Mason:

You’ve heard the old saying, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

Well, the Brewers were broken. Something needed to be fixed.

For nearly the entire season, Milwaukee has been in position to make a run at the postseason. The Brewers battled with the Chicago Cubs for the NL Central lead earlier in the year but have since been content with holding a sizeable lead in the wild card race. But losing eight of the last nine games and 12 of the past 14 has erased their lead, as the red-hot Phillies have caught up to them.

While it’s certainly true managers don’t pitch or swing the bat for their teams, the blame is almost always pointed in their direction first and foremost — sometimes unfairly. But in the case of Ned Yost, the Brewers’ only choice was to ax their skipper.

Look at where the Brew Crew stands right now: half a game behind the Mets for the wild card with a chance to make the postseason for the first time in 26 seasons. They still have two series against the division-leading Cubs. The reality is that this season is closing quickly, but the Brewers haven’t been a team playing with any fire or sense of urgency.

You’ve gotta blame good ol’ Ned for that.

If you’re a manager and your team starts to skid faster than an out-of-control Corvette, isn’t it your responsibility to light a fire under it?

The answer is yes, but Yost clearly didn’t do that.

Notice I made no mention of questionable pitching and roster moves throughout the season made by Yost. I think those speak for themselves. 

The Brewers had a Yost infection. Milwaukee fans can only hope Dale Sveum is the cure.

Zetlin:

Milwaukee, you have a problem.

You think firing your manager with two weeks left in the season is a good idea? Oh boy.

I’m sick of all the cliches: “Trying to add a spark,” “Light a fire,” “The players weren’t responding to him anymore.”

So what were they doing for the first 150 games of the season, exactly? These are major league ballplayers, most of whom have never even smelled the aroma of the postseason. Is that not enough motivation to bring your A game to the park night in and night out? Now what — all of a sudden the players are going to start playing harder and better because Dale Sveum is calling the shots instead of Ned Yost?

I’ll believe it when I see it.

Sure, Yost has made some suspect moves of late, like trotting Brian Shouse to the mound to face the Phillies’ Pat Burrell to induce a double play when the Phillies’ outfielder is a fly ball hitter and Shouse isn’t exactly a groundball pitcher.

Yeah, maybe things needed to be shaken up in Brew Crew Country, but don’t blame Yost for a good old-fashioned choke job by the Milwaukee starting pitchers (not named CC) and hitters. A manager can only do so much.

It was risky trading Matt LaPorta in the Sabathia deal, but CC’s lived up to the hype. Maybe this move will pan out, too.

But a sweep in Philadelphia? Five-and-a-half games vanished in the blink of an eye?

Milwaukee’s toast, with or without Yost.