Riggleman quits as Nationals manager

Posted at 04:14 PM ET, 06/23/2011

Jim Riggleman

By Washington Post editors

Jim Riggleman has resigned as manager of the Washington Nationals. Riggleman told General Manager Mike Rizzo that he would resign before the game if his contract situation was not resolved.

“Jim told me pregame today that if we wouldn’t pick up his [contract] option that he wouldn’t get on the team bus today,” Rizzo said at a news conference after the Nationals defeated the Seattle Mariners 1-0, lifting the team to a winning record.

“If you want to do this job you have to be totally committed to it. I just didn’t feel that way,” Riggleman told reporters after the game.

More quotes from Riggleman:

* “I’ve talked to Mike in the past about addressing my situation. I know I’m not Casey Stengel but I feel like I know what I’m doing.”

* “I gotta give it up then. I’m obviously not the person that you wanna go down the road with.”

* “I’m 58. I’m too old to be disrespected.”