The New York Mets will not place pitcher Matt Harvey under an innings cap this season, allowing him to pitch into the playoffs, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Rubin on Sept. 4.
However, there is debate between the organization and Scott Boras, Harvey’s agent, who is advocating for a 180-inning cap as advised by Dr. James Andrews.
“I’m sort of caught in the middle of it,” Andrews said, per Tyler Kepner of the New York Times. “That’s their business. They both know what I’ve said, and I don’t want to get into it. The main thing is to do what’s best for Matt’s career. He really wants to play, and they’re in the playoffs. But it’s their problem.”
Harvey is currently at 166.1 innings pitched but skipped his Aug. 23 start, and the Mets plan to move to a six-man rotation to help preserve their star pitcher, per Rubin.
Continue for updates.
Harvey Comments on Innings Limit, Alderson to Speak to Pitcher on Monday
Saturday, Sept. 5.
Harvey confirmed Andrews informed him of the 180-innings limit on his arm after Tommy John surgery, per Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News. However, he would not say if he would shut his season down when he reaches that point.
Harvey also wouldn’t answer questions on Saturday about potentially pitching in the playoffs, via Anthony DiComo of MLB.com
After Harvey’s comments, Mets general manager Sandy Alderson spoke about who will make the decision to end Harvey’s campaign, saying the onus was on the pitcher.
“Ultimately it’s his decision,” Alderson said via David Lennon of Newsday. “It’s not the team’s and not his agent’s.”
“If he’s not prepared to pitch, he’s not prepared to pitch,” Alderson said, via Lennon, adding the two would speak on Monday.
Boras, Alderson At Odds Over Harvey’s Innings Limit
Saturday, Sept. 5.
“Dr. James Andrews, who performed Harvey’s Tommy John surgery on Oct. 22, 2013, has recommended Harvey throw no more than 180 innings this season,” Rubin’s report stated. “Another expert, Los Angeles Dodgers team doctor Neal ElAttrache, has recommended a cap of 165 to Boras.”
However, Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal reported Andrews does not always set strict innings caps in players coming off of Tommy John surgery.
“Three rival GMs say Dr. Andrews does not prescribe set limits post-Tommy John. ‘He always says to watch and go on a case by case,’ one says,” according to the report.
However, Rosenthal spoke with Mets general manager Sandy Alderson on Saturday morning to receive clarity on the situation and noted that Alderson said, “Dr. Andrews gave him no absolute limit on Harvey, said there was no need for an absolute limit.”
“Alderson said Andrews talked about avoiding fatigue of season and not disrupting Harvey’s rhythm if he intended to pitch in playoffs,” per Rosenthal. Rosenthal finally noted, “Drs. Andrews, El Attrache, Altchek all disagree on limit,” after stating from Alderson that “he didn’t say 180 was the number. He was not categorical at all.”
New York is already planning to pitch Harvey in the postseason, with Mets assistant GM John Ricco saying Harvey will have “reasonable” innings in the postseason, depending on how he feels, via Rubin.
The New York Post‘s Mike Puma reported on Sept. 4 that Alderson had chosen not to listen to Boras, or anyone else for that matter as it pertained to Harvey:
Boras, one of the biggest agents in the business, spoke with CBSSports.com’s Jon Heyman about Alderson’s decision:
This is not a dispute between between representative and player, and club. This is about a doctor providing expert medical opinion regarding the safety and well being of the player. If the club chooses to violate the ethical standard of the medical opinion, that is strictly their prerogative. I’m not a medical doctor. I don’t make these things up.
The 26-year-old might need a bit of rest, as he was laboring in his last start against the Philadelphia Phillies on Sept. 2. He allowed four runs on nine hits in 6.1 innings and, according to Rubin, was “experiencing dehydration and weakness” after his outing.
Rosenthal provided his view of the situation and Harvey’s health:
Behind Harvey, a stellar pitching staff and the acquisition of outfielder Yoenis Cespedes, the Mets are flirting with the postseason for the first time since 2006. And it seems management is approaching this with a win-now mentality.
Craig Calcaterra of HardballTalk.com provided his thoughts on the best way to approach the situation:
If I were Alderson, I’d be pretty loathe to give Boras the time of day on this stuff. I’d talk to my pitcher and ask him his thoughts and, assuming he’s wired the same way every other athlete is wired, I’d assume he’d be on board with doing whatever is in the Mets’ best interests to win a championship this year. Which is totally within this team’s grasp.
The team’s actions with Harvey point toward its desire to finish off the Nationals, preseason favorites to win the NL East, as quickly as possible. New York currently holds a five-game lead in the NL East
The Mets will need Harvey to do so, especially with his next start scheduled for Sept. 8 against Washington. The rest of the staff, while talented, is either inexperienced (Noah Syndergaard) or inconsistent (Jon Niese, Bartolo Colon). Harvey, along with Jacob deGrom, should give the rotation the confidence to move forward and help the Mets clinch a playoff berth.
Follow Joe Pantorno (@JoePantorno) on Twitter. Stats courtesy of MLB.com.
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