It seems like it was not too long ago where Matt Harvey was unhittable starting in the All Star Game in his home ballpark in Queens.
Harvey donned the name The Dark Knight and looked like a superhero on the mound who could stop any foe who came up to bat. While the Mets were still a bad team it was exciting to see Harvey dominate games with a sub 3 ERA and constantly sending batters back to the dugout unhappy.
Now in 2018 Matt Harvey’s career in New York has come to a close. He was Designated for Assignment yesterday afternoon before the Mets took the field against the Colorado Rockies.
It’s a sad sight to see, a pitcher so dominate loose it all with injury after injury plaguing his career since the World Series run in 2015 where heartbreak set upon the Mets with Harvey being at the center of it all. Harvey bet on himself time and time again, opting to try rehab before going for Tommy John, fighting back from Tommy John, having a rib removed so that he could continue to pitch. Harvey wanted to be a Met. And that is what Mets fans loved about him, he wanted to stay in Queens, no one wants to stay a Met/forever looser.
Harvey was fun, but odd as well.
A complicated man to say the least, he has always been aloof, but seemed to love the spotlight. Playing in New York seemed like a match made in heaven for him, the city embraced him and he loved to pitch for the Mets. But what seemed to get in Matt Harvey’s way was himself.
Harvey perhaps loved the spotlight too much and got too accustomed to a lifestyle and standard of being a superstar and the injuries did not humble him. He stayed a superstar in the mind and
His comments of “I’m a stating pitcher”, when asked if he would consider coming out of the bullpen for even a little bit to get his stuff going showcased the ego he has. And while every player needs a bit of an ego to keep that competitive edge alive, it was a detriment to Harvey’s career. He thought that moving to the bullpen would one kill his chances of making millions more compared to a starter and he thought he was above it.
He hated his short tenure in the bullpen, not high fiving guys, looking miserable, pitching as quick as possible to get out of the game. The worst of all not talking to the media about his performance which was terrible, giving up several homeruns and walks in a very short time coming out of the pen.
He never got to unrestricted free agency where he got that big contract that he thought he deserved. This would be the year that he would convince a team to take a chance on him and build up his confidence that he can be a pitcher that hitters would cuss to themselves about having to step into the box against him.
Harvey had a chance to stay with the Mets as he was going to spend some time in the minors, but he refused to do it, getting in his own way once again.
No teams have shown interest in him yet, but who knows maybe it is not this season but the next season Harvey can be on another major league roster.
Maybe their is a chance for Harvey to come back and rise from the ashes and become a starting pitcher again or become a dominant relief pitcher, The groundwork is set up for him to do so, the two time Cy Young award winner Tim Linsecum who was phenomenal and hip injuries seemed to ruin his career. He took a season off, working on his game to get back while being a free agent. But just this year he looked to be in great shape and the Texas Rangers took a chance on him, offered him a one year contract to prove he still has it.
And although he has not played this season due to a troublesome blister on his pitching hand. It shows that a good attitude and hard work can get a pitcher like Harvey another invitation to the show. Hopefully he can get out of his own head and prove the doubters wrong and be like the comic book hero and rise once again to dominance.
Sports Are People Too 