If the Brewers win the wild card -- and they remain only 1 1/2 games behind the Mets even after Thursday's crushing 7-6 loss to the Cubs in 12 innings -- their triumph only will embolden Attanasio to overrule general manager Doug Melvin on future moves.

In 1996, Orioles owner Peter Angelos refused to allow then-general manager Pat Gillick to trade Bobby Bonilla and David Wells for younger players. Angelos was vindicated when the Orioles won the wild card, and the team also reached the postseason in '97. But thanks in part to Angelos' lingering distrust of his "baseball professionals," the franchise hasn't had a winning record since.

The Diamondbacks could use the Yost dismissal to justify firing Bob Melvin, who presided over his own late-season collapse. The Rockies could do the same with Clint Hurdle, whose team was a bust. The Indians could have held Eric Wedge responsible for the team's poor first half, injuries or not.

Each of those clubs, however, values stability. Attanasio said he did, too, until he dumped Yost. Now, how can anyone with the Brewers feel secure? Melvin, signed through next season, surely senses that he could be next, ridiculous as such a move would be.

If Attanasio were smart, he would offer Melvin to an extension. If Melvin were smart, he would think twice about accepting.

So, for that matter, is new third base coach Garth Iorg, who had been a roving minor-league instructor with the Brewers and had only been with the major-league club since Sept. 1.

Sveum's previous managing experience consisted of three seasons in Double A with the Pirates. A major-league coach since 2004, he surely dreamed of getting his chance to manage. When it came, he was given all of 12 games.

The transition from coach to manager is always tricky, and Sveum needs to pull it off at the most critical stage of the season. Granted, he would be in a perfect spot if the Brewers made the playoffs and played deep into the postseason. But what are the odds?

The Brewers might have been better off finding an experienced manager to replace Yost. Then again, hiring from the outside in the middle of September would have been even more problematic.

Shock therapy, that's what Attanasio wanted, and that's what he delivered. The patient might recover, but questions remain about the long-term effects.

Twins with RISP: Luck or skill?

Earlier this season, rival executives took comfort in the Twins' success with runners in scoring position, figuring the team could not sustain such a high batting average in those situations.

Well, after nearly 1,400 at-bats, the Twins are batting .313 with RISP -- the best in the majors by 25 points.

The sabermetric view on performance with RISP is that it hinges on luck and fluctuates from season to season. The Twins, for example, hit only .276 with RISP last season. The Tigers, on the other hand, hit .311 -- then fell back to .271 this season.

Still, other factors might be contributing to the Twins' success.

The Twins put the ball in play -- their strikeout rate is the third-lowest in the majors. They benefit from playing in the Metrodome, where they're batting .337 with RISP, 45 points higher than they are on the road. And their hitters place a particular emphasis on RISP, knowing they're last in the AL in home runs.

With most clubs, the hitting coach stands behind the batting cage during batting practice, calling out situations such as, "Runner on second, two outs." The Twins' players, from Justin Morneau on down, call out the situations themselves.

"They do it religiously," manager Ron Gardenhire says. "I don't know if that's the reason. I just know they do it. Luck plays a part, too. But there's been a concerted effort to be better situational hitters, get runners over."

Adds Joe Vavra, the Twins' hitting coach since 2006: "Luck is the residue of hard work, too. I've heard the phrase, 'What is good luck if you don't use it?' You keep working at it. Sometimes what appears to be lucky becomes something that is designed to work."

Rival executives remain skeptical.

"They better not count it being this way next year," one says.

Another exec points out that the Twins' .281 batting average, while tied with the Red Sox for the best in the majors, is 32 points lower than their average with RISP.

"If it is that easy, perhaps they should focus during all four of their at-bats that day instead of just the one with runners in scoring position and hit .313 overall," the exec says.

Giants: Catching up

Baseball America did not even list Pablo Sandoval among the Giants' top 30 prospects before the start of the season. Buster Posey received a $6.2 million bonus as the team's No. 1 draft pick, the highest bonus in draft history.

Which catcher is the future replacement for Bengie Molina?

Maybe both.

Sandoval also plays first base and third, and Posey is even more versatile -- he was recruited as a shortstop, and once played all nine positions in a game at Florida State.

One future scenario could involve Sandoval and Posey rotating between catcher and third base. That way, both could stay fresh -- just as the Dodgers intend for Russell Martin to do by occasionally playing third.

Sandoval, 22, is progressing but still developing as a catcher. But after getting only 184 plate appearances above Class A, his batting average/on-base/slugging line with the Giants is .339/.353/.484 in 133 PAs.

"Don't look at the body," one scout says of Sandoval, who is 5- foot-11, 246 pounds. "He plays with energy. He can really hit. He can throw. He has a lot of leadership qualities for a young guy."

Blue Jay reversal

Is it a stretch to say that the strong debut of Blue Jays outfielder Travis Snider is saving GM J.P. Ricciardi's job? Probably, but Snider's play is the latest indication that the Jays are starting to develop better prospects.

The team's 47-32 record under Cito Gaston and major-league leading ERA also reflect well on Ricciardi, who is under contract for two more years. Upper management might bristle at Ricciardi's occasional PR dustups, but the team hardly is without hope. Thus, Ricciardi is likely to return.

The Jays need a shortstop and leadoff man -- free agent Rafael Furcal could fill both roles -- and they could try to sign another starting pitcher if they fail in their efforts to retain right-hander A.J. Burnett, who is almost certain to exercise the opt-out clause in his contract.

Still, the Jays can envision second baseman Aaron Hill returning from a concussion next season, Snider and Adam Lind alternating in the left field and DH spots and newly acquired Jose Bautista providing a quality alternative to oft-injured third baseman Scott Rolen.

Ricciardi has made plenty of mistakes -- signing and releasing Frank Thomas, opting for Shannon Stewart over Reed Johnson, drafting Ricky Romero over Troy Tulowitzki, to name a few. But the bottom line is that the Jays have produced three straight winning seasons in the AL East.

Which team wants him?

The Orioles' Aubrey Huff, owed $8 million in the final year of his contract next season, should be a highly desirable trade commodity this off-season, at least within the American League.

Hardly anyone knows it, but Huff ranks first in the AL in extra-base hits and third in on-base/slugging percentage. His defense at first and third is below average, but he would represent affordable power for several clubs.

The Angels could seek to acquire Huff if they lose Mark Teixeira as a free agent. The Yankees could view Huff as a potential left-handed hitting replacement for Jason Giambi. The Jays could pursue Huff as a veteran DH if they are unwilling to commit to Snider and Lind.

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