Phils Get Brewers’ Mgr. Axed

Over the weekend, the Phillies beat up the Milwaukee Brewers four straight games to move within a game of first in the NL East and tie the Brew Crew for the Wild Card.

Milwaukee’s players weren’t so thrilled with the result, obviously. Outfielder Ryan Braun said postgame the series was “a complete and total disaster” before using the word “ironically” incorrectly.

And here’s another bit of irony: Today, the Brewers actually fired manager Ned Yost with only 2 weeks left in the season. Not since the Phillies replaced Larry Bowa with Gary Varsho with two games left in the 2004 season has there been a late-season firing of such magnitude. Okay, this is a bit different, since the Phillies were already out of the race while the Brewers are tied for a playoff spot with only two weeks left.

But, hey, this is why the 2008 Phillies are so much fun: They can actually sweep a four-game series so convincingly it made the other team fire its manager. Hopefully the Fightins can continue to mow down managers as they make their way through the playoffs.

Update: Fire Ned Yost is surely elated at the news, only wishing it had come sooner. Yesterday, the site ran a piece on Yost’s strange faith-based management. With the Brewers needing a double play yesterday afternoon in the bottom of the 8th, Yost left in Brian Shouse (only 5 double plays in 77 chances this year) to face Pat Burrell.

[I]t’s still hard to understand where Ned’s faith in Shousie’s GDP ability come from. Well, unless it’s just faith, of course. Ned’s entire approach to managing is based on the big play. Pitchers need to get the big strikeout or double play, and batters need to hit the home run. There’s no room for game strategy that does not involve a spectacular result against the odds.

Burrell singled home Jayson Werth to give the Phillies the lead and (apparently) take Yost’s job away from him. Pretty impressive hit if you ask me.

Slumping Brewers fire manager Ned Yost [AP]
Image via Bernie Brewer’s Myspace page