Tales from the clubhouse: Riggleman's resignation

Tales from the clubhouse: Riggleman's resignation
I get asked often about the craziest story I've covered on the Nationals beat, and there's no shortage of choices over the last 15 years. But my answer has been consistent for a long time now: it's Jim Riggleman's surprise resignation during the 2011 season, and the chaotic 72 hours that followed. In fact, when Michael Phillips of the Richmond Times-Dispatch (a long ago intern on the Nats beat) asked on Twitter a few days ago "What's the most random sports moment you'd watch a 10-part...

Riggleman remembers his time with Nats, proud to have another shot to manage

Riggleman remembers his time with Nats, proud to have another shot to manage
Reds interim manager Jim Riggleman returned to D.C. as his team opens a four-game series against the Nationals. Riggleman said he is focusing on preparing for the game, but he does have fond memories for the area because he grew up here. "Really, your thoughts are about the ballgame ahead of us," Riggleman said from his desk in the visitors clubhouse at Nationals Park. "It's home for me. This is where I grew up, so I have friends and family here. And that's always great. I wish we came in...

Game 108 lineups: Nats vs. Reds

Game 108 lineups: Nats vs. Reds
It is pouring at this moment on South Capitol Street, and there is rain in the forecast at various points throughout the remainder of the afternoon and evening. What that means for tonight's series opener against the Reds ... we just don't know yet. Stay tuned. As always, when we know, you'll know. The Nationals would very much like to play, trying to sustain some positive (on-field) momentum from their two-game sweep of the Mets and sending Max Scherzer to the mound. That's a nice...

The history of Nats managers, through Zimmerman's eyes

The history of Nats managers, through Zimmerman's eyes
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The Nationals have experienced plenty of change over the years, nowhere more so than in the manager's office. Davey Martinez is now the club's seventh full-time manager in 14 seasons in Washington, with none of his predecessors having survived longer than 2 1/2 seasons. Only one player has been around for every one of the seven skippers: Ryan Zimmerman, the organization's first draft pick in 2005. Zimmerman's career has included its own share of changes, but he has...

When will Nationals extend Dusty Baker?

When will Nationals extend Dusty Baker?
Dusty Baker has been the manager of the Nationals for roughly 14 months, so it's a little hard to fathom how he could already be a lame duck skipper. But he is. The two-year deal that he signed in November 2015 runs through 2017, meaning that Baker has now entered a period of limbo that's treated other Nationals managers rather poorly. Remember the end of the 2013 campaign, Davey Johnson's last at the helm? It was already prearranged that Johnson would manage through 2013 and then move into...

Rachel Levitin: Renion recalls Riggleman's abrupt resignation

Rachel Levitin: Renion recalls Riggleman's abrupt resignation
The Nationals ran into a familiar face last week while in Cincinnati. Former Nats Manager Jim Riggleman, who served as manager from 2009 to 2011, caught up with general manager Mike Rizzo and reflected on his time with the ballclub. Riggleman is now the Reds' third base coach, after serving as a minor league manager in their system for a couple of seasons. According to reports, Riggleman doesn't harbor any ill will against the club and is happy to be working in baseball, regardless of the...

Some of this, some of that

Some of this, some of that
If you're interested in following Jim Riggleman's post-Nationals career path, I've got an update for you. Riggleman has received a promotion from the Reds and will be managing their Triple-A team in Louisville in 2013. He had spent the 2012 season managing the Reds' Double-A affiliate in Pensacola. The former Nats skipper had been talked about as a candidate for the Astros' bench coach job under Bo Porter and my MASNsports.com colleague Roch Kubatko reported that Riggleman was among...

Add Jim Riggleman to list of potential Orioles third base coaches

Add Jim Riggleman to list of potential Orioles third base coaches
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Former Nationals manager Jim Riggleman is being considered for the Orioles' third base coaching job. The list compiled by manager Buck Showalter appears to contain as many as six names, including Rich Dauer and Don Wakamatsu. It's fluid, as Showalter likes to say. Steve Smith took himself out of the running by informing Showalter that he wanted to be freed up to watch his son play college baseball in San Diego. Riggleman just completed his first season as manager at...

Riggleman's name resurfaces (plus some notes)

Riggleman's name resurfaces (plus some notes)
How's this for some surprising news: ESPN's Buster Olney reports that the new-look Blue Jays are close to finally naming a manager. OK, that's not the surprising news. Here's the surprising news: According to Olney, two of the finalists are former Rockies manager Jim Tracy and former Nationals skipper Jim Riggleman. Yup, the same Jim Riggleman who many people thought would never have a shot at a major league managerial job again after abruptly resigning as Nats manager because of a...

Nationals exude confidence and stability with Davey Johnson at the helm

Nationals exude confidence and stability with Davey Johnson at the helm
It has been one year. June 23, 2011, fresh off a hot streak, Jim Riggleman resigned as manager of the Nationals, and Davey Johnson was asked to take over. The Nationals were 38-37. After that day, the team finished 42-44 and have gone 82-72 since Riggleman resigned. Flash forward 365 days. Under the direction of Davey Johnson, the Nationals have gone 40-28 this season and are 80-71 since that stunning Thursday. "It was a very sad day for me," Johnson recollected. "I like Jimmy. I hate to...

