BALTIMORE — Ray Miller left himself an out. And with a player listed as "day-to-day," he's certainly entitled to change his mind.
But by sitting Cal Ripken Wednesday night after saying he would start, the Orioles' manager created the impression that the Iron Man might have asked out of the lineup.
And by making the switch after Owner Peter Angelos advised a cautious approach with Ripken's lower back, Miller created the perception that he was bowing to ownership's desires.
Miller said he made the decision to give Ripken a day off after speaking with him Wednesday. And he made the right call, regardless of whether he was influenced by Angelos.
Still, his public reversal turned a simple issue into something murkier, and renewed questions about his ability to handle a job of such magnitude.
The sad part is, Miller is no Davey Johnson, confronting Ripken in the media. He wanted to do the right thing by the future Hall of Famer, and still talked himself into a corner.
It was all so unnecessary, especially considering that Miller said, "In the back of my mind, I figured he wasn't going to play."
If that's the case, why did Miller say otherwise? As it turns out, he might have annoyed two of the people he wants to please most--Ripken and Angelos.
"I don't think [Ripken] should push it," Angelos said Tuesday. "I think he should take whatever time he needs to get back to 100 percent."
Miller said much the same thing before Wednesday night's game, but bristled when asked if the decision to sit Ripken was 'managerial' or 'organizational.'
"Managerial," Miller said. "The owner has nothing to do with it. I haven't talked to the owner since I've been back from spring training."
A little sensitive, Ray? No one had even mentioned Angelos. General Manager Frank Wren and trainer Richie Bancells were among those who might have given their input on the decision.
If Miller was trying to appear strong, it backfired.
Ripken, 38, left Monday's season opener in the third inning. After speaking with him Tuesday, Miller said he was persuaded to write Ripken's name in the lineup, and adjust if necessary.
The smart response would have been, "Cal is day-to-day. We'll see how he is tomorrow." Why Miller even drew encouragement from his conversation with Ripken is a mystery.
Ripken said his feeling Tuesday was that there was "no chance" he could play Wednesday night, even after a day off. With his condition improving, he upgraded that assessment to "some chance" Wednesday.
