Thursday, June 23, 2011

Nationals manager Jim Riggleman abruptly resigned following Washington’s 1-0 victory over Seattle on Thursday afternoon at Nationals Park.

General manager Mike Rizzo said Riggleman had told him before the game that he would resign if his contract situation was not resolved by the end of the day. When that didn’t happen, Riggleman quit. The Nationals held a $600,000 option on Riggleman’s deal for 2012 but had not yet enacted it.

“Jim told me pre-game today that if we wouldn’t pick up his option, then he wouldn’t get on the team bus today,” Rizzo said.

 The Nationals were set to leave following the game for a three-game series at the White Sox this weekend. Rizzo said he would name an interim manager before Friday’s game in Chicago.

“I’m disappointed of the timing of it, that he resigned at this time,” Rizzo said. “We’re playing so well coming off a homestand that we should be celebrating going to Chicago. Coming off a great month of playing baseball, I think we’re really starting to hit our stride. I’m disappointed that this is a distraction, that this is not thinking of the team first. It’s thinking of personal goals and personal things first. That’s probably what disappoints me most.”

Thursday’s victory boosted the Nationals to 38-37 this season and Riggleman’s record since taking over midway through the 2009 campaign to 140-172. Riggleman’s career record as a manager is 662-824 including previous stints with the Mariners, Cubs and Padres.

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