sheethead

If you've watched McClung though, he's a thrower who lacks command. It's been his problem his entire career. If he were trying to hit Pujols, he would probably miss. He almost did.

This thread has seemed to turn into a debate between 3 types of people. People who think: 1. The manager is completely to blame 2. The players are completely to blame 3. The players and the manager are to blame #1 and #3 seem to have beef with Yost, while #2 has no beef with Yost. How anyone could not have any beef at all with how Yost manages is beyond me, but as long as there are the #1s there will always be the #2s.

If it was as simple as Turnbow being the only guy to cough up games, and Ned sticking with him I'd be right there with you. It isn't though. Wise, Linebrink, Aquino, Capuano, McClung, Spurling...pretty much everyone but Shouse have not been able to be trusted. When you don't have options, you don't have options. I would put Cordero in there as well. An option indeed for 4 outs.

Exactly. I don't understand where the - he was going to be pitched around and/or walked anyway - logic is coming from. Who does that in the 8th inning, down by one, nobody on base and one out? Who? Where is that logic coming from? Is is coming from friends? Relatives?

Completely ridiculous. First off, in your world where the manager is to blame for everything, Yost getting ejected should be a good thing. Unfortunately, Dale Sveum is not an upgrade.

The task must be especially hard when its 4 or 5 pro-Yosters against everyone else.

So help me understand...Your position is that you wanted Seth McClung pitching to Albert Pujols? At least you have a chance of getting him out, no matter who you have pitching to him. With 1 out and nobody on, who doesn't pitch to Pujols in that situation? The alternative was to give him a free ride? Eh. He did not put retaliation ahead of winning. The intent was to win, and retaltiation just happened to fit with the timing. Instead of working around Pujols or intentionally walking him, they put one in his ribs. Unfortunately, he was hit on the end of his right elbow. It didn't appear to hurt him one bit. What position was Turnbow put in exactly, one where he is asked to go in and get 2 outs against future Hall of Famers, Ryan Ludwick, Skip Schumacher, and Kelly Stinett? I guess $2.5 million doesn't go as far as it used to if that is somehow considered an unreasonable request. I agree Turnbow is paid too much money to suck, but at this point in the season the manager knows exactly what he's getting for the money. To put him in another uneasy position after blatantly plunking the hitter before was dumb, plain and simple. Does Turnbow suck, yes. Does Ned Yost know that? He should, and probably does, but does this crap anyway. He's like a friggin' child that always has to get the last word and do what he wants no matter the consequences. And then he has the balls to go into the post game press conference and blame everyone under the sun besides himself. Ned Yost has a child's mentality and can never accept responsibility for his idiot decisions. This is the reason he will never be a good manager. Blame Turnbow because he couldn't clean up his mess? Eh.

"...Instead of worrying about his team's fate, Yost stroked his own ego and insisted on throwing the last rock at La Russa. And in doing so, Yost undermined his team's chances of winning a must-have game. It's incomprehensible, but Cubs manager Lou Piniella must appreciate how La Russa, his old boyhood chum, did such a psychological number on Yost..." Doing a psychological number on Yost must be right up there with tying shoelaces as one of the easiest things to do.

I don't buy the argument that hitting Pujols was fine because he was going to get on base anyway. You attempt to get out of the inning in that situation, not send in your McClung goon to "get even" and then leave the situation to Turnblow to deal with. He put retaliation ahead of winning, and combined with Yost and Sveum's profanity laden tirades the last two days, the managing has been downright embarrassing. Pretty much the norm with this group however. I would blame the loss on Turnbow, but I can't because he was put in that situation by Mr. Dipstick Manager Ned Toast.

