Pitcher Harvey is a must-see phenom
Mets prospect Matt Harvey delivers a pitch for the St. Lucie Mets. (May 21, 2011) Credit: Preston Mack
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- There is no such thing as just batting practice when you're Matt Harvey. As soon as that name appears on the list to pitch to the likes of Ike Davis and Josh Thole, as it did Saturday for the first time, what follows is a must-see event on Field 7.
Even at its most basic level, with no radar guns, a protective screen and barely any swings, the simple act of live BP was enough to get some Mets excited about the former first-round draft pick. Harvey's signature moment came with his final pitch, when he tied up Davis with a running fastball that shot past the lefthanded slugger about chest-high.
"Obviously, that's a pretty impressive-looking pitcher," manager Terry Collins said. "When you stand behind there, he's got a feel for it all. He's got tremendous rotation on his breaking ball, got a good slider, knows how to sink it. We all know he can throw hard. Now it's a matter of dealing with the process, and that's getting better command and more consistency. I truly believe in the process."
The Mets' schedule for Harvey is to begin the season at Double-A Binghamton, but plans are subject to change. At this stage, the front office isn't even thinking of promoting Harvey any sooner than September, if then. But now that he's participating in his first major-league camp, at least Harvey will get plenty of attention, which can only help.
When told that his pitches were described as "heavy" by Thole -- clearly a compliment -- Harvey shrugged. "I just look for the target, throw it and hope for the best," he said.
Next time, however, he's prepared to do away with the protective screen because he felt it interfered with his release point, the worst thing that can happen to a pitcher at any level.
Collins understands the need to be patient with a prospect like Harvey, who along with Zack Wheeler, Jeurys Familia and Jenrry Mejia make up the next generation of starters for the Mets. But he won't stand in the way of talent, either.
"It's got to be the right time, the right moment, the right situation," Collins said, "and I'm going to talk to Matt about it. He's well aware of it, but once in a while they dictate when they come. When I was the field coordinator, I told everyone in the organization, 'You play well, we'll move you up.' "
