Phillies’ Don Mattingly named to National League coaching staff for the All-Star Game
Mattingly was invited by Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who is leading the squad. The Cardinals’ Oliver Marmol will join Mattingly as an honorary coach.
WASHINGTON — The Phillies have their first All-Star.
Major League Baseball announced on Thursday that interim manager Don Mattingly was named to the National League’s coaching staff for the All-Star Game on July 14. Mattingly was invited by Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who is leading the National League squad. The Cardinals’ Oliver Marmol will join Mattingly as an honorary coach.
The Blue Jays’ John Schneider is managing the American League team, and will be joined by the Twins’ Derek Shelton.
Mattingly said that he was a little torn at first about accepting Roberts’ invitation after being Toronto’s bench coach last year and losing to the Dodgers in last year’s World Series. But it was his 11-year-old son Louis who changed his mind.
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“I think I’m looking forward to it from Louis’s eyes more than my own, because he was excited about the Home Run Derby and the possibility being on the field,” Mattingly said. “He wanted to go to the game anyway, so it’s pretty cool. … Excited to see it from his eyes, and obviously always seeing the best players. It’s fun to see them in one spot.”
This marks Mattingly’s third All-Star game as a coach. He served on Bruce Bochy’s staff in 2015 and Joe Maddon’s staff in 2017. Prior to that, Mattingly was a six-time All-Star during his playing career.
Also joining Mattingly on the NL staff will be Phillies trainer Paul Buchheit, strength and conditioning coach Morgan Gregory, and clubhouse manager Phil Sheridan. The Phillies’ Kevin Steinhour will serve as the American League clubhouse manager.
Fan voting for position players in the All-Star Game continues next week. Phase 1 of voting concluded Thursday, with the top two finishers at each position and the top six outfielders advancing as finalists. Phase 2 of voting begins on Monday and will close on July 2.
Extra bases
Kyle Schwarber was back in the starting lineup at designated hitter on Thursday. He had been out of the lineup on Tuesday and Wednesday with low back tightness, but felt better toward the end of the game Wednesday and entered as a pinch-hitter in the ninth. … Alec Bohm was also in the lineup after X-rays came back clean on his foot, which he fouled a ball off on Wednesday night. … Zack Wheeler (7-1, 2.11 ERA) is scheduled to start Friday’s series opener against the Mets.
In trading for Luis Arraez at the deadline, the Phillies displaced three-fourths of their infield but left Trea Turner at shortstop. To help make sense of it all, pennant-winning former shortstop and current radio broadcaster Kevin Stocker joined Phillies Extra, The Inquirer's baseball podcast. Watch here.
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