31
2012
Who’s Ready For Some More Matt Harvey!
An article by 
I really loved this post by Bob Klapisch of The Record this morning on Mets rookie pitching phenom Matt Harvey.
Harvey isn’t just some overhyped prospect being pimped by desperate ownership. To the contrary: Rival executives believe the 23-year-old right-hander is the most gifted rookie pitcher the Mets have produced since Doc Gooden.
Granted, that’s a crazy endorsement for a kid who’s made exactly one major league start. But Harvey’s debut against the Diamondbacks last week was that breathtaking — 11 strikeouts in 5¤ innings, featuring a fastball that ranged between 95-98 mph.
Only Stephen Strasburg, David Price and Jeff Samardzija have better average velocity than what Harvey unleashed against Arizona. And his success wasn’t just married to pure heat. Harvey practically destroyed hitters with an 88-90 mph slider that one talent evaluator called, “unhittable” because of its blistering spin rate.
“You could tell [Arizona’s hitters] weren’t able to pick up the seams,” said the scout. Very few pitchers can disguise their off-speed weapons so effectively. And the ones that do, like Roy Halladay, needed years to master the trick.
You know, it’s one thing when the team and us fans rave about our prospects, but when rival executives and scouts are buzzing too, you know you have something special.
Harvey will take the mound tonight against struggling Giants ace Tim Lincecum. The two-time Cy Young Award winner, is 4-11 with a 5.88 ERA this season.
Harvey of course is coming off his eleven strikeout gem in which he tossed 51/3 shutout innings. Harvey allowed just three hits and walked three in a spectacular major league debut. Tune in tonight for his encore.
About the Author: Joe DeCaro
I'm a lifelong Mets fan who loves writing and talking about the Amazins' 24/7. From the Miracle in 1969 to the magic of 1986, and even the near misses in '73 and '00, I've experienced it all - the highs and the lows. I started Mets Merized Online in 2005 to feed my addiction. Follow me on Twitter @metsmerized.
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NL East Standings
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braves | 42 | 30 | .583 | - |
| Phillies | 35 | 37 | .486 | 7.0 |
| Nationals | 34 | 36 | .486 | 7.0 |
| Mets | 27 | 40 | .403 | 12.5 |
| Marlins | 22 | 48 | .314 | 19.0 |
Last updated: 06/19/2013
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I know Klap is a Yankee guy but I enjoy reading him. He has knowledge and he has a nice style and you cannot blame him for hating the mets. He is also a half-assed pitcher in an over 35 league and knows a lot about the craft.
I’m ready!
LET’S GO HARVEY!!!!!!!!
F*** YOU SANDY ALDERSON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well said Alex!! You must be psychic..That is exactly how i feel about Harvey and SA…
Joe D, you are making a believer out of me with this kid!
Who’s Ready For Some More Matt Harvey? I am. LGM.
I’m ready as I missed his first start due to a power outage here…
Lets just hope the Giants aren’t ready for him as well!
Good Luck Harvey, lets keep the winning streak going to 3, no pressure
I hope he follows the same plan as against D Backs though Giants are the wild swingers.
He just needs to keep Milkey off base and not allow Posey to stretch his arms, because Posey loves to inside out the ball.
Lets take his 2nd game in perspective, as surely I won’t, and not lose it if he gives up a run of, heaven forbid, a HR.
I just want to see continued attacking the plate and staying away from deep counts or walking batters, make them hit your nasty fastball or off speed stuff.
No pressure for him now that we have won 2 games in a row, a winning streak, OMG!
Lets Go Mets/Harvey!
IF EVER I’VE SEEN A SITUATION THAT DESPERATELY CALL FOR A SPECUIFIC BATTERYUMATE MATCH-UP IT’S HARVEY & JOHNSON NOT DUE TO HARVEY’S DEPENDENCE; BUT BECAUSE IT WAS VERY APPARENT LAST NIGHT THAT THOLE DOESN’T KNOW HOW TO PROPERLY ASSIST SOMEONE SO TALENTED, HELL, HARVEY’S 90MPH SLIDER IS MORE OVERPOWERING THAN WHAT SANTANA HAS LEFT ON HIS HEATRER.
UNFORTUNATELY IT APPEARED THOLE FELL BACK ON HIS GAMEPLAN OF ONE SIZE FITS ALL HE’S USED FOR PELFREY,HIESE,GEE, HEFNER OF STAYING AWAY WITHOUT CHALLENGING WITH POWDER RIVER KNOCKOUT INSIDE PITCHES SURELY HARVEY WILL LEARN TO DICTATE TO THOLE; BUT WHY SHOULD HE? MORE THAN RVER IT’S APARENT ALDERSON BLEW IT BY NOT SEALING UP A GRISLED, GNARLY VETERAN CATCHER LIKE A BBLANCO, BARAJAS, PUDGE WHEN HE COULD HAVE.
EVERY YOUMNG POWER ARMED STAFF, I’VE EVER SEEN HAS NEEDED AN EXPERIENCED ON THE FIELD SHEPARD TO STRONGLY SUGGEST THE BEST WAY TO DEVOUR OPPOSING HITTERS BE IT GROTE FOR AMAZINS IN ’69,’73 OR CARTER FOR ’86,’88. HELL EVEN FL WITH IT’S YOUNG STAFF EARLIER THIS CENTURY UTILIZED PUDGE AS NATS USED HIM FOR MULTIPLE SEASONS GUIDING THOSE THEY’RE RELYING ON FOR THE BEST MLB RECORD, TODAY.
JOSH THOLE & MIKE NICKEAS ARE INCAPABLE OF IDENTIFYING WHAT PITCHERS ARE TRYING TO DO TO THEM LET ALONE WHAT HE NEEDS TO SUGGEST AS BEST APPROACH AGAINST THE OPOSITION.
I DON’T BELIEVE TOOLS WHISE JOHNSON IS SUPERIOR TO EITHER; BUT CERTAINLY HE KNOWS HIS PASRTNER BETTER AND HIS MORE VAST EXPERIENCE MAKES HIM THE BETTER STRATEGIC PARNER BEHIND THE DISH.