December 2006
Yankees' Mattingly all business at winter meetings

By Peter Abraham and John Delcos

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Don Mattingly the new bench coach spent time with members of Brian Cashman's staff yesterday learning some video scouting techniques.

"I'm looking at things in a different way now," he said. "I used to just study the pitcher but now it's everything having to do with game management. It was good to spend time with those guys."

Then Don Mattingly the new businessman went to work.

Mattingly Baseball was one of the nearly 300 companies that had exhibits at the trade show held in conjunction with the winter meetings. Mattingly is producing a series of bats, both wood and aluminum, with a flattened v-shaped handle he invented.

The technology helps the hitter grip the bat with his fingers and align his knuckles.

"I'd be honored if some (major-leaguers) used it but I see it mostly for kids," said Mattingly, who also has a line of clothing, batting gloves and equipment bags. "I did this with my own kids and it helped them. Hopefully people find it helps them."



(Original Publication: December 6, 2006)