Don Mattingly has experience that resonates with Phillies stars, but for interim manager ‘it’s how you handle things’

PHILADELPHIA — “He’s a player” was the refrain on Tuesday night when the Phillies were asked about new interim manager Don Mattingly.

Mattingly was not just “a player.” The “Hit Man” is one of the greatest first basemen of all time, a Yankees icon and the face of baseball in the 1980s. Most of his players weren’t born yet when Mattingly was in his prime, but they understand his stardom and the weight of it.

“Obviously he’s one of the best first basemen to ever play the game,” Bryce Harper said. “Played in a tough environment in the Bronx. A lot of stuff in that head that can help us play better.”

Mattingly became the Phillies’ new bench coach in the offseason, a position he ended up having for only a few months. The team targeted him partly to address the dearth of playing experience on the current staff. Former manager Rob Thomson did not play above A-ball. Pitching coach Caleb Cotham, bullpen coach Cesar Ramos and bench coach Dusty Wathan were the only coaches on the staff with major league service time prior to Mattingly’s arrival.

“He’s been a player for a long time,” Jesús Luzardo, who had him as a manager with Miami, said. “He knows the life and the struggles that we go through.”

For Mattingly, however, accolades do not equal credibility.

“It might give you some credibility that you’ve kind of been there and did some things,” Mattingly said. “At the end of the day, it’s how you handle things is really what’s going to get me more across.”

Trea Turner praised Mattingly’s simple message to the team shortly after taking over for the recently fired Thomson. The Phillies’ problems aren’t complicated. If they play up to their capabilities, they should be able to climb out of the 10-19 hole they dug themselves into.

“Just go out there and keep fighting and grinding and play Philly baseball,” Turner said.

Anyone can deliver that message. Maybe there is more weight to it coming from a baseball legend. Ultimately, Mattingly believes his performance in the position is what will resonate with players.

“Let’s say I’m Albert Pujols and I’ve been unbelievable,” Mattingly said. “If I come in and I’m all over the map and you guys are like, ‘What is this guy doing?’ It’s kind of how you are. I feel like I’m authentic in what I do. Nothing really changes who I am and what I believe in. That doesn’t mean I don’t want to get better and evolve with the team. I’ve gotta be myself.”

It’s a conversation worth having. Nick Castellanos, who was released by the organization in spring training, did not consider Thomson nor hitting coach Kevin Long to be a credible authoritative voice because they lacked major league playing experience. That way of thinking in today’s game is largely outdated, as players today are willing to listen to anyone that can make them better.

Seventeen of the 30 current major league managers have had some major league playing experience. Mattingly is the only star player amongst the group and in a clubhouse full of stars feeling the weight of the world, maybe Mattingly’s experience can be something players lean on.

“I really feel like I’m pretty simplistic in my approach towards the game,” Mattingly said. “It’s like, ‘Let’s get ready to play our best baseball, give ourselves the best chance to win and you go home at the end of the night.’ If you do that, you’re going to feel OK, you’re going to sleep OK.”