Blame Fredi not Ayala for this Marlins' Loss

It's rare that Fredi Gonzalez makes wrong moves. He does a good job of putting his players in a position to succeed.

Last night, Gonzalez made a decision that was easy for anyone to second-guess.

With the game tied at four in the eighth inning, Gonzalez inserted Luis Ayala to pitch against the Padres. Ayala promptly gave up three straight hits and a walk, and the Padres scored two runs off him to take a 6-4 lead.

Gonzalez took Ayala out of the game after a walk to light-hitting Luis Rodriguez, and he puts Kiko Calero in to keep this a 6-4 game. 

Why didn't Calero start the eighth inning to begin with? Why use Ayala in this situation?

Ayala was sent to the minors so he can pitch regularly. The Marlins used him sparingly so it's hard to fathom he would step in right away in this type of situation.

When the game is tied late in the game, a manager should be using his seventh inning guy or his setup guy to preserve the tie with the hope his team takes the lead when it's their turn to bat.

He should never be using a mop-up guy especially with a team fighting for its playoff life.

If the game was tied at four in the 12th or 13th inning, then Gonzalez should call on Ayala once his best relievers are used in this game.

Gonzalez got what he deserved for putting Ayala in that inning.

Maybe Calero is not effective in this game last night, but anyone would like their chances in using Calero in this spot than Ayala.

There is a reason why Ayala has not gotten much work by the Marlins when he signed with them. Guys like Calero, Brian Sanches, Matt Lindstrom, Brendan Donnelly and Dan Meyer showed they are reliable.

Ayala has done okay, but if he was good, why wasn't he used much when they first signed him?

Nothing good happens when Ayala is pitching at anytime.

This was a game the Marlins could not afford to lose. The Padres stink, and the Marlins have no business losing two of three let alone one to that team, and now they are in a position where they have to avoid being swept this afternoon.

Fortunately, the Rockies lost so the Marlins don't lose any ground in the wild-card race, but this was a lost opportunity.

The Marlins need to be at least two games out for the wild-card heading to September, but now they could be in danger of playing out the season real soon if they can't straighten their woes.

If the Marlins miss the playoffs, look back at this odd decision by Gonzalez.