I'm a little surprised, they were the hottest team in baseball the past two weeks, finally at .500 and looking like they were showing some promise.

He said he quit because the GM refused to pick up his option for 2012.

Yep. Apparently dude asked for his option to be picked up, GM said no, they went out and won a game to put them over .500, asked again, got told no and resigned.

Just when you think its turning around for the Nats.

I wonder if ESPN has taken down the Nats article from this morning yet. That got outdated real quick.

Wonder how he would have felt if a player with an option year just quit.

I can't say I totally disagree with Riggleman. He was doing a pretty good job with the Nationals in a tough division. Job security is an issue for everyone, and if he didn't think he was getting a fair consideration from the club, then he has to make the right decision for himself.

I'm not giving up that kind money just because of "principle." His salary was over 600k per year (below average I think for MLB managers) so he lost around $300k in the deal. All he had to do was keep winning and they would have had no choice but to pick up his option. He's not going to get another gig anywhere else.

Riggleman's been managing for 2 decades. He's 58 years old. If I had to guess, he's at a crossroads in his life where he can feel comfortable putting "principle" over money

If he kept winning, they'd probably pick his option up, but I do think most clubs would have at the least been willing to have dialogue with their manager about the option, and possibly an extension.

The Rangers had took up Washington's 2010 option by June 3rd, they picked up his 2009 option in 2007. The ChiSox exercised Ozzie's 2012 option back in January. Etc...

The fact that he had the Nats 1-game over .500 will probably allow him to find another job this off season. From what he says, he only wanted to have the "discussions" about his extension, and said he did not demand it. Probably just a little damage control.

No way in hell that guy gets hired to manage in the show again. Dude will be blackballed for that stunt.

Doesnt matter much really, he didn't deserve the job in the first place.

"Wonder how he would have felt if a player with an option year just quit"

the astros manager, Brad Mills, could answer this question

quote:

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No way in hell that guy gets hired to manage in the show again. Dude will be blackballed for that stunt.

Doesnt matter much really, he didn't deserve the job in the first place.

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Wanna poop slap bet this one? Cuz you're wrong.

Buster Olney is saying that after talking to multiple GMs and assistants that Riggleman may never get hired again.

One GM said that even if he wanted to hire him it would be a difficult sell to his owner.

There had to have been some bad blood between Riggleman and Rizzo as surely Rizzo could have talked him into staying.

He will take a year or two off and take over in STL where he began his career.

When a GM realizes his options are Riggleman, Bob Geren, or the next Jack McKeon...I wonder if they'll be able to stick to their guns and give Riggleman the cold shoulder.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=6702113

Word is Davey Johnson (played baseball for the Ags in 1962) will take over the Nationals.

It seems that the Nationals are giving Johnson the rest of 2011 and 2012, with an option for 2013. From my understanding, if they'd had conversations about that with Riggleman, the whole situation might've been avoided.

Davey Johnson is only 68 years old. For some reason I thought he was older than that

he has the distinction of being the answer to 3 nice trivia questions:

1. who made the last out of the 1969 world series

2. who got the last hit off Sandy Koufax

3. who hit behind both the American all-time HR leader and the Japanese all-time HR leader

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3. who hit behind both the American all-time HR leader

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While Bonds is certainly a cheater, and his records therefore shouldn't count, for now they do. I'm fairly certain Davey Johnson never hit behind behind Barry Bonds.