Don Mattingly Takes Over For Joe Torre As LA Manager at The End Of The Season

The Los Angeles Times and ESPN among other media entities are reporting that Dodgers hitting coach Don Mattingly will take over as Manager at the end of the season replacing Joe Torre. An official announcement is expected prior to the start of today's game against the Colorado Rockies.

Mattingly had no previous experience as a Manager before joining the Dodgers. Since his arrival in Los Angeles three years ago it was expected that he would be the eventual replacement for Torre in the dugout.

"Over the past three years, I've had the opportunity to work with Don closely and have gotten to know him both personally and professionally and I'm convinced that he's the right person to lead the Dodgers," Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti said in a news release. "His work ethic is unparalleled, his baseball knowledge is vast and his leadership skills have been established during more than three decades in professional baseball. Donnie has also learned alongside the best in the business. Joe Torre has been a great friend, a strong leader and an incredible presence for this organization and I cannot thank him enough for his service to the Dodgers. I respect his decision to step aside and I look forward to the day where I can watch him take his rightful place in Cooperstown among baseball's legends."

The speculation of a Joe Torre departure has been gaining momentum throughout this season. In his first two seasons in L.A. he guided the team to the NLCS. This season the Dodgers are struggling to finish the season at .500.

Torre has more postseason victories than any other manager in MLB history. He also finished third in 2009 NL Manager of the Year voting.