Dodgers announce 2014 coaching staff, led by Don Mattingly, Wallach

Despite a rocky start to the off-season, Don Mattingly will be back at the helm of the Dodgers in 2014.

The Dodgers announced on Monday Mattingly and the entire coaching staff (less Trey Hillman) will return next season.

Tim Wallach, who had interviewed for the managerial jobs in Detroit and Seattle, will serve as Mattingly's bench coach. Wallach had been the team's third base coach for the last three years.

Wallach will get a managerial job one day, but he's a good choice for Mattingly's bench coach. I'd have preferred a guy like Manny Acta (more forward-thinking), but here's hoping Wallach can get Mattingly to bunt less going forward.

Albuquerque Isotopes' manager Lorenzo Bundy will replace Wallach as the Dodgers' third base coach. It's a great and well-deserved move for Bundy.

The rest of the staff is as follows:

Mark McGwire, hitting coach

Rick Honeycutt, pitching coach

Chuck Crim, bullpen coach

Davey Lopes, first base coach

John Valentin, assistant hitting coach

Ken Howell, assistant pitching coach

Manny Mota, coach (35th season)

Steve Yeager, coach

It remains to be seen if Mattingly will get the long-term extension he so desires (and deserves, despite the bunting). But keeping a consistent coaching staff is good for the staff itself and the players.

Remember, this team was two wins away from a World Series appearance and is set to make the necessary moves to remain title contenders. Mattingly has a pretty good thing in LA. Here's hoping he delivers a World Series trophy in about 11 1/2 months.

Photo credit: Cbl62, Wikimedia Commons