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Don Mattingly Online - July 2005 Interview
.: July 2005 Interview :.
======================= Interview begins here. ======================= Vince Wrote: Mr. Mattingly, You had an awesome performance during the 1995 Wildcard series with the Mariners. Did you always know that once you got into the playoffs you would be the type of player who could step up his game? Did you learn anything about yourself during that series? Don Mattingly Wrote: Vince, I do not think you ever really know until you experience it, but I think you just look forward to that type of game and react when it happens. I always hoped and felt like I could. I felt I was better with the game on the line, in pressure situations. I was pleased with the way it went, but it could have been even better. Yeah, I did learn that pressure does funny things to a person. There were a couple of balls I threw in that series where I remember reacting differently than normal. You learn you cannot get too crazy, you have to stay calm. I think I specifically learned what pressure did to me. It helped me in some situations, but I had to learn how to control myself too. Maybe if I had to deal with it more I could have learned to use it to my advantage without getting too excited that I made a mistake because of it. Sincerely, Don Mattingly John Wrote: Don, In my opinion there was no better hitter in the game than you through the mid to late 80's (I guess I am biased as you were my hero as I grew up playing ball in NJ), but did you find that once you starting coaching hitting and really focusing on other guys' swings you would find yourself saying, "Boy, I wish I would have figured that out when I was playing." In other words, were there things about the swing you didn't realize or took for granted that became very clear to you as a coach? Thanks, John Don Mattingly Wrote: John, I laughed pretty hard when I read this question, you are so right! There are many things I wish I would have done differently in that regard. That is a great question and I agree completely. Sincerely, Don Mattingly Stephen Wrote: Hey Don, Unfortunately, I have not been lucky enough to be your fan from when I was very young like many on this site, but as of now I am 12. I play ball and I have been a first baseman since the age of four and have been a Yankee fan since the day I watched them play. Although I'm good in the field I struggle in hitting. I take too long to decide when to swing. I would like to know what I can do to stop this habit. What would you do? Don Mattingly Wrote: Stephen, Well, it is hard for me to comment about an issue you may have with hitting without seeing it first hand, but sometimes it just takes time. You can work on many different things, but I would start with shortening your swing. Hit the ball from the ground, hit from the tee, choke it up a little bit. Try all of those things to shorten your swing. If it is the decision you are making late then shortening your swing may help compensate. Your age is tough because they are not throwing a great distance, but they are throwing hard. Just hang in there because in a year or two you get that 60ft distance between you and the pitcher instead of the 45ft you are dealing with now. Sincerely, Don Mattingly Frank Wrote: Hi Don, I hope all is going well and looking forward to the new season, good luck! I am 37 and have been a Yankee fan all my life; you are my number one player of all time. It was a pleasure to watch you play and I am so happy you are where you are right now. To my question....when you were coming up, you knew about Thurman Munson, but did you ever meet him and if so, what was it like? He was another favorite of mine and I miss him so much. You both played the game as it was meant to be played. Good luck and all the best! Frank Don Mattingly Wrote: Frank, No, I never got to meet him. It was a tragedy what happened with Thurman. I never did get to meet him. I did feel like I knew him from playing with some of the guys that knew him well. They all spoke good things about him. Sincerely, Don Mattingly Russell Wrote: Don, I am a huge fan of yours and the Yankees. I think I remember reading years ago about you being a Reds and Cardinals fan growing up in Evansville. Did you ever regret not playing for one of those teams? Thanks for the awesome memories and good luck next season. Don Mattingly Wrote: Russell, Definitely not. when you grow up somewhere you are a fan, but I think that is just the way it is growing up. Now that I have grown up in the league and played for the Yankees so long I could not imagine it any other way. I believe that all just comes with growing up and being a kid and for me it changed. Sincerely, Don Mattingly Gil Wrote: Don, Like most people here, you were my favorite player growing up. I wanted to ask you if you could talk about the different pitches that pitchers throw, and what kind of speed and action they have. Specifically the two seam versus the 4 seam fastball, curve, slider, etc. Did you as a player just react to these pitches or did you recognize them as the pitcher threw them? Don Mattingly Wrote: Gil, The 4 seam fastball is basically straight, it seems to start and end in the same line coming at you. If a 2 seam fast ball is thrown into a right hander it is going to come into him and with left hander it will go away. All the fastballs are very similar in that regard. Then you have the sinker too. As far as the fastball is concerned that is my opinion. Most pitchers are not great at all of those and as you scout it really seems to differ. The curve you see coming out of the hand so that one is easy to pick up. The split-finger is hard to pick up as it comes out of the hand. I cannot talk about each pitch, but most of the time when you are facing the pitcher you quickly realize which type of pitcher they are and which is their favorite. Most pitchers deal with only three pitches. Some deal with say five and they are much harder to pick up on. Sincerely, Don Mattingly Keith Wrote: Hey Cap., Thanks for the memories. I can't wait to see you finally get a ring. I got a quick question. Nowadays every player seems to have his "entrance music" - a song that plays when he comes up to bat or comes out of the bullpen. Since you've always been so modest and humble, I'm sure you're not big on all that stuff, but if you were playing today, what song would you ask them to play on your way to the plate? Don Mattingly Wrote: Keith, Not really sure. I do love born in a small town by John Mellencamp. I think that would be the one. Sincerely, Don Mattingly Ralph Wrote: Don, Do you think that not enough emphasis is placed on a player's defensive skill when they are being considered to be selected to the Hall of Fame? Clearly, you were a great hitter and compare quite favorably with others already selected, on an offensive basis. However, your defensive skills were unsurpassed, and seem not be factored into the overall evaluation when the writers vote. God Bless Don Mattingly Wrote: Ralph, Well, I think that is true in general. Every now and then they talk about defense, but for the most part I think that is true. That does seem to be a factor they do not consider enough when voting. Sincerely, Don Mattingly Kourtni Wrote: What was the best part of being a New York Yankee? Thank you very much! Kourtni Don Mattingly Wrote: Kourtni, Looking back, the best part about being a Yankees was I think playing in New York. It was just a great place to play. Once you get the opportunity to play there it is really just a special place to play, a great place. The fans and all the other circumstances involved just take me back to the fact that I simply loved playing in New York. Sincerely, Don Mattingly Wes Wrote: Donnie Baseball, When I was a kid the box scores I always checked were the Twins and Yankees to see how you did. It's pretty amazing how close your statistics line up with Pucks. Do you have any fine memories of Kirby? Also, perhaps you could lend Kent Hrbek one of your gold gloves since he was unfairly matched up against the greatest fielding first baseman ever. Wes Don Mattingly Wrote: Wes, Yes, I have a lot of fond memories of Kirby. I have fond memories of that entire crew since I played them in the Championship in 1981 in Nashville I believe. They had great teams and they played hard. So to answer your question, yes, many fond memories, he is a great guy. Sincerely, Don Mattingly ======================= Interview ends here. =======================
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