Later this afternoon, the Yankees will announce that Don Mattingly--one of the most popular players in team history--will return to the Bronx next season as hitting coach. This is a move that is certain to appease Yankee fans. Outside of New York, I doubt that anyone will even raise an eyebrow. And if they do it will be to wonder why Mattingly is so venerated in New York.

The New York papers are speculating that Willie Randolph will replace Don Zimmer as bench coach, and if Lee Maz isn't hired to manage the Orioles, he will move from first to third, opening first for Luis Sojo. Former Yankee cather, Joe Girardi was offered Sojo's gig as special assignment coach, but turned it down. Mel Stottlemyre is still a question mark to return as pitching coach, but it's my feeling that he'll be back too.

I don't know how much better the Yankees offense will be next season simply because Mattingly is the hitting coach. I tend to think that the importance of a hitting coach is inflated. However, as a ceremonial move, I absolutely love it. According to Bill Madden, so does George. I was thirteen years old when Mattingly played his first full season (1984), and he was one of my favorite players during my teenage years. He was the patron Saint of Joe Torre's Yankees: The Man Who Wasn't There.

Mattingly was still active when Derek Jeter, Andy Pettitte, Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada got their first glimpse of the Majors, and Bernie Williams played with him for several seasons. The Yankees are hoping that Mattingly will help the Yankee offense become more selective and patient. Mattingly didn't strike out much during his career, but he also didn't walk much either. Mattingly's season-high in walks was 61 (1993). For his career, Mattingly whiffed 444 times and walked 588 times. Mattingly was a line drive hitter, who put the ball in play.

Tom Boswell remarked on Mattingly's talent back 1985 (from the collection "Heart of the Order"):

For historical reference, the Musial analogy works [with Mattingly]. Left-handed hitter. Eccentric closed and coiled stance. Sprays the ball. Tons of doubles. Not too many walks. Hard to strike out.

"He doesn't look like Musial, but he hits like him," says Orioles manager Earl Weaver. "Musial was the best at adjusting once the ball left the pitcher's hand. He'd hit the pitcher's pitch. Williams was the best at making them throw his pitch. He didn't believe in adjusting. If it wasn't what he wanted, he knew enough to walk to first base. That's why he hit .406.

Once every coupla games, a Musial or Mattingly is going to adjust and put that tough pitch in play instead of walking and you're going to get some extra outs. But he's also going to drive you crazy by popping a perfect fastball on the fists down the left-field line for a double."

Perhaps Mattingly can help Soriano or Aaron Boone a bit, but what he really brings to the team, is a solid work ethic. He was a grinder as a player, and I'm sure he'll be a grinder as a coach (to be fair, it was often said that Rick Down was one of the hardest workers on the Yankee staff last year as well). Mattingly is young enough to command respect from the players, and he fits right in with Randolph, Sojo and Torre. While it may make Yankee-haters roll their eyes, it sure feels good to have Donnie Baseball back in the Bronx.