10
2012
Thoughts On Shutting Down Matt Harvey
An article by 
Enjoy it while you can. The Mets plan to shut down Matt Harvey after 175 innings max, which is about three more starts.
While he’s been one of the bright spots to a disappointing season, I have no problem with the decision as there’s nothing to be gained by running him into the ground. If he’s as good as projected, he’ll be throwing 200-plus innings soon enough.
Harvey has been impressive through his first seven starts, in particular in limiting the damage when he gets in trouble. The ability to fight through threats, whether it be by improvisation or pure power and guile makes for the foundation of a good career.
This is something we also so yesterday from Jon Niese, who was in constant trouble but held the Phillies to single runs in three straight innings. We’ve seen worse from Niese, so this is another good sign.
Overall, I expected more from Niese than 10-9 at this point. His sub-4 ERA says he hasn’t always gotten the most run support. While there have been rocky nights for him, in the long run there’s still a lot of potential there and the combination of him and Harvey, plus R. A. Dickey and comebacks from Dillon Gee and Johan Santana, gives the Mets the basis for a good rotation next season.
Now, if they can only score some runs and redo the bullpen.
About the Author: John Delcos
I am an active member of the BBWAA and have covered Major League Baseball in several capacities for over 20 years, including ten in New York working the Mets' and Yankees' beat. I covered the Baltimore Orioles for eight years and the Cleveland Indians before that. I currently serve as an editor and senior staff writer for Mets Merized Online. Follow me on Twitter @jdelcos.
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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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Forget the won lost record. Niese has not disapponted this year. I know he gets rocked when he doesn’t have his good stuff, he has trouble competing on those days but overall if you’re a Met fan there’s no way you should be disappointed by Niese’s 2012 season to date. Eventually he will get to the point in his career where he will give a better effort on days he doesn’t have his best stuff.
Once again, John, you’ve got to be kidding us with this post. This was worth space on the site? Your “thoughts” on shutting down Matt Harvey consist of one sentence saying you have no problem with it. What insight!
John Delcos wrote an interesting article. Regarding Matt Harvey, you must have missed John’s entire 3rd paragraph.
Now, if they can only score some runs and redo the bullpen.
That’s going to be the real trick for Alderson this offseason. Party’s over if he fails.
Redo the bullpen, 3 OF spots, Catcher, 2B and we’re good to go. lol
Back up… Lol but I don’t think the pen is in as BAD of condition going forward after this year and they may not need to bring in that much.
Edgin, Parnell, And at least one of Mejia andFamliia. I would still like to bring Rauch back and work on dumping FF.
So Acosta replacement, decide on Carson, and you only have one spot left.
The Mets have some serious promising starting pitching for next yr. I would make Santana the closer.
here is what I would prefer to do with Harvey…
First off I don’t have an issue with the total Innings limit. Not this year anyway…
Not sure what total he is at now but just pull him early for his remaining games.
And it should not be a problem because right now the guys who really need to audition and get innings in are the guys who will be one of the multiple choice answers to our Pen rebuild!
You can both limit Harvey’s innings and get extra looks at the guys we have to see if there are bullpen answers in the system already and at least get a handle on what we might need to get for next season.
Pulling Harvey and even Niese early in September should get you an extra inning or two of BP in there to see what those guys can do.
Metsie, pulling harvey earlier in games in order to limit innings is not the whole picture. The innings pitched is also combined with bullpens and other activities. I am suportive of letting him pitch another game or two and then begin resting and planning for next year. I would not support a innings limit within the game because of the possibility of this affecting his game plan and the workouts and bullpens. He has proven himself worthy of consideration next year and that is enough.
I get what your saying but is his 6th and 7th inning game planning really that important for him to work on in September?
What is more important I think is his between game routines, Getting prepared and starting off a game with his control and feel and First and second time through the order gameplan.
I also think exposing him less to batter now will help him when he does have to face them 3rd time around the order next year.
So if you pull him after the 5th inning (he can get the decision) and then let the pen take over in the 6th it would be enough for him to work on MLB batters and get an extra inning to audition the pen.
When you look at where Harvey started the year to where he is now, you will understand just how far the guy has come this season. When the season started I remember many of the minor league followers on this site saying they thought Harvey should open the year at Double-A. Why, they were asking at the time, are the Mets rushing him so much by sending him to Triple-A after only 12 starts in Double-A? Well now you can see why. He’s good. And he’s gonna be great. So I say err on the side of caution and don’t push him to the outer edge of the envelope this season.
Shut him down early, rather than later. Don’t let him injure his arm at the end of a pointless season. He’s progressed far enough wouldn’t you say? From “is he ready for Triple-A yet?” To breaking into the major leagues in a very big way, that’s enough progress for the guy to make in one short season. He deserves a break, I say send him to Disney World. Same goes for Josh Edgin, Zack Wheeler, and Jeurys Familia. Take the rest of the day off guys, you did enough.
As for Jon Niese. He has gotten hurt every single year since he has come up to the big leagues. Pitching this year with that new aquiline proboscis (his nose), he has knock-on-wood managed to stay healthy here on the brink of dare-I-say-it? September. I don’t care what happens with his pitching, I just want to see the guy make it to the finish-line this season without hurting himself again, and I will consider that a huge success.