In a sense, Don Mattingly has been preparing for this moment with the Los Angeles Dodgers ever since he retired as a player with the New York Yankees in 1995.

Mattingly served on Joe Torre’s coaching staffs in New York and Los Angeles the past seven seasons. Mattingly will make his Major League regular-season managerial debut when the Dodgers host the defending World Series champion San Francisco Giants at 7 CDT tonight in a game televised by ESPN.

“I got the chance and I have to take advantage,” said the Evansville native, who will turn 50 on April 20. “You don’t know — this might be the only chance you’ll get. I don’t expect more than one. The Dodgers understand I’ve been through it. More than anything else, they’re not going in blind. I know everybody. We’re a good fit.”

Mattingly, who has injected some much-needed energy and enthusiasm that had been lacking in the clubhouse under the now-retired Torre, said the Dodgers have a good blend of youth and experience.

“These guys have been to the playoffs two of the last three years,” Mattingly said. “The first half of last year we were OK. We’ve got the tools and opportunity to win.”

L.A. slumped in the second half of last season, finishing fourth in the National League West at 80-82.

One of the tools Mattingly was talking about is Castle High School graduate Jamey Carroll, a veteran utility player who is penciled in to start tonight at second base.

“I can’t tell you how much he’s done for this team,” Mattingly said. “He was our MVP last year.”

Carroll batted .291 in 133 games in winning the Roy Campanella Award, given to a Dodger player who best exemplifies the spirit and leadership of the Hall of Fame catcher. “I totally trust him in any situation,” Mattingly said. “He’ll play a lot of shortstop, second and third base. He’s a total pro. He’s been a pleasure to coach.”

Carroll, who is recovering from a bruised finger on his throwing hand, relishes the opportunity to play “for a guy I grew up idolizing and inspired me to be a big leaguer.”

Ironically, Preston Mattingly, Don’s son, was traded from Los Angeles’ organization to the Cleveland Indians’ organization little more than a week after Don was named Dodgers manager last September.

“It’s a good thing for Preston. Now he has a new start,” Don said. “Sometimes that’s what it takes for a guy to get playing time. Last year he had a two-month hamstring injury. I appreciate that the Dodgers didn’t hold onto him just because he was a first-round draft choice (in 2006).”

Preston, who appeared in only 49 minor league games last season, batted a combined .218 while splitting time between the Class A Inland Empire 66ers and the Arizona League (rookie) Dodgers. He has been assigned by the Indians to the double-A Akron Aeros.

Once considered Torre’s heir apparent as Yankees manager, Mattingly was shoved aside in favor of Joe Girardi following the 2007 season. Mattingly, who followed Torre to Los Angeles, interviewed for the Indians’ managerial vacancy by telephone in 2009.

Believed to be the first major league manager from Evansville, Mattingly hopes to be known for much more as a mentor.

“It’s really exhilarating,” Mattingly said. “This is what I’ve worked for. I’m proud to be from Evansville. But hopefully I’ll also be looked upon and someone who did well. I’m so excited to get started.”

PARADISE VALLEY, Ariz. — Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig confirmed Thursday that he is actively involved in discussions with former Los Angeles Dodgers manager Joe Torre about a position with the league office, a job that has been widely reported to be that of vice president of baseball operations.

Torre had said Wednesday, the first day of baseball’s two-day, quarterly owners meetings, that he had been discussing a job with Selig, but Torre said he wasn’t sure of the exact job or what his responsibilities would be. Torre also said he was fairly certain Selig also was talking to other candidates for the position.

“What Joe said is absolutely correct,” Selig said. “I have known Joe for 55 years, and I know his whole family very well. He and I have always had a very cordial relationship. There is no final decision as to what we’re going to do.”

Selig met Torre when Torre’s older brother, Frank, first reached the major leagues with the Milwaukee Braves in 1956. At the time, Selig was working for his father, who ran an automobile leasing company in Milwaukee and did business with several Braves players.

Torre, who grew up in Brooklyn, moved his family to Los Angeles when he took over three years ago as manager of the Dodgers, and he seemed to hint to media members Wednesday that he would like to stay there even if he goes to work for the commissioner. But at least one source in the league office said earlier this week that the position of VP of operations probably can’t be done from outside the office.

Selig declined to address the subject of whether Torre would be allowed to continue living on the West Coast if he is hired.

