2013-14 MLB Hot Stove thread

[Steak Snabler]

Mike Rizzo was once scouting director in Arizona, so he and Williams go way back.

And given his business background, I think Ripken makes more sense as a team president in the John Elway mold than he does as an on-field manager.

 

[JackReacher]

It's strange, but I think most people (media, fans, everyone) agree that Ripken, Knorr, and Williams are the top 3 guys in the mix. Could Rizzo pull a shocker? Hire someone no one's considering? Doubtful......right??

 

[Moderator1]

No, not doubtful at all. Quite possible.

I agree with Snake about Ripken. I also don't think this is the team for him to manage. This is not a training wheels team. He may eventually prove to be the greatest manager in the history of the world. You want to take that risk with a contender? They don't need a splash hire. They need the right manager.

 

[JackReacher]

Agreed. Considering Rizzo said this is priority number 1, we should expect something shortly after the World Series, no?

 

[JackReacher]

Interesting passage in Kilgore's post about the Ripken columns...

"As far as we know right now, the Nationals have yet to reach out to Ripken, and he is waiting for their call, not the other way around. But it seems more and more likely that call will come."

Why does it seem more and more likely that call will come? Because a bunch of media people have written about it? I mean, isn't there a chance that Rizzo isn't even considering Ripken for very valid reasons? He hasn't called Ripken yet, at least "as far as we know right now." Just seems that a "sources say" tag, or something like that, would have been useful here.

 

[NDJournalist]

I learned since the Fredi Gonzalez hiring not to get too excited about a manager until I can see him actually make decisions. With that one, Gonzalez boasted about being a member of SABR before he managed one game with Atlanta, then completely managed against sabermetric principles ever since.

 

[Steak Snabler]

Game 4 of the NLDS notwithstanding, Fredi has gotten much better as a manager. But ever since he said before the 2011 season-opener that his choice the closer would be "based on match-ups" with Craig Kimbrel and Jonny Venters, and then proceeded to use Venters in the eighth against 3 right-handed hitters and Kimbrel in the 9th against 2 lefties, I don't really believe anything he says.

 

[HanSenSE]

On top of what Moddy and Ryan said, and correct me if I'm wrong, given the whole hate-hate thing between Angelos and the Nats, it's hard to see Ripken switching sides, so to speak.

 

[heyabbott]

On top of what Moddy and Ryan said, and correct me if I'm wrong, given the whole hate-hate thing between Angelos and the Nats, it's hard to see Ripken switching sides, so to speak.

Angelos hates Ripken almost as much as he hates the Nats. Ripken hates Angelos more than he hates Jefferey Maier. When Angelos spoke on the field the evening Ripken broke the streak, angelos was booed, loudly. Angelos holds that against Jr. among other things. Ripken would take the Nats job just to shove it to angelos.

 

[Moderator1]

Was Angelos owner when Dad got fired? My old memory sucks.

 

[Steak Snabler]

Was Angelos owner when Dad got fired? My old memory sucks.

As Orioles manager? No. That was still Edward Bennett Williams.

However, Cal Sr. was still a coach in the organization through 1992. Angelos bought the team in 1993, and Cal Sr. was not retained. Not sure he was actually fired, though. He might have been getting sick by that time.

 

[LongTimeListener]

I don't think anyone needs a specific reason to hate Peter Angelos.