Since retiring as a player after the 1995 season, Don Mattingly has been quoted as saying that he thinks he could have reach 3,000 hits if he hadn’t decided to spend more time with his kids. Here’s the most recent version of that quote that popped up on Twitter.
This is such a kind dismantling, I really appreciate the range you show in these pieces. Some people get the scalpel and some people get the hammer. I think your tone was spot-on here, particularly given the reasons Mattingly gives for stepping back, which are commendable. I've talked to one former player, a pitcher, who said something very similar about his decision to retire, at a point when his performance was on a very similar trend-line to that of Mattingly's. It makes me wonder if there is a correlation between decline and a willingness to step away to focus on other priorities. It seems straightforward that a player could more easily leave behind some decline-years, but if you are say, an Adrian Beltre, I bet that decision is much, much harder.
A very well done piece Paul. It always seemed that back injuries derailed Mattingly's career. That's why it's hard to believe he could've played three more seasons much less five. But no surprise that he felt he could've done it. That confidence is why he was an MLB All-Star and. almost HOFer!
This is such a kind dismantling, I really appreciate the range you show in these pieces. Some people get the scalpel and some people get the hammer. I think your tone was spot-on here, particularly given the reasons Mattingly gives for stepping back, which are commendable. I've talked to one former player, a pitcher, who said something very similar about his decision to retire, at a point when his performance was on a very similar trend-line to that of Mattingly's. It makes me wonder if there is a correlation between decline and a willingness to step away to focus on other priorities. It seems straightforward that a player could more easily leave behind some decline-years, but if you are say, an Adrian Beltre, I bet that decision is much, much harder.
A very well done piece Paul. It always seemed that back injuries derailed Mattingly's career. That's why it's hard to believe he could've played three more seasons much less five. But no surprise that he felt he could've done it. That confidence is why he was an MLB All-Star and. almost HOFer!