Apparently losing a 5 1/2 game lead in 13 games is not good for job security. Word out of Milwaukee this afternoon is that the Brewers have given manager Ned Yost the axe with 12 games remaining in the 2008 season with their team tied for the National League wild-card lead. Of course, the being tied part is the problem given the massive lead the Brewers enjoyed just two weeks ago. When players like Ryan Braun are calling things "a complete and total disaster," the handwriting is more than on the wall. GM Doug Melvin released a pithy statement:
"This was a very difficult move to make, and we appreciate all of the work that Ned has done to develop this team into a contender," Melvin said. "In the end, this was a collaborative decision made to put our Club in the best position for the final two weeks of the season."The interim manager will be third base coach Dale Sveum while bench coach Ted Simmons has been "reassigned." While I don't think that Yost is a great manager, this is an incredibly desperate move so late in the season. It's indicative that things must be pretty ugly in the Brewers' clubhouse for Melvin to think such a move is necessary and that it might have the intended effect of waking his club out of their funk. Whether or not it will work is to be seen but with the way things were going in Milwaukee, Melvin clearly felt like he had to do something to keep this season from going down the drain.
Quick update: Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel writer Tom Haudricort guesses that Melvin didn't have much to do with this and it came down from owner Mark Attanasio.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-15-2008 @ 5:06PM
Tim said...
Not surprised. Yost is a crybaby. Maybe the Brewers were tired of having to augment his salary with all of those adult diapers. I think his wheels finally came off after Sabathia's one-hitter. How that talented a team is collapsing is beyond me. On a brighter note, it's nice to see another ex-Pirate (Sveum) thrown into the pennant race!
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9-15-2008 @ 5:35PM
Ben S. said...
Dale Sveum, really!? After his troubles directing traffic at third base when he was with the Red Sox, I'm surprised they let him do so much as carry equipment around. It should be fun to watch the free fall over the next few weeks.
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9-15-2008 @ 5:53PM
Roger said...
Wow, that's incredible. I mean, he didn't lose it for them yet. They've still got a great chance to make a postseason run. I mean hopefully they still have that chance. Someone's gotta take out those cubs.
My buddy's cameo: http://tinyurl.com/5zrt8n
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9-15-2008 @ 10:38PM
chris said...
this really shows no class whatsover on the part of the Brewer organization. Yost was a huge loss when he left Atlanta and has done wanders in turning the Brew-Crew around the last few years..the GM in Milwaukee should be fired next if the Brewers fail to make the playoffs because he showed NO class in this move. WHo in the hell would want to manage this team wandering if they go 83-67 and then still get fired 150 games in..unbelievable.
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9-18-2008 @ 10:41AM
Heather said...
Although I do think that Ned Yost made a lot of great choices managing I will commend him on the fact that he always stuck behind the players (even the really bad pitchers that we have had). As for the teams losing steak, he manages, he doesn't play ball. For some reason they have gotten in a slump that they can not seem to get out of. I would not place the sole blame on Ned. The players have to take half of the responsibility. I do agree with a lot of people that some players needed to be taken out of the game sooner or not played at all. There a few players in that bull pen that need to get the axe. Maybe this will be a wake up call for the players. I hope so. I would love to seem them in the playoffs. Gotta love the Brewers!!!
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