Honestly I think we see different things when taking a step back, as you put it. I see a team that was only expected to win 82-85 games and be in 2nd or 3rd place in the division by most people before the season started. 2 games stood out to me this week for the managers on the opposite bench for situations that would get Ned in big trouble with his critics. The first was Monday's game where LaRussa left his starter in the game to give up 9 runs, 4 earned. The next was tonights game. Thatcher, a lefty, gets brought in and gives up a hit to Braun. Then Fielder gets intentionally walked so that Thatcher can face Hart. If Yost brought in Shouse and let him pitch to a right handed batter and then intentionally walked a lefty, some people would want him gone yesterday. I coudln't believe that they were going to let thatcher face braun, then face hart. If yost would have done that, I would have flipped. Those are the decisions that you have to go brain dead at the time to make them. If I'm a fan of SD, I would be livid that they had a lefty to face Braun.