Melvin's Mistake: Yost Should Still Be Brewers' Manager

With just 12 games left in the season, the Milwaukee Brewers fired manager Ned Yost last Monday in an attempt to right the ship and put an end to the team's September swoon. All I have to say is what in the world was management thinking? The move was a giant slap in the face to Yost. After 150 games of a long, grueling baseball schedule, the former manager had the Brewers tied for the lead in the NL wild card race. But, apparently, it was not good enough for general manager Doug Melvin. Melvin, however, must have forgotten that Yost led his franchise out of the ruins six years ago. When Milwaukee hired Yost, shown in the graphic to the left, after the 2002 season, the Brewers had just completed their 10th consecutive losing season. Even worse, the team was coming off its worst record in franchise history at 56-106. Yost brought a sense of pride and history with him to the struggling organization. After all, he was the back-up catcher on the Brewer's 1982 pennant-winning team-the last Brewers team to make it to the playoffs-and Melvin said, "He has enthusiasm for the organization and brings a great desire to help us to return to winning baseball," according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. It was not until 2005 that Yost truly led the Brewers out of the cellar. For the first time in 13 seasons, the Brewers finished the season at .500. With 81 wins and young emerging stars including J.J. Hardy, Rickie Weeks, Prince Fielder and staff ace Ben Sheets, Yost finally had a nucleus of players to build around. Thanks to the addition of young-slugging third baseman Ryan Braun to fit in with the rest of Milwaukee's rising stars, the Brewers became a force to be reckoned with in 2007. But after finishing 24-30 throughout the final two months of the season, the Brewers found themselves in second place at the end of the September, two games back of the Cubs. Another long winter awaited the franchise. Whispers began surrounding the organization that Yost was to be fired. But how could Melvin dismiss his manager? He had brought the most exciting season the Brewer's organization had seen since 1992. Even though his players failed to reach the postseason, the team surpassed all expectations of management and fans.

But 2008 was to be different. The Brewers expected to win for the first time since the early 1980s. Yost led his squad to a 32-30 record by early July, and the team sat atop the NL central standings. But Melvin, feeling his team needed more in 2008, made arguably the biggest acquisition in franchise history, trading Matt LaPorta - Milwaukee's best prospect - and three other minor league players to the Cleveland Indians for reigning AL Cy Young award winner CC Sabathia, shown in the graphic to the right after winning his first start in Milwaukee. "We just felt that we needed to go for it at this point," Melvin said according to the New York Times. "We feel that this is a year that gives us a chance." It was a we-must-win-now move for Melvin's squad. Sabathia, like Sheets, is a free agent at the end of the 2008 season, and he most certainly won't be wearing a Brewer's uniform next season. By giving up LaPorta, Melvin hurt his team's future to contend for a championship now. No one on the Brewer's end of the spectrum can argue with the results of the trade. Up until Yost's dismissal on Sept. 15, Sabathia was 9-0 in 13 starts with six complete games and a 1.59 ERA. But, in what probably seemed like a bad recurring nightmare to management, the Brewers 5 1/2 game wild card lead started decreasing in September, much like the team's division lead in 2007. Melvin could not believe it. He had no idea know what to do and just waged his future to trade for a pitcher that would be with his team for only half of a season. On top of losing Sabathia, Sheets would be gone too. Melvin's window of opportunity was closing fast. He panicked. Following the team's 3-11 record in September, Melvin fired Yost last Monday and in an unprecedented move. No manager had ever been fired so late into the season with his team in reach of the playoffs.

From my point of view, it shows a lot of disrespect on Melvin's part. Yost earned the right to manage the last 12 games of the season, regardless of whether Melvin thought so or not. Also, there is no way an executive can fire a manager, especially in the middle of a playoff race, without feeling 100 percent confident in his or her decision. Melvin said this following the dismissal according to ESPN.com: "[Yost] didn't have the answers for what is going on the last two weeks and I'm not sure I have all the answers. I'm not sure this is the right one, either." Melvin should have been completely sure of his decision and been prepared to defend it. But he did not do either. Melvin named third base coach Dale Sveum as interim manager for the rest of the season, as if that would change the outcome for his team. At least bring in some one new and fiery to ignite a spark for this team. Do not get rid of the head poncho and replace him with his assistant. It will not change a thing. Since Yost's dismissal, the Brewers haven't played much better. The team is 2-4 under Sveum and now stands 1 1/2 games behind the New York Mets for the wild card lead. Once again on the outside looking in, the Brewers may have botched their best chance to make the playoffs in the last 26 years. Who knows if Milwaukee would have turned their play around and made a push for the post season with Yost at the helm. The only thing that is definite is Yost is gone and Melvin's window of opportunity is nearly shut.