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Well, that wasn't expected, even from the venomous "Yost is Toast" crowd within Brewers faithful.  I think we all knew the Brewers were going to let Yost go after this season, barring a deep run into the playoffs.  But with 12 games left in the season?  Yes, it's been pretty obvious that 3-11 so far in September is a pretty huge embarrassment...but why risk alienating your team by doing something like this with 12 games left in the season?  Just some points I wanted to bring up;

1) Is this an act of desperation?  Or an example of Brewers management thinking out of the box, perhaps?  On the surface, it certainly does look like desperation.  Like I mentioned above, 3-11 so far in September.  That 4 game lead they had over the Phillies all but a week ago, is gone.  The team can't hit, the pitching staff evidently got sick of bailing out the offense...to say the least, the team is a mess.  Ryan Braun called the series in Philadelphia a "complete and total disaster."  I have always been one to approach the Ned Yost problem with a level head.  I have criticized him roundly, but at the same time, I have always given him a chance. I don't know why...perhaps it's because I always enjoy seeing coaches or players prove their doubters wrong (even if one of those doubters is myself).  But whatever the case, my theory on managers is this; they can control the lineup, but not how the players hit.  They can control the pitching staff, but not how well the pitchers throw the ball.  But there is one thing that they do have more control over then people actually realize - and that is the overall psyche of the team.  Normally, I wouldn't go after a point like this, which is probably based more on speculation then anything else - but with Ned Yost's teams, the last two seasons now, it is something that needs to be noted.  Last year they had a great start, and went into the second half with an 8 game lead over the Cubs.  They collapsed, Cubs caught up, and they missed the playoffs.  This season, they once again have a big lead, this time in the wild card race, in the second half.  Make that 5 and a half with a month left in the season.  How did this team respond?  By going 3-11 to open the final month of the season.  Why is this happening?  And why does it seem to be a staple of Ned Yost's teams now?  You could use the whole "youth" argument last year.  The team this year has much more veteran leadership, as well as the players who went through last years collapse.  Furthermore, you can look at a team like Tampa Bay - another young team, with very few "experienced" players on its roster.  Not only have they not collapsed, but they've performed exceptionally after key injuries.  Many thought they were in huge trouble when Longoria went down.  But they persevered, and have kept their lead in the AL East.  The Brewers, on the other hand, have not had any injury issues, outside of Ryan Braun tweaking his back.  They have a lineup perfectly capable of running up the score on anybody, anytime, anywhere.  In August, looking at the Brewers lineup struck fear into opposing pitchers.  Now?  They seem to be flirting with a no-hitter every day.  I was at the Brewers, Padres game at Miller Park, where Chris Young was going for not just a no-hitter, but a perfect game.  Just looking at the Brewers...they looked like a bunch of little leaguers who didn't want to be there.  Ned Yost acknowledged that the team was playing flat; that was the understatement of the last 50 years.  You would think a team, with as much talent as the Brewers, would act upset if a pitcher was completely owning them - but not against Chris Young.  Chris Young!  Not Carlos Zambrano, Peavey, Oswalt, Lincecum...Chris Young.  Jamie Moyer, and his "fastball," completely demoralized this team.  Don't get me wrong, Moyer is a fine pitcher...but anytime a team full of 25 year olds gets their lunches eaten by a 45 year old - it's ugly.  This whole month has been ugly.  Here's what I'm attempting to show; this team, for the past two seasons, has mirrored the emotions of it's manager.  I have already read reports that many in the Brewers clubhouse began to question Ned Yost's managerial techniques.  They questioned how he was clearly faking his emotions, and attempting to convince the team that he was not concerned, while clearly he was crumbling under the pressure.  This is twice that the Brewers had a chance to put away a team behind them in the playoff race, and instead fell flat and lost that lead.  Ned Yost did a fantastic job of raising these kids up.  I really don't think there should be much argument there.  Young players need to be brought up in a slightly more loving environment, and Ned Yost provided that.  When JJ Hardy started off his career, many questioned if he was brought up to early.  And it was hard to argue with that sentiment - Hardy was scuffling, and barely above the Mendoza line in the first half, of his first season.  But Ned stuck with him, defended him, and lo and behold, JJ had a fantastic second half.  Now, JJ Hardy is probably one of the more impressive short stops in baseball.  If only he had a second baseman who didn't screw up so many double plays...but I digress.  Ned Yost was perfect for the job of rebuilding a franchise from perennial doormat, to annual contender.  But, this team is no longer a bunch of babies.  They NEED a manager who knows how to not only defend his players as necessary, but a manager who knows when to bust his team's butts when necessary.  The Brewers need a guy like Ozzie Guillen, who will one minute defend his players with a stream of cuss words, and the next minute chew his players out with a stream of cuss words.  They need a guy like Charlie Manuel, who will bench the team's star player because he didn't run out a fly ball.  They need a guy who has been down this road before.  One who won't panic, and consequently cause his players to panic.  Ned Yost is not that guy.

