Mets Demote One-Time Ace Matt Harvey To Bullpen

Harvey gave up six runs on seven hits in his first 2.1 innings against the Braves on Thursday night as the Mets fell 12-4 at SunTrust Park.

However, whether it was because he was stinging from a poor performance or because he simply hates the idea, Harvey seemed to reject the possibility out of hand, saying, “I’m a starting pitcher”. This is a matter of viewpoint. When Callaway was in Cleveland, both Carlos Carrasco and Trevor Bauer got innings out of relief which than led to positive outings as a starter.

Callaway has made the right decision in moving Harvey to the bullpen. Four pitches into his Major League career he struck out Gerardo Parra on an 89 miles per hour slider and began the start of a dazzling debut.

Harvey was diagnosed with a partially torn ulnar collateal ligament in his right elbow, shutting him down for the season.

Harvey has made four starts for the Mets this season, but has been bad overall. I’m not. I just want Harvey to have a reality check.

The over is 5-1 in the Mets’ last 6 road games vs. a right-handed starter, 7-2 in their last 9 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than.600, 7-3 in their last 10 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30 and 4-0 in deGrom’s last 4 starts with 4 days of rest.

Vargas tied for the major league lead in wins past year with Kansas City. Harvey is the one who suffered.

Mets pitcher Matt Harvey. That question and conversation is no longer valid.

The Mets announced Saturday Harvey would be taken out of the rotation to make room for Jason Vargas, per James Wagner of the New York Times. Presumably that includes Carlos Carrasco and Trevor Bauer, each of whom did just that under Callaway in Cleveland.

That is why both Callaway and Eiland were brought in for their respective pitching expertise.

Harvey, meanwhile, managed to successfully walk the tightrope between pride and defiance while embracing his new assignment. He should use this as motivation.

Thor had the good stuff on Sunday, but because he was missing so many bats, he reached the 100 pitch mark early in the sixth and was pulled. He needs to prove to himself and everyone else that he can still be a productive starter as he has shown little to no signs that possibility exists. Harvey wouldn’t be obligated to accept such an assignment, by virtue of his five-plus years of service time, and he shouldn’t have been castigated had he refused to go to Triple-A Las Vegas.