Dodgers’ Don Mattingly has ‘zero problems’ with celebrating

Oct 12, 2013; St. Louis, MO, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers manager Don Mattingly during the 8th inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game two of the National League Championship Series baseball game at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 12, 2013; St. Louis, MO, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers manager Don Mattingly during the 8th inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game two of the National League Championship Series baseball game at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Oct 12, 2013; St. Louis, MO, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers manager Don Mattingly during the 8th inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game two of the National League Championship Series baseball game at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 12, 2013; St. Louis, MO, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers manager Don Mattingly during the 8th inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game two of the National League Championship Series baseball game at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports /

The St. Louis Cardinals made it very clear they weren’t happy with the behavior of first baseman Adrian Gonzalez and outfielder Yasiel Puig when they celebrated their RBIs during the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 3-0 victory over the Cardinals Monday night.

Dodgers manager Don Mattingly, on the other hand, had “zero problems” with the celebration.

“I also had zero problems the other day when they got out of the bases-loaded jam and Yadier [Molina] pumps his fist,” Mattingly told Mark Saxon of ESPN.com. “To me, that’s just baseball. Guys get excited. I had zero problems with their celebration the way they do it and I think our guys were excited that our backs were to the wall. They’ve been stopping us and shutting us down.”

It’s no surprise that Mattingly would come to the defense of his players. That’s what a manager is supposed to do.

The Dodgers and Cardinals will play game 4 of the National League Championship Series Thursday night. First pitch is scheduled for 8:00 pm EST and the game is on TBS.