Enlarge By H. Rumph Jr., AP Brewers manager Ned Yost is ejected by home plate umpire Larry Vanover during a game in Philadelphia in May. He compiled a record of 457-502 (.477) during his six seasons in Milwaukee. QUICK QUESTION QUICK QUESTION The Milwaukee Brewers, desperately looking to end their September collapse and 26-year playoff absence, fired manager Ned Yost Monday with 12 games remaining in the season. The move marks the latest point in a season a manager has been fired with his club in playoff position, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The Brewers have lost 11 of their last 14 games but are tied with the Philadelphia Phillies for the lead in the wild-card race. DAILY PITCH: Brewers felt they had no other choice PLAYOFF PICTURE: Wild-card standings "I never imagined that could happen in this game. That's awful" said Atlanta Braves manager Bobby Cox, one of Yost's closest friends. The two spent 12 years together in Atlanta. "That's unheard of. They're still tied for first. That's a sad commentary." The Brewers, who had a 5½-game lead in the wild-card race on Sept. 1, replaced Yost on an interim basis with third-base coach Dale Sveum. The Brewers also hired Hall of Famer Robin Yount to replace bench coach Ted Simmons. "Our play was very unproductive and lethargic the last few weeks," said Brewers general manager Doug Melvin. "We asked ourselves if there was some way to jump-start the club with 12 games left. We discussed coaching changes, player moves, roster moves, but we're running out of time." Yost, whose team went 20-7 in August, did not return a message on his cellphone. He was frustrated, Melvin said, but understood the decision. "Ned had pretty much exhausted everything he could think of," Melvin said. "Dale brings a different voice. We just hope the chemistry is such that we can turn things around." The move comes after the Phillies swept four games from the Brewers. Milwaukee was outscored 26-10 with its starting pitchers lasting 17 innings and yielding a 10.06 ERA. "The series was a complete and total disaster," left fielder Ryan Braun told reporters Sunday. "It couldn't have gone any worse. They couldn't have played any better. We couldn't have played any worse. We can only go in one direction from here. It's not going to get worse." The Brewers, who had an 8½-game lead in late June last year before fading in the second half, have collapsed in nearly all phases of the game in September. They have been outscored 75-38 and are hitting just .207 with a 4.68 ERA. "I don't think it was necessarily his fault," Braun said Monday. "We really like him as a person, we really like him as a manager, but they had to do what they felt was best for us as a team to get to the postseason. "There's 12 games left, and if they think making a change is what's best for us, then they had to make that move." Late-season diamond departures Managers to be replaced having managed more than 100 games into a season with a winning percentage of at least .550: Year Team W-L Manager out Manager in 2008 Brewers 83-67 Ned Yost Dale Sveum 2001 Red Sox 65-53 Jimy Williams Joe Kerrigan 1976 Dodgers 90-68 Walter Alston Tom Lasorda 1972 Astros 67-54 Harry Walker Leo Durocher 1964 Reds 60-49 Fred Hutchinson Dick Sisler 1961 Orioles 78-57 Paul Richards Lum Harris 1961 Braves 71-58 Chuck Dressen Berdie Tebbetts 1954 White Sox 91-54 Paul Richards Marty Marion Source: Elias Sports Bureau Contributing: wire reports Guidelines: You share in the USA TODAY community, so please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. Use the "Report Abuse" button to make a difference. You share in the USA TODAY community, so please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. Use the "Report Abuse" button to make a difference. Read more