That's a pretty arrogant and naive statement. I guarantee you that most of "biggest fans" of this team rarely - if ever - visit this site. No disrespect to this site -- which is awesome -- but, how many people do you actually believe spend a lot of time on this site? This statement just goes to show how much of a sheltered view that some here have. Take for example, my mother. She's definitely one of the biggest Brewer fans alive. She 70 years old and doesn't even know how to turn a computer on, much less visit and contribute to this site. There are TONS of people just like her. The people that visit this site are people that enjoy blogging and the Brewers. To categorically call those people the "biggest fans the team has" simply because you're here, is blatantly arrogant. No disrespect to your mom, but there are people that say they are big fans, and then there are people that are big fans. My mom says she is a huge Packer fan, but she couldn't tell you what the difference is between a safety and a touchback. Doesn't mean her heart isn't in the right place, just that she isn't a big enough fan to learn enough about the game and the team. I would not say i am one of the biggest fans simply because I don't go to the game 3 hours ahead of time to hunt down autographs and make friends with the ushers. However I would say I am a big fan because I know all the roster moves 15 minutes after they are announced, or know what's happening to 756, or whatever. Big fans should not get a threatening feeling from the manager of their chosen team because that manager doesn't like how people are criticizing his managing. First, just manage better and the voices you read wouldn't be that loud. Second, suck it up like a man and turn the other cheek. How hard is it to say "no comment" to the Milwaukee media - not very. Ned is either an ass or he is getting burned out, and that shows in his public comments.

"There was no Internet or this other stuff they have today, with the dissection and the message boards and everything where every pitch is dissected nine different ways, and the people who really missed their calling and should have been major-league managers," (Ned) said. I sure did miss my calling, and I blame it all on not being nearly a good enough baseball player to break into the minor leagues, much less all the way up to back-up catcher in the bigs. The problem with sports is there's a ton of emphasis on former-player status when it comes to coaching. It is borderline impossible to get into coaching or managing if you haven't somehow paid your dues playing for a pro or semi-pro team somewhere. This mindset arguably leaves many highly qualified strategists and decision makers out of the ring, therefore paving the way for people like Ned Yost to become a manager of a multi-million dollar business. Some might say a sports-oriented personality is required. Very true, and there are a ton of those people around that weren't athletically gifted enough to play at a high level. Some say in-game decision making is not as important as maintaining the clubhouse atmosphere. That could be true, with pre-game pep talking, post-game ass reaming, stroking of big money egos, and delegating responsibility. The press conference seems really easy with the Milwaukee media, so that really isn't a big part of the job. So if I could prove to be a good pep-talking, ass-reaming, responsibility delegating individual then I believe I could be considered a better candidate for the job, because I know that I would be a better in-game decision making strategist. I feel this comment is directed toward some posters here, and it pretty much sums up why I don't see anything to like in Ned Yost right now. I bet he sure can give a great wedgie in the clubhouse though.

I'll admit, I like the fire Yost was spewing the last couple of games. I was as angry with the umps as he was. The umping has just been atrocious for the crew down the stretch. Kind of like how the Bucks were manhandled by the officials in the postseason a while back. However, it doesnt change my mind. Nay.

I'm sorry if I somehow offended you strawboss, but 50% sounds extremely made up.

Oops, my bad. I think it went off topic when Capuano was discussed as an option on 9/19.

I agree with this and more. I think there should be a stat I'll just casually refer to as RUCUS (Relativity Underneath Cubs Unique Supremacy). So for example the '27 Yankees, '54 Indians, '98 Yankees would all have a RUCUS of -1 (meaning they're only 1 RUCUS under the Cubs. The Big Red Machine might be -3. All I hope for the Brewers is that DM makes some trades so we can just get at -10 RUCUS. That would be so awesome. I'm so honored to have seen the Brewers at Wrigley and to have given my money to one of the truly great teams and organizations in baseball. Sorry to post so much on this thread, but I am just brimming with well-wishes for the truly awesome Cubs. GO CUBS GO!! Even the 2007 Cubs themselves appear to come in around a +7 RUCUS, if I am interpreting this metric correctly. That would mean this years team is even more supreme than in all other years, and just might be one of the greatest teams of all time. Cubs Win!! Cubs Win!! Glorious.