2) But here we go again, to the start of this topic; why now?  I can only come up with one reason; Brewers management is hoping that a shakeup of this magnitude will snap this team out of the funk they are in.  In a way, I agree.  Like I said before, this is a very young, impressionable team.  Sometimes the only way to get them to notice what is going on, is to be drastic in your movements.  Picking up CC Sabathia was a drastic move, and the results immediately following CC's pickup were no fluke.  A team like the Brewers will take notice to such actions.  Ned Yost's problem was he lacked the ability to do such actions.  So the Brewers front office decided to do it for him.  Will it work?  Who knows?  Doug Melvin himself has admitted that he has no idea if this will work or not - and he would be lying if he did say he was confident in this decision.  To fire a manager with 12 games left, and with the team still at least tied for the wild card lead, is unprecedented. It is, at its very core, a bold and drastic measure.  I think what it all came down to, was that Brewers brass decided that they could not afford to wait for Ned Yost to do something.  It was becoming very apparent that Ned Yost had lost control of his team.  Throw in the fact that Mark Attanasio has invested so much in this team, it becomes only natural that he and Doug Melvin would choose to micromanage, so to speak.  Do I agree with this move?  To be perfectly honest, I have no clue.  I have thought it over again and again, and cannot come up with a for sure feeling over this.  Do I personally think it could work?  Well, going back to my point about the Brewers responding to over the top moves by management, I would have to say yes, it could very well work.  Is it likely?  No.  But is it possible?  Yes.  I guess we'll just have to wait out the next 2 weeks to see.  

3)  And now, just one little bit of housecleaning.  There is this idea going around, that this is going to be the last chance the Brewers will ever have at making the playoffs.  That they somehow threw in all of their available chips, and if they don't win a World Series this year, it's going to be back to losing 100 games a season.  Is this something occurring locally, within the Brewers market?  Of course not.  Nationally, however, it's getting a little bit tiring to hear some of the talking heads attempt to act knowledgeable about the Brewers franchise.  I think, in the interest of being up front with their readers and listeners, members of the national sports media (*ahem* ESPN), need to stand up and acknowledge; "I really have no clue when it comes to the Milwaukee Brewers baseball club.  All I do is read a piece of paper my secretary hands to me.  The title that says "baseball expert" on the screen below my face, is really just a disguise.  I really don't know anything, about any team outside of Boston or New York."  Now, to address this first little myth, that the Brewers are going to disappear once again into obscurity after this season.  Yes, they will most likely lose both Sabathia and Sheets to free agency.  But does this mean the pitching staff, and the team is doomed for years to come?  No.  I offer exhibit A as part of my defense; Yovani Gallardo.  If not for a freak accident in Chicago earlier this year, it is entirely possible to say CC Sabathia would NOT be wearing a Milwaukee uniform today.  Seriously, this kid pitched a shutout inning against the Chicago Cubs, on a torn ACL!!  He's tough, and my God, is he ever good.  And I realize Manny Parra is getting his lumps right now - but remember, he's basically a rookie this year.  The only reason he isn't considered one, is because of the few appearances he made last season out of the bullpen.  So this is the first time he's pitched this many innings.  Anytime you have a lefty who can throw low to mid 90s, it is something to get excited about.  Plus, throw in the fact that he's spending half a season behind the best lefty, and possibly the best pitcher, in all of baseball...let's just say that has to really good for him.  You can also throw in the fact that Jason Kendall will be returning as catcher.  I know, his average isn't fantastic by any means.  But the number of runs he has probably saved this year on his defense has more than made up for his lack of offense.  Plus, I don't think there is a better catcher in baseball as far as how he works with his pitching staff.  He calls GREAT games, and the pitchers love him for it.   And now exhibit B; there will be changes this year - and not just in the managers office.  The Brewers lineup is carrying a lot of dead weight these days.  Bill Hall and Rickie Weeks are terrible.  .220 and .230 averages have no place in any lineup - much less the leadoff position.  But these guys are starting every day.  Same with Mike Cameron - his fielding has been great this year, but the same could not be said of his offensive skills.  It is frustrating to see rally after rally killed by one of these guys, on a strikeout, weak ground out, or pop out.  Furthermore, Weeks and Hall have been atrocious on defense.  Prince Fielder really needs to improve, as well.  The only guy in the infield who obviously deserves praise is JJ Hardy.  Who is going to replace these guys?  I don't really know yet.  I'm sure Doug Melvin has a few tricks up his sleeve.  Corey Hart will most likely be signed to a deal (at least, I hope so!).  And oh yeah, that Ryan Braun kid is here to stay for another few years of so.  So the corner outfielders are set.  Corey could probably even play center field.  With his speed, he could make a great centerfielder.  But aside from the immediate future, there is also the Brewers' long term future.  Which brings us to Exhibit C; the Brewers and their absolutely stacked farm system.  Just to clear up another myth; Matt LaPorta wasn't even the best prospect on his TEAM, much less the entire Brewers system.  I'm sure he'll be awesome.  But two guys really pop out at you - Mat Gamel, and Alcides Escobar.  Gamel, who I was fortunate enough to witness his first major league hit (a roped double down the right field line), looks like a left handed Ryan Braun.  He can hit, and get this; unlike another power hitting leftfielder currently on the team, he can run!  I know, I can't believe it either!  Escobar reminded me of Jose Reyes.  Same body type, sleek and fast, and oh yeah, he was voted as "Most Exciting" player in his minor league division.  Both of these guys hit upwards of .340-.350.  To say the least, they are complete studs.  Just imagine the lineup; Escobar, Hardy, Gamel, Braun, Hart.  To say the least, it has been many years since a Brewer fan could reassure himself for the future.  We can now.  I sincerely believe we will look back at this time and realize it was just a bump in the road.  All we have to do is take our lumps as fans, and move on.  Hey, at least it hasn't been 100 years, right??  That was a bit of a ramble - I apologize for that...but I had too much on my mind today.