Harvey: The Future of Mets Pitching?

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• Des March 29, 2011 at 8:29 am

  Harvey has shown his stuff already this spring. I don’t think Jenrry has yet. He needs more command and in-game durability (while keeping his velocity up) to merit the accolades heaped on him. Here’s hoping….
  • Met Maniac March 29, 2011 at 8:56 am

    That’s why when all is said and done I believe he will be a reliever or closer, much in the same way Isringhausen did ironically. Workhorse starting pitchers actually see their velocity increase as the game goes on, and not diminish after 3-4 innings. Durability and endurance issues are usually a sign that a pitcher is cut out to be in the bullpen.
    • Metsie March 29, 2011 at 9:41 am

      Actually durability and Endurance usually is sign they are not using their legs enough in their pitching mechanics.

      With the proper leg drive you put less stress on the arm and therefore can pitch more innings while maintaining velocity!

      Seaver was a master of the leg drive. So was Gooden.

      Haven’t seen enough of Harvey to say where he is at with that but mejia definitly should be coached to use his legs more because not only would it help him maintain velocity over the course of a game but it would also make his curveball a lot better too!
      • MetsMan86 March 29, 2011 at 10:02 am

        You look back at footage and Seaver, Gooden, as well as most pitchers were so low to the ground when the ball was released because the were driving off the mound so much. When I was pitching I tried to replicate that since I wasn’t (and still not) a big guy.
        • MetsMan86 March 29, 2011 at 10:10 am

          Forgot to add: I don’t know why it seems a lot of pitchers these days pitch practically standing upright.
          • Metsie March 29, 2011 at 11:07 am

            I know why but I don’t agree with it.

            All the focus is on the arm angle and release point these days.
            The thinking is that if you stand higher you can put more spin on the ball because you can set your release point lower in the arm swing.

            When you use the leg drive like Seaver, You are actually lower on the mound and therefore your release point is lower in relation to the batter. (By only about a foot or two.)

            This means the pitch leaves your hand not all that far out of the strikezone.
            You can release the ball a little higher and that can increase power at the cost of spin. It also puts less stress on the arm which is why guys like Seaver and Gooden could pitch deep into ballgames.

            The curveball also starts closer to the strikezone and quickly moves out which makes more batters bite on it.

            The reason for standing up more is for the benefit of the Split finger and two seamer.
            Both of those require Spin mechanics or they flatten out. By standing taller you can lower the release point and add extra spin which makes the ball move a little more.

            I personally think that if they kept the leg drive those two seamers would ensure the pitch stays low in the zone where it is much harder to adjust your swing to compesate for a ball that breaks a little less.

            But that accepted philosophy now is to do it all with the arm and spin. Sort of the same way the NFL gave up on running the ball and went pass happy.
            They believe the old ways won’t work but the truth is once someone tries it they will probably have some success and then the old will be the new again!

            All these sports league spend too much time copycatting what someone else does instead of thinking for themselves if you ask me.
            • sarge March 29, 2011 at 4:50 pm

              You are the man Metsie, you sure you aren’t Warthen or Stottlemeyre?
              Good inside info on pitching mechanics.
              I remember when watching Seaver how his back, right, leg always had dirt on knee. That is how he knew that he was pitching properly.
          • Kranepool7 March 29, 2011 at 3:43 pm

            It could be why there are more arm and shoulder injuries.
            • Metsie March 29, 2011 at 4:40 pm

              It most definitly is!
              If your only using half your boy to do the same amount of work then that half will suffer and break down twice as fast!
    • Tomterif March 29, 2011 at 11:05 am

      Can we please stop sticking these guys in the bullpen before their careers in the majors have even started? God, it’s tough enough to find good starting pitchers who throw in the 90s then to be targeting them for the pen from the get-go.
      • Metsie March 29, 2011 at 11:13 am

        Totally agree.

        It amounts to drafting for depth when we should be drafting for starters and using those that aren’t good enough to start as depth.
        But let them fail first before you go for the lesser contribution!
    • Kranepool7 March 29, 2011 at 3:48 pm

      I disagree with you maniac. Isringhausen was beset with a lot of injuries early on and it was logical for someone to try and use that talent in a relief role where he notched out a great career as a closer. It’s too early to make a move like that with Mejia and I remember reading he was told to only throw his fastball and curve while he was in the majors so obviously he was more hittable. They rushed him and he never developed a changeup that was major league ready plus he has a a nice slider we never really saw. I still think he will be a great starting pitcher for the Mets. Maybe not a #1 type, but certainly a top shelf #2.
• Andrew O'Brien March 29, 2011 at 9:10 am

  I agree that Harvey is more suited for six, seven, eight innings than Mejia, but Jenrry is still young and you never know. But both of you are right on, in my opinion, at least.
• Andrew O'Brien March 29, 2011 at 11:11 am

  Tomterif — You’re right. They aren’t suited for the bullpen yet, though it is enticing. They need to develop in the minors and work their way up.
• sarge March 29, 2011 at 4:52 pm

  I feel that Izzy needs to show in extended spring training that he is well and that his shoulder can take it and not lose another pitcher hoping that he doesn’t get hurt.
• Jason April 4, 2011 at 10:20 am

  just imagine this rotation for the future

  1. Jenrry Mejia

  2. Matt Harvey

  3. Jon Niese

  4. Mike Pelfrey