Harold Hutchison

The offense has, IMO, more than picked up the D. No... the Brewers didn't fall apart until Sheets went on the DL. This was after Capuano, Hall, Weeks, and Graffanino also got hurt. The best scapegoat is the training staff.

My scapegoat: The training staff. Capuano injured, and never really the same after the injury this year. Hall misses time with a high-ankle sprain. Graffanino gets hurt. Then Sheets goes down with injuries during critical stages TWICE in the second half. Fire the trainers.

What does this mean? And how can you tell? You're able to guage the team's passion from watching them on your television screen? I've never gotten this argument. What would constitute "quitting" anyway? Sitting in the dugout with "dejected" looks on their faces? Guys on the team not going in hard to break up double plays? Players actually quitting, and not showing up for the games?? While Ben Sheets was out of commision (July 15 - Aug. 28) the Brewers were 15-26. That's not good. Or by "not packing it in" did you mean the same thing as "not quitting"... Ultimately, it was that time while Sheets was out that the Brewers faltered. As Sheets goes, so do the Brewers. When Capuano was out and struggling (I think the injury may have had tis lingering effects on Cappy), the team managed to hang in there at the top. It was only when sheets went down that the Brewers fell flat. It may not have mad ethat much difference, but had Sheets been healthy, I think the Brewers get 20-22 wins in that stretch, rather than 15. That's really the difference between having to win out with no guarantees, and having this last week be a triumphal close to a division title.

I will vote yea. This season did NOT die due to Yost. It "died" when Sheets went down with his finger injury. While Sheets was out, the Crew slumped. To a lesser extent, Chris Capuano's injury also hurt - when he came back from his groin injury, he didn't seem to be the same pitcher. Let's give him another year.

Unfortunately, Capellan and others (Sarfate, etc.) did not step up. No use crying over it.

Hart in LF, Hall in CF, Gross in RF. Letting Jenkins and Mench walk could free up $10 million for helping the team elsewhere.

Except it was pretty much set in stone that Cordero would have to pitch at least one inning if the Brewers had a lead of one or two runs after the top of the tenth.

Because Cordero can't pitch in a road game unless he has a chance for a save. Duh. http://static.yuku.com//domainskins/bypass/img/smileys/indifferent.gif And if you have to trot Wise out in the bottom of the 10th with a one-run lead and he gives up a walk and two hits... allowing the winning run to score, what then? Keeping Cordero available to shut the door in the bottom of the 9th on is not only logical - I think it is the best move to make in that situation.

Failure to execute after the Dillon double - get two runs there, and Weeks' homer means you turn to Codero for the 9th. Wise never in the game in the first place. I'm gonna vote yea - especially if Sheets is out.

Should Yovanni Gallardo, arguably the future of the franchise in the rotation, have been extended beyond his prescribed innings limit? Yes. Had he NOT been extended, the Brewers are arguably out of the race much earlier. Should we have given up Will Inman, Steve Garrison and Joe Thatcher for Scott Linebrink? I think that answer was also yes. A high price to pay, true, but at the same time, with the arguable exception of Thatcher, none could have helped the way Linebrink did. Did not bringing up Ryan Braun at the start of the season have any impact on this team? Yes. The April/May wins his bat would have given us would have the Crew in first still. EACH LOSS hurts when you are one game back. Has Ned Yost cost this team a playoff spot with his moves? His decisions have done no more to cost the team a playoff spot than holding Braun back or Capuano and Sheets missing time due to injury (with the former never really regaining his early form). Were the Brewers smart to keep Ben Sheets despite his propensity to miss games, which well may have proven crucial in this race, or were the games he actually pitched in too valuable to give up? Yes. Without Sheets, the Crew is out of the race much sooner. That said, his injuries seem to have been somewhat on the "freak" side, and it may be that he's over the hump. An extension (5 years/$60 million) should be a priority. How many games has the bullpen cost this team? Six - and that is Codero's blown saves ALONE, and at least one was a three-run lead. Arguably the bullpen's failure to protect large leads in the late innings may be what costs the Brewers a playoff spot - and Yost is peripheral to that. He decides who goes on to the mound, but the pitchers have to execute - and if Codero/Turnbow don't execute, it's a loss.

How about the umps missing the fact that Gross CAUGHT that "homer" by Griffey? http://static.yuku.com//domainskins/bypass/img/smileys/mad.gif

Why did Dave Bush have to be a baby seal when he needed to be a pitcher? http://static.yuku.com//domainskins/bypass/img/smileys/mad.gif

Well, let's rack up the Reds, and hope that the trip to PNC doesn't go too bad... the last place I want a critical road series to be is PNC.

That would give the Crew two more six-inning starts - say in a playoff game?

Only a half-game out, they have to go for it. Making it to the playoffs would be a good foundation to build on for 2008.

Sheets, Capuano, Gallardo, Suppan, Villanueva?

But we need the Cubs to choke... and today, they stormed back. We needed to sweep them at Wrigley and didn't, now the Brewers have no margin for error.

Rob Deer was a non-roster invitee in 1986, when he had 33 homers.

Playing for draft position. http://static.yuku.com//domainskins/bypass/img/smileys/mad.gif http://static.yuku.com//domainskins/bypass/img/smileys/mad.gif

For 2008 at the earliest. Face it, playoffs ain't happenin' this year.

It was fun while it lasted... 2007's done. Save Ben, and see what's worth keeping for `08.

I wouldn't want Garner back either. But in his defense, Sal Bando was his GM. 'Nuff said. Garner managed to make the most of what scraps Bando left him (when Bando wasn't busy with a fire sale of talented players). If the Crew collapses over the rest of the year, I would not object to seeing him return as the Brewers' manager.

A lot. Face it, if they don't sweep the Cubs in Wrigley, then kiss the playoffs good-bye. I think they're out of miracles. Why other teams get all of `em is beyond me.

If the Crew was either firmly in control of the division, or clearly out of the playoff chase, I'd be fine with watching Yo's innings. But if Yo is one of the best five starters, then he's gotta be in the rotation. Forget the innings limit. This may be the shot the Crew has to get into the playoffs - my inclination is to roll the dice.

Can they avoid blowing a nine-run lead tonight and get into a tie for the division lead?