The Last 67…

by South Side Rob

With 67 games to play, its time for the Milwaukee Brewers and specifically Ned Yost to show this town they are serious about making a post-season run. Looking at the managerial past of Ned Yost in his last 67 games of each of his prior 5 seasons suggests that the odds are very long for the Brewers to improve on their current record which stands 9 games over 500 at 52-43.

Just last season, the Brewers were 54-41 after 95 games, then, went 29-38 over their last 67 games to finish at 83-79 which landed up being 2 games short of the post-season. 13 games over in their first 95 games and 9 games under in their last 67 games.

In 2006, the Brewers were 46-49 after 95 games, then, went 29-38 over their last 67 games to finish at 75-87. Obviously 2006 was a major disappointment going 3 games under in their first 95 games and 9 games under (again), in their last 67 games.

In 2005, the Brewers were 46-49 after 95 games, then, for the first time in Ned Yosts’ managerial career had a winning record in his last 67 games going 35-32 over their last 67 games to finish at 81-81. In 2005, 3 games under in their first 95 and then 3 games over in their last 67. 2005 was the last time the Brewers played +500 baseball over their last 67 games.

In 2004, the Brewers were 48-47 after 95 games, then, the wheels fell off for one of the worst 66-game runs in major league history going just 19-47 to finish at 67-94 which was the worst record under Ned Yost. With the Brewers so far out of contention, major-league baseball did not make an effort to have the Brewers play their 162nd game of the season. One game over for their first 95 games and a ******** 28 games under for their last 66 games.

In 2003, the Brewers were 38-57 after 95 games, then, improved somewhat in their last 67 games going 30-37 to finish at 68-94. 19 games under 500 for their first 95 and 7 games under for their last 67.

All told, Ned Yost and the Brewers are (including this season) 284-286 (2 games under 500) in their first 95 games of each of the last 6 seasons. In the previous five seasons, Ned Yost and the Brewers are just 142-192 (50 games under 500).

Above are statistical facts and they are undisputable. With that said, what kind of record do Ned Yost and the Brewers need to accomplish their goal of a post-season appearance? If the goal is to go 35-32 which Ned Yost and the Brewers did in 2005, that would leave the Brewers record at 87-75 which would have been more than enough to win the NL Central last season. Maybe that would be enough to win it this season and if not, it still appears to be good enough to earn the wild-card spot.

I’d like to see the Brewers go 9 games over in their last 67 games (38-29) so that they finish the year at 90-72. Even if that’s not good enough to win the division, that should be good enough to win the wild-card spot. With the Mets getting hot, it now has become more difficult to gauge where the wild-card will come from.

The Brewers said they are “all-in” this season. Does that mean that this is finally a make-it or break-it season for the Brewers and Ned Yost? If the Brewers play sub-500 baseball over the last 67 games, will that be enough for Doug Melvin to look for someone else to manage this baseball team in 2009?

Two questions are out there for the Brewer Nation. What kind of record do the Brewers need in their last 67 games to make the post-season and what kind of record should make Ned Yost looking for work in 2009?