Relief pitcher Jorge López was designated for assignment shortly after the New York Mets loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday. A day later, WFAN host and Mets fan Evan Roberts, criticized the reporters for the way that part of what led to the DFA was handled.
Following Wednesday’s loss to the Dodgers, López was quoted in the Mets’ clubhouse as saying “I think I’ve been on the worst team in probably the whole ******* MLB.” At the time, though, there was speculation that he meant to say that he “was the worst teammate.” English is not López’s first language and he speaks with a thick accent. He was asked for clarification about whether he said team or teammate and at the time said it was a combination of both.
Not long after that, he was designated for assignment. On Thursday, López issued a statement on Instagram, clarifying that he was trying to say he was “the worst teammate,” not that he “played on the worst team.” Roberts, meanwhile, was highly critical of the way that portion of the story was handled by the media in the clubhouse.
“Jorge López was left on an island yesterday, and you guys in the media ran him over,” Roberts said. “I don’t know if he said, ‘This is the worst effing team I’ve been with.’ And then even after when he’s asked for clarification, because I want to get that right out of the way, too. ‘But Evan, they asked for clarification.’ I don’t know if he understood what the hell the clarification was. I don’t think he knew. And it was printed by those in the room as if they knew for sure what he said.
“Here’s a guy whose second language is English. He did not have an interpreter with him last night. He is on his own trying to answer questions. And we all jump to the conclusion of we know exactly what he meant. And I don’t want to hear, ‘Well they followed up with him.’ Was the interpreter there? Should there have been? Can someone help this guy out? Because I don’t think he knew what was happening. And the proof of that is he goes on Instagram to say, ‘Let me clarify, I meant teammate.'”
“Jorge López was left on an island yesterday and you guys in the media ran him over!” – WFAN’s Evan Roberts pic.twitter.com/ahbsYRWsxU
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 31, 2024
For anyone unaware, López was ejected from Thursday’s game after arguing a checked swing call. While walking off of the field, López, who had already untucked his jersey, tossed his glove into the stands. That earned him criticism from Mets announcers, particularly Gary Cohen and Ron Darling. It was also criticized by manager Carlos Mendoza, who said throwing the glove into the crowd was “not acceptable.”
Shortly after Mendoza’s comments, López said that he did not regret throwing his glove into the stands. It’s worth mentioning that while Roberts did criticize the way López’s “Worst team/worst teammate” comments were handled in the media, he also said that the comments about not regretting throwing the glove into the stands after Mendoza and general manager David Stearns talked to him about it were what got him designated for assignment.
[Jorge López on Instagram, Photo Credit: WFAN on YouTube]
