Who kidnapped Ned Yost? (all things Yost)

[AJAY]

What happened to Ned Yost? Who kidnapped him?

 

* We have a new manager who pulled Dave Bush BEFORE the big inning.

 

* We have a new manager who went to the mound THREE TIMES to get in the pitcher's face after throwing balls and giving up walks.

 

* We have a manager that pinch hit for Rickie Weeks in a key situation. In fact, Weeks will now be riding the bench for a while.

 

* We have won a bunch of one-run games where every decision seemed huge.

 

* We have a manager who is telling Chris Capuano that his job is on the line and that you only get so many chances.

 

Now who is this imposter managing our team all of a sudden? He seems to be pulling all the strings and managing with urgency now.

[razzzorsharp]

Nothing has really changed all that much to me. Maybe you're just seeing him in a different light after the euphoria of winning these close games.

[TerraceReserved]

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* We have a manager who is telling Chris Capuano that his job is on the line and that you only get so many chances.

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Sorry, but when did Ned ever say that Cappy's job is on the line and he only gets so many chances? That doesn't really make sense, considering he just got back from an injury and all, so I have a hard time beleiving he said that.

[brewcrew00]

"it's not an endless rope either."

 

Said Yost: "He's going to have to find a way to get himself out of it pretty quick."

 

He has laid it out there, Cappy knows what he needs to do, and he knows he needs to do it soon!

[TerraceReserved]

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Said Yost: "He's going to have to find a way to get himself out of it pretty quick."

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Ahh, thanks, that clears it up. I geuss I just don't agree with the statement becuase of his recent injury, which imo is still affecting him.

[DHonks]

not sure what you mean. He's the same manager. He has been going out and yelling at Vargas all year when he starts pitching like this. He did it to Villanueva a few times, too.

 

It's really the same guy, just all season he's been saying that it's different since this is a playoff chase...so it's time for results, not developing players.

[brettac1]

Nothing has really changed all that much to me. Maybe you're just seeing him in a different light after the euphoria of winning these close games.

 

I agree with this. He's pretty much the same guy as far as I can tell. He's been going out to talk to pitchers when he thinks they're nibbling all season.

[Ennder]

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We have a new manager who pulled Dave Bush BEFORE the big inning.

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Yost isn't pulling him any sooner than before, his LOB% has just regressed towards the mean like expected and his BABIP dropped like we knew it would.

[GAME05]

introducing Ted Yost, Ned's identical twin brother. boy, how bullpen performance will either make you look like a goat or a genius, and nothing in between. i get the idea of the post, though. at the least, Ned's lost a tiny bit of his patience with players, which he's had since he started. I've been surprised with sitting Weeks, since he's usually let players hit out of slumps like he did with Jenkins last year.

 

but maybe pulling pitchers early instead of stretching them to get through 7 has a lot to do with having two awesome long relievers in the pen in Gallardo and Villy.

[bucksman4]

And the latest anti-Ned move:

 

Notes: Yost opts to bench slumping Weeks

 

www.jsonline.com/story/in...?id=634627

 

"We're at the stage where production matters," said Yost. "We're not in the phase of developing anymore. I've got to put my most productive players on the field."

 

 

Way to step up and do the right thing here Yost. It's what a manager of a winning team HAS to do. Production does matter. We're in a pennant race here, folks.

[Oldcity]

I actually disagree with the Weeks benching. I thought one of Yost's strongest qualities was along players to work out of slumps.

[AdvantageSchneider]

Guys who have done it in the past for a long time, ala Jenkins might get a bit more time than newer guys who are still proving themselves to a certain extent.

 

Weeks will get another shot because graffy isn't going to stay this hot for the rest of the season.

[giffted1]

I don't really think he's been managing much differently. Its just that his normal moves have been working more often lately. When the players execute, Yost looks good.

 

The Weeks benching doesn't seem like a traditional Yost move, but I'm glad he did it. With the Cubs breathing down our neck we can't stick with struggling players if we have better options. Weeks has looked like a little leaguer out there lately and Graffy has been playing well. Tonight it probably made the difference in the game.

[brettac1]

The Weeks benching is justified, as far as I'm concerned. I've been a huge fan of Weeks the whole time, but there's just not any signs that he's about to bust out or anything. I'd rather see him go back on the DL than just get benched, though.

[1992casey]

Rickie's rotten OBP sample is pretty small, but the SLG sample has been rotten for quite a while.

 

I don't have a problem with letting him work out some issues in practice and in the cage. The poster child for this would be J.J. Hardy and his brief benching in May, 2005. Maybe it'll help that Rickie doesn't get to 'practice' his bad habits on the field.

[geothite]

Ned had little choice with Weeks. However there is no difference between the horrendously slumping Weeks and Graffy & Counsell this year.

Weeks OPS = 0.710.

Graffy OPS = 0.722 & Counsell = 0.674. Weeks right now is hitting like our 3B platoon was for weeks on end.

 

Weeks has picked the wrong time to go into a slump. If he would have done this in April, even though the games count the same amount, Ned probably would have given him more rope.

Weeks works hard and he and Skaalen will figure it out in the batting cage in a couple weeks.

[davego]

I agree that Rickie would be better off on the DL and then a rehab stint.

 

Would that make the 'Crew in the market for an IF?

[twobrewers]

Wow...I am shocked so many people disagree with AJAY.

