Nationals would be wise to continue relationship with Ripken, just not as manager

Major League Baseball came down swiftly on Dodgers infielder Chase Utley following his slide into second base Saturday night that broke Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada's leg in the National League Division Series between New York and Los Angeles.

Utley was suspended for Games 3 and 4 of the series. Utley will appeal the suspension, and because the series shifts to New York, where MLB is headquartered, expect a speedy resolution to the appeal.

"After thoroughly reviewing the play from all conceivable angles, I have concluded that Mr. Utley's action warrants discipline," MLB chief baseball officer Joe Torre said in a statement.

It is a swift and heavy punishment for Utley, but if you think about Tejada, who is out of the postseason, it seems justified. Now the next step for MLB is to adjust the rules on sliding into a base to break up double plays. MLB was authoritative in changing the ability of a catcher to block home plate. It would make sense they would also carry that same adjustment of the rules over to this type of play which can injure and end a season for a player for a deliberate attempt to block a throw to the next base by a defender.

Cal Ripken Jr. has been mentioned as a candidate for the Nationals' managerial vacancy. There is no debate he was one of the top baseball players of all time. He is a Hall of Famer and his father was a minor league and major league manager, but Ripken really has less experience as a manager than Matt Williams had coming into the position in 2013.

Ripken would be a top-of-the-line consultant for the Nationals and would be a great advisor, but I do not believe he is the right choice at this juncture to be their manager. The Nationals seem destined to reverse the trend from their 2013 search and go with a candidate who has more experience as a major league manager coming into the job.

Ironically, my favorite for the spot actually has never been a major league manager, but has interviewed several times with several teams for openings.

Cubs bench coach Dave Martinez reportedly interviewed well with the Nationals two years ago when they selected Williams. Although he does not have the managerial resume of a Dusty Baker, Ron Gardenhire or Bud Black, Martinez does come from a top pedigree as the right-hand man for Cubs and former Rays manager Joe Maddon, who has guided a pair of teams to the playoffs and is a two-time Manager of the Year.

It seems as soon as the Cubs are eliminated, the Nationals' managerial search will heat up.

* The Salt River Rafters begin Arizona Fall League play tomorrow night. Pitchers Abel de los Santos, John Simm and, Nick Lee, catcher Spencer Kieboom, infielder Chris Bostick and others will be led by high Single-A Potomac manager Tripp Keister. Salt River will share its facility at Talking Stick with the Surprise Saguaros. The Rafters' first game is 9:35 p.m. Tuesday night at home against Scottsdale.