Former Cubs skipper gets another shot in Seattle

by northsider on Jun 19, 2008 1:04 PM CDT

In line with the firing of GM Bill Bavasi, Seattle has dismissed manager John McLaren, who went 66-68 at the helm of the Mariners. Guess who's taking over? From the Mariners' official site:

Jim Riggleman, who was on the Mariners staff as the bench coach, has been named manager for the remainder of the 2008 season. He is the 13th full-time manager in Mariners history. "Jim is an experienced baseball man with broad experience as both a Major League manager and coach. He is intimately familiar with our club and I believe he will do a fine job," Pelekoudas said.

Seattle is 25-47 and in last place in the AL West, 17.5 games behind the Angels. The team is off today, with their series in Atlanta set to begin tomorrow afternoon. The Mariners are 3-7 in their last 10.

Riggleman was Cubs manager from 1995-1999, winning the Wild Card in '98. He also managed the Padres for 12 games in 1992 and 1993-1994. Riggleman takes his 486-598 career record into the Mariners dugout with him.

Riggleman's Year-by-Year Results with Chicago
1995: 73-71 (3rd place)
1996: 76-86 (4th)
1997: 68-94 (5th)
1998: 90-73 (2nd, Wild Card)
1999: 67-95 (6th)
Total: 374-419 (.472)

Let's hear your favorite Riggleman/Cubs memories!

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation, Bleed Cubbie Blue, or Al Yellon, editor-in-chief. FanPost opinions are, however, valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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Good

I was always shocked that Riggleman didn’t get another managing job. He lost control of the team in 1999 but did a pretty good job the rest of the time. But as this is an interim job, I doubt he’ll be back to start next season.

It's a girl! Born 1-18-08. 2246 PST. 8 lbs. 1 oz.

by Josh77 on Jun 19, 2008 1:12 PM CDT 0 recs

Well, there is a fire station just south of Safeco Field

Maybe by mid-August or so, it will be time for Jimbo to have a chat with the Mariner fans… ;-)

Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."

by ballhawk on Jun 19, 2008 1:13 PM CDT 0 recs

That was Trebelhorn

not Riggleman.

It's a girl! Born 1-18-08. 2246 PST. 8 lbs. 1 oz.

by Josh77 on Jun 19, 2008 1:42 PM CDT up 0 recs

ah crap...

blue mi… I mean, egg on my face, big time.

I completely forgot about Trebelhorn. I thought it was either Riggleman or Essian, and I just couldn’t picture Essian having the nerve/guts to face the masses in an unstructured environment. Shame on me for not making sure…

Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."

by ballhawk on Jun 19, 2008 2:03 PM CDT up 0 recs

My first boss in Chicago nearly stalked Riggleman

She thought he was cute and loved him as manager of the Cubs. She constantly went for runs around Wrigley and rode the Red Line more than necessary because she once read an article detailing that Riggleman went for runs around Wrigley and took the Red Line. She had this scenario worked out in her head of running into him, striking up a conversation, and living happily ever after.

We have every right to dream heroic dreams. Those who say that we're in a time when there are no heroes, they just don't know where to look.
Ronald Reagan

by snley on Jun 19, 2008 1:34 PM CDT 0 recs

Creepy, but hilarious. Roughly, how old was your boss?

Alan Trammell: Assistant (to the) Manager

by northsider on Jun 19, 2008 1:41 PM CDT up 0 recs

That was another selling point for her

She was roughly the same age as Riggleman

We have every right to dream heroic dreams. Those who say that we're in a time when there are no heroes, they just don't know where to look.
Ronald Reagan

by snley on Jun 19, 2008 2:08 PM CDT up 0 recs

Was your boss KOW?

by LT on Jun 19, 2008 1:43 PM CDT up 0 recs

LOL, that does smack of KOW-like behavior.

Nanika Ga Okoru!

by dat cubfan daver on Jun 19, 2008 2:16 PM CDT up 0 recs

Funny you say that..

I was out at spring training one year and bought scalped tickets in the 3rd row behind the Cubs dugout. The scalper had 4 but since the game was already underway, he sold me a single. About an inning after I was sitting there a nice looking woman about my age (mid 30’s at the time) asks if anyone is sitting in the seats next to me. I say no and begin to get very excited. She then motions to others in her party and my heart sinks. I’m thinking that she is probably motioning to her boyfriend or whatever. Turns out she was motioning to 3 other nice looking ladies! They were staying at the same hotel as the Cubs and 1 was dating Riggleman. Apparently the tickets he gave them weren’t very good.

The journey is the reward!

by wicubfan on Jun 19, 2008 2:39 PM CDT up 0 recs

Prolific lady's man

Jim Riggleman had quite a reputation while in Chicago. He was (maybe still is) divorced and raising his son. Former co-worker of mine actually went on a few dates with Riggs. She said he was a class act, devilishly cute and knew how to treat a lady right. The ladies around Wrigley used to swoon over the guy.

