3) Overreaction Now, Reality Later: Jorge Lopez won’t last long on the roster
As far as first impressions go, there was a mix of good, bad, and indifferent. Michael Tonkin was good for his two innings in relief. Harrison Bader was hitless and didn’t get to flash the glove. We can call his game indifferent.
Then there’s Jorge Lopez whose inning began with a double on the first pitch he threw. The tight 2-1 game expanded a little further when the runner would come around to score before Lopez could record the third out of the inning.
Able to escape the jam with an inning ending double play, Lopez was still the culprit who threw the ball which led to the Mets losing an opportunity to tie the game with one swing. As if.
Much was made this spring about the final roster spot battle between Yohan Ramirez, Michael Tonkin, and Sean Reid-Foley. An injury to Reid-Foley allowed the other two access to Opening Day. However, with the season now underway, players are on a much more even playing field in terms of job security.
No one needs to clamor for Lopez to lose his job just yet. By the time we’re at the end of April, there’s a chance we might. That career 5.52 ERA in almost 500 MLB innings is terrifying.