Brewers and Cubs. Tie game. Extra innings. No outs. Runners on second and third. Does this not beg for a bunt? Especially since Milwaukee's next two hitters, Craig Counsell and Jason Kendall, should be able to handle the bat in this situation.

Doesn't have to be a squeeze bunt, either.

Any type of bunt would do.

So what happens?

Grounder to second.

Grounder to third.

Two outs.

No run scored.

A third groundout ends the inning.

It doesn't get any more frustrating than this sequence, though Dave Bush failing to score from second on a double to right is equally mind-numbing, as is Ryan Braun going pogo-stick on a catcheable ball, as is Salomon Torres melting down. Not even the usual suspect, Eric Gagne, had his fingerprints on this crime scene.

As usual, the Brewers continue to beat themselves while playing Earl Weaver Ball -- waiting for three-run homers. There was one Thursday at Wrigley Field. But it came off the bat of Chicago catcher Geovany Soto in the bottom of the ninth (off the aforementioned butter puddle, Torres) and it tied the game.

In retrospect, Ned Yost and Doug Melvin both deserve props for helping change the culture in Milwaukee. Baseball is relevant again. Meaningful. Attention-grabbing.

And, in fairness, the deposed Yost can't be blame for everything that has gone wrong in September, again, especially since Melvin shaped the playing roster.

But it's like putting lip stick on a one-dimensional offense.

Oink.

The Brewers haven't had a bona fide leadoff hitter since Tommy Harper.

A slight exaggeration, of course.

But trying to pound a square peg (Rickie Weeks) into a round hole has failed. Yost, to a fault, refused to bat Weeks lower in the order, while his replacement, Dale Sveum, is seemingly just trying to ignore Weeks all-together.

Alas, the Brewers are running out of weeks, days, games, excuses.

And owner Mark Attanasiobrenner may be running out of patience with Melvin, if Milwaukee doesn't make the playoffs. Melvin is a rock-solid baseball man, who will have no trouble catching on elsewhere. But that's not the point.

Yost was responsible for putting the players in a position to succeed.

Melvin was responsible for the players.

Both deserve the credit.

And the blame.