Jorge Lopez -- calling it like he sees it

[steve B]

An article that seems reasonably balanced.

https://sports.yahoo.com/reliever-jo...180609849.html

It looks like the Mets are partly responsible, which would maybe put them in the running for "worst team"

Baseball has gotten way too absorbed with its image. Part of the appeal is the characters who have played over the years. Fidrych wouldn't last today, or Bill Lee. Bob Gibson and most old time pitchers would probably get fined out of the league.

I've seen way worse stuff that never got dealt with. Cito Gaston clearly ordering a rookie pitcher to hit a batter on national tv then literally turning his back on him as he imploded and begged to be taken out of the game was probably the worst I've seen. (The bat fight stuff was worse, but I didn't see it. )

A very frustrated emotional guy throwing his glove into the stands? Not really even on the list.

[D. Bergin]

Originally Posted by steve B

An article that seems reasonably balanced.

https://sports.yahoo.com/reliever-jo...180609849.html

It looks like the Mets are partly responsible, which would maybe put them in the running for "worst team"

Baseball has gotten way too absorbed with its image. Part of the appeal is the characters who have played over the years. Fidrych wouldn't last today, or Bill Lee. Bob Gibson and most old time pitchers would probably get fined out of the league.

I've seen way worse stuff that never got dealt with. Cito Gaston clearly ordering a rookie pitcher to hit a batter on national tv then literally turning his back on him as he imploded and begged to be taken out of the game was probably the worst I've seen. (The bat fight stuff was worse, but I didn't see it. )

A very frustrated emotional guy throwing his glove into the stands? Not really even on the list.

I do feel a bit bad for him. It sounds like a lot of subtext got lost in translation initially. He doesn't sound like the jerk I initially thought...just a guy who is generally liked but with some complicated mental issues.

Him losing his job however, I don't think is necessarily a correlation to anything other then then the quality of his work, divided by the amount of anguish a team is willing to put up with from him.

I think the pitchers you mentioned would have been just fine in the modern game...as long as they were productive. Hell, Bob Gibson really didn't hit that many guys despite the legends about him. Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer have both hit more players then Gibson in their careers, in less innings.

The more productive you are...the longer the leash you get...fair or not.

If Luis Severino or Edwin Diaz threw the same temper tantrum, likely they'd just get suspended for a few games and be right back at it.

Jorge Lopez, unfortunately or not, can be replaced by a Triple AAA guy tomorrow, for less money, and probably no worse a performance.

[steve B]

Yeah, there's always that replaceability thing. From what I've read he's one of those guys who is really variable, can be very good, or can be awful.