I understand that when your starter leaves the game after three innings, a challenge awaits the bullpen to say the least. I also understand that a manager needs to manage their bullpen while thinking about who will be available the following day. What I do not understand is why Neil Ramirez was the choice with a tie score in the seventh inning.

After Robert Gsellman left the game due to a hamstring injury after only three innings pitched, Paul Sewald did a masterful job navigating through three scoreless frames. Travis d’Arnaud had tied the game with a solo shot in the top of the seventh inning, and with only one reliever used and an off-day the day before, the Mets bullpen was rearing to go.

Who to put in in this spot? Not Addison Reed, he’s the closer. Not Josh Edgin, he’s struggled mightily of late with a 10.50 ERA in June. Not Jerry Blevins, as with the seven-hitter J.T. Realmuto leading off, you’d want to save him for the top of the Marlins lineup that features Dee Gordon, Christian Yelich, and Justin Bour.

Knowing Terry Collins, I expected him to use Fernando Salas in this spot. He hadn’t allowed an earned run in his previous three outings totaling 3.1 innings, striking out five batters in that span, so I wouldn’t have yelled at the TV. His 5.88 season ERA isn’t pretty by any means, but it was better than the ERA of the reliever Terry chose to put in.

Neil Ramirez and his 6.66 ERA, 1.792 WHIP, and 6.2 BB/9 (8.2 BB/9 since joining the Mets) was brought in with a 3-3 in the seventh inning. Unlike Salas who had pitched well his last three times out, Ramirez allowed two earned runs on two hits and two walks in 1.2 innings against the Dodgers in his last outing. SPOILER ALERT!! The Marlins took the lead.

He started the inning by walking Realmuto on five pitches. He then allowed a hard-hit single off Lucas Duda‘s glove to JT Riddle to put runners on first and third with nobody out. Jerry Blevins was now brought in to mop up the mess and had to face pinch-hitter Ichiro Suzuki.

On the second pitch of the at-bat, Blevins threw a fastball a few inches off the plate outside – not a bad pitch by any means. However, Ichiro did what Hall of Famers do and slapped it into left field for the RBI. Blevins then got Dee Gordon to ground out, however the runners moved up to second and third with one out. Collins then intentionally walked Giancarlo Stanton to face Christian Yelich, who singled to center field to score Riddle and Ichiro and give the Marlins the 6-3 lead with which they would win.

Erik Goeddel came in to face Marcell Ozuna, now with runners on first and second with one out. He flew out to Jay Bruce, who made a great running catch in foul territory down the right field line. Justin Bour would follow that up with a lineout, also to Bruce. Goeddel then pitched a scoreless 8th, walking one and striking out one.

The first two runs of the seventh inning were charged to Neil Ramirez, who was dealt the loss. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but why didn’t Collins use Salas there? I have as many qualms with Fernando as the next fan, but considering the alternatives, being Ramirez, Edgin, or new-arrival Chasen Bradford, Salas made the most logical sense.

Erik Goeddel has pitched well in his return from the minor leagues, showing three plus pitches including a great splitter and sharp curveball. After Ramirez once again showed his ineffectiveness, Goeddel should see some time in higher-leverage spots. He’s shown great stuff and solid command, and with the Mets desperately trying to find a bridge to Addison Reed, they should be willing to give him a look as well as Paul Sewald who was brilliant over his three innings last night.

Add this to the list of games that might have turned out differently if a different and more logical decision had been made regarding the bullpen. Who knows what would have happened if a different reliever was brought in there, but we all could have guessed what was going to happen when Ramirez took the hill.

Since joining the Mets, Ramirez has walked 15 batters in 15.1 innings. The Mets defense isn’t good, but there is no defense whatsoever against the base on balls. He does have good stuff, there is no doubt about it. His breaking ball is sharp and his fastball has zip, but if he can’t get those pitches over the plate, or at least bait batters into fishing out of the zone, he should not be trusted with a close game, let alone a tie score in the 7th inning.