Player Profile: Matt Harvey

     "In Harvey we trust!" Matt Harvey is coming back this year and will probably lead the charge in Comeback Player of the Year. Eighteen months after having Tommy John surgery he is back in spring training. Harvey's Drama a little more than a year is a thing of the past, he is going to be in Florida for spring training and New York for the Mets home opener. The only question is what game does Matt Harvey start?

     It was first reported that he will start the home opener on April 13th. Now it is being reported that he will start April 9th, and April 14th. It's looking like he will be eased back into pitching. He isn't being given any of the big early games in the Nationals home opener and the Mets home opener. The adrenaline will already be pumping due it being Harvey's first time on the mound, why have it off the charts and maybe causing him overthrowing?

     I think Harvey being able to recover (where he would like) for 18 months really helped. Some pitchers come back from surgery before 18 months and wind up not getting back to their top form until right around 18 months. I think Harvey will have some bumps along the way and he will need some time to get into top form again but somehow Matt Harvey staying down just doesn't seem likely. His mindset and work ethic will prevail and allow him to put up some decent numbers.

     Before Harvey went down he was putting up some outstanding numbers. He was in the Cy Young talks and could be back in that conversation in no time. But one step at a time. He first needs to get back into the groove of pitching and then the awards will follow. The baseball seems to be jumping out of his hand in spring training. It's really exciting to see. Him going down was hard to bare and everyone in that clubhouse was deflated when the news broke.

     His numbers will be a little bit inflated from the last time he pitched but not by much. I think he will have an ERA right around 3.10, 10-12 wins, and 220 strikeouts. I think his healthy presence simply in the clubhouse will be a boost for the pitching staff and the Mets as a team. He has the presence of someone I know, when they around or you're simply talking to them, you can't help but be happy. You're so happy but when you hear that they're down and there's nothing you can do other than give them time to recoup, you just feel so helpless and want to be able to help. But all you can do is wait for them to come back. Hopefully they recoup and know they have people rooting for them every step of the way for them to recoup. Even though there is nothing that someone else can do other than send healthy and positive vibes their way. They add so much optimism and so much motivation.

     I can't wait until his return. It will help the "Let's Go Mets" mean more!