Ned Yost claims he doesn’t read the daily newspaper or listen to sports-talk radio during the baseball season. Considering the fickle nature of the local fan base, the Milwaukee Brewers manager is probably better off.
Bashing Yost’s every move has become a fashionable activity in recent weeks. He was a genius in early May, having skippered the Brewers to a 24-10 record; the best mark in baseball. Sentiments turned during a 10-20 stretch (which, by the way, cost the Brewers just a half-game off their lead in the National League Central Division).
The team has righted the ship as of late, but Yost still can’t seem to catch a break. Every move he makes has become scrutinized. He’s been reviled for his continued rotation of outfielders, he decision to stick with Tony Graffanino and Craig Counsell, his belief in reliever Derrick Turnbow, and for shipping Tony Gwynn, Jr. back down to Triple-A Nashville.
Last week, the manager was blown up on talk shows after Turnbow blew a lead against Houston. Fans said they were sick of Yost sticking with the pitcher when all he did was blow games; yet they chose to ignore the fact that Turnbow had pitched eight scoreless innings prior to the slipup.
Pitching changes are another favorite complaint of the Yost-haters. No matter what the move or when it comes, people know better. Yost himself said after one game that his job is to figure out when a pitcher throws his last pitch. Hindsight, as always, is 20-20. Sure, Dave Bush should have been pulled one inning earlier on a number of occasions, and sure, Matt Wise should have been left in one batter longer on another. But that’s the way baseball goes sometimes. It’s a manager’s job to figure those things out, and even the skipper doesn’t have a crystal ball.
With Gwynn, people thought Yost was a buffoon for not penciling the rookie in as the everyday centerfielder and leadoff hitter. Of course, by doing that, Corey Hart would never have been installed as the leadoff guy and would have had to be relegated to the bench, as Bill Hall, Geoff Jenkins, and Gwynn would make up the Brewers’ outfield.
What a travesty that move has been, right? All Hart has done is tear up National League pitching so far. He’s hitting .317 with a .391 OBP. That sounds like a pretty good move and certainly not one made by a certified idiot with no knowledge of the game.
Gwynn, meanwhile, is getting everyday experience with the Sounds and will be back up with the big club soon enough. Young players need to play everyday. Sitting the bench waiting for pinch-hitting duty will not sharpen developing skills.
The Brewers didn’t hire Yost simply because he was another link to the blown-way-out-of-proportion 1982 season. He was hired because he was considered one of the best managerial prospects in the game, and had studied under one of the top managers in the game. (The Atlanta Braves didn’t with all those divisional championships on talent, alone).
He’s been given little to work with during his first few seasons, and now is in the process of teaching a bunch of young players how to win. The Brewers are in first place right now, with the All-Star Break just a week away. This hasn’t happened very often around here, so instead of calling for the head of the guy that is responsible for making it happen, try sitting back and enjoying the ride so far.
