Both WTMJ and WTSO ESPN 1070 radio reported that Brewers’ GM Doug Melvin “collaboratively” with owner Mark Attanasio have dismissed manager Ned Yost as manager of the Milwaukee Brewers with just 12 games left in the season. Third-base coach Dale Sveum will manage the team through the rest of the season. Ted Simmons was re-assigned from a bench position to a “consultant” position in the front office.
Read Jesse’s take on the move below (or click on the link)
The consensus between the two programs–including Journal-Sentinal writer Tom Haudricourt–was that this decision likely came from owner Mark Attanasio, given Melvin’s track record of being more of a deliberate thinker. Speculation was running rampant that it was Yost’s stressful demeanor that rubbed off on his players that led to their recent 3-11 slide and fall from a 5½ game lead in the Wild Card race into a tie with the Phillies.
Melvin’s preliminary comments prior to his 6:30 p.m. press conference tonight, from Adam McCalvy at mlb.com:
“The club is just not performing close to the way they performed earlier. We have 12 days left and we don’t know what could jump-start the club. This was, I guess, the only thing we thought had a chance of jump-starting the club.
“It’s tough when you have someone who has done what Ned has done for the organization, built the organization back where it hasn’t been in 15 years. I feel sometimes I quit on Ned a little bit by not allowing him to do it for the last two weeks. But in the end, the decision was made.”
ESPN 1070 sports announcer Mike Heller described the timing as “the most cold-hearted” move in the history of sports.
I have to admit I am a bit saddened by the move…I’m speculating here, but I would imagine that Doug Melvin spent quite a bit of time in the locker room over the past week and saw how the players’ confidence had eroded…and, perhaps, concluded that Yost was the catalyst…or, perhaps, that something needed to be done to salvage a shot at the playoffs.
Thanks, Ned. Many fans appreciate the effort and returning the Brewers to a winning team…we’ll find out if this team has the chutzpah to make the playoffs…and, if they do, you deserve much of the credit.
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