1. For weeks Sandy Alderson and Terry Collins have been suggesting that Matt Harvey would be held back at the start of the season so he could pitch the home opener at Citi Field on April 13 against the Phillies. But while speaking to reporters today at Tradition Field, Collins said he has every intention of pitching Harvey in one of the first five games of the season, perhaps even the season opening series against the Nationals in Washington.
This is big. It would be great to see Harvey pitch one of the games in the opening series against the Nationals. It would be a bold move.
2. Collins does not intend to have Matt Harvey skip starts this season. Instead he may occasionally limit him to five innings to ease the workload. On Friday, sandy Alderson said the gloves are off and Harvey could pitch 200 innings including the playoffs.
Something’s changed with regards to how the organization now views Harvey. After months of innings limits plans, mid-season shutdown, skipped starts, etc., it now appears that he will not be babied and that they are ready to let Harvey do what he does best with little if any limitations.
3. Terry Collins also said that if Dillon Gee is not traded and all six starters are still here at the end of camp, Gee will likely be the one who goes to the bullpen.
No surprise here, Gee makes the most sense as far as going to the bullpen as a spot starter and long reliever.
4. Speaking of the bullpen, Collins said he still wants Bobby Parnell to prepare to be the team’s closer. But if Jenrry Mejia thrives as the closer to begin the season, he will remain the closer when Parnell is ready to join the team. Additionally, while he prefers to have two lefty relievers, it’s not a big deal if they go with just one.
Now this was interesting. His stance on Mejia as a closer is a complete reversal of what he’s been saying for most of the last four months. Glad to see he came around on this.
5. Collins told reporters that who bats leadoff is still up in the air, but that it most likely comes down to Juan Lagares or Curtis Granderson whom he believes is still a good option. Still, he adds that it’s too early to worry about who bats where.
I’m not sure Granderson’s numbers can hold up in the leadoff spot. They certainly didn’t last year. Meanwhile if nothing else, Lagares added some spark to the top of the order during the last six weeks of last season. He got on base at a better clip and we also saw him utilizing his speed.
6. Terry Collins believes he has himself a playoff team, telling reporters, “It’s time.”
I agree, it’s time. Go out and do it now…
