MATT’S LIKE THE OLD HARVEY!
Former ace looks, feels good in ’17 debut
Standing on the field at spring training, watching the Mets’ then-healthy pitching staff, Dwight Gooden just shook his head. The Met great said he knew he would get in trouble for what he was about to admit.
“I know the guys I pitched with are going to be mad when I say this, but this has the chance to be the best rotation ever,” Gooden said when asked about a healthy stable of Noah Syndergaard, Jacob deGrom, Matt Harvey, Steven Matz, Zack Wheeler and Robert Gsellman. “You’ve got five or six guys who have No.1 stuff night after night. That’s tough.”
But when Doc was asked which one was his true No.1, he didn’t hesitate.
“I got to be loyal. Matt Harvey was my guy when he first came up,” Gooden said. “I liked that he went out there and attacked hitters. He set a tone. He wasn’t afraid to pitch inside, go after guys. He is old-school.”
That is what Mets fans were hoping they would finally see Thursday night: old-school Matt Harvey. As he walked off the mound, after pitching 6.2 solid innings in the Mets’ 6-2 win over the Braves, that is what brought the fans to their feet to cheer him off the field.
“I remember getting booed off the field last year,” Harvey said with a laugh, “so I think flipping that switch a little bit, it was exciting.”
His first start since July 4, when he was shut down with Thoracic Outlet Syndrome and then surgery to repair it, was something the Mets could get excited about. His velocity is still sitting in the lower range, 93-95 miles an hour, but his fastball had “late life” and his breaking ball had a “nice edge,” according to an AL scout watching.
Harvey gave up two runs on three hits. He struck out four, but did not issue a walk as he pounded the strike zone, trying to keep his pitch count down so he could spare the bullpen that had been spent in a 12-inning loss the night before. Both runs Harvey allowed came on home runs to Matt Kemp. “I obviously didn’t strike out many, so the guys were making all the plays behind me. They made that easy,” Harvey said. “I had a lot of confidence with keeping the ball around the zone and I did keep it down for the most part.
“Apart from the 800 feet I gave up to the one guy,” Harvey said with a laugh.
After the surgery, which entailed removing his top right rib, Harvey is just happy to be back competing. His second major surgery in four years has given him perspective.
“The only thing I want to do is compete and play and be everything I possibly can for this team, and last year I knew deep down I wasn’t able to do that,” Harvey said. “It was frustrating. I didn’t handle it very well. “But you live and learn. I think I have been doing a good job this year trying to get everything back in place,” Harvey said.
After a slow start to his spring, things are falling into place. Early on in spring training, his velocity lagged and his command was spotty, but Harvey rounded a corner in his final two starts of spring and continues to progress.
“Look, we don’t know what the ceiling is going to be, but this guy is a special guy. If anybody can do it, it’s him,” Mets manager Terry Collins said. “You are going to look in the middle of the summer and he’ll be back to where he was.
“Is he going to be throwing 98 again? I don’t know, but I think Matt Harvey can pitch as good as anybody when he’s at 93-95.”
After Tommy John surgery in 2013, Harvey tried to race back. This surgery, which kept Harvey in the hospital for several days, T taught him patience. he arm strength is coming, so he is not worrying about velocity.
“I know it’s a process and it’s still taking time, but I know I am heading in the right direction. I can feel it,” Harvey said. “I realize there is work I have to do to maintain my health. I don’t want to go through this again.
“I want to be out there again, competing and giving all I can for this team,” Harvey said. “And I want to be able to stay out there.”
It’s like the old Matt Harvey, only with a new perspective.