N.Y. Mets: Harvey Day Postponed by Snow

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

Monday, April 2, 2018

Phillies vs. Mets

SNOWED OUT

New York Mets: Matt Harvey's Snowy Swan Song ...

Sometimes it snows in April ... therefore Monday's series opener against the Philadelphia Phillies was postponed.  Matt Harvey was supposed to have made his much anticipated first start of the season.  Instead he'll climb the bump on Tuesday.

After undergoing two surgeries in four years and missing all of 2014, Matt Harvey is literally trying to salvage what's left of his Mets career.  As a Scott Boris client, Matt will surely test free agency once he becomes eligible at the end of this season.  And it's not likely the Mets will meet his price.

In order to establish that price Harvey must first pitch effectively, but moreover prove he can endure the grind of a full season.  After all he's been through physically, it's hard discerning what we can reasonably expect from him.

Last season, he posted a 5-7 record with unsightly 6.70 ERA and 1.694 WHiP.  He allowed 110 hits, walked 47 batters, and fanned 67 through 92.2 innings pitched.  He only averaged 6.5 strikeouts per nine innings, and allowed 10.7 hits per nine innings pitched - not a good combination.

Harvey did say, though, he enjoyed his first normal off-season in while.  That may be so, but his spring training statistics were only slightly improved over last year's performance.  In five Grapefruit League starts, Matt posted a 4.50 ERA and a 1.35 WHiP, while the opposition batted .280 against him.  He allowed 21 hits, walked six, and fanned 18 batters through 20 innings pitched.

A victory against the Phillies on Tuesday would get him back to .500, with a 35-35 career record.  It's hard believing that's all there is considering he was a rookie back in 2012.  Now 29-years old, he has a long way to go before restoring the Dark Knight's good name.

For now, a healthy pitcher with recovered velocity will do.