What's the Call?

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by MNBlue

Timing is everything.

Just to be fair...

Originally Posted by wikipedia

In September 1986, Buckner hit .340 with eight home runs and 22 RBIs, while missing just three games in spite of chronic ankle soreness. Stapleton began seeing more playing time as a late inning defensive replacement for Buckner in September and October. Buckner, meanwhile, became the first major league player to wear Nike high-top baseball cleats professionally in an effort to relieve pressure from his ankles....When the Sox scored two runs in the top of the tenth, Boston manager John McNamara chose to have Buckner take the field in the bottom of the inning instead of bringing Stapleton in as a defensive replacement for the ailing Buckner as he had in games one, two and five.

Buckner was injured, and been playing through the injury, but was a known defensive liability due to the injury. The real blame belongs with the manager, John McNamara, for leaving a defensive liability (due to injury) in the game in the bottom of the 10th after his team had the lead.