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Matt Harvey posted a 2.73 ERA with 70 strikeouts in 59.1 innings as a rookie in 2012.
In 2013 he was a star going 9-5 with a 2.27 ERA and a 0.93 WHIP with 191 strikeouts in 178.1 innings.
He missed the entire 2014 season due to Tommy John surgery.
He returned in 2015 no worse for the wear going 13-8 with a 2.71 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 188 strikeouts in 189.1 innings.
In 2016 he went 4-10 with a 4.86 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and a mere 7.38 strikeouts per nine innings over 92.2 frames.
Let me point out directly what I just said.
In one of the last three seasons he didn’t even pitch.
In two of the last three seasons he wasn’t even a league average arm.
Despite these facts, I still hear all the time from folks that they are expecting a huge comeback effort from Harvey in 2017. Why?
Let’s look at what happened to him last year.
I could break down the numbers from last season but it would be a wasted enterprise, just like Harvey’s effort was last season cause of ill health. On July 18th Harvey had thoracic outlet surgery. The procedure was performed for the following reason. “D. Robert Thompson had planned to remove Harvey's top rib, with the goal of relaxing muscles that were constricting a nerve bridging the neck and shoulder. The nerve compression caused weakness in Harvey's pitching arm and a loss of feeling in his fingers.” Read that again. Harvey lost arm strength and at times last season couldn’t feel his fingers.
Yes, Harvey has received the thumbs up from the doctor saying the surgery was successful.
Yes, Harvey is expected to be ready for Opening Day.
Yes, Harvey can feel has fingers again.
However, do you really feel good about spending a mid-level pick on a guy like that?
I don’t.
Neither should you.
The history of this procedure is very limited in baseball. A list of guys who had the procedure, best as I could figure, includes Josh Beckett (33 years old), Chris Carpenter (37), Jaime Garcia (28), Tyson Ross (29), Noah Lowry (28), Shaun Marcum (31), Kenny Rogers (36) and Chris Young (33). Only two had success after the procedure (Garcia, Young), and that’s a bit kind even to say that. The fact is there hasn’t been a long history to draw on in terms of the expectation for a full recovery and then lengthy success thereafter.
Let’s be honest here, no one knows with Harvey.
Will his velocity return?
Will the movement on his pitches return?
Will his stamina return?
Will his arm path return?
Just read what Bob Klapish of North Jersey.com had to say. “No one really knows what’s in store in 2017, if only because his injury is so rare in baseball. Unlike the data points that can guide a pitcher through recovery from Tommy John surgery, Harvey is on his own rehabbing from TOS. Remember: The Dark Knight is missing a rib. His torso has essentially been reconstructed. Harvey has to prove he’s durable for 30 starts.”
Agreed.
Do yourself a favor and just ignore Harvey. If he produces in 2017 that’s great news and I will reassess in 2018. For now, just not interested.
A final note. Probably best for you to also avoid the walking injury that is Steven Matz as well, at least if you have to pay full price.
Player News
Clayton Kershaw (toe, knee) fired six hitless innