8
2013
Spring Shorts: Harvey Looking For 20 Wins, Felix Is King, Johan Tipping Pitches
An article by 
Matt Harvey in PSL (Photo credit: Larry Marano, NY Post)
Adam Rubin of ESPN New York tells us that Matt Harvey “appreciates a bright future on the horizon with Zack Wheeler and Travis d’Arnaud among others”, but that he’s not going to let that detract him from the present.
The right-hander is focused on getting off to a good start, “I’m here to play this year,” Harvey said. “I’m here to win this year. I don’t want to look ahead to the next couple of years. I want to win now. And that’s my job.”
Kevin Kernan of the Post, also caught up with Harvey and relayed to him that his manager Terry Collins believes the young right-hander could be a 17 game winner this season.
“I’d like to add three to that. That’s where my head is always going to be at — 20-plus is what I’m going to strive for every year. Mediocre is not OK for me. It’s never been OK, and it will never be OK. That’s how I play, that’s how I was raised.”
I love the fire Harvey brings to this team as well as the professionalism. He may be starting his first full season in the majors this season, but he carries himself with the savvy of a ten-year veteran. And he’s brimming with confidence. There’s lots to love about this kid.
* * * * * * * *
I’d be lying if didn’t say my jaw dropped when I saw that Felix Hernandez signed a new extension with the the Seattle Mariners that combined with his current deal will pay him $175 million dollars for seven years. I think the M’s took that King Felix nickname a little bit too serious… wow. Hernandez now becomes the highest-paid pitcher in MLB history, breaking C.C. Sabathia’s seven year, $161 million landmark deal.
Will the Mets be ready to give Harvey and Wheeler that kind of loot when they become arbitration eligible in 2-3 years if they pitch up to expectations? That’s certainly something to think about. In fact when both pitchers get into the $15 million per year range will they be able to afford both of them? Or does the whisper campaign begin again and soon some are begging to trade one for prospects? Nobody knows for sure, but we’ll get a good indication in 2015.
* * * * * * * *
New Met catcher John Buck, told SNY’s Kevin Burkhardt that he noticed Johan Santana tipping pitches last year and that he’s already helped the Mets. I seem to recall Burkhardt’s partner during Mets broadcasts, Ron Darling, talking about Santana tipping his pitches during his last three starts.
Still no word about Johan Santana and it doesn’t appear he’s in camp yet although he’s not officially due to report until Monday.
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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The more I read about Harvey, the more I like this kid a lot. I feel like he’s almost tailor-made for NYC. I just hope he continues to develop and turns out to be close to what we all hope he can be. As for the Felix deal, good for him. I also think it’s good for baseball. Glad to see him stay in Seattle. I’m not too worried about the Mets having to pay that price to keep Harvey and Wheeler because for that to happen, Wheeler and Harvey have to pitch like two of the top five pitchers in all of baseball…that would be a great “problem” to have. Also, I don’t even know if they will have Felix’s body of work and track record when they turn 26…which is the age of Felix (how is that possible, hasn’t he been around forever??).
it helps when you come up at age 19. More like the NBA when HS kids like Kobe came right in. he has been around forever and is still only about 33.
Didn’t we already know Johan was tipping pitches when the Phillies got caught with the Bill Belichick Home Movies Kit?
1. Haaaaaaa.
2. Shhhhh. We need John Buck in the best of spirits as he helps us until d’Arnaud is ready.
If he walks like John Buck and he talks like John Buck, then he hits like John Buck, and he throws like the Aflack Duck.
Dare I say it? “My Friend” Harvey (the Bensonhurst Bomber) reminds me of a certain Terrific Tom, always has.
Shut up or I’ll bend you into a pretzel.
I got my Matt Harvey jersey ready and I can’t wait to get to the regular season already where I plan on going to at least three of his starts this season!
There isn’t much not to like about Matt Harvey right now.
If Wheeler translates to the type of projected potential tagged to him right now, that might just be the best 1 and 1A we’ve had in a very long time.
