That offseason thread needs to be broken into smaller chunks.  Here's a big subject from it - next season's manager.

Here are three candidates that are worth discussing.

Dale Sveum - he got us in and it's a little harsh on him to not bring him back.  I didn't like some of his decision-making, which I thought was Yost-like in its rigidity, but I did like his honest, direct style of communicating that you saw in the press conferences and you could hear the effect that had on the players who seem to want him back. That has to count for a lot.

Bob Brenly - Who else is better qualified that is not in a retirement home? A World Series winning manager who knows the Cubs extremely well as a broadcaster.  It would be hard to argue against the choice.

Manny Acta - I've heard him touted and I'd like to know what distinguishes him.  Any comments?

Sveum - No Thanks.  The guy is Yost Lite, which is to say he is Ned with a better personality.  6 games of Bill Hall batting second is all I need there.  Throw in the IBB to Howard, Suppan starting an elimination game, a very curious move on Saturday pulling back Durham for Nelson against a lefty (still don't know what that was about).  Bottom line is that he was under .500 as an interim, including playoffs..

Brenly - I don't know too much about him, but he has MLB playoff experience, which I like.  Doesn't seem like too much of a hard-ass, but like I said I don;t know much about the guy.  MLB playoff experience would be a must for me.

Acta - I think he's a good manager from what I ahve seen of the guy.  I might make an exception on the playoff experience, but I don't think he is available. I have been out of touch for a few days on MLB news, but my understanding is that nearly his entire staff is gone but he is still there.

I've been told by a Brewers Blog Expert ( self appointed of course) that I should limit my remarks to existing blogs whenever possible:

 So, give Sveum and Yount, (because you realize it is a set) two years, with a two year option for M.A. They stuck far more than that into Ned, and left him at the altar. It's on Melvin to provide eqitable talent, to that which they had this year. I'll take my chances with that combo for a full two years. After all, all you experts that were calling Lou Pinella, "St. Goat Hoax Breaker" have been pretty quiet for a few days. Let's see what DAle and Robin can do. Plus I get the feeling the players would like there to be some healing of existing wound, after all they accomplished a lot. NOT TOTAL AMPUTATIONS! That would only minimize their efforts, and that wouldn't be productive now.

“We’re very comfortable with Dale,” leftfielder Ryan Braun said. “He knows our abilities; he knows our personalities. He also understands how difficult the game is. So, it was a pretty easy transition.”................

“I think he showed he can do the job,” said Robin Yount, an admittedly biased friend of Sveum’s who agreed to be his bench coach without hesitation after Yost was dismissed.

“I’ve stood right next to him (in the dugout) and watched him work. He’s got some great ideas in terms of strategy. He’s a smart guy in that area. And the relationship he has with the players is great.

A Big "HELL NO" to Sveum. Trotting out Saloman Torres as his closer in a playoff game despite the fact that Torres had a 12.46 ERA for the month coming into said game proves to me he is a first class moron.

My choice would be Buck Showalter. 

 I nominate this guy:

99% human, 1% awesome!

kinda looks like Ned Yost

No Sveum please, unless you think all that ails this team can be corrected by a mere shuffling of the batting order.

Since4/7/70:

No Sveum please, unless you think all that ails this team can be corrected by a mere shuffling of the batting order.

As I said in another thread, I think it's at 70% that Sveum comes back.

I dunno.  The firing of Yost shows Attanasio(and I believe it was 100% his call) isn't going to screw around with this team, and I think Sveum's lineups were more of the same Yostlike misplaced confidence.

I'll say 20% Sveum is back, depending on who wants to come here.

Even though i kind of liked Sveum's style, I didn't like his inference of swinging at crap is alright.  Its pretty much a consensus that this is the number 1 problem on the team.  Is there a Gardenhire or Scioscia out there?

Always be wary if the players say they like him or feel comfortable, sometimes that's not the best thing

radio silence:

 I nominate this guy:

99% human, 1% awesome!

Wow.  That just made my day.

Many of the players on this team like Dale Sveum, and it should be noted that when asked about coming back, CC specifically mentioned Dale, Maddux, and Kendall, as well as the clubhouse atmosphere, as reasons why he'd like to stay. 

