Matt Harvey will get first big-league start Thursday
The Bisons' Matt Harvey throws to a Mud Hens batter during the first inning at Coca Cola field in Buffalo. (July 16, 2012) Credit: Buffalo News / Mark Mulville
Pitcher Matt Harvey will get his first major-league start Thursday in Arizona, even after one of his worst outings of the season for Triple-A Buffalo on Saturday, the Mets announced Sunday. Harvey will join the team in New York on Monday and be activated Tuesday.
Harvey, 23, a 6-4, 225-pound righthander and the Mets' first-round pick in 2010, took the loss for Buffalo on Saturday, allowing six earned runs and seven hits -- including two home runs -- in five innings against Charlotte. After talking to Buffalo manager Wally Backman, Mets manager Terry Collins attributed Harvey's poor outing to the hype surrounding his potential call-up over the past week.
"[Saturday] was one of those situations that Wally thought his mind was in New York, not necessarily in Buffalo," Collins said. "You gotta throw those starts out. Part of the whole thing is being here in New York, where everything's a story."
In 20 Triple-A starts, Harvey is 7-5 with a 3.68 ERA and 112 strikeouts in 110 innings.
Mattingly: 'Boss' thoughtsDodgers manager Don Mattingly suggested history might have been very different if George Steinbrenner had remained firmly in control of the Yankees when they had their last managerial opening.
"He's the one who told me I could be a good manager," Mattingly said of Steinbrenner. "I think he'd be shocked that I'd be in Los Angeles."
The elder Steinbrenner, in failing health before he died in July 2010, delegated authority to his sons, Hal and Hank, and they hired current manager Joe Girardi after the 2007 season to succeed Joe Torre. Mattingly had served as Torre's bench coach in 2007 and was his hitting coach for three years before that.
"The biggest thing I took from Joe was 'Don't let things go,' " Mattingly said. "If you're not going to talk about it and you let it brew, that's when you have trouble."
Extra bases
In order to make room for reliever Elvin Ramirez, the Mets designated Miguel Batista for assignment . . . Closer Frank Francisco threw 40 pitches in the bullpen before Sunday's game. Collins said he will be re-evaluated Tuesday, and that the Mets are hoping to get him into a rehab game soon.
With Tom Pedulla
