MEET LATEST METS’ MESS
Mystery over Harvey ban example of Amazin’ dysfunction
Not showing up for work, regardless of any miscommunication alibis being floated on Sunday, is unacceptable. It was for Derrick Rose earlier this year, and it was under apparently different circumstances for Matt Harvey.
Oh, what another throwback weekend of dysfunction this ended up being for the Mets, sucking any positive wind out of a couple of high-scoring victories over the Marlins like only they historically have been wont to do.
In a matter of days, the headlines at Citi Field advanced from a background picture of a sex toy in Kevin Plawecki’s locker accidentally tweeted out by the team, to ominous injury updates on the team’s two biggest stars, to GM Sandy Alderson finally walking into a morning press conference and grimly announcing that Harvey had been suspended without pay for three days beginning Saturday for an unspecified violation of team rules — which one Mets source described as “a compilation of issues” that “dates back to last year.”
“He has some growing up to do,” the source added.
Another Mets person confirmed during Sunday’s gloomy 7-0 one-hit loss to Miami that Harvey never appeared at the ballpark the previous day, and that he showed up expecting to pitch the series finale but was sent home.
That’s where the rest of the timeline and story gets murky. Multiple reports cited sources close to Harvey saying he’d been experiencing migraines on Saturday, with one suggesting this problem occurred after he’d played golf in the morning. His side’s spin was that there was some “miscommunication” with the team about whether Harvey had permission to stay home.
The Mets, obviously, thought otherwise. And here we are.
Whichever version you believe, with all of the injury woes the team has been dealing with since spring training, the last thing the Mets needed was some level of insubordination or confusion involving any of their players. But especially Harvey, who was slated to pitch for the series sweep (unfulfilled), with the hope of rebounding from consecutive outings in which he twice was tagged for six earned runs.
Make no mistake, this sounds to me like it’s on Harvey, a 28-year-old man making millions of dollars who should be responsible for doing whatever his employer asks or expects of him. Even if there probably will be a grievance filed by agent Scott Boras; because isn’t there always one when miscommunication is the defense strategy?
Regardless, you’d think considering what else has transpired in Flushing in recent days and weeks and months and years and decades, the Mets would have wanted to take a stronger and more open public stance on whatever rule or rules Harvey broke in this instance.
Why not just say ex- actly what he did? Admonish him, say it won’t be tolerated, all of that.
If he’s chronically late, as some have suggested, or if it’s something else entirely, just say it.
Eliminate the chaos that always seems to find the Mets when they typically enter circle the wagons mode and try to control every story by spinning the damage without divulging any particulars. It’s a commonplace practice that often comes in the form of top-down orders beginning with micromanaging co-owner Jeff Wilpon, who was seen having an animated discussion with father Fred on the field before Saturday’s game.
Thus, Alderson wouldn’t even entertain questions from the media after reading his prepared statement on Harvey. He left Terry Collins to address reporters before and after the game, although the skipper didn’t say much beyond revealing he was about to hold a rare pre-game team meeting.
Collins didn’t even reveal when Harvey will pitch again, although this certainly gives the Mets an option now to