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Don Mattingly Online - September 2004 Interview
.: September 2004 Interview :.
======================= Interview begins here. ======================= Lance Wrote: Don, Would bad batting practice before a game affect your swing and/or your frame of mind for the game? Thanks, Lance Don Mattingly Wrote: Lance, Well, you would like to have good batting practice, good pitches and such. Just because you have a good batting practice doesn't mean you going to have a good game. Sometimes you have to separate the two. Hitting and batting practice are two different things. During practice you know the pitches and the speed. The game is a whole different animal. Sincerely, Don Mattingly Aron Wrote: Now that you are coaching, what different hitting techniques are you teaching that you were taught in the major leagues? In other words, what changes in the last 10-15 years have been made in hitting? Don Mattingly Wrote: Aron, I am not teaching anything I did not learn when I was playing. I really do not feel there are many differences in techniques today as there were back then. So really nothing has changed as far as teaching. One thing I have noticed is strike outs. It doesn't seem to be a big deal to strike out anymore, not like it used to be. Sincerely, Don Mattingly Susan Wrote: Did you miss being involved in baseball full-time while you were home? Don Mattingly Wrote: Susan, The first year to a year and a half was tough. It was hard to get comfortable with my own time, after that I did not have any trouble. I enjoyed being home. Sincerely, Don Mattingly Matt Wrote: As a lifelong Yankee fan now married to a lifelong Red Sox fan (can you smell the irony?), my wife and I always get carry on about the rivalry. What was the rivalry like for you as a player, and now as a coach? Don Mattingly Wrote: Matt, Great, both ways. It has always been good. Since the 78 one game playoff, I anticipated it being a good rivalry, but I do not understand why it is so good. It seems to be getting wilder and wilder. Sincerely, Don Mattingly Spencer Wrote: Did you have any mentors when you were a kid and what kind of education did you have? Don Mattingly Wrote: Spencer, Yeah, I had a lot of mentors. Different coaches for different sports, my high school coach, my brothers, I had lots of good role models. My education was High School, I signed out of High School. Sincerely, Don Mattingly Brian Wrote: I'm a ballplayer...not at your caliber. How did you stay so on top of the ball to the point where you could hit line drives at will. By the way, I appreciate the way you played the game (0% Bull, 100% Baseball). Don Mattingly Wrote: Brian, Well, I wish I could him them at will, but if you work on bottom hand drills it helps you keep your route to the ball as short as possible and gives you a better chance to get on top of the ball. Sincerely, Don Mattingly Collin Wrote: Mr. Mattingly, You were a terrific hitter during your career who many people enjoyed watching. I was wondering which hitters you enjoyed watching the most since you broke into the major leagues. Thanks and good luck! Sincerely, Collin Don Mattingly Wrote: Collin, Molitar, Brett, Jim Rice, Chipper Jones, just to name a few! Sincerely, Don Mattingly Dennis Wrote: Don, One of my biggest thrills, being that I live in Boston, and root for the Yankees was seeing Wade Boggs, and Roger Clemens end up in a Yankee uniforms. That being said, did you and Wade ever share hitting tips with one another? And, is Roger better now, or when you faced him in the mid eighties to nineties. Don Mattingly Wrote: Dennis, Wade and I definitely talked about hitting. Each player works their own swing into who they are facing and how they want to approach that pitcher. We talked about hitting, but not really specific things, we both always changed it up. Roger is obviously still good, he had a great arm then, and a great arm now. At this point in his career he was probably better when he was younger, but either way you go, he is still great. Sincerely, Don Mattingly Ace Wrote: Don, When you were battling the back injury and you knew it was inevitable that your career as a player was over, how did you deal with it? Many said you were a sure candidate for the "Hall". I think you were the finest Yankee 1st baseman since Lou Gehrig. Sincerely, Ace Don Mattingly Wrote: Ace, My back and the ending of my career were really two different things. A lot of people think that my back was the reason I retired. The truth is I wanted to be around my family. That was the main reason I retired. Sincerely, Don Mattingly Jack Wrote: What does that padded O-ring that hitters wear on their top hand thumb do? Correct grip, reduce vibrations, and help hand position? Please let me know. Don Mattingly Wrote: Jack, It helps do all of the above. It puts the bat in a better position, and it keeps the bat off of the batter's thumb. Sounds like you have it figured out. Sincerely, Don Mattingly ======================= Interview ends here. =======================
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