The one-year anniversary of a shocking decision

The one-year anniversary of a shocking decision
A year ago today, Jim Riggleman decided he'd had enough. The then-Nationals manager wanted to have his contract option for the 2012 season picked up. He was tired of working under one-year contracts and having to worry about his future. He wanted some sort of long-term security, even if another year was as long as that security would get at the time. His team had won 11 of its last 12 games. He and his players had fought their way above .500. They had just earned a walkoff win over the...

What if ... Jim Riggleman hadn't resigned?

What if ... Jim Riggleman hadn't resigned?
Few personalities are as polarizing in recent Nationals history as Jim Riggleman. Depending on your point of view, he's either the underappreciated baseball lifer who presided over the infancy of the team's 2011 turnaround, or he's a self-centered egotist who put his personal goals over the team's. Regardless of which side of the fence you're on, it's hard to imagine a more surreal day than June 23, when Riggleman's abrupt and unforeseen resignation sucked the joy out of the Nats' 11th...

Nix signs with Phillies, Riggleman to manage Reds' Double-A team (updated)

Nix signs with Phillies, Riggleman to manage Reds' Double-A team (updated)
DALLAS - Just like last year, the Winter Meetings aren't waiting until their official Monday start for player news, and one of the first tidbits from the Hilton Anatole came in the form of reports that the Nationals have lost a guy off the bench they had hoped to re-sign. According to multiple media outlets, the Phillies have agreed to a two-year major league deal with outfielder Laynce Nix, ending the powerful left-handed hitter's tenure in D.C. after just one season. Nix, 31, posted career...

Johnson sees where the Nationals can improve

Johnson sees where the Nationals can improve
The Nationals' new field manager Davey Johnson conducted his first pregame news conference at Nationals Park Friday before their homestand opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Johnson officially replaced Jim Riggleman Monday in Los Angeles. Riggleman resigned eight days ago following a 2-1 home series finale over the Seattle Mariners. Johnson said he sees a lot of good things from the way the team is set up right now but also where he would like to adjust the roster. "I love the ball...

Davey Johnson the right answer for upward trending Nationals

Davey Johnson the right answer for upward trending Nationals
Circumstances seem to be falling the Nationals' way this season. Those circumstances usually take the form of injuries to players. Injuries befell every baseball team, every year, and usually it means a tailspin that good teams figure out a way to recover If a team has depth on its roster, the downward spiral can be avoided. This season, the Nationals have found a way to get through injuries that would disrupt most team's rhythm. The Nationals watched as first baseman Adam LaRoche and...

Do the Nationals need a team president?

Do the Nationals need a team president?
After witnessing the end of Jim Riggleman's tenure as manager of the Washington Nationals, it is interesting to wonder what difference a Stan Kasten-like leader would have made during the last few months. Kasten resigned as team president at the end of the 2010 season. His leadership and experience guided the Nationals, for better or for worse, through some rough waters as they wrestled control of the franchise back from Major League Baseball and rebuilt a decimated farm system. Mike Rizzo...

Drew Kinback: Selfish Riggleman played chicken, lost in a walk-off

Drew Kinback: Selfish Riggleman played chicken, lost in a walk-off
I really don't want to write about Jim Riggleman. First, he doesn't deserve it, considering his actions yesterday; resigning only moments after the Nationals organization hit a peak after sweeping the Seattle Mariners and moving over .500. Second, he ruined my Thursday night because as a Nationals blogger I tend to have to keep on top of these sorts of news stories and it kept me from spending time with my daughter and eating out at Wayside Chicken. I love Wayside Chicken. However, I...

Knorr says he hasn't been contacted for Nats' skipper post

Knorr says he hasn't been contacted for Nats' skipper post
Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs manager Randy Knorr told MASNsports.com that he has not been contacted about the position vacated when Nationals manager Jim Riggleman resigned after Thursday's victory over Seattle. The Nationals are very high on Knorr as a manager within their system. He has moved up from Single-A Potomac to Double-A Harrisburg and now to the Chiefs in the past three seasons. It is his sixth season as manager in the Washington organization. Knorr was the Nationals' bullpen coach...

Statement from Mike Rizzo regarding Jim Riggleman's resignation

Statement from Mike Rizzo regarding Jim Riggleman's resignation
The Washington Nationals have announced the resignation of Manager Jim Riggleman effective immediately after today's 1-0 victory over the Seattle Mariners. "I learned of Jim's decision just prior to today's game. He told me that unless his current contract was extended for another season by the end of today's game he intended to immediately resign as manager and would not be accompanying the team on the scheduled road trip to play the Chicago White Sox. "I believe, and I told Jim,...

Riggleman's agent: Rizzo would not discuss extension

Riggleman's agent: Rizzo would not discuss extension
In a stunning end to the Washington Nationals' best homestand this season, Jim Riggleman announced his resignation as manager following Thursday's victory over the Seattle Mariners. Riggleman's agent, Burton Rocks, said his client had wanted to talk for some time with Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo about a contract extension, but never was granted a meeting. "What set (Riggleman) off was all he wanted was a personal meeting with Rizzo to talk about the contract," Rocks said....