QUOTE(nvxplorer @ Jun 2, 2005 -> 03:30 AM)
Yes, it is not an enviable position to be in.
The more I think about it, if the intent was indeed to test Walker, he was put into the perfect situation. Bringing in a rookie for mop up doesn't really accomplish much if you are trying to gauge his potential. It was do or die for Walker, and of course we know how that turned out. Though Shingo and Vizcaino are struggling (to put it mildly), their capabilities are already known.
I'm with everyone who claims the move was boneheaded, from the standpoint of winning the game, but by looking at the big picture, I can understand what management may have been doing. It is still very early and the Sox still have a four game lead. If Ozzie makes these same calls in August, I'll be the first to call for his head, but I give him a (tentative) pass for tonight.
Did you by chance make a call into the post game show?