Was firing Yost the Brewers' ticket?

The news of Ben Sheets' elbow injury has to be worse than the beloved bratwurst getting hit by a baseball bat in the beloved Sausage Race in Milwaukee.

The Brewers' collapse seems more eminent with each passing day.

The good news is the usually-dicey Brewers bullpen shut down the Cubs in a 6-2 Milwaukee win Wednesday night in Wrigley.

But the Brewers are still 1/2 game behind the Mets in the wildcard standings.

Milwaukee had lost 11 of 14 before the win, prompting the firing of manager Ned Yost, a move that may have been long overdue. Especially if you followed the Brewers through the past two seasons, including All-Star Ryan Braun mysteriously absence from the 2007 Opening Day roster despite obvious signs of stardom.

The Brewers have put everything on the line, trying to make the playoffs this season. They traded highly-regarded prospect Matt LaPorta to Cleveland for C.C. Sabathia, who will most likely be just a half-year rental, as the lefty is looking for big, big bucks and years. Sabathia and Sheets will probably be pitching elsewhere next year, which is a sad economic reality of baseball.

But now, Sheets, who says he's had this elbow pain since Aug. 26 will have an MRI, but you can bet if there's any way he can pitch at all next week, the Brewers will roll him out.

Tthe pressure is on. Ten games left. Your manager has been fired. You've mortgaged the future for 2008. Everything's riding on this final stretch.

Great atmosphere to play loose, right?

Look for the Brewers to fold, not that I want them to. I always like to see small market teams make it. The Rays story is one of the best in years, even if they can't sell out still.

But the expectations are just too great in a must-win now environment and baseball is a funny game.

Maybe baseball's cheeseheads will prove me wrong.