In the gaudy theatrics of professional wrestling, sometimes specific assigned roles shift to maximize a star’s popularity. The clean-cut man’s man, held up as a shining example of the “good guy” while racking up win after win will, at some point, grow out his hair, sport a fu Manchu and start fighting dirty. Just look at Hulk Hogan, who was able to play both sides of the street without skipping a beat, hero to heel as soon as the narrative shifted. It appears as though Matt Harvey’s script has been flipped in a manner worthy of anything the WWE could cook up.
What the heck happened, here? Harvey arrived and immediately sent a jolt through the downtrodden Mets’ organization. He pitched with a gorgeous, natural motion, a bulldog tenacity and a brash self-confidence. He was everything we fans wanted him to be, needed him to be. He looked for all the world like the second coming of Tom Seaver, or if that’s too lofty a comparison, then Dwight Gooden without the personal demons. He would take this team on his strong back and not tolerate losing. He pitched so well in 2013 that it became difficult to find another human athlete with whom he could be compared. Therefore, we had to resort to modern mythology; we turned him into a comic book hero, the Dark Knight of Gotham, defender of stouthearted Met fans everywhere. Through it all, through exaltation and misfortune alike, he talked his truth and he talked straight.
But then he turned human. In August of 2013, he was diagnosed with every pitcher’s nightmare, the torn elbow ligament. He – and we – were immediately plunged into the depths of despair. Whatever slim hopes we might have had for that doomed season – and the next one, of course — were dashed to pieces. So, we waited, pining for our hero to return, while enjoying some of the other delights of a Harvey-less summer: the startling discovery of Jacob deGrom, the super-smooth defense of Juan Lagares, the home runs of Lucas Duda, the sustained professionalism of David Wright. All this brought a smile to our faces amid the squalor of a 79-83 finish. We looked forward to better times ahead in 2015, with a recovered, rejuvenated Matt Harvey leading the charge, as it should be. And it was. It was exciting and glorious, right to Harvey’s last appearance, reluctantly giving up the ball in the ninth inning of game five of the World Series.
2016 is a completely different story, however. Harvey came to spring training looking slightly less-than. Perhaps he enjoyed the benefits of a New York off-season a little too enthusiastically. Maybe he was fatigued from a heavy workload the year before – a concern late in the season, when his agent made rumblings about a possible shutdown to preserve that golden arm, and Harvey didn’t handle the PR end of it well. In any case, this Matt Harvey looks ordinary – an absolute sin in comparison to 2013 and 2015. In fact, not even that.
Harvey has been getting knocked around, to the tune of a 3-7 record and a 6.08 ERA. He hasn’t struggled this badly on a mound, probably since Little League. It’s true that luck hasn’t been on his side – his BABIP is an ungodly .378, hardly sustainable, thank goodness – but his demeanor is different, as well. His body language on the field, previously a strong indicator of that all-consuming confidence, now betrays nothing less than a shivering self-doubt. Upon giving up a couple of hits, the shoulders slump, the chin drops and he takes on the appearance of a chastened basset hound. In the clubhouse, what was once brashness has given way to a surly annoyance over his press obligations. In fact, after his last fiasco of a start – five runs in five innings on three home runs allowed against arch-rival Washington – he ditched the media altogether, bolting the visiting clubhouse before they could gather at his locker. This is not the Matt Harvey we’d like to think we know. This isn’t the comic book hero or the second coming of Broadway Joe. This is a guy who’s had a couple of bad days at work in a row and is in a nasty mood about it.
He’s acting like a heel.
Follow me on Twitter @CharlieHangley.
I don’t understand this whole “ditched the media”. Everywhere you turn on the Internet, why are scribes complaining? And for? Is Harvey the first to ever do this? Aren’t there times that we are so frustrated and mad that we just want to be alone with our thoughts without people that don’t give a damn about us being nosey?
Why is Harvey being given such abuse? The guy is not used to this type of failure. Why is it self doubting and not confusion? I wasn’t happy with Wright also being the snob and throwing Matt under the bus because Wright has had moments when he stayed in the trainer’s room all night, or “was getting treatment”.
Now, if Harvey skips the media next time, well… But, this is a first time offender and the reasons are obvious. For anyone to complain, even a word, to me is puzzling.
TexasGusCC, we agree twice in one week! I get the fatherly role Wright is trying to play, but his jab in the media was unnecessary. Harvey needs more support from his teammates. It’s bad enough they don’t seem to hit or field behind him.
Matt, amazing! LOL.
I would avoid the media too if it is the same damn questions after each start. I am just thinking outside the box here could the smokeless tobacco ban be affecting him. It would be a big change from the norm.
Personally, I hate when the media makes themselves key players in an article.
Matt Harvey woudn’t talk to you? That’s worthy of one line in a story.
Screw ’em. Harvey should pull a Marshawn Lynch and just answer every question with, “I’m just here so you won’t cry about my absence in your next hit piece.”
Yes, ideally Harvey (or anyone else) would show up and take the heat and patiently answer every question, even those for which he obviously has no answer. Harvey put the rest of the organization in a bad spot and is clearly not without blame.
But don’t the Mets have a PR director to handle potential sticky situations with the media? Why was Kevin Plawecki, who should be justifying his existence on the MLB roster, sent out as a sacrificial lamb for his more celebrated teammate?
Or is putting out a media fire too much to expect from a guy who’s been in his job for 30+ years, one who has won the “Media Hero Award” and gets blown by the mainstream media on a regular basis?
(Reprinted from poster bbmck on BTF yesterday afternoon)
Attachment 34 of the CBA:
Absent unusual circumstances that require a team meeting immediately
following a game, the working media shall have access to
both clubhouses no later than 10 minutes following the final out
of each game
The working media’s access following a game shall be for a
period no longer than one hour unless reasonable access to players
is not provided during that time; provided, however, that cardcarrying
members of the Baseball Writers Association of America
(“BBWAA”) will have unlimited access after the post-game opening
of the clubhouse. If reasonable access is not provided, the
clubhouse must remain open.
Players will be available to the media before and after games for
interviews. These periods should not be limited except for the pregame
period described in #1 above, and the post-game period
described in #2, above.
It is very important to our game that ALL players are available to
the media for reasonable periods and it is the player’s responsibility
to cooperate.
wow!
If Harvey broke the rules – then he should be fined.
I would be curious to see when this was originally written. I’m sure that the media having access to the players was important in 1950. It’s not nearly as important now.
Vacarro’s Article was a particularly abusive piece—- Harvey should step up, but Mike Vacarro is beneath contempt for the personalization of his attack.
I don;t think you boo a ballplayer unless
1. they don’t hustle…especially repetitively
2. They show up out of shape…especially repetitively (See Sandoval)
That’s my take…. I respect Competitors… including my opponents and opponents of the teams I follow. I especially appreciate competitors on my teams.
Living outside of the northeast I depend on my computer for my Mets news. That means blogs such as MLBTR, Mets 360 and Metsmerized. I don’t need the tv, radio and newspaper journalists. Especially those who try to create stories or try to make themselves part of the story. I couldn’t care less what players say in the clubhouse. I just want them to give an honest effort on the field. When I stream the games I feel fortunate that the SNY off field comments are blocked out. It’s a much better place for me to be, away from the “Loudmouths” and Francesas of the world.