Normally from the Torre school of reserved thought, Mattingly did not stop with criticizing his players. He fired shots at team management as well, noting that the roster composition focused too much on getting big names rather than finding guys who fit together as a unit (per Rosenthal).
There has to be a mixture of competitiveness. It’s not, ‘Let’s put an All-Star team together and the All-Star team wins.’ It’s finding that balance of a team that has a little bit of grit and will fight you. And also having talent to go with it.
Guggenheim Baseball Management, a group that includes former Lakers guard Magic Johnson, bought the Dodgers for a record $2 billion purchase price in 2012 and instantly began making sweeping changes.
The most notable changes from the Guggenheim group was adding high-priced veterans. Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford were acquired in a deal with the Boston Red Sox during the 2012 regular season, and starting pitcher Zack Greinke signed a six-year, $147 million deal this offseason.
At just under $217 million, the Dodgers have the second-highest payroll in baseball behind the Yankees for this season.
The problem is, unlike the Bronx Bombers, those free-spending ways haven't led to on-field success. Los Angeles was 18-26 heading into its tilt against the Brewers on Wednesday, dead last in the National League West and seven games behind the Giants and Diamondbacks.
Those disappointing performances led to rumors Mattingly was firmly on the hot seat. Though team management said earlier this week there were "no plans" to replace Mattingly, Wednesday's quotes could spark a different discussion.
And if Mattingly does lose his job, he's making it quite clear he won't go down without saying his piece.