Harvey must not try to be Amazin’ superhero too fast

PORT ST. LUCIE — The radar gun was turned off at First Data Field. So much for that data. For Matt Harvey it’s not about speed right now, he believes that will come. Tim Tebow was the sideshow, Matt Harvey was the main attraction Friday. Scouts registered Harvey’s fastball at 91-92 in the first inning and he did reach 93 in his three innings of work, but regaining velocity is one of the challenges following thoracic outlet syndrome surgery. It’s just the way it is, and Harvey has come to grips with it — for now. “It’s better, definitely an improvement from the first one,’’ Harvey said of his second spring start. He gave up a long home run to lefty swinging Reid Brignac, the Astros No. 8 hitter in the third inning of Houston’s 7-6 win. “I think it’s just a matter of time before things click and mechanics click and the timing clicks,’’ said Harvey, who allowed that one run and two hits, one walk and two strikeouts over his three innings. The Dark Knight needs to be more of a pitcher than just a superhero blazing fastball like he once was — that’s just the way it is these days and Harvey seems to have the right approach that is needed at this early stage of his second surgery comeback. “Getting out there, getting comfortable. I threw some good sliders, I threw some good changeups, obviously the fastball was up in the zone a little bit early, but then in the outing it was starting to come back down and I was starting to figure out the timing a little better,’’ Harvey said. As for his stiff neck he said, it was “90 percent better than it was before.’’ Manager Terry Collins said he was encouraged. “I liked a lot of what I saw,’’ Collins said. “I liked the changeup today, he had some life on his fastball. He’s getting his strength back, we need to get his release point down so he gets his command.’’

Collins said he had no idea who turned off the radar readings on the scoreboard.

“I haven’t the faintest idea,’’ he stated. Clearly the Mets don’t want Harvey’s head to get wrapped around radar gun readings at this point. Come back at your own speed, don’t worry about the gun.

Harvey’s fastball is going to take a while to return — that’s what pitchers who have had the surgery have told me.

“When this guy was right even though he had the ability to throw real hard, this guy was a pitcher,’’ Collins noted.

Harvey has got more feel this year because last year he lost the feel in his fingers.

“He couldn’t feel his seams on the ball,’’ Collins said.

Harvey said: “It’s coming along, I don’t know what the speed was, but Travis [d’Arnaud] back there said it was coming in good. Talking to some of the different guys and talking with [pitching coach] Dan [Warthen], I think it’s about feeling comfortable with your mechanics out there with the hitters and all of that will fall into place.

“I think with any surgery you can’t go out there and think too much. I had 18 months after Tommy John before I played in a game so that was a little bit different story, but the strength is there I feel great in between starts not getting sore at all, doing my long toss normally.

“I wish it could be there right away, but you’ve got to build up strength. Definitely today was a step in the right direction.

“Obviously it’s nice to go out there and throw 97 to 100 or whatnot, but you have to figure out how to pitch and pitch at what you have that specific day, so paying attention to that and being out there, it’s been a while since I’ve faced hitters and have been in competition like that, but for me, I think it’s only going to be a matter of time.’’

Maybe someday soon the Mets will have the velocity readings back on the scoreboard when Harvey is on the mound.