HOUSTON -- Three days might not seem very long in the real world, but they can be an eternity for a ballplayer.
And for shortstop Felipe Lopez, waiting three days to get in the Reds lineup, as he did before spelling Rich Aurilia for Sunday's game against the Astros, was frustrating. He admitted such a wait can throw a player off his game.
"It's tough not being in the lineup and then getting out there," Lopez said. "You lose your timing. The fastballs look a little bit faster."
But it's a role Lopez is going to have to get accustomed to, at least for now. He is the backup to Aurilia, and the backup will often have to wait three days, or perhaps longer, to get playing time.
Lopez, though, could be forgiven if he has any gripes about his situation, because he fought admirably for the starting spot in Spring Training.
"I didn't feel any pressure in Spring Training," he said. "I did a good job."