed) gun light up and were excited.
"Michael is a great pitcher. I can't wait to see him pitch next season when he's fully healthy. He has a great career ahead of him."
Wacha started 19 games for the Cardinals during the season and posted a 5-6 record with a 3.20 ERA. He spent two months on the disabled list because of a stress reaction in his right shoulder before returning in early September. Wacha didn't last longer than five innings in any of his four September starts, going 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA during the month.
DECISIONS TO MAKE
The stunningly quick end to the Baltimore Orioles' season does not take away from the team's impressive performance in 2014.
The Orioles shocked the baseball world by running away from the American League East and sweeping the Detroit Tigers in the AL Division Series before getting swept by the Kansas City Royals in the AL Championship Series.
Manager Buck Showalter's team stunned everyone by succeeding despite missing three All-Stars -- catcher Matt Wieters (elbow surgery), third baseman Manny Machado (knee surgery) and first baseman Chris Davis (suspension).
Designated hitter Nelson Cruz, right fielder Nick Markakis and left-hander Andrew Miller all are free agent this winter. The Orioles could make a play to bring back all of them.
"It's about players and talent," Showalter said after the ALCS. "It's about players and doing the right thing consistently over a long period of time. The things that we overcame on paper, we didn't look at it like that. There's so many roads to cross to get here."
