The title of the post says it all - Jim Riggleman has resigned as manager of the Washington Nationals. It's not everyday that you see the manager of baseball's hottest team step down, but it has happened. Leading the team to a 16-5 record over the past 21 games, Riggleman was upset that the Nats hadn't picked up his team option for 2012. After giving the team an ultimatum - pick it up or I am gone - he held his end of the threat.
Stay tuned to Capitol Baseball for more as this story unfolds.
WHAT A DOUCHE!!!!!!! I'm from the bay area so it shouldn't matter to me......But HOW do you take over a shitty team like that and finally get OVER .500 and resign the same day. How SELF-CENTERED is THAT?!?!?! Riggelman just made sure he'll never get another managing job...... Way to go DUMBASS!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThe contract Riggs got did suck, low pay, the club had all the advantages. Maybe he should have fired his agent.
ReplyDeletelots of blame to go around here (not sure werth deserves any...). should rizzo have agreed to a sit down about a possible pick up of the option...perhaps. but for riggs to put forth an ultimatum at this point is cheap and frankly dishonorable. are both parties at fault yes but riggs pulled the trigger on his threat so the buck stops with him. lets hope the players feel betrayed and angry and make him look like an idiot
ReplyDeleteRizzo spoke first and said that riggs demanded his option be picked up today. Riggs said that he asked for a conversation and was blown off yet again. The politics of this situation are right at home in DC. Don't be too quick to blame this all on Riggs. He was a caretaker manager and he knew it. They obviously never intended to let him manage the team in the future but were stringing him along. There is plenty of fault to go around here. Things are rarely as black and white as they seem. Hope the guys can roll with this punch and keep playing good baseball.Go Nats - the team, not the administration , that is.
ReplyDeleteOn a completely irrelevant topic - Josh Willingham went on the dl today - right on schedule for him. Question -- will Riggleman be an assistant coach for the All Star Game now? That's quite a brige to burn - don't see how he can, not being a mlb manager right now. Has anyone thought of that yet?
ReplyDeleterizzo may have a great a great eye for amateur and minor league talent-but a true gm requires many other attributes,one of which is NOT LOSING YOUR MANAGER when the team is hot.rizzo and the nats will spin this anyway they can-but he LOST HIS MANAGER. what else has he caused the nats to lose down the road?
ReplyDeleterizzo should never play poker
ReplyDeleteAgreed, plenty of blame to go around here. Riggleman's complaints are legit, and Rizzo handled the situation badly. At the same time, for the good of the team, Riggleman should have reevaluated making this threat particularly right now. He could've at least given the ultimatum at the All-Star break.
ReplyDeleteAgain, however, I point to the minimal evidence that the manager has any significant impact on the ballclub. The team will survive.