Andrew Stetka: Ripken's return to a dugout could be awkward for O's fans

As Orioles fans prepare to celebrate 20 years since Cal Ripken Jr. broke Lou Gehrig's consecutive games streak, there's word that he could be nearing a return to Major League Baseball. It shocked me, too, when I realized it's been 20 years since No. 8 took that faithful lap around Camden Yards to thank the fans. What might shock me even more is if he ends up in a uniform other than one that reads "Orioles" across the front.

Last week in an interview on ESPN 980 in Washington, D.C., the Iron Man confirmed that he's had "serious" talks with the Nationals about becoming their skipper. These talks came two years ago after Davey Johnson retired and obviously before the Nats hired current manager Matt Williams. It's not surprising that Ripken would be a candidate to become a manager. Not only is he a wealth of baseball knowledge, but it seems like a fit for him to manage any team at this point.

A team hiring Ripken would seem to fit a recent mold of hirings that involve former players without previous experience. Mike Matheny, Brad Ausmus and Paul Molitor come to mind. Williams had experience as a coach in Arizona before taking the job in D.C., but is another who jumped into a managerial job fairly early. Williams' situation becomes especially interesting from Ripken's point of view with the Nationals' struggles this season. If the Nats don't make the postseason with such high expectations, Ripken could find an opening in the very place he nearly landed a job two years ago.

Ripken also seems to be at a place in his life where he's ready for a next step. His children are now grown, something he'd previously made clear he wanted before he started another chapter. He's accomplished so much in Aberdeen with the Ripken Baseball complex and IronBirds franchise. The facility is a gem and the program he has built is a dream. There seems to be an ideal next step for him and that is getting back into Major League Baseball in some capacity. For years, many have believed Ripken could someday take over an ownership role of some sort, whether it be with the Orioles or someone else. I still feel like he'd enjoy the thrill of putting on a uniform.

There's a legacy to be carried on there, as well. Cal Ripken Sr. famously led the Orioles, albeit unsuccessfully for just under three seasons. He was a coach with the O's for a number of years, helping give birth to "The Oriole Way." That's a prime heritage Junior could carry on, if he so chooses. Simply put, it's not hard to imagine Ripken in a dugout, calling the shots for an MLB team.

The question for Orioles fans is how awkward would it be to see Ripken in a dugout other than in Baltimore, especially if it turns out that Ripken does some day manage just down the road in D.C. That's something that might take some time getting used to. The Orioles obviously have one of the best skippers in the game in Buck Showalter, so it's not like they'd be pushing him out the door to make room for Ripken if he has any desire to start a managerial career soon. I have little doubt Ripken would have trouble getting hired quickly by a team if he expressed a serious aspiration to take over a team. There's a track record now of former players getting jobs and having moderate success with them, so it's not like he'd be breaking a mold. Breaking a mold of putting on a uniform other than the Orioles could be the bigger challenge.

Andrew Stetka blogs about the Orioles for Eutaw Street Report. Follow him on Twitter: @AStetka. His thoughts on the O's appear here as part of MASNsports.com's continuing commitment to welcome guest bloggers to our little corner of cyberspace. All opinions expressed are those of the guest bloggers, who are not employed by MASNsports.com but are just as passionate about their baseball as our roster of writers.