NY Post: Could Orioles tension set up Cal Ripken for manager?

[El Gordo]

I'd hire Gardenhire, Bochy, DeMarlo Hale, before Cal.

[berettafan]

'What else is Baltimore known for? What's his name? Cal Ripken. Work him into the story.'

At least they didn't compare the drama to an episode of 'The Wire' or cast aspersions that Ray Lewis was involved.

Thats how I read it.

[mdbdotcom]

Cal will manage the O's and the Nats at the same time, because... Cal.

[SteveA]

So if Buck went upstairs and wanted to hire Cal as manager you would be against it?

Basically, yes.

Obviously, in your hypothetical, if Buck actually wanted to do that, it would be a point in Cal's favor, because I respect Buck's opinion.

But hiring someone totally inexperienced at managing, someone who has never shown the inclination to go to the minors and work his way up as a manager, just because he used to be a star player for your team, I think that's a bad idea.

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[Barnfather]

But hiring someone totally inexperienced at managing, someone who has never shown the inclination to go to the minors and work his way up as a manager, just because he used to be a star player for your team, I think that's a bad idea.

It's very common in football (soccer) over here.

Some people here may remember when I posted a link to a video of Stuart Pearce - a hero for my club Nottingham Forest making his walk to the dugout as manager. The atmosphere was electric - here was a genuine legend who bled the club colours and was synonymous with both the team and the city.

He had some prior management experience, but without any sustained success.

Prior to his appointment many worried about what would happen if it all went wrong. Whether it would sour the relationship between Pearce and the fans. The conclusion reached was that if you never try it you never know.

In the end, it didn't work out. Within a season, we had a losing streak which the chairman had to act on to prevent the risk of relegation. Reports were that Pearce was offered an ambassadorial or executive position but turned it down so that he wasn't looking over the shoulder of the 'new' manager. Relationship between hero and fans remains intact.

But the reason it remains intact is that all parties carried themselves well. If the chairman hadn't acted, and results kept getting worse and the manager clung on in the hope to eventually turning it around, it may not have worked out so well.

None of this translates directly to the Cal situation of course, however if it ever did happen, it may be worth building some 'outs' into the contract (from both sides) to enable the situation to be changed quickly and without animosity if required.

[clapdiddy]

I'd hire Gardenhire, Bochy, DeMarlo Hale, before Cal.

...and likely many others...

[TouchemAll]

I sure hope not.

I'll 2nd that love Cal Ripken but not as manager of the O's, FO maybe, BUT NOT as manager.

[Ohfan67]

I love Cal. Great player, great Oriole. But I don't want him managing the Orioles unless he gets some real experience in the minor leagues or with another team. I also wouldn't want him as the manager if I was the GM/VP. He would be hard to fire, etc. He might also be another GM want-a-be waiting in the wings. No thanks.

[DrungoHazewood]

Who is denying that tension exists?

Or that it's a bad thing? How many of us have had a job where we 100% agree with everything our boss does, and never chafes at any decisions from on high? I like my boss a lot, but it's not uncommon to have to bite my tongue and go on with life. The GM and the manager aren't the same person, don't have the same job or the same perspective, and there's are good reasons for that.

[DrungoHazewood]

So if Buck went upstairs and wanted to hire Cal as manager you would be against it?

You're taking a GM who's been pretty successful in multiple places and firing him. Then replacing him with an excellent field manager who has little experience running teams from the front office. And you're replacing the manager with a guy who has never managed at all, but who is tremendously respected by the team and community. So you're replacing a, say, Grade B GM, and a Grade A manager with a couple of question marks. The second question mark, Cal, is a guy who you're risking marring or destroying an almost deified relationship with Baltimore. Lots and lots of downside here. Makes me think Peter Principle - you're promoting guys until they reach the point that they're no longer successful. "As a manager that guy was a heck of a third base coach."

[mdbdotcom]

I think Buck just wants to win one World Series and then go home. He doesn't want to run the Orioles. He doesn't (IMHO) want to manage until he's 70. He wants to taste a championship as a manager before he retires. He says all the right things about the Orioles, but if they go into rebuilding mode, I suspect he will resign. I also don't expect him to extend beyond 2018, one way or another. If the O's have made it to the WS by then, he'll go home. If they haven't, he might seek a job with a team he thinks has a better shot of winning. He doesn't want to be the modern day equivalent of Gene Mauch. He wants a ring.

[DrungoHazewood]

I think Buck just wants to win one World Series and then go home. He doesn't want to run the Orioles. He doesn't (IMHO) want to manage until he's 70. He wants to taste a championship as a manager before he retires. He says all the right things about the Orioles, but if they go into rebuilding mode, I suspect he will resign. I also don't expect him to extend beyond 2018, one way or another. If the O's have made it to the WS by then, he'll go home. If they haven't, he might seek a job with a team he thinks has a better shot of winning. He doesn't want to be the modern day equivalent of Gene Mauch. He wants a ring.

I think Buck is realistic. He knows that even if he were to manage the Yanks there's a relatively slim chance of winning a ring in the next few years. Everyone wants to win it all, but 29 teams go home disappointed every year. I think he retires after 2018 and is content no matter the outcome on the field.

[mdbdotcom]

I think Buck is realistic. He knows that even if he were to manage the Yanks there's a relatively slim chance of winning a ring in the next few years. Everyone wants to win it all, but 29 teams go home disappointed every year. I think he retires after 2018 and is content no matter the outcome on the field.

And after a year off he returns triumphantly to lead the Red Sox back to glory.

[LookitsPuck]

I don't want Cal in the dugout in any way, shape or form as a manager...unless it's for another team.

[osfan83]

At what point are you going to recognize there are issues in the organization?

At what point will you recognize that there are issues in EVERY organization? Can you imagine how the Giants must be crumbling...they are used to going to the post season...the tension must really high there.