Washington Nationals: 10 candidates to replace Dusty Baker
By Ron Juckett
CAL RIPKEN
A local legend and Rizzo’s preferred guy before Matt Williams signed, Cal Ripken may earn a closer look.
The son of a coaching legend and manager, the Baltimore Orioles megastar has no managerial experience of his own. He remains committed to youth baseball, teaching the game, and his native Maryland. He is no longer with Turner Broadcasting after many years of being an analyst. If he is interested, Washington will listen.
The Nats do not need a big name as a manager to sell tickets. When Ted Williams ran the Washington Senators in 1969, he guided a bad team to a .500 record. The 2018 Nationals are not a struggling club on the field and at the box office.
Although many names on this list are novice skippers, they have either minor-league managing, major-league coaching or both on their resume. Ripken has minor-league experience as an owner, not a coach. Also, he is such a major figure within the O’s organization that picturing him in another uniform seems impossible.
Still, at 57, Ripken is young enough to stay a few years if he wants. His lack of experience, however, is not what a team demanding to win now needs. When you consider the Orioles have not used him in their minor league system says volumes.
Chalk Ripken up in the possible, but not probable, category.