Even by New York Mets standards, this year’s Mets team is hitting some significant lows. On Wednesday, those lows were most visible through Mets reliever Jorge López.
Or should we say former Mets reliever Jorge López?
Granted, it wasn’t going great for the Mets when López entered the game. Adam Ottavino had just allowed an RBI single in the eighth inning to put the Dodgers up 5-3 in a game that was tied entering the frame. López took the ball and allowed a double to Dodgers rookie Miguel Vargas, got Mookie Betts to fly out, then allowed an opposite-field, two-run homer to Shohei Ohtani, pushing the Los Angeles lead to 9-3.
Then things got weird.
López threw a 2-1 slider to Freddie Freeman that was low and inside, but drew a checked swing from the former MVP. López believed Freeman had swung, and argued his case forcefully enough that he was ejected by third base umpire Ramon De Jesus.
The right-hander had a few more word for De Jesus, then walked off the mound, tossed his glove into the stands in apparent frustration and exited to the clubhouse, leaving his team to bring Josh Walker in for a mid-at-bat replacement.
Freeman proceeded to walk and the Dodgers proceeded to finish off a 10-3 win over the Mets, completing a road sweep after winning both games of a doubleheader on Tuesday.
Many people believed that was already a bad look for López. New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza concurred, telling reporters after the game that López’s glove toss was “not acceptable” and promised to address the matter internally.
Reporters proceeded to interview López, who had some wild things to say about the state of the Mets and his place on the team.
López’s answer on if he regretted the glove toss:
“No. I don’t regret it. I think I’ve been on the worst team in probably the whole f***ing MLB. Whatever happened happens, so whatever they want do. I’ll be here tomorrow if they want me. I’m going to keep doing this thing. I’m healthy. I’m ready to come back tomorrow if they want me to be here.”
MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo later reported that he was told López meant to say he was the worst teammate on the worst team in MLB. Still, those are not the words of a man expecting to be at the clubhouse the next day.
As López’s words spread across the internet, multiple members of the Mets media contingent, including the New York Post’s Joel Sherman, reported that the team is planning to designate the pitcher for assignment, ending his tenure with the team.
But what an ending it was.
Source Agencies
