It's easy to make idle threats in an attempt to gain an advantage in a negotiation. However, to actually carry out the threat is something else. When General Manager Mike Rizzo of the Washington Nationals was informed by manager Jim Riggleman before the Nationals' game on Thursday, that Riggleman would resign if his option was not picked up for 2012 season - it would have been easy for Rizzo to view this as an idle threat. The Nationals had just moved over the .500 mark in June for the first time since 2005, so it was unlikely Riggleman would resign after the game.  Jim Riggleman is a man of his word, and resign he did, following the Nats' victory over Seattle on Thursday. The refusal of the Nationals to pick up Riggleman's option for 2012 may prove costly for the team. Instead of the positive publicity generated by a winning team, the focus will now be on the  this front office fiasco.