GET Rich Harden !! 9 starts, 4-0, 53 IP, 67 Ks, 2.53 ERA

by MDBNIU on Jun 19, 2008 3:04 PM CDT up 0 recs

Riggleman Not Bad

Not bad is a compliment for Cubs managers. Gene Michael and Jim Essian come to mind as bad Cubs managers. I know Stick had success with the Yanks, but he wasn’t much good managing the Cubs. Yes, I know having talent on your team makes managing easier.

Riggleman did a good job with the ‘95 and ‘98 Cubs teams. Things went horribly at the end of ‘96 with that Jaime Navarro blowup in St. Louis and with that 14 game losing streak at the beginning of ‘97. 1999 was a disaster. An average manager is good by Cubs standards. I’m glad he’s getting the interim job with the Mariners.

"The big possum walks late." - Harry Caray

by memphiscub on Jun 19, 2008 1:56 PM CDT 0 recs

Can Don Baylor be in line next?

Wasn’t the old saying that it was the end of the road after you managed the Cubs? First Dusty and now RIggs. Good for him, even if it is probably just for this year…

by LT on Jun 19, 2008 2:08 PM CDT up 0 recs

Bruce Kimm

I’ve never seen a guy more completely unsuited to being a major league manager than Bruce Kimm, no matter what Whitey Herzog said.

I guess Essian was just as bad, but it was so long ago and the mind dims . . .

Michael was just biding time here until Steinbrenner called again. He had no desire to be in the Cub organization.

I still maintain that the Cubs would have won a World Series sometime between 1988 and 1993 had the Tribune allowed John Vukovich to take over the team in 1988 and allowed Dallas Green to remain as GM and Gordon Goldsberry to keep running the farm system.

Jim Frey was an absolutely terrible GM who destroyed everything Green built with the Cubs in the 1980s.

It's a girl! Born 1-18-08. 2246 PST. 8 lbs. 1 oz.

by Josh77 on Jun 19, 2008 2:12 PM CDT up 0 recs

Right About Frey

I liked Frey as a manager. As a GM, he wasn’t good. Lee Smith to Boston for Nipper and Schiraldi after 1987 still makes me vomit. That’s left the Cubs without a good closer. Gossage didn’t fit the bill by the time he got to the Cubs in 1988. Because the Cubs didn’t have a good closer, they trade away Jamie Moyer and Rafael Palmeiro to get Mitch Williams in 1989.

Okay, the Cubs did win the division in 1989 with Wild Thing, but Moyer and Palmeiro had a lot more good years than Mitch Williams. That Lee Smith trade indirectly led to the departure of Moyer and Palmeiro.

"The big possum walks late." - Harry Caray

by memphiscub on Jun 19, 2008 3:07 PM CDT up 0 recs

Essian was worse than Kimm.

I realize that’s asking what’s worse, cancer or a heart attack, but Essian never got another job in baseball after the Cubs fired him, and he was considered a top managerial prospect at the time.

I agree with you 100% on the Green/Vukovich thing. That helped destroy the Cubs for a decade or longer.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Jun 19, 2008 3:36 PM CDT up 0 recs

Congrats to da Riggler!

Nanika Ga Okoru!

by dat cubfan daver on Jun 19, 2008 2:17 PM CDT 0 recs

Riggs deserves another shot a managing. Always seemed like a good guy.

As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.

by santoswoodenlegs on Jun 19, 2008 2:32 PM CDT 0 recs

met him at my highschool

he was doing some speech there. All I remmeber is that he was a much bigger guy than I had thought and that he almost ripped off my hand when shaking it.

"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Swung on belted!!!"---Chip

by Hammer on Jun 19, 2008 2:44 PM CDT up 0 recs

Good for Riggleman

Jim Riggleman is a very good baseball man. I was a big fan of his during his 5 years in Chicago. Hope he hangs onto that Seattle job for a long time.

GET Rich Harden !! 9 starts, 4-0, 53 IP, 67 Ks, 2.53 ERA

by MDBNIU on Jun 19, 2008 3:01 PM CDT 0 recs

He's in a difficult situation.

That team was expected to build on its good year last year and instead has the worst record in baseball. John McLaren may have been as unsuited a major league manager as Essian or Kimm. Riggleman can’t help but do better, but that’s a team in turmoil.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Jun 19, 2008 3:37 PM CDT up 0 recs

There he goes...

I wish him luck, though, unless the GM plans on keeping him around longer than this year, he isn’t going to improve his overall record much. My opinion anyway.

by TheHawkRules on Jun 19, 2008 4:22 PM CDT 0 recs

We were at the M's game last night..

Pondering if McLaren was trying to get fired. Guess who the hitting coach out here in Seattle is – none other that Lee Elia. I had to laugh when i heard Riggs would be taking over. I fully expect to see Wavin’ Wendell @ 3rd the next time I catch a game at Safeco.

by thegangler on Jun 19, 2008 5:32 PM CDT 0 recs