So if Mark is truly serious about bringing Sabathia back, it's very likely that he won't want to change any of that around.  A new manager almost certainly means a new pitching coach (and coaching staff), and would potentially mean a completely different clubhouse atmosphere than they had last year.  I'm not saying there's anything wrong with that, but I'm not sold that the powers that be are willing to mix things up that much at this point.  Firing Yost was one thing, but getting rid of an entire coaching staff that many players are happy with is a whole different story, especially when this team hopes to keep CC in town.

I have to agree with the notion that the chances that Sveum sticks around are better than 50%, if for anything because it would help keep an environment (one which the players seem to believe helped get them into the post-season in the final 12 games) in the clubhouse that players are comfortable with, and probably play a big role in trying to re-sign CC.

mikeyjay21:

Many of the players on this team like Dale Sveum, and it should be noted that when asked about coming back, CC specifically mentioned Dale, Maddux, and Kendall, as well as the clubhouse atmosphere, as reasons why he'd like to stay. 

 That seems to be true, but didn't most off the player like Ned, too?  I am not sure that this is necessarily a  key factor in success.

I'm not opposed to bringing him back.  The interferece play that he went out on and won raised my eyebrows.  Yount is a good baseball man to help him out.  I like the idea that Molitor might be the hitting coach.  His approach at the plate was impressive as a player.  We need a Molitor-esque hitter in the lineup (not sure who that could be but Cameron and Weeks aren't that guy). 

As far as where improvements need to be made from Yost.. is managing the pitching.  When a guy is on the hill and you can see that he doesn't have his stuff that day and is getting the team in trouble.. you gotta make a change.  We had 3 guys in the pen that can go long relief, if needed.  To watch Suppan suck as bad as he did in his playoff start was painful that he wasn''t yanked after he gave up 2-3 runs instead of 5.  Some deficits kill a team's drive.  You all saw that.

Hitting:  we need more small ball.  Leadoff batters need to get on.  The strategy at the plate, on the mound, and in the dugout change when the leadoff batter gets on base.  Home runs are sexy but can't be counted on.  It's hard to tie up a 6-1 deficit with nobody on and 2 outs.  This team is swinging for the fences in all these situations instead to loading the bases and driving guys in (watch the Rays at the plate... very impressive... and they are in the ALCS).

Management will do what is right.  Players will see that this team is close and might give Milwaukee a shot.  It happened in Green Bay.  Signing CC would be Reggie White-esque.  I have hope for '09.

 Ben Sheets:  Thanks for the years but we need a little more relliable pitcher.  Love ya when you are healthy... but that has been the problem.  Would have loved to see you healthy for the playoffs.  Our result MIGHT have been different.

EXPERIENCE:  this team has tasted it now.  They know what it takes.  Next year they will be better at handling it and using it to their advantage.

crichar3:

mikeyjay21:

Many of the players on this team like Dale Sveum, and it should be noted that when asked about coming back, CC specifically mentioned Dale, Maddux, and Kendall, as well as the clubhouse atmosphere, as reasons why he'd like to stay. 

 

 

 That seems to be true, but didn't most off the player like Ned, too?  I am not sure that this is necessarily a  key factor in success.

I'm not advocating the team retain Sveum, nor am I saying that the fact he has a good relationship with the players is a good reason to keep him here, or as you put it, is a "key factor to success".  I'm only saying that I think it's going to be a factor that management will consider, and I think they will consider it strongly in large part because of what CC has said.

I'm also not sure the players felt the same about Ned as they do about Dale.  It's true that Ned was seen as a "player's manager", but I think that had more to do with how he used the guys on his roster (i.e., sticking with struggling players, constantly defending them in the press, etc) more than how the players themselves responded to him.  I think the dugout fight last year was a strong indication that Ned was not necessarily everyone's favorite manager, and I think some of the things the players said to the press this year when Ned was still here was an indication that not everything was going well in the clubhouse. 

Dale, on the other hand, seems to have a slightly different relationship with his players.  I really do not remember hearing players say the same kind of things about Ned as they have about Dale.  I wouldn't necessarily equate him with Ned at this point.