By: Eric Pearce
Washington Nationals manager Jim Riggleman precipitously resigned Thursday over a contract dispute. This situation is a strange one.
He quit because he could not get the Nationals to commit to him long term. Hey, Riggs. You had one of the hottest teams in baseball. Did you get hopped up on some Four Loko and decide managing a young, up-and-coming baseball franchise was not quite what you were looking for? Did the Cubs' floundering ball club bribe you to come back as their savior? Maybe you've had your heart set on opening a sundry shop back in your hometown of Fort Dix, New Jersey.
Strange, to say the least.
We all know players can be over-paid knuckleheads. Many are young, rich and coddled. Though for the most part, we give them a pass. They wow us. They are the physical product that inspire kids and adults alike. They generates billions of dollars a year. They, we cannot live without.
Unless we are talking about crazy Ozzie in Chi-town, owners and managers are supposed to have their heads on straight. We rely on them to keep our product, well, producing. It is well documented that Riggleman and Nats ownership did not get along, but how many people like their boss? In my experience ... very few. Fortunately, the former Nats manager's reputation was solid prior to this move. Time will tell if another club is willing to gamble on a quitter with a career record of 662-824.
Ironically, he quit due to a lack of security. "Jim told me pregame today that if we wouldn't pick up his option, then he wouldn't get on the team bus today," said Nats GM Mike Rizzo, according to AP. I'm pretty sure he just cemented a future of exactly what he ran from. If he gets picked up by another team, it is sure to be a short term contract.
My bet is he gets another gig. Maybe it will be the Cubbies. Maybe he wants to go back to a less stressful bench coach position. Maybe it is the sundry shop. Either way, silly, strange ... give it a name. This was a decision that puts the Nationals in a precarious position. After winning 10 of their last 11 games, bench coach John McLaren will serve as interim manager for the streaking Nationals.
Baseball managers are notorious for doing odd things through the course of a long and arduous season. Here's hoping Washington's burgeoning franchise is not affected negatively by one of the oddest decisions a manager can make. Classy move, Riggs.