“We haven’t gotten into detail on what he would do,” Selig said.

Torre, who is a member of Selig’s 14-man competition committee, said Wednesday he hoped to discuss the job further with Selig during these owners meetings, “if he has time.” It wasn’t clear by Thursday whether the two planned to meet about the job, but Selig spent most of the two-day event going from meeting to meeting and was quickly ushered off to another meeting after the competition-committee meeting adjourned.

Tony Jackson covers the Dodgers for ESPNLosAngeles.com.

Follow Tony Jackson on Twitter: @dodgerscribe

PARADISE VALLEY, Ariz. — Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig confirmed Thursday that he is actively involved in discussions with former Los Angeles Dodgers manager Joe Torre about a position with the league office, a job that has been widely reported to be that of vice president of baseball operations.

Torre had said Wednesday, the first day of baseball’s two-day, quarterly owners meetings, that he had been discussing a job with Selig, but Torre said he wasn’t sure of the exact job or what his responsibilities would be. Torre also said he was fairly certain Selig also was talking to other candidates for the position.

“What Joe said is absolutely correct,” Selig said. “I have known Joe for 55 years, and I know his whole family very well. He and I have always had a very cordial relationship. There is no final decision as to what we’re going to do.”

Selig met Torre when Torre’s older brother, Frank, first reached the major leagues with the Milwaukee Braves in 1956. At the time, Selig was working for his father, who ran an automobile leasing company in Milwaukee and did business with several Braves players.

Torre, who grew up in Brooklyn, moved his family to Los Angeles when he took over three years ago as manager of the Dodgers, and he seemed to hint to media members Wednesday that he would like to stay there even if he goes to work for the commissioner. But at least one source in the league office said earlier this week that the position of VP of operations probably can’t be done from outside the office.

Selig declined to address the subject of whether Torre would be allowed to continue living on the West Coast if he is hired.

“We haven’t gotten into detail on what he would do,” Selig said.

Torre, who is a member of Selig’s 14-man competition committee, said Wednesday he hoped to discuss the job further with Selig during these owners meetings, “if he has time.” It wasn’t clear by Thursday whether the two planned to meet about the job, but Selig spent most of the two-day event going from meeting to meeting and was quickly ushered off to another meeting after the competition-committee meeting adjourned.

Tony Jackson covers the Dodgers for ESPNLosAngeles.com.

Follow Tony Jackson on Twitter: @dodgerscribe

PARADISE VALLEY, Ariz. — Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig confirmed Thursday that he is actively involved in discussions with former Los Angeles Dodgers manager Joe Torre about a position with the league office, a job that has been widely reported to be that of vice president of baseball operations.

Torre had said Wednesday, the first day of baseball’s two-day, quarterly owners meetings, that he had been discussing a job with Selig, but Torre said he wasn’t sure of the exact job or what his responsibilities would be. Torre also said he was fairly certain Selig also was talking to other candidates for the position.

“What Joe said is absolutely correct,” Selig said. “I have known Joe for 55 years, and I know his whole family very well. He and I have always had a very cordial relationship. There is no final decision as to what we’re going to do.”

Selig met Torre when Torre’s older brother, Frank, first reached the major leagues with the Milwaukee Braves in 1956. At the time, Selig was working for his father, who ran an automobile leasing company in Milwaukee and did business with several Braves players.

Torre, who grew up in Brooklyn, moved his family to Los Angeles when he took over three years ago as manager of the Dodgers, and he seemed to hint to media members Wednesday that he would like to stay there even if he goes to work for the commissioner. But at least one source in the league office said earlier this week that the position of VP of operations probably can’t be done from outside the office.

Selig declined to address the subject of whether Torre would be allowed to continue living on the West Coast if he is hired.

“We haven’t gotten into detail on what he would do,” Selig said.

Torre, who is a member of Selig’s 14-man competition committee, said Wednesday he hoped to discuss the job further with Selig during these owners meetings, “if he has time.” It wasn’t clear by Thursday whether the two planned to meet about the job, but Selig spent most of the two-day event going from meeting to meeting and was quickly ushered off to another meeting after the competition-committee meeting adjourned.

Tony Jackson covers the Dodgers for ESPNLosAngeles.com.

Follow Tony Jackson on Twitter: @dodgerscribe