Harvey’s lost in space
VIERA, Fla. — Matt Harvey’s arm dragged behind his jangly body, his breath was too quick and the Nationals were launching home runs on Sunday worthy of Space Coast Stadium’s name, which honors the area’s NASA history.
The worst part, though? Harvey did not realize what he was doing, or how he might fix it, until safely in the dugout.
By then, the phenom’s firstever start against a major league team was over: one inning, 46 pitches, seven hits, five runs, a single by Stephen Strasburg, and three home runs, including one by Jayson Werth that is still going.
Instead of sulking in the dugout, however, Harvey immediately sought veteran catcher Rob Johnson, among other teammates, for feedback. Then, he leveled with himself: The idea of a matchup against Strasburg and the Nats had left him overly “amped up.
“I let it quicken up a little bit,” Harvey said. “I didn’t necessarily feel it, but deep down inside that’s what was going on.”
The 22-year-old had already thrown four hitless, scoreless innings for the Mets this spring, but those were in relief. This day, with its hour-long bus ride, pregame buildup and likely urge to show the Mets that they should not have sent him to minor league camp (he returned for this appearance only), was different.
“I couldn’t execute,” Harvey said after the 12-0 loss that snapped Washington’s 11-game winless streak. “I was getting ahead of myself a little bit. I tried to keep the ball down, but the more I tried, it just didn’t happen. . . . It’s something I learned from today, slowing everything down. It’s getting off the mound and taking a couple extra breaths.”
“I’m sure he was all jacked up against Strasburg,” said Terry Collins. “If you get something out of it, it means that you just can’t rear back and throw. He’s closer to the major leagues than what he showed today. It’s just a crappy day.”
WRIGHT MONDAY?
Collins said it was “a possibility” that David Wright would make his spring debut Monday, but said he would not decide until the morning.
‘DISASTER AVOIDED’
Jason Bay ducked a serious injury when a Strasburg pitch struck and bruised his forearm, several inches above the wrist.
“I guess, luckily, it didn’t get me on the wrist,” Bay said. “It got me on the meat of the forearm. . . . It just tightened up, as expected. So, hopefully, disaster avoided.”
Bay did not think he would need X-rays, and was previously scheduled for an off-day on Monday. . . . Collins said that Andres Torres (calf) was “a lot better . . . he might be coming faster than we think.” …Garrett Olson, the lefty specialist who was the favorite to begin the season as Tim Byrdak’s replacement whole Byrdak recovered from knee surgery, was struck by a batted ball in the palm of his left hand during a minor league game Sunday. X-rays were negative, and Olson was diagnosed with a bruised left hand. Josh Edgin likely becomes the de facto front-runner to replace Byrdak, who is expected back in April.