Don Mattingly said on Apr. 29 that his mind was racing after securing his first victory as the Philadelphia Phillies’ interim manager, following a hectic day in which he replaced Rob Thomson. Mattingly spoke about his approach to managing lineups and shared insights from his previous managerial experience with the Dodgers and Marlins.
The topic of lineup construction matters to both fans and players, as it can influence game strategy and player comfort. The Phillies are looking for improvements after a challenging start to their season.
Mattingly explained that he relies on data-driven tools but ultimately believes the difference in run value from changing batting orders is minimal over time. “I’ve been in different places that use lineup optimizers and things like that,” Mattingly said. “And what you find out, you want your best nine and you can kind of put them in any order, and it changes the run value, I mean, so slightly over the course of the year.” He added that player comfort is important: “I want guys comfortable. I do know that as a player, they want to be in spots that they’re fairly comfortable with the guys around them and know where they’re going to be.” Mattingly also emphasized commitment from players regarding their positions in the lineup: “I don’t want them going, ‘OK, I’ll do it,’ and not be committed to it. I want guys committed to where they’re at and really just having good quality at-bats.”
Balance within the lineup is another focus for Mattingly. He said he aims to avoid giving opposing managers easy opportunities by stacking left-handed hitters together: “Let’s say our lefties are our best guys. We put five in a row up there. We’re just begging you to bring lefties in that spot…you try to set the lineup up in a way that puts a little pressure on the other manager.”
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Serving both local fans as well as those regionally and nationally according to their official website, the Phillies function as a charter member of Major League Baseball’s National League according to their official website.
Looking ahead, Mattingly will make two lineups for Thursday’s split doubleheader at Citizens Bank Park.
