Don Mattingly keen to be Yankees manager

Last Updated: Tuesday, October 23, 2007 | 8:45 PM ET

CBC Sports

Don Mattingly is hoping his first managerial job will be the most coveted — manager of the New York Yankees.

Mattingly, 46, was interviewed Tuesday by Yankees principal owner George Steinbrenner and team executives at Legends Field in Tampa, Fla.

Don Mattingly, centre, is one of the favourites to succeed Joe Torre, left.
(Kathy Willens/Associated Press)

Mattingly, a former first baseman with the Yankees, served as bench coach this season following three years as hitting coach, but has never managed at any level.

"I have heard that experience thing come up a lot," he said. "But in my own mind, I've been managing for the last four years, and, to be honest with you, as a player, you're playing along the whole time."

Mattingly is one of the leading candidates to succeed Joe Torre, whose tenure as Yankees manager ended last Thursday, when he rejected a $5-million US offer to return for a 13th season.

Yankees broadcaster Joe Girardi, chosen National League manager of the year with the Florida Marlins in 2006, met Monday with Yankees management.

Yankees first base coach Tony Pena is scheduled to be interviewed Wednesday.

"It is an unbelievable opportunity for whoever gets it," Mattingly said. "If it's me, I'm looking forward to that challenge."

Torre, 67, guided the Yankees to the playoffs in each of his 12 seasons at the helm, winning four World Series.

But New York's offer represented a substantial pay cut for Torre, who earned $7.5 million US this season in the final year of three-year, $19.2-million US contract extension that was due to expire Oct. 31.

The next highest-paid manager in the majors is Lou Piniella of the Chicago Cubs at $3.5 million US.

"There is a lot of Joe Torre in me," Mattingly said. "But there is also a lot of Billy Martin, and Lou Piniella, and whatever creates the personality inside of me that says we need to get this job done."

Donnie Baseball

Mattingly, one of the most beloved players to don Yankee pinstripes, was promoted to bench coach under Torre on Nov. 1, 2006, replacing Lee Mazzilli and prompting speculation that he was next in line to manage.

"If I get the opportunity to manage this club, it's about going forward," Mattingly said. "It's about winning games and doing whatever we can to win.

"If we don't do that and I don't do my job and I get criticism, that's part of it."

Mattingly debuted as a player for the Yankees on Sept. 8, 1982, and spent his entire 14-year major-league career in New York.

Nicknamed Donnie Baseball, the stylish first baseman hit .307 with 222 home runs, 1,099 runs batted in, and 1,007 runs scored in 1,785 MLB games until being forced to retire at age 34 because of back problems.

Mattingly, a six-time all-star, won nine Gold Glove Awards and was chosen the American League's most valuable player in 1985.

His No. 23 was retired by the Yankees in 1997.