SI.com reports that Riggelman, who had a club option for 2012 season felt like he was a permanent interim manger a source close to the situation says. Supposedly Riggelman had wanted to speak to GM Mike Rizzo about a contract extension and when Rizzo declined to meet with him, that became the straw that broke the camel's back.
This could not have come at a worst time for the team. Winners of 11 out of 12 games, a game over .500 this far into a season since 2005 and with young players such as Drew Storen, Danny Espinosa on the major league roster and Bryce Harper in the minors the future seems bright. For the first time in a long time there was a buzz surrounding this team, the same type of buzz when Jayson Werth was signed this off-season and Stephen Strausburg, who is out for the season recovering from Tommy John surgery made his big league debut last season.
On the Mike Frances Show on the YES Network Riggelman says "he could not go on managing a team when his mind was elsewhere." Saying "the players would not take him seriously if they knew he was pretty much a lame duck manager."
With all the goodwill he had created with the Nationals recent turn around, owners and general mangers alike will not forget this episode and may think twice about allowing former manager Jim Riggelman to take the reigns of their team.
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