Johan tipping his pitches…thought I saw a tweet about that yesterday. Interesting….
Thank God for Harvey and for Ike Davis…. Otherwise this season would be completely unwatchable
THIS!
you forgot to include the best player on the team. I am sure it was just an oversight.
I don’t think Alderson will be here anymore, but I’m sure one of his boys will be in charge by then and unless they have a brain transplant and adopt a new philosophy, there’s no way they could afford to keep both. This goes against their moneyballing ways. Look to the West and see what the A’s do when players get close to arbitration years. That’s the model.
Ugh, the thought of it makes me wanna vomit. I rather se john ricco be the GM than anymore garbage leading the way.. Sure as hell depodesta will force his crap from the draft to the team, and ricciardi will trade them good player for more prospects.. UGh…
Did anybody read this? I found it a bit interesting and figure to share it with some of you guys.
http://dailystache.net/would-you-accept-a-mets-player-that-was-gay/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=would-you-accept-a-mets-player-that-was-gay
Joe, I disagree a lot with you, but I also thought the same thing about the mets if Harvey and Wheeler do excellent and become too rich for their tastes.
I don’t think there’s a chance that they ever pay these guys that type of doe if they reach stardom. Hopefully, with all the young pitching coming up, it won’t be nesessary.
Either way, even free spending teams rarely throw that much cash at multiple pitchers. It’s too risky…
This FO will certainly due the leg work, find out whose more reliable, and make that deal. For the others, it’s off to Toronto on the RA express.
see my post below about the top ten pitcher salaries. Pretty much 2 teams doing it now.
I don’t know about 20 wins, but the fact he feels that strongly about it is music to my ears. Usually players downplay those types of high expectations, but not Harvey. He’s got a lot of moxie and swagger and I can’t recall a Mets pitcher like that since Al Leiter last pitched here.
Common people Harvey has 3 career wins and 10ML starts. Wheeler hasn’t even pitched in the majors yet!! Why are you worrying about having to trade them NOW??? Lets all enjoy them growing up and hopefully winning Championships together
The Santana thing is old news and yes Darling did beat it to death so I’m not sure why KB is fascinated by it.
On Harvey, he may end up being the best thing ever to come out of the Minaya era and I don’t want to jinx it but if he stays healthy we have a potential ace for the next ten years here.
I get this feeling that Harvey is going to throw one high and tight to someone. That person is going to charge the mound. Harvey is just going to stand there and as soon as the guy is in range, BAM, Tyson to Spinks… You don’t mess with anyone named Harvey.
he better have a strong left. No punching with the right hand allowed.
Love, love, love Harvey’s attitude. No anointing just yet, but, God, don’t we hope he turns out to be a Met For All Seasons!!!
Good for King Felix. That makes it less likely the Yankees will ever snare him. As for his contract amount, blame it on the Yankees. They first set the market for elite pitchers with their contracts to Clemens and CC. The King is better than either of them were when they got those contracts, so the only way the Mariners were going to keep him was to exceed those amounts.
As for Harvey, unfortunately he grew up a Yankees fan and his agent is Boras. The chances of him pitching for the Mets in his free agent years aren’t great. Hopefully the Yankees will be in a mess by then. They aren’t in great shape now, and the free agent market isn’t what it used to be. So it will be harder for them to buy their way to the postseason in the future.
metro mentioned the Yankees setting the market, but there was an interesting chart in the paper today (in a piece about the signing).
they listed the top ten annual salaries now for SPs, and 3 each were on SF and Philly. So 60% belonged to 2 teams. The other 4 were 1 each, including Johan (Dodgers and Yankees being the other 2).
But who set the market at those high prices for elite pitchers? The Yankees. That’s the point … setting the market.
It’s no wonder that the highest payrolls in baseball are in the AL and in the AL East. That’s the only way teams can compete with the Yankees during the regular season. Some things like the Luxury Tax have worked to put a damper on their spending. But it doesn’t go far enough, IMO.