Wither Nedly -- should Yost get fired?

In a perfect world, or at least a perfect National League, Ned Yost would like to be Bobby Cox when he grows up. If you’re looking for a managerial role model, you could do a lot worse than the long-time Braves skipper. In fact, Yost’s biggest asset when he interviewed for the Milwaukee Brewers’ job was his years learning the game as one of Cox’s coaching staff. 

The one thing Cox stresses is consistency and his managing style is exemplified by his even keel. Do the same things – every time, every at-bat, everyday – and things will work out okay. 

Of course, if you had all that great starting pitching – three possible Hall of Famers in Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and John Smoltz in the rotation – you’d look pretty smart, too. Still, let’s take a look at how Yost is trying to instill the Braves’ way in Milwaukee. 

1. Pitching and defense 

Those Braves sure had it, these Brewers sure don’t. Okay, maybe Yost doesn’t have his own Big Three, but he could certainly use a little more help from the likes of Ben Sheets and Jeff Suppan. And the injury to Yovanni Gallardo kicked the heart out of Yost’s plan and his team. 

2. Quiet leadership 

Bobby Cox surely yells his head off on the field, but he insists on any problems on his team being settled behind closed doors, He doesn’t use the press and his frequent ejections by umpires show his players that he’s got their back. This is not to say that Cox’s style is perfect, as evidenced by the single World Series title among the 14 consecutive division titles. Braves fans know the sadness and gladness of the Bobby Cox era. 

In short, when the situation calls for patience, Cox displays patience. Yet, when the situation calls for action, Cox has still more patience. He manages on a 162 game basis and can’t or won’t change the philosophy when the action shifts to a seven game series. 

Because he’s so averse to upsetting the apple cart, Cox keeps on doing the same old things over and over. He’ll start Charlie Liebrandt for Game One of the World Series when millions are screaming at him to move Maddux, Glavine and Smoltz. He'll reply, it's his turn in the rotation and that's that.

This all brings us back to the present. A heapin’ helpin’ of Brewers fans want Yost gone yesterday. It’s true the Brewers have underachieved and many point the finger at Nedly. 

Still, Yost didn’t put this team together and he’s not responsible for the numerous injuries that have crippled the team’s pennant race. He’s not responsible for the various slumps his players have suffered through this season.  And he sure wasn’t responsible for Mike Cameron’s missing 25 games due to suspension or the other big money free agent Eric Gagne’s meltdown in the closer’s role. 

And there are signs that Yost is trying to wean himself off the slow and steady Bobby Cox school of managing. He did demote Dave Bush (only to have to put him back in the rotation when Gallardo went down). He has recently benched Cameron and placed Bill Hall in a platoon situation. Accountability is the new Yost way.

The Brewers have played better of late and the schedule does set up well. A few more home games and some timely hitting could turn the tide, but if the Cubs keep on winning it might not make any difference. 

Still, Ned Yost will never be mistaken for Bobby Cox. He ain’t no Tony LaRussa or Lou Piniella, either and he has both Hall of Fame skippers in his division. And yet, the only thing the Brewers and their fans can hang their collective hats on is the calendar.

A year ago, the fortunes of the Brewers and Cubs were reversed. Last June, the Brewers were the wunderkind of the National League and the Cubbies were floundering. Milwaukee led the division while the North Siders were fighting in the dugout and Sweet Lou was being suspended. 

And of course, there's nothing to say that the Cubs will cruise into the playoffs, A century of futility says different. For all the Cubs fans who proclaim, this is our year, none of them are without doubt. We’ve all seen them collapse too many times before. 

Could Ted Simmons or Jim Gantner et al do a better job of managing than Nedly? Could the team get the necessary jolt from the attitude adjustment that Yost’s dismissal would bring? 

I doubt it. Maybe not this year with all the slumps and injuries. 

Now, if the Brewers underachieve again next spring, then Yost is toast.