Mar
19
2013

Harvey and d’Arnaud Give Mets A Glimpse Into Their Future

An article by John Delcos

A few years from now, or perhaps in July, this battery could be a big deal. Matt Harvey and Travis d’Arnaud represent the Mets’ future, and today they provided a glimpse.

Harvey, already in the rotation, gave up two runs in 5.1 innings and was backed by two hits and two runs scored by d’Arnaud in a 3-2 victory today over St. Louis. In an 80-pitch effort, of which 54 were strikes, Harvey struck out six and gave up six hits. Spring training is a progression and today Harvey saw an improvement in his breaking ball.

Of course, being a perfectionist, he wasn’t totally satisfied.“I was really happy about my curveball,’’ Harvey told reporters in Jupiter. “Unfortunately, I gave up too many hits in my mind, but overall I’m healthy and feeling good.’’

Harvey made a good impression in ten starts last year with his fastball and composure, but went into the off-season wanting to improve his breaking ball and change-up.

“The biggest thing from last year was not having my curveball,’’ Harvey said. “I threw a lot of good ones and was able to throw it in the dirt when I needed to. That’s a big pitch for me. Having that back is definitely a big plus for me.’’

travis d'arnaud spring Harvey has a 2.95 ERA this spring with 24 strikeouts in 18.1 innings. Over a strikeout an inning is a tremendous ratio, but he is smart enough to realize it is better to get an out on one pitch instead of three. Harvey said 200-plus innings is a goal, and to reach it he must go deep into games by keeping his pitch count down.

“I’m starting to learn that a groundball is just as good (as a strikeout),’’ Harvey said. “Going deep into a game is on my mind. If I go seven or eight innings with three strikeouts, that’s seven or eight innings.”

The Mets gave up Cy Young Award winner R.A. Dickey to get d’Arnaud, who they regarded as the key to the deal. When speaking of the other, each said the pitcher-catcher relationship is a matter of chemistry, and so far they’ve clicked early.

“It’s a matter of working together and getting on the same page,’’ Harvey said. “In three starts with him, it’s almost like we’ve been with each other for a couple of years.’’

D’Arnaud is ticketed for Triple-A Las Vegas, but the Mets have given him the privilege of sticking around and making him feel like he belongs in the Mets clubhouse. What he liked best about Harvey today was his poise and command.

“I thought he had a tremendous day, especially with this curveball,’’ said d’Arnaud, who will be developing a working relationship with the Mets’ other pitching prospect, Zack Wheeler, soon enough.

Wheeler strained a right oblique muscle, Feb. 27, and pitched for the first time since today in a minor league game.

Wheeler posted on his Twitter account: “ Felt good to get back in a game today. Tossed three innings and one hit. Felt great.’’

METS MUSINGS: Lucas Duda homered and Bobby Parnell pitched a scoreless ninth inning after giving up six runs in his previous three games. … Ruben Tejada’s miserable spring continued with an 0-for-4. He’s now on a 2-for-33 slide. … Also struggling is Brandon Hicks, who struck out three times and has 18 strikeouts in 33 at-bats.

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.

13 Comments + Add Comment

Mr North Jersey March 18, 2013 at 8:48 pm

Hopefully the Harvey d’Arnaud battery will win many Mets games for years to come.
Russell Zanca March 18, 2013 at 9:25 pm

I’m glad Tejada is slumping now
- Alex68 March 19, 2013 at 7:48 am
  
  ????????????? RZ you being serious?
  - Russell Zanca March 19, 2013 at 10:11 am
    
    Alex, I am not at all worried about Tejada for 2013; think he’ll be fine.
  - Alex68 March 19, 2013 at 10:17 am
    
    Russell, ok, wasn’t sure if you were being serious or not…
Mookie March 18, 2013 at 10:00 pm

Can’t wait until D’Arnaud makes his debut. Should be fun times at Mets games again.
- Dick Young Lives March 18, 2013 at 11:00 pm
  
  It varies from year to year, for 2013 it is June 15.
oleosmirf March 18, 2013 at 10:16 pm

What is the earliest date D’Arnaud can be called up while still delaying arbitration and free agency?
- Alex68 March 19, 2013 at 7:49 am
  
  Oleo, i think it’s may 1st no??
srt March 18, 2013 at 10:29 pm

Looking forward more and more to D’Arnaud’s ML debut.

On Harvey: ‘…overall I’m healthy and feeling good.’’
Hopefully, he remains healthy and has a very good first full season. I like what I see so far.
metfan lou March 19, 2013 at 9:17 am

I watched the game with the Cardinals on MLB.TV and loved the battery of Harvey and D’arnaud. They looked good! Maybe it’s sour grapes but when the Cardinal announcers were talking about D’arnaud all they talked about was two bulging discs in his back and even speculated he may never have a MLB career becuae of his back. Is there anything to this other than garbage coming from two announcers that enjoyed dissing our catcher?
Hitman March 19, 2013 at 1:05 pm

Screw the extra year! Just start the season with d’Arnaud.
METS62FAN March 20, 2013 at 10:12 am

IN TRUTH I TEND TO DISAGREE WITH THE PREVEILING SENTIMENT THAT TRAVIS d’ARNOUD WAS THE LYNCHPIN TO THE DICKEY DEAL. AS I UNDERSTAND IT BOTH TEXAS & AZ WERE WILLING TO INCLUDE EQUALLY TALENTED & RESPECTED PROSPECTS; BUT THE REASON DICKEY WENT TO JAYS & NOT RANGERS OR SNAKES WAS PRIMARILY SYNDERGAARD’S INCLUSION MAKING JAYS THE ONLY SUITOR INCLUDING 2 TOP 30 PROSPECTS INSTEAD OF ONLY 1.

WHAT GIVES ME A THRILL UP BOTH LEGS AT THE SAME TIME IS CONSIDERING THE 5 POTENTIAL BATTERYMATES FOR d’ARNOUD IN 2015 ie
HARVEY & TRAVIS
WHEELER & TRAVIS
NIESE & TRAVIS
SYNDERGAARD & TRAVIS
GEE & TRAVIS

ANYONE ELSE TINGLIN’”

AS IVE POINTED OUT THE TOTAL AGE OF THOSE 5 SP IN 2015 IS 132 YEARS WHILE THE TOTAL AGES OF SEAVER, KOOSMAN, GENTREY, McANDREW & TAYLOR IN 1969 WAS 132 YEARS. BASICLY MAKING THE AVG AGE OF 24.6 YRS IDENTICAL FOR BOTH ROTATIONS THAT WILL BOTH PITCH TO A BACKSTOP WEARING #15(GROTE IN ’69, d’ARNOUD IN ’15)
ANYONE ELSE RECALL THE INNUMERABLE SINILAR RELATIVITIES THAT BECAME POPULAR FOLKLORE COMPARING LINCOLN & KENNEDY IN THE EARLY 70s? TRILY AS REMARKABLY REMINISCIENT!
TINGLE,TINGLE,TINGLE! LOL
FOR THOSE OF U QUESTIONING MY MATH SKILLS HERE’S THE POOP USING AGES IN 1969 & 2015 RESPECTIVELY…
SEAVER, 25
KOSMAN, 27
GENTRY,23
McANDREW, 25
TAYLOR, 32
___________________________
HARVEY, 26
WHEELER, 25
NIESE, 29
SYNDERGAARD, 23
GEE, 29

DONCHA JUST LOVE COINCIDINCKS LIKE THESE?

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