Updated on 1/22 by Joe D.
Matt Harvey was at Citi Field on Monday where he worked out and spent some time throwing long-toss. Afterward he spoke to a group of beat writers about the upcoming season. The Mets’ young righthander does not want to be placed on any innings limit this season and wasn’t happy about having his season cut short last year. Harvey also made his intentions quite clear and said he is determined to be the next ace of the rotation.
“I’m here to win,” Harvey said emphatically. “I don’t make those decisions on who’s the ace, who’s not the ace. That’s where I want to be, that’s my determination. In the long run, that’s where I want to be.
“Every time I take the mound, I don’t want to lose. I don’t think I’m going to lose at all. I take the mound fighting for every single pitch. I take anger to the mound, I take a lot of aggression. That’s the fight that I have to win.’
I love this kid. He has that swagger I wish more of our players had.
Original Post 1/16
Matt Harvey spoke with Peter Botte of the Daily News and told him that he believes the Mets have the pitching to play into October this season even with the loss of R.A. Dickey.
“I feel like we absolutely can do something this year,” Harvey said. “That’s why we all play the game. R.A. will be difficult to replace, obviously. But as players, we’re not looking at this as rebuilding for next year or the year after.. We feel like we can win and we’re going to do everything we can to play into October.”
Harvey, the Mets’ first-round pick (seventh overall) out of North Carolina in 2010, also believes the Mets have a chance for a “tremendous” starting rotation once Zack Wheeler arrives.
“Man, he’s got some electric stuff. I’ve talked to (Triple-A manager) Wally (Backman) quite a bit and he thinks the sky is the limit for Zack. It’s fun to think that you possibly can have a starting rotation similar to what the Braves had with Maddux, Glavine and Smoltz.”
“That’s what we’re going to strive for, too. Wheeler wants to be the best, I want to be the best, and so does every other guy that’s dressing in this clubhouse.”
Harvey went 3-5 with a 2.73 ERA in his 10 starts with the Mets last season, striking out 70 batters in 59.1 innings pitched. He plans to report to Port St. Lucie around Feb. 4, a week ahead of reporting time for pitchers and catchers.
