NEW YORK -- As teammates clambered to the top step of the dugout, Matt Harvey took the mound Saturday amid an unusual scene at Citi Field. Throwing multiple innings in a simulated game, Harvey put in the extra work that he hopes will help him begin climbing out of his career-worst funk.
A good chunk of the Mets' clubhouse, including several players and coaches, spilled out to the field to watch Harvey's session. Throwing all of his pitches, Harvey faced a tandem of right-handed infielder Matt Reynolds and left-handed first-base coach Tom Goodwin, who took turns swinging away. Reynolds smacked one pitch on a few hops to the left-field wall.
All the while, Mets officials scrambled to keep the simulated game cloaked in as much secrecy as possible, banning media members from the dugout at a time when they are generally allowed to roam freely. Pitching coach Dan Warthen, who supervised Harvey's entire session, reentered the clubhouse through a back route. Asked multiple times for an interview, Harvey's responses were "no" and "no chance."
But manager Terry Collins did say that Harvey's performance in the simulated game will dictate whether he makes his next start as scheduled Tuesday in Washington, or one day earlier on short rest.
Whenever he next takes the mound, Harvey will lug a 5.77 ERA onto it, fourth worst among qualified National League pitchers. In his last outing, Harvey gave up a career-high nine runs (six earned) in a career-low 2 2/3 innings.
"The game got ugly because of the guy on the mound," Collins said. "When you don't pitch, the games get ugly. That's pretty hard for a pitcher. But that's why it takes a strong, tremendous fortitude that you've got to have to get on that mound. You've got to be strong. You've got to be thick-skinned. We saw it last year when Matt went through the [innings-limit episode] and he took some abuse because of it. And at the end of the year he got a standing ovation, they were chanting his name. It will happen again. This summer, it will happen again."
Anthony DiComo has covered the Mets for MLB.com since 2008. Follow him on Twitter @AnthonyDiComo and Facebook, and listen to his podcast. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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