Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
This week on Comcast Sports Nets “Table Manners with the Junkies Show,” Cal Ripken might have tossed his hat into the ring to become the next manager of the Washington Nationals. The Hall of Famer said that he would be open to talking to teams interested in having him as a big league manager.
So could the Baltimore Orioles‘ legend be the next manager of the Washington Nationals?
There is no question that Ripken has long enjoyed a great relationship with baseball fans in Washington. In an ideal world he would be the Orioles’ manager, but that job belongs to Buck Showalter. However, taking the Nationals’ job in another league and being only about 50 miles from his Baltimore County Estate has to be very attractive to Ripken.
He has some very powerful friends in Washington who could help him if he is serious about managing.
Long before the Lerner family bought the Nationals in May of 2006, they were very close to buying the Orioles a couple of times. They have had a long and great relationship with Ripken, and no one should surprised if the Nationals’ owners make sure that he is at the very least given a chance to interview for the job.
The relationship between the Nationals president of baseball operations and general manager, Mike Rizzo, and Ripken, is also a good one. The two have had a number of baseball conversations.
Outgoing manager Davey Johnson was Ripken’s skipper in Baltimore, and the two have a great respect for each other. So he may have Johnson’s vote if it is asked for or needed.
Would Ripken, who has been successful in running minor league baseball operations and broadcasting, be a good big league manager without any experience?
Well the Chicago White Sox went with Robin Ventura and the St. Louis Cardinals were quick to hire Mike Matheny. Both were players without any experience as coaches or minor league managers. Checking with the stats people at SABR research there are some interesting stats that might make Ripken a good choice.
The over-representation of “stars” and Hall of Famers is very pronounced. Since 1901 there have been 44 Hall of Fame players who have gone on to become managers. Those 44 mangers have a very impressive .510 winning percentage and they also had an above .500 average in getting their teams to the postseason.
Ripken would be a real fan favorite and he has the baseball I.Q. to be a manager. For those who may have forgotten his father Cal, Sr. was a manager and Ripken, knows better than anyone the the ups and downs of the job.
He would no doubt have the instant respect of all the Nationals players. Would the Nationals hand a playoff contending team over to someone without any history as a manager? Well, it is Cal Ripken, and yes there are a number of men in the organization with better coaching and managing resumes — not to mention the men how have been the field generals on other teams.
Is it a risk worth taking?
Well, once the Nationals’ season is over and the interview process begins, don’t be surprised if Ripken is a candidate for the job. As to if he will get the job, well that is another story; but it does make the hunt for the next Nationals manager more interesting.