 

I haven't even been able to watch all of the past 4 games and I have noticed a change in his demenor. Last night he was out at the mound THREE times to talk it over with the pitchers. Maddux didn't head to the mound once!

 

Ned has always taken a very casual laid back and let the men do their job attitude. He seems significantly more active in his decisions lately.

 

Benching Weeks isn't that surprising considering Ned has shown a tendency to stick with a player through a slump...but only to a point. Weeks is at the point.

 

But pinch hitting for Weeks with Graffy was something new for me. Once Ned names his starters for that day - he plans on sticking with him. (Just think about all the times Mench or Jenkins has struck out after they removed the starter and brought in a pitcher just for them) Mench has batted against a lot of righties. And Jenkins has batted against a lot of lefties.

 

I like this Ned.

[igor67]

Well he also has a tendency to let starters try and get out of it, but has seemed to be a lot more on the ball since falling asleep at the wheel in Washington. I don't mind the benching assuming it doesn't last too long before he gets a shot at some regular playing time again. A week or so and then give him a couple of starts. Otherwise he really should get sent down and bring up Rottino or Crabbe for the bench.

[Bruce Ciskie]

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I guess I just don't agree with the statement becuase of his recent injury, which imo is still affecting him.

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I can't agree with this. I don't care if we're in a pennant race or not. The major league rotation isn't the place to work through an injury. If Capuano is having troubles, he should be DLed and then sent on a rehab assignment.

 

As for Yost, I've also noticed a different Ned since the All-Star break. It helps that he's pretty much pushed every right button, and that has some luck attached to it (just like there is luck attached to that stretch where you can't seem to do anything right).

[Fatter than Joey]

As for Yost, I've also noticed a different Ned since the All-Star break.

 

I agree 100% -- Luck aside, Ned has been handling his pitchers much different, and I think AJAY's post is right on -- Ned has made some very noticeable and tangible adjustments.

 

I think there are a couple of factors.

 

1.) The Cubs have waken up and will be on our tails until the end of the year -- I think that the Brewers will lose their lead to the Cubs at some point this year, and Ned realizes that this team will need to be ready for something it hasn't had to deal with yet, a dogfight divisional race.

 

2.) What was once a perceived strength, the rotation, could all of a sudden be a weakness -- Suppan, Bush, Vargas and Cappy have collectively looked shaky and struggled at some point this season, and if we are going to deal with the Cubs, our rotation needs to trend more positive. While we currently have some studs in our BP, at some point Yo will no longer be an option -- so the Brewers can't rely on 5IP performances much longer in the year.

 

The good news is that the Brewers are entering uncharted waters this August and September, and it would be foolish for Ned to think he would be able to do the same things that he did in the past and make it through the year. I think you are going to see more decisions based on results rather than secondary stats, here on out. That is to say if you have a 5.00+ ERA, and a bunch of L's, you are probably going to get yanked regardless of what your K/BB numbers are.

[Barbs4339]

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* We have a new manager who pulled Dave Bush BEFORE the big inning.

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I agree with most of this thread, but Ned did not pull Bush before the big inning. He let Bush start the 7th, and Bush gave up an HR and a single to lead off the inning. And it's hard to justifiy keeping Weeks out there when he's hitting .217 when Graffy is hot and also playing great in the field. Almost wish Ricky would go down to Nashville for about 2 weeks to figure things out and come back here with a venegence for the stretch run.

[Trowekamp]

I think any perceived differences is the result of this being the post all-star break versus pre-all star break.

 

As Bill Beane likes to say the first half is for figuring out what you have as a team and the second half is for fixing what isn't working.

 

Similar to last year with Jenkins, Ned has given the players plenty of time to work through any issues and is now attempting to "fix" things he feels are not going well.

 

Also adding Yo and Braun to the team will make any manager look smarter.

[Lil Dummy]

"And it's hard to justifiy keeping Weeks out there when he's hitting .217 when Graffy is hot and also playing great in the field. Almost wish Ricky would go down to Nashville for about 2 weeks to figure things out and come back here with a venegence for the stretch run."

 

Not according to some longtime posters here. I think the Brewers (and 99% of us) expect Weeks to man second base for the Crew for the next several years, so obviously it's a senstive thing, if Rickie feels like he should be playing. He's been in the bigs long enough that going to Nashville to "work out the kinks" certainly feels like a demotion, even if it's only temporary. I don't think it happens unless Weeks suggests it, and it doesn't look like he will. Which is too bad, since I think it would be beneficial for all involved.

[TheCrew07]

I'm a Yost apologist for sure. I'm not big on bagging on and second guessing every decision the coaching staff makes for the reasons I've posted many times in the past.

 

I think Ned is doing what he's always done... He's very patient in the first half, he'll stick with a guy as long as he can. However in the second half he has a short leash, especially when there are other alternatives. I thought his biggest mistake last year was riding Jenkins too long.

 

The one area I think needed improvement and he's now improving on is his bullpen management. I thought it was perfect management last night letting Villy go 2 and skipping TBow. Now he has a closer for today to give Coco a day off if needed. He also has a fresh Wise, Balfour, and Parra in the pen.

 

I think it a bit too convienent to always be blaming Ned for everything that doesn't work out well in a game. I've seen improvement in his managing style every season, especially this one as he's finally managing a contender.