As the previous post indicated, I don't think Manual has cost this team the wild card by playing Burrell over the last month or two. I do think he cost them the wild card by sending Wolf out for the 6th on Monday night. He struggled in the fifth, and gave up a critical game tying home run in the sixth inning. He then was stuck using Madson for only one batter (maybe consider having Madson bunt Nunez to second) and the bullpen was a disaster in the seventh. The mishandling of the bullpen Monday night was a costly error.

I feel better about Manuel next year than I did before, but I wouldn't mind seeing him gone, or at the very least a strong bench coach to give a hand with handling in-game situations, where Manuel clearly is lacking.