Why the Crew sucks

Wow. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I'd be so desperate for the start of Packers training camp, even in the season after Uncle Brett retired. It's that bad in Milwaukee Brewers Nation. Last year I was debating if I even wanted to go back to work for the Packers on game days because the Crew was enjoying such a historic season. But then guys named Yost, Capuano, Vargas and Hall (in that order) had to go F it up for the people. I'm an eternal Brewers optimist, but this season is over. The Cubs are such a night and day better team than the Brewers, it's almost not even fair at the current time.

Without getting too scientific or statistician nuts on anyone, the Brewers blow because:

1. Ned Yost. The Brew Crew is headed by the absolute worst game manager in baseball. One of three guys in the lineup doing anything calls out the teams confidence (which falls completely on the manager by the way) and the team GM blindly endorses him for being a cheerleader. Look at the non verbals of this team. If anyone out there reading this is in the business world, they can pick up things about people, read them per se. It's none too difficult to see this team doesn't "get up" for Ned. The team is getting exactly what it subscribed to: A team lead by a manager incapable of taking the next step. And please don't tell me that 83 wins was "taking the next step." In order for anything progressive to happen this season, Ned ABSOLUTELY HAS TO GO. He should have been axed two years ago, but Melvin loves extending his contract then not announcing it.

2. Dick Weeks. He's gotten hot as of late and I really wish I could love this guy. But he's closer to going back on the interstate than he is to batting .230. His OBP has improved nicely lately too, but seriously, what happened to you along the way Rickie?

3. Eric Gagne. This blog has stuck up for Gagne more than most sites, but it's obvious he's done. This guy has nothing left. If you don't grasp that even with a 94-mph fastball when you used to have a 99-mph blowtorch doesn't make you washed up, well, wake up son. The guy had HgH FedEx'd to his locker. Players have produced post 'roids. Even on the Brewers, Guerillmo Mota served a suspension for testing positive and has been a God send in the bullpen, but Gagne has zero confidence left. He'd take the mound at Dodgers Stadium, arteries pumping HgH, thinking he's the man. He's on the juice and no one can touch him. What do you think is going through his head now when he takes the mound? "Shit, I sure hope I can get three outs today, that would be swell." I loved the signing at the time, but the end of this season can't come soon enough to get him off the team's books.

4. Any starter whose last name doesn't start with an S or P. Villanueva, Bush, quite frankly, your ERA's are deplorable. How can the Brewers expect to win a game when the bats have to post 9 runs twice a week.

5. General plate discipline. Team still strikes out too much (Yost), doesn't work pitch counts (Yost), can't play small ball (Yost) or get clutch hits (Not Yost).

6. We're on the road, we suck! Ned doesn't believe in playing good baseball on the road. This equates to a very average baseball team.

7. Bill Hall. How can this guy not hit right handers? What right handed hitter that is worth is weight in peso's can't hit right handers? How many lefties do you think Billy faced on his way to college, possibly 3? Then throughout college maybe he saw another 10, total? No right handed hitting everyday player should be as horrific against righties as Hall as that's essentially all a righty sees coming up in the ranks.

8. Tony LaRusa and Lou Pinella. Not saying I like either of them, in fact, I think LaVodka is baseball's answer to Bill Belicheat, but they're real baseball managers. Crew loses this one, badly.

9. Doug Melvin. Let's see how long he sticks with Ned. I've long thought Doug is one of the best GMs in baseball, but his blind loyalty to Ned Yost proves me horribly wrong. Even if this team had Gallardo in the rotation, is it a contender? Not even close. If this team breaks 75 wins I'm stunned.

10. Three AAAA pitchers in the bullpen. Guys like DeFilice, Zach Jack and Dillard shouldn't be on good teams in the middle of something special. They're band aids. Shitty band aids at that.