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 More Yankees NewsYankees LinksDon Mattingly is the heavy favorite to replace Joe Torre in 2008 - even if Brian Cashman said the move from hitting coach to bench coach guarantees nothing. "It's possible, over time, it could happen," the GM said of Mattingly replacing Torre. "But I had a discussion with Donnie so there was no confusion. This doesn't guarantee [he follows Torre]. Moving from hitting coach to bench coach, he will gain more experience. He has an interest [in managing] down the line. Going to the bench will give him added experience and insight dealing with assisting Joe in all aspects of the game." "This is a step in the right direction, because with the hitting you spend so much time in the cage there is no time to do much of anything else," Mattingly said. "I want the opportunity to manage at some point. This step allows me to explore other parts of the game. "But Brian made it clear to me that this doesn't guarantee anything. I have it in my mind to manage someday. The New York Yankees are huge and there is a lot that goes with it. Obviously, this puts me in a better position but I need to earn everything I get." |
