The Filibuster
If you had to choose any manager in MLB today who might follow Jim Riggleman’s example and tell his GM to shove it, who would it be and how do you think they’d do it?
Seth
Hagerstown, MD
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Honestly, Seth, I still can’t believe Riggleman had the gall to tell Rizzo to shove it! I mean, I knew Jim walked and talked like a boss… but I didn’t know he had Mt. Everest sized cojones! Somebody get that man a beer! And a whisky chaser!
Though what Riggleman did, as we probably all know by now, doesn’t really do him much good if he plans to continue managing in professional baseball. There aren’t too many baseball folks who can shake the acidic label of being a quitter (see Hanley Ramirez) and a 58 year old yes-man certainly isn’t one of them. Then again, dude knew he wasn’t the man in D.C., so I can’t blame him for not wanting to be Ken Macha a lame duck; if it were me though, I woulda kept my mouth shut, got my paycheck, then requested a bunch of exotic (and expensive) fare for my clubhouse spread.
And because this Riggleman show has been so bizarre, I really cannot see it happening again anytime soon. I mean, don’t get me wrong, there are bad GMs and porous front offices, but I don’t think any of them would cause a manager to commit career suicide.
Of course, that could all change if someone would just give poor Wally Backman another chance.
Alcohol abuse, short temper, bankruptcy, tax evasion… These are all things that come to mind when Backman’s name is brought up, not to mention the fact that the dude is good friends with Lenny Dykstra — not quite a paragon of amicability. I could imagine a half soused Wally Backman stumbling into GM XYZ’s office, shirt half untucked, bbq sauce stains above the letters, hat scrunched up in one hand, Keystone Light in the other, mumbling: “Pick up my option, dammit. Or I quit.”
GM XYZ sits back in his chair, loosens his tie and exhales as he examines the sad, disheveled remains of a World Series champion and says: “You’re fired.”
Why didn’t Rizzo just fire Riggleman again?
Hate me ‘cuz I refuse to resign, just don’t hate me ‘cuz I’m right.
Peace,
Jeff
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Red State Blue State 
Jeff,
This is a Masterpiece.bbq sauce style. I luv the picture. Might have been me some night!
Jeff,
Is that how it went with Riggleman! I did not know “the rest of the story” lol. Hey! I am in Twin City! I got to meet Randy today. Going to all three games with my boys in Blue!
Emma
Mike — Thanks man! I didn’t think you noticed when I snapped the pic of you. I know you’re cool like that!
Emma — I don’t know if it went down with Jim like that but Wally would find it it easy to do. Have fun in the Twin Cities!
–Jeff
Why DIDN’T Rizzo fire Riggleman? It sounds like he wasn’t anything but disrespectful to him. I don’t even understand what provoked Riggleman’s demand. The Nationals are actually semi-decent this year.
Catherine
I bet Mattingly wishes he could quit the Dodgers, given all the turmoil there, but he’s way too classy.
Catherine — Riggleman walked cuz he wanted to talk about a contract extension. Rizzo had already decided Riggleman wasn’t the guy… he was just a lame duck, so that’s why he walked.
Jane — I agree. Donnie Baseball would never make such a poor career decision.
–Jeff