Giants hire Jim Riggleman...

[Upton]

Barely three weeks after his controversial departure from the Washington Nationals made him a major story, Jim Riggleman has a job in Major League Baseball once again. He signed a contract on Saturday to join the Giants for the remainder of the season as a special assignment scout.

Riggleman was in the visiting dugout today at Petco Park, talking with old friend Bruce Bochy and GM Brian Sabean. He’ll leave for the East Coast in a few days, where he’ll join advance scout Steve Balboni and learn some of the finer points of advance work. The Giants are playing the Phillies in a highly anticipated NLCS rematch in less than two weeks. So Riggleman’s knowledge as former manager in Washington figures to come in handy.

“Obviously, he knows the league and the NL East as well as anybody,” Sabean said. “He’s been in the game a long time. He’s well respected and well rounded. It’s a good opportunity to us. He’ll help in the advance department, in and around trades. We think he can contribute in a lot of areas.”

http://blogs.mercurynews.com/extrabaggs/2011/07/14/pregame-notes-giants-hire-jim-riggleman-jonathan-sanchez-to-pitch-for-single-a-san-jose-on-sunday-etc/

Riggleman is a good friend of Bochy's. Which was why the Giants manager originally selected him to be one of his ASG coaches. Obviously, I'm not privy to what exactly happened in Washington. I just know what I've read. I do know if Riggleman is okay with Bochy and Sabean, he's okay with me...another welcome addition to the Giants family..

[TZ]

1. Oh good...enjoy, he's gonna do wonders for morale

You should know that Riggleman pretty much pissed off every Nationals player EVEN BEFORE he quit. There are numerous stories of multiple players calling the GM to complain about Riggleman weeks before he quit, when they were playing like crap (players who AREN'T generally complainers, Rizzo has been busy getting team oriented players)..if you want to know what he's really like you might want to review the nastiness with him and Marquis during a Pirates game. Oh and then the night he quit, he went out to a bar and partied with women half his age going on and on about how the Nats are better cause of him, and cussing out Rizzo...Rizzo who actually found all the talent.
Well I'm glad you hired that SOB, because he's gonna do wonders for bringing you guys back to mediocrity, with his selfishness and egomania. I hope he spends lots of time with the players so everyone can hear how a genius he is, how much Washington sucks...Bochy and Riggleman, the two idiots deserve each other. :rofl:

Oh as for scouting the Phillies and giving an "advantage", considering he has a completely horrid record agaisnt them, yeah go ahead..I predict now a Phillies sweep

[Upton]

2. Looks like a lot of these stories of complaining by the Nats..

have come after the fact. Sort of like the vitriol an ex partner spews after being rejected in a relationship. I'm not here to defend Riggleman though.. like I said, I don't know what went on there...but Riggleman had the Nats winning, so I'll take whatever comes from the Washington organization and their fans with a grain of salt.

Maybe I'm missing something, but how is Riggleman or anybody else going to bring the currently 13 games over .500 and defending WS camps back to mediocrity? Same thing goes with Bochy, how can you be considered an "idiot"..when you just got finished guiding your team to their first title in San Francisco after 52 years?

[Auggie]

3. It doesn't sound like he'll have much contact with players...

and we'll have to wait to see the outcome of the Phillies series. One thing is sure: Phillies will be loaded for bear.

As for Bochy, he and Dave Righetti (pitching coach) have done a remarkable job despite the injuries and the horrendous offense that may catch up with them eventually. For now, I'll agree with Giants' announcer Duane Kuiper that Bochy is the Giants' MVP for the first half of the season.

[Kingofalldems]

4. I gotta disagree with you at least in regards to Marquis

Riggleman pulled him out of a game in the 4th because Marquis was getting hammered every inning. Marquis threw a fit for a long time and then allegedly stood in the hallway and berated Riggs the rest of the game. After the game he called his agent to complain about Riggleman, then the agent called GM Rizzo to whine some more.