Don Mattingly's testy answer to question about Dodgers future

Don Mattingly's team hadn't even hit the showers after the Dodgers were ousted by the Mets in the NLDS Thursday night when the manager was asked about his future in Los Angeles — a question which has been the subject of intense speculation on and off this season.

“Seriously, you’re asking me that now?” said Mattingly who declined any additional comment on his status under first-year president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman.

Mattingly, who is the first Dodgers manager to win three straight division titles and handled a lot of team issues and injuries all season, still has to wonder if the success of 162 games was enough to save his job.

“When you’re playing, we all expect to be back. … Donnie he expects to be back and every one here thinks he’ll be back managing this club,” said outfielder Andre Ethier who was involved in a dugout confrontation with the manager in the middle of the game.

Still, some wondered if the question was maybe just a little too soon.

Whoever asked Don Mattingly about his job security for next year in the post game presser should have his credentials permanently revoked.

— CJ Nitkowski (@CJNitkowski) October 16, 2015

Mattingly has proven to be an excellent manager of players and a decent in-game manager. But the Dodgers' expectations once again ended short of a World Series and it has been that way since 1988.

And although Mattingly and Ethier both downplayed Thursday night's dugout clash, with the manager calling it "nothing between us," one has to wonder if that scene is just a prelude to Donnie Baseball's departure.

Trouble in the @Dodgers dugout? See Andre Eithier flip out on his own team. http://t.co/YG7aiDi5lV https://t.co/g5e7jsAtmw

— New York Daily News (@NYDailyNews) October 16, 2015

While no Dodgers official has publicly spoken about the situation, the word around LA has been World Series or nothing.

And nothing it is.

Vin Scully while Ethier destroys bat rack: ‘Get it out, son’ (VIDEO)

Things that stink in life: Missing your school bus, losing your lunch money to a bully and making an out during a big game.

And that last reason was why Andre Ethier used his bat to vent his frustration in the dugout after lining out to the Athletics' Ike Davis Tuesday night.

And, as always, there was the soothing voice of Vin Scully to turn the big leaguer's tantrum into a calming perspective.

"Get it out, son." ~ Vin Scully pic.twitter.com/drLUloeSDV

— Vin Scully (@VinScullyTweet) July 29, 2015

And after you put those bats back on the rack Andre, how about we go for some ice cream?

With sprinkles?

Dodgers 'aggressively' trying to trade any outfielder ... except Puig: Report

The Dodgers are reportedly looking to create space on their roster and are "aggressively" trying to trade any of their outfielders ... any of them not named Yasiel Puig.

According to Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal, the Dodgers are looking to trade either Matt Kemp, Carl Crawford, or Andre Ethier from their crowded outfield.  The team is also willing to include money in the deal to help teams supplement some of their significant contracts.

Kemp's availability is the most intriguing because his place on the trade market creates a excellent possibility for teams looking for a right-handed hitter with power. And this news comes as general managers made their way to Phoenix Sunday night and today for the beginning of the general manager meetings.

Sources: #Dodgers aggressively trying to move Kemp, Crawford or Ethier. Puig not in play.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 10, 2014

#Dodgers' Kemp obviously drawing attention, but some teams prefer a left-handed hitter such as Ethier or Crawford.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 10, 2014

Still, all three outfielders are under contract and owed a lot of money:

• Kemp: $21 million in 2015; $21.5 million every season between 2016-19
• Crawford: $20.5 million in 2015; $20.75 million in ’16 and $21 million in ’17
• Ethier: $18 million in 2015; $18 million in ’16, $17.5 million in ’17, and a $17.5 million club option in ’18 with a $2.5 million buyout

Additionally, all three outfielders are in their 30’s, and in the case of Kemp and Crawford, are injury-prone. Despite their obvious talent, acquiring one of the three will be a risk for any team.

Mattingly suspended two games for 'arguing' with umpires

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Don Mattingly has been suspended for two games beginning with Saturday night's game against the Atlanta Braves.

The former Yankees player and coach was also given an undisclosed fine "for excessive arguing" with home plate umpire Angel Campos in Thursday's 10-6 loss in Pittsburgh.

The wild scene unfurled when Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp was ejected from the game after reportedly yelling "Let's go 'Dre" to his teammate Andre Ethier who was at the plate.  Campos took offense to the cheer and threw a riled Kemp out of the game.  Kemp had to be restrained by teammates from going after Campos.  Mattingly was tossed after he came to his player's defense.

The suspension was announced Saturday by Joe Garagiola Jr. , senior vice president of standards and on-field operations for MLB.

Mattingly admitted he was confused when he first heard of the suspension but later said he understood he was suspended because he did not attempt to restrain Kemp before jumping into the argument.

Kemp was not fined or suspended.

"I'm happy about that," said Mattingly.

At the Dodgers batting practice, Mattingly was asked where he would watch Saturday's game.

"I don't know.  I heard there's a suite somewhere," he joked.

Dodgers bench coach Trey Hillman will take over as skipper for both games