Amed feels better, busts out of box
worse, things could have spiraled out of control,” Harvey said, shrugging off the rough start. “To come out two runs and battle to the fifth is definitely a positive.”
And he kept battling that top of the lineup even into his final inning.
“Yeah, I think so. I think you can see it out there attacking hitters. He’s going after him with conviction,” Callaway said of Harvey’s confidence returning. “I have seen it (grow) a little bit. Just being around him and seeing him coming into the field, the dugout. The confidence is definitely coming back.”
Harvey may not have the swagger of the ace who started the 2013 All Star Game at Citi Field, or who talked his way back out into the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 2015 World Series.
But he is noticeably better than the last two years when he battled through TOS and the uncertain aftermath of the surgery. Last year as he continued to struggle, the frustration was obvious on the mound as he would drop his head after big hits, pace around and look uncomfortable on the mound. He seemed miserable as he tried to find answers.
Saturday, he knew exactly what went wrong and was looking forward to the challenge of fixing it as he heads into the season. “You’ve got to be fine with those guys,” Harvey said of the Yankees top of the lineup, “or what happened today is what is going to happen quite often. Lead off hit, walk and another hit then, you know, you have no outs and you are in trouble, they are definitely tough. You have to be real sharp.
“It will be a fun lineup to face.”
TAMPA — Amed Rosario wasted no time proving he was healthy Saturday. The Mets shortstop busted out of the box and ran full speed when he lead off the game with a double.
“I feel great today,” Rosario said after the Mets’ 10-3 loss to the Yankees at Steinbrenner Field. “No problem. In the first at-bat when I run to second base, I run 100% and I no have pain.” Rosario had missed five games with what had started as a tight left knee and then turned into a sore groin/ hamstring. The 22-year-old got two at-bats Friday as the designated hitter and ran a little tentatively to first base.
Saturday, Rosario played in the field for the first time in a week and looked sharp, making two diving plays. He played three innings in the field.
“He looked great, made a couple of athletic plays,” Mickey Callaway said. “He came out of it fine, he felt really good when the day was over.”
The Mets manager said that he would see how Rosario feels Sunday morning, but the shortstop was expecting to be back in the lineup.
“It’s 100% important,” Rosario said of getting regular reps through the rest of spring training. and a shrug of his shoulders.
Smith was a disappointment when he got to the big leagues last August. He had gained back weight he had shed the winter before and struggled against big league pitching. He hit just .198 with nine homers in 183 plate appearances. He did not dazzle defensively either.