Mets Reliever Jorge Lopez's Meltdown Leads to His Release
![May 20, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; New York Mets relief pitcher Jorge Lopez (52) stands on the mound in the eighth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports May 20, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; New York Mets relief pitcher Jorge Lopez (52) stands on the mound in the eighth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_3744,h_2106,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/210/01hz3jkm5d4ryfhng8ma.jpg)
The New York Mets are in the midst of an incredibly bad stretch going just 2-8 over their last ten games. The team has also recently lost Pete Alonso and Edwin Diaz to injuries, making a bad situation even worse while Kodai Senga and Francisco Alvarez remain sidelined. The team, however, can offer opportunities to players that are looking to revive their careers with one such player being Jorge Lopez.
Lopez entered the game tonight with the Mets trailing 5-3 with two runners on after a bad outing by Adam Ottavino. Lopez then allowed a two-RBI double and a Shohei Ohtani two-run-homer as the Dodgers blew the game open.
After allowing the home run to Ohtani, Lopez was arguing a checked swing call with the third-base umpire, leading to his ejection. As Jorge Lopez was leaving the field, he threw his glove into the crowd, making a bad situation worse.
Jorge López has been ejected by third base umpire Ramon De Jesus.
— SNY (@SNYtv) May 29, 2024
López threw his glove into the crowd on his way off the field. pic.twitter.com/5BlF6badFQ
The worst of the situation, however, came after the game as Jorge Lopez was forced to speak with the media.
Steve Gelbs of SNY asked Lopez after the game if he regretted his actions to which he said:
"No. I don't regret it. I think I have been on the worst team in the whole f*** MLB"
- Jorge Lopez
Due to the language barrier, Steve Gelbs asked Lopez to confirm he said "team" and not "teammate" and he confirmed that Lopez meant "team".
I asked Jorge Lopez if he regretted throwing his glove into the stands. Not only did he say no, he then called the Mets “the worst team in the whole f—cking MLB.”
— Steve Gelbs (@SteveGelbs) May 30, 2024
I later gave him a chance to clarify and he confirmed that’s what he meant.pic.twitter.com/Io2Cqh3Bdj
Following both Jorge Lopez's on-field outbursts and his postgame comments, the team designated Jorge Lopez for assignment.
As the Mets continue to freefall, Carlos Mendoza needs to grab control of this team. The Mets are now 16 games out of first place and frankly, there's little to be happy or excited about this season. The Mets can be a disaster on the field but, Mendoza can't allow this situation to continue to get worse off the field or this team will fully implode.
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