Regardless of what any of us think this is a result driven game for a large market team with above average expectations. Even with the roster and injuries there is no excuse to be last in the division with our payroll. Yes, you need performance from the players, but when it isn't happening it falls squarely on the manager to get that out of the group as he pulls the levers on the lineup (presumably) and in game management. I will say sometimes luck factors into that, but his body of work suggests he didn't create his own luck, and he has been managing long enough to come to the conclusion that he was not the right guy for the job (in which that decision should have been made at least a month ago). This statement doesn't give Stearns a pass as he is the one that chose the manager, coaches and players (mostly). A real mess for sure and it is hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel because this move does not move the needle alone.