February 7th, 7:13 PM
Matt Harvey was a guest of Mike Francesa on WFAN today and said things are going really smooth as he continues his rehab from Tommy John surgery.
He basically repeated much of what he told the Post yesterday, but there was one thing that stood out to me.
Harvey told Francesa that he expects to spend all of spring training with Mets and ALSO intends to spend the regular season with the team. He looks at is as a way of staying connected to his team and teammates which I found to be very profound and admirable.
The Mets former first rounder wants to stay close to the action, chart the games, and study the hitters all in an effort to comeback better prepared and with a good working knowledge of opposing hitters.
Harvey could have opted to stay home like most every player does when they are out for the year, but not this kid. This one is cut from a different cloth. This kid is old school. I wish we had a dozen more like this one…
Get back soon, dude…
February 7th, 9:00 AM
Matt Harvey says he is set to begin a throwing program in as soon two weeks he told Dan Martin of the NY Post on Thursday.
“They said I should be able to start throwing four months after the surgery and that’s Feb. 22, and I haven’t had any setbacks,” Harvey, who had elbow surgery in October. “I can’t wait. Even if it’s 10 feet, I just want to pick up a ball. As if right now, I don’t see why I wouldn’t be able to do that.”
Harvey, who will be at Port St. Lucie when the other Mets pitchers report on Feb. 15, hasn’t been shy about his desire to pitch before the end of the season, but said he’s aware teammates and others in the organization are concerned he may try to rush back.
“I completely agree that I shouldn’t come back too soon. I haven’t touched a baseball yet so I don’t know how things are going to go once that happens. But if things are still progressing and it shows I’m ready to go and I get cleared, I want to be able to play.”
Harvey still has it in his mind that he wants to pitch in 2014.
“If I get to throw a couple of innings in August or September and then have a normal offseason without having to go into next year with all those questions still out there, that would help me significantly,” Harvey said.
“I’d love to face hitters to build my confidence up back up and not just jump into a new season having not seen anyone.”
Like most players, Harvey hates not being on the field with his teammates. He’s a baseball player and his only desire is to get out there and play as soon as he can. It’s up to the Mets to make sure they keep a safe and deliberate pace as to his return and to protect Harvey from himself.
To that end, Sandy Alderson said yesterday evening that it’s unlikely Harvey will pitch for the Mets this season. Even if the Mets find themselves in a pennant race.
