windiv07

For the sake of MLB in Milwaukee, I certainly hope so. He has already shown he has the stones. Besides...who here thinks we'd have made the playoffs with Yost at the helm?

Wow, I leave town for a few days and look what has happened...a blown 4 run lead in the ninth at Wrigley, we are on the verge of being swept again in Cincy, and suddenly we have gone in the short span of 3 weeks from Wild Card shoe-in (6.5 games ahead) to Wild Card longshot (2.5 games behind). I can certainly understand how some would give up on not only this season (the most disappointing collapse in this ball club's history) but seasons to come. Particularly since we have no injuries to blame this on. As for me, I am a fan so I will be here, and I will be back next year. That said, I reserve the right to demand justice be served for the abbysmal product we have seen in September of 2008. From Sveum and his coaching staff to Melvin, this cancer must be removed. It is clear to me they cannot handle the responsibiliies of a MLB pennant contender. Too many years and no playoff product in Milwaukee say all that needs to be said.

I made a mistake in chat last night when I suggested having Shouse throw one pitch to the first hitter and then bringing in Torres. Here's what the MLB rulebook says about that: Also, I inadvertently used the word "Tubby" just prior to Prince's second HR last night. For purposes of further clatrification, it was intended as term of endearment (reminiscent of the character of the same name on the Little Rascals). That often does not come thru in the brevity, velocity, and sponteneity of chat. So I guess I can understand how Prince or anyone else rooting for him along with me might take offense to my typing that without this explanation at the time. I therefore hereby apologize (albeit belatedly) and pledge that I will not use the term "Tubby" nor mention Doritos in the dugout in reference to Prince Fielder anymore.

Nothing has changed but the names on this coaching staff.

Better him than Wendy Selig. After watching Yost since he bought this team, anyone would learn the fundamentals by inversion, exactly what NOT to do in baseball.

I remember a Sunday in June of 2006 when the Royals were in town for the final game of a 3 game series. The Brewers were going for the sweep with a 3 run lead in the top of the 8th. Buddy Bell had stacked the Royals lineup with 8 left handed hitters against our RHP starter who was by now over the 100 pitch mark. Shouse had 3 days rest and was warming up alongside Turnbow (our closer then) while the Brewers were batting in the bottom of the 7th. Yost actually brought Turnbow (NOT Shouse) in at the top of the 8th to face the first of 8 consecutive left-handed hitters and by the time he yanked Turnbow, the game was tied and the bases were loaded. Then he brough in Shouse and Bell simply PH righties until KC had the game in the bag (by several runs). I began to count the number of times similar pitching moves (defying the fundamentals of baseball) were made by Yost that season...dozens. I have since been mystified that this club has kept him on as manager this long. I say roll the dice...anything is better than what we had.

Nice 'AFTER', FTJ, Here's the 2008 pre-season preview 'BEFORE'

Not sure who's inside...possibly yesterday's starting lineup for the last 18 consceutive innings. I know who was driving though (he's still behind the wheel): http://images.yuku.com/image/pjpeg/ec5153a8980739b24dbbe43084302ebb1dda3e6.pjpg

Well said FTJ. Yours is an entirely reasonable appraisal of the talent scale of the current 2008 Brewers roster. As I have said many times (like you when experience has borne this out) in years prior, never underestimate the Yost factor...particularly late in the year. And I'll say it again.

May it be so by Spring. Oh PLEASE may it be so.

http://images.yuku.com/image/pjpeg/ec5153a8980739b24dbbe43084302ebb1dda3e6.pjpg

I pretty much lost all enthisiasm for Brewers playoff hopes (ever) in August of 2007 when the same thing happened 6 weeks earlier. For me this 2008 collapse is the second worst thing that has happened to the Brewers in recent history. I will say that it is indeed worse than the 4 similar collapses in the last 7 years (which makes this all so predictable). At some point, management must be called to question by the front office yet...it is as if nobody wants to question any in game situation and rather, we are quoted stat after stat that have no relevance to the outcome of a specific game that was lost by a particularly boneheaded move by the manager at a pivotal moment (the list grows almost daily). Either that or the 'blame the players' mantra is offered along with the diversionary innuendo 'why do you hate Ned?'. To me the worst day in Brewers' recent history was near the endof the 2007 season when, after two consecutive late season collapses (similar to this year) Doug Melvin expressed his undying long-term commitment to Ned Yost as manager on the basis of the aforementioned rationale. Yost will not win Milwaukee a pennant...history has proven this time and again. And no doubt we will soon hear the same speech from Doug Melvin very very soon. A cursory analysis of what changed (the payroll and the player talent level went up significantly) and what remained the same (Ned and his coaching staff along with a copious number of late season losses to eliminated opponents against AAA prospect pitchers juxta-posed against our own complete lack of success with AAA call-ups) give us all we need to know about what needs to be changed in this formula to get better results (gag) next year. I only wish this lesson were learned last year.

Anyone want my 2007 surrender towel. We are on the verge of surrendering the WC the lead.

My opinion of Ned Yost's managerial expertise has not changed. I have none because there is none.

He is on a crying towel buying trip These bonus handouts are for the 2008 game the Brewers are eliminated to go along with last year's 2007 surrender hankies...sort of a matched set.