New York Mets made right move by trading Matt Harvey
The New York Mets traded Matt Harvey on Tuesday afternoon, completing what is one of the most stunning falls from grace we’ve seen this century.
As a native New Yorker, but neither a fan of the Mets or Yankees, the perspective here is perhaps unique. I clearly remember Matt Harvey bursting onto the scene like a tornado in 2012, helping a moribund franchise out of its perpetual malaise.
At the time, the Mets were terrible, finishing up their sixth straight playoff-less season and fourth consecutive losing campaign. Then came Harvey and the rise of a man who became known as the Dark Knight. Harvey was electric from the start, punching out 70 batters over 59.1 innings, and doing so in the most New York way imaginable; with swagger for days.
By 2013, Harvey Days were a thing in Flushing. The Mets were still awful, in the midst of a pathetic 74-88 showing, but Harvey was a reason to stay optimistic. He struck out another 191 men over 178.1 frames and led the league with a 2.01 FIP.
Then he blew out his elbow. Tommy John Surgery.
By 2015, Harvey returned and made 29 starts, pitching to a 2.71 ERA. However, the strikeouts were beginning to deep along with his velocity, going to 188 in 189.1 innings. Still, Harvey wa sa driving force behind New York’s run to the World Series, one that ended with him wanting the ball in the ninth inning of Game 5, getting it, and then blowing the lead.
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In a way, that was the moment his magic disappeared in Gotham, when the Batman was finally bested by his villains. Of course, it never happens that way in the comics, or in the movies, but this ain’t those.
Now, the Mets are moving on. Following disastrous campaigns in ’16 and ’17 that saw ERAs of 4.86 and 6.70 respectively, this isn’t stunning. They have dealt him to the Cincinnati Reds for catcher Devin Mesoraco, a deal that would be unfathomable only a few years ago. Now, it is almost a relief, the inevitable conclusion of a story gone sideways. This fanbase has endured a similar situation before, watching Doc Gooden go from face of baseball to afterthought far too soon.
General manager Sandy Alderson did all he could, exhausting every avenue. Harvey went from great starter to poor before being moved into the bullpen. It was simply another disaster from a hurler who no longer can throw his fastball by hitters, as expertly detailed by Sports Illustrated scribe Tom Verducci. When it comes to his days of fireballs and fist-pumps, it’s finished.
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Hopefully for Harvey, he can thrive in Cincinnati. As Verducci suggested, perhaps he finds a way to reinvent his game, become a pitcher in the truest sense of the word. Maybe that can happen away from the bright lights of New York.
As for the Mets, they can finally move on. No longer are they shackled by the constant melodrama following a once-great pitcher. They can focus on the promising core of Noah Syndergaard, Jacob deGrom and Steven Matz.
It’s time to turn the page, close the book, even if for a brife moment, it looked to be a classic.