I have so much respect for the Cubs, that I bow every hour on the hour in recognition of their great achievements. I cannot wait to see them win the World Series and exorcise this so-called curse some people talk about. The class surrounding the Cubs starts with players like Derek "The Knockout" Lee and Carlos "The Volcano" Zambrano, and continues on to the passionate, knowledgeable, and courteous fans. Everything about the 2007 Cubs screams WINNER. Now go out there and bury those lowly Pirates, because you are way better than they will ever be.

I agree completely, the defense has been atrocious. And when things like Hart/Gross/Dillon misjudgments of fly balls go as hits, the ERA is even further overstated.

I must say that analysis of Yost's chances is generous. How would the odds look if this team doesn't even win 82 games? Think that is not possible? Might want to chew on that for a little while.

You can disagree, but I'm pretty certain that the overwhelming majority would have done the same thing (and it's really not a common sense issue, like one poster says, if Wise pitches a scoreless inning, and we score a run, then a win is pretty much a certainty as we bring Cordero in to finish the game.) That isn't opposed to common sense, as you would like to indicate. It's hardly stupid reasoning, it's just different than how you would have done it, fair enough? If you are an MLB manager in the pennant race, and you are betting on Matt Wise to pitch a scoreless inning (and Ned was banking on 2 with the double switch), common sense is not being applied. Even if Matt Wise should have been allowed to start the 10th - and I argue he shouldn't have even sniffed this game - there is no way on my green earth he should have been allowed to continue once he put 2 runners on with less than 2 out. I would say letting Matt Wise lose that game in the 10th with better options available in the bullpen is stupid. But everyone is entitled to their own opinion I guess, even if that opinion concludes this was the Brewers best option to win an extremely important game. However, I would argue this one to my grave and know the whole time my thinking and reasoning is better than anyone arguing against me (and I can't say that about most of my arguments http://static.yuku.com//domainskins/bypass/img/smileys/wink.gif).

It was Wise's inning to win or lose. This should never have been the case with 12 games to go and tied for first place. Matt Wise is terrible, and we all know that. The Brewer's bullpen had been pretty much emptied. Not true. Believe it or not, there were 3 better options (Cappy, Cordero, and yes - Greg Aquino <-- mostly because Matt Wise is just brutal) You throw Cordero midway through that inning, and if the game goes more than an inning or two longer, you are in rough shape. Not with Cappy in the bullpen. Especially, if we are purposely not throwing Cappy so he would be available to pitch for Sheets. The division leaders are throwing out a 4-man rotation for the stretch run, why can't we? My point is/has been since this debacle = Matt Wise should have pitched in the 7-1 game the night before, and Turnbow would have been rested and ready to START the 8th inning on Wed. This should be academic, but unfortunately the majority of fans are left with frustration and doubt. Honestly, I don't see how anyone could protect Ned Yost at this point.

Maybe, Tampa Bay, the problem isn't the design on the uniforms but rather who is wearing them.

I too wish he would learn, but I gave up on that happening months ago.

I'm saying that Yost is smart enough to realize that the odds were that Dillon wasn't going to get a hit. Chances are that Bush wouldn't need to run. Playing the odds isn't exactly stupid. It might be if you are playing the odds to fail. That would seem pretty stupid to me. Playing the odds that a batter won't get a hit?!?! Is that your argument?

T-bow stunk last night. Look at his splits...the problem was he pitched the night before when he wasn't needed in a blowout. The guy is gassed from overuse and can't go 2 days straight. I'd have no problem throwing him into the fire in a key situation...with rest. He should not have been in there on Tuesday. I believe that caused the ineffectiveness last night. Exactamundo! I may have figured out why the Brewers are much worse on the road... Ned Yost doesn't have the fans behind the dugout telling him what to do next when they are on the road.

It wasn't on last nights show, but I heard them making comments all throughout the show on Sunday night. It was just festering in me and had to get it out. Didn't want to start another BT bashing thread though, they don't deserve the publicity - good or bad. Edit: Steve and John are idiots anyway, so its not surprising to me when I hear them make moronic comments under their breath.