Ned Yost Is Toast: Brewers Fire Manager Amid Skid

In a shocking and unexpected surprise Monday, the Milwaukee Brewers fired one-time backup catcher and multi-year manager Ned Yost.

Team sources state the firing was a result of a recent four-game sweep of the Brewers at the hands of the Philadelphia Phillies. The cause of this sudden and unexpected firing is shocking and appears to be a wake-up call for the Brewers, a team in desperate need of spark.

After beginning the month of September with a 5.5-game lead in the wild-card race, the Brewers find now themselves tied with the Phillies. Sadly, a 3-11 start to the month of September is to blame.

A team that has not made the playoffs in 26 seasons made a gutsy mid-season trade by sending top prospect Matt LaPorta to the Cleveland Indians for ace pitcher CC Sabathia. The great trade's impact has appeared to evaporate as the Brewers find themselves scuffling trying to pick up the pieces and salvage the season.

The firing of both Yost, the long-time manager of the Milwaukee Brewers, and bench coach Ted Simmons is both saddening and shocking. With only a handful of regular season games left, the Brewers find themselves fighting for their playoff lives.

The Chicago Cubs have all but solidified the division, and the Brewers are left searching for answers. The hunt for October is likely to come down to the end of the season once again, and, hopefully, this time the Brewers will not find themselves on the outside looking in.

As the New York Mets once again begin to scuffle and the Philadelphia Phillies continue to gain ground, it is looking more and more likely the Phillies will win the NL East and the wild card will come down to the Brewers and Mets.

The fight for October is a story for the ages, and interim manager Dale Sveum is going to have his hands full. The season is always full of surprises, and we are told to expect the unexpected, but nobody could have seen this coming.