The Los Angeles Dodgers struggled over the first third of the season, briefly putting Don Mattingly on the hot seat.
According to a baseball official, Mattingly might have had 48 hours to save his job at one point. The Dodgers lost the first two games of a series with the San Diego Padres on June 20-21. They were 9.5 games out of first place in the National League West and 12 games under .500.
Had the Dodgers lost the last two games in San Diego, according to the official, Mattingly might have been fired. The Dodgers won the final two games of the series, beginning a 42-8 run.
"I love my manager, as I always have," Stan Kasten said when asked to confirm the story.