With Doug Melvin Back, Brewers Face an Abundance of Decisions

The Milwaukee Brewers made it to the MLB 2008 postseason for the first time in 26 years, but after losing 3-1 in the series against the Philadelphia Phillies, they are left with the difficult decision of finding a new manager.

In the regular season's thrilling final week, an improbable stretch landed the Brewers the coveted wild-card spot in the National League. The Brewers took one game, but ultimately lost against the NLCS champs. 

The Brewers took little time to reminisce, letting interim manager Dale Sveum and hitting coach Jim Skaleen go. The Brewers are now faced with the task of finding a manager before they dive into the players' pool. 

Over the next couple weeks, I will install weekly segments, looking at a certain aspect of the team each week. This week's installment will cover the Brewers' search for a new manager.

"It felt like a punch in the stomach," said Dale Sveum after learning of his dismissal.

No doubt Sveum was feeling the same as Ned Yost, for whom he took over. Sveum, who was 7-5 in 12 regular-season games, received the news late on Friday, Oct. 17, after GM Doug Melvin's contract extension. Jim Skaleen, who was blamed for the Brewers' lack of offense in the last month, was let go as well.

The Brewers have not gone through this process since before the 2003 season when Ned Yost took the position after years of service as third base coach to Bobby Cox in Atlanta. 

Melvin was in favor of hiring someone else that season, and now that individual has come back into the mix. Ken Macha guided the Oakland Athletics to two AL West titles from 2003-06. In that stretch, he accumulated 368 wins and only 280 losses for a .568 winning percentage.

Macha was fired after the 2006 season and turned down an offer from the Mariners in 2007, citing he wanted to take a year off.

Back in the running for the Brewers' position, Macha seems to be the favorite. Since his time in Oakland, Macha has been part of the New England Sports Network's pre- and post-game casts.

Bob Brenley is known to most baseball fans as the manager of the 2001 World Series Champs Arizona Diamondbacks. Their dream season was capped off by a series-winning bloop single by Luiz Gonzalez. To Brewer fans, he is best known as the WGN broadcaster for the I-90 rival Chicago Cubs.

Brenley is being considered for the Brewers' manager position, but has made it clear that a few things would need to happen for him to make the move out of the booth and back into the dugout. 

Brenley's move regards Brewers pitcher CC Sabathia. A rotation without Sabathia would remove Brenley's name from the running.

With Ben Sheets clearly looking for new digs and a subpar rotation after him, any baseball fan knows that the Brewers would be looking at a tough season in the pitching department without Sabathia. Brenley is aware of this fact and knows it requires big moves to move northwards to "Wrigley Field North."

The last name on that list is former Mets manager Willie Randolph. Randolph was let go midseason, and was heavily scrutinized for the 2007 collapse of the Mets when they blew a large lead in the final weeks of the season and missed playoffs.

Since he was fired, Randolph has been approached by the Washington Nationals to take the role of hitting coach. Randolph may consider such a position, but it looks as if his true passion lies in managing. There is a chance that Randolph is the first or second choice.

No matter what man is chosen, they are sure to have their hands full. With many player options, free agents, and burning questions regarding struggling players, the next manager will be thrown into quite a situation. 

Next week, we will take a look at the Brewers' infield.