Tommy Lasorda has come to the defense of Los Angeles Dodgers manager Don Mattingly, who has been under increasing media pressure with his expensive team being off to a 13-20 start.

Friday's Los Angeles Times featured two stories on Mattingly's job status, with one of them under the headline "Donnie on the Spot."

Mattingly is operating under the final year of his contract.

"It bothers me, because Don's not that kind of guy. He wouldn't be talking about his contract. If he did, it would be privately," Lasorda said. "He's done a hell of a job with the team, and the players think the world of him. They're just not putting out. They're not playing up to their capabilities, and consequently, the manager has to suffer the brunt of it.

"[Critics] don't want to get rid of the players. They want to get rid of the manager."