One year ago, Doug Melvin was a rockstar.

Having just pulled off a trade that brought CC Sabathia to Milwaukee -- a move that would, despite an epic September meltdown, would lead the Brewers to the postseason for the first time in 26 years -- Melvin was the king of Milwaukee.

Flash-forward back to the present and Melvin's popularity and approval ratings have plummeted faster than the Brewers' playoff chances. Fans singing the general manager's praises a year ago are now calling for his head, after a dearth of adequate pitching doomed the 2009 Brewers to also-ran status.

That's how things go in this day and age of baseball; you can't blame the players, so blame the coaches, manager and -- if none of that helps -- target the front office.

The public has charged Melvin with gross incompetence after he failed to upgrade the Brewers' starting rotation. Signing Braden Looper to a one-year deal at about $5 million did little for a rotation that lost Sabathia and Ben Sheets from a year ago.

The common angst is understandable. The Brewers, scoring an average of 4.8 runs per game heading into action Sunday, would more than likely at least be within sniffing distance of October baseball were it not for a staff that has posted a 4.88 ERA this season.

The injuries to Dave Bush and Jeff Suppan aside, the franchise's lack of viable arms at the Class AAA level add to the woes.

So, then, the blame has fallen upon Melvin's shoulders. It's his fault, fans cry, for not going out and throwing more money at Sabathia. He's an idiot, they say, for not signing free agents that could have bolstered the staff. And he should be fired, is a popular notion, for not betting what's left of the farm season on short-term rentals like Jarrod Washburn or betting the farm and mortgaging the franchise's future on high-priced options like Jake Peavy or Roy Halladay.

One of the biggest knocks against Melvin these days is his decision to pursue Jeff Suppan prior to the 2007 season. Suppan, the MVP of the 2006 NLCS, has been subpar at best in his last year-and-a-half with the Brewers. Never mind the fact that, prior to joining the Brewers, he was slightly better than a journeyman .500 pitcher that just happened to blow Milwaukee out of the water each time he took the hill against the local nine (12-2,3.29 ERA lifetime against Milwaukee), Melvin is considered a buffoon for the deal.

The popular notion is that Mark Attanasio, the Brewers' owner, should fire Melvin as punishment forthat contract -- as well as the ill-fated Bill Hall deal. Funny how people forget or ignore that Attanasio, a passionate fan, helped lure Suppan to Milwaukee with a high-class dinner party at his Los Angeles' home.

The point? Melvin doesn't act alone; you can bet your bottom dollar that all of Melvin's decisions cross the desk of the Boss Man for final approval. Remember, Attanasio not only extended Melvin's contract, but also is believed to be the impetus behind Ned Yost's firing with two weeks to play last season, too. So, it's not exactly like the big guy is sitting in his palatial Southern California estate, swimming in his savings like Scrooge McDuck.

But, why let the facts get in the way of a good argument, right?

The Suppan situation alone should be enough to make fans wary of signing a pitcher to a long-term deal. The available options last (and this coming) winter, weren't exactly world-beaters. Who's to say that signing one of those guys wouldn't have come at Suppan-like prices and had similar results? That's baseball, folks.

Many wanted Melvin to make a big splash last winter on the free agent market to bolster the staff. It's not like he didn't try; the team did pursue a number of pitcher thatchose to go elsewhere and, instead, settled on Looper and closer Trevor Hoffman.

Once the season started, he passed on pulling the trigger to bring the aforementioned Peavy or Halladay to Milwaukee, at the high cost of Alcides Escobar and Mat Gamel, and instead decided to stay the course with the starting five he had -- the same starting five, mind you, that was one of the most consistentin the National League for a good chunk of the first half.

And those shunning the GM for not beingmore active at the deadline should be reminded that the team was involved in what MLB insiders described as a major deal -- rumored to involve Scott Kazmir -- only to see it fall apart at the final hour.

Go ahead and blame Melvin. It's a free country and people here are entitled to their own opinions. But if you want to find fault with a guy that's trying to prevent another quarter-century of futility, even if it means sacrificing a one-time run at post-season immortality, well … that's your own problem.

Melvin has proven that, given the resources, he can build a team. He's built the team back into a respectable force -- even during a down season -- in the National League while also showing the financial restraint necessary in modern baseball economics.

During his time with the Brewers, Melvin has had his hits (Sabathia; Richie Sexson to Arizona for almost an entire lineup; an outfielder that had no intention of returning for an all-star closer; Craig Counsell for $1 million, not to mention diamonds in the rough like Scott Podsednik, Derrick Turnbow, Danny Kolb and Gabe Kapler) as well as his misses (Eric Gagne, Suppan and Scott Linebrink). That's the way it goes; you win some, you lose some. But it can't be argued that the Brewers are in much better shape under his watch then they were when he took over.

Nobody bats 1.000 in baseball, and that goes for the front office, too.