Jim Riggleman has some onions.
Everyone has that moment in life where they just want to go to their boss and tell them, “Screw it. I quit.”
But rarely, does anyone act on it — especially nowadays when jobs are so precious.
In sports, though, the job market is different, and generally when a coach or manager resigns, it’s just a smokescreen for a firing. It’s just a nice way part ways. But so far, in 2011, we’ve had two managers step back and say, “I’m done,” on their own.
Edwin Rodriguez, after a horrid 1-17 start to June, stepped down from the Marlins, and that’s understandable in many ways. It wasn’t going well and he knew that his job was going to be in jeopardy anyway.
Riggleman, on the other hand, had led the Nationals from the depths of the NL East to third place with a 38-37 record, 8.5 games behind the Phils. To put that into perspective, because the Phils are so far ahead of anyone in baseball, the Nats would be 2.5 games out of first place in the NL Central. Winning 11 of their last 12, the Nationals were technically in the Wild Card hunt, if we want to discuss that this early in the season.
Still, Riggleman was fed up because the general manager, Mike Rizzo, didn’t want to talk about a contract extension — Riggleman’s deal ended at the conclusion of the 2011 season.
Whereas I can see the argument, “If you don’t want me now, why should I stay?” and the “Better to cut ties now than later,” I still cannot stand by Riggleman on this move.
Where does he go now? It’s going to be tough to sign a contract with a new team because who is going to want to sign a “quitter,” as he is being tabbed by many.
Riggleman would have been better off finishing the season.
If he could have continued his success, who knows, maybe the Nationals would have finished third with a winning record, which in 2011 is a victory for the young, rebuilding franchise. There even would have been the outlying chance that they could have placed second and maybe grabbed the Wild Card. He certainly would have been up for Manager of the Year.
At that point, the ball would be in Rizzo’s court. He would have been left with a decision: re-sign Riggleman or go a different direction.
Why not put that pressure on Rizzo?
That way, if Rizzo got rid of him, all of a sudden, Riggleman would be the most-wanted manager by other teams. We’ve seen this before. The Marlins shipped off the Manager of the Year in Fredi Gonzalez, and he quickly was rumored to be a managing candidate for many clubs, but primarily to take over Bobby Cox’s position. And he did just that, taking over the Braves.
That could have been Riggleman after this season if Washington shunned him. Now, because he shunned them himself, his future is up in the air.
I sure hope Riggleman woke up Friday still feeling happy about his decision, because if this was all reactionary and not thought through, it would be a shame.
You know what, I’m tired of writing about this.
I’m done.
Everyone has that moment in life where they just want to go to their boss and tell them, “Screw it. I quit.”
But rarely, does anyone act on it — especially nowadays when jobs are so precious.
In sports, though, the job market is different, and generally when a coach or manager resigns, it’s just a smokescreen for a firing. It’s just a nice way part ways. But so far, in 2011, we’ve had two managers step back and say, “I’m done,” on their own.
Edwin Rodriguez, after a horrid 1-17 start to June, stepped down from the Marlins, and that’s understandable in many ways. It wasn’t going well and he knew that his job was going to be in jeopardy anyway.
Riggleman, on the other hand, had led the Nationals from the depths of the NL East to third place with a 38-37 record, 8.5 games behind the Phils. To put that into perspective, because the Phils are so far ahead of anyone in baseball, the Nats would be 2.5 games out of first place in the NL Central. Winning 11 of their last 12, the Nationals were technically in the Wild Card hunt, if we want to discuss that this early in the season.
Still, Riggleman was fed up because the general manager, Mike Rizzo, didn’t want to talk about a contract extension — Riggleman’s deal ended at the conclusion of the 2011 season.
Whereas I can see the argument, “If you don’t want me now, why should I stay?” and the “Better to cut ties now than later,” I still cannot stand by Riggleman on this move.
Where does he go now? It’s going to be tough to sign a contract with a new team because who is going to want to sign a “quitter,” as he is being tabbed by many.
Riggleman would have been better off finishing the season.
If he could have continued his success, who knows, maybe the Nationals would have finished third with a winning record, which in 2011 is a victory for the young, rebuilding franchise. There even would have been the outlying chance that they could have placed second and maybe grabbed the Wild Card. He certainly would have been up for Manager of the Year.
At that point, the ball would be in Rizzo’s court. He would have been left with a decision: re-sign Riggleman or go a different direction.
Why not put that pressure on Rizzo?
That way, if Rizzo got rid of him, all of a sudden, Riggleman would be the most-wanted manager by other teams. We’ve seen this before. The Marlins shipped off the Manager of the Year in Fredi Gonzalez, and he quickly was rumored to be a managing candidate for many clubs, but primarily to take over Bobby Cox’s position. And he did just that, taking over the Braves.
That could have been Riggleman after this season if Washington shunned him. Now, because he shunned them himself, his future is up in the air.
I sure hope Riggleman woke up Friday still feeling happy about his decision, because if this was all reactionary and not thought through, it would be a shame.
You know what, I’m tired of writing about this.
I’m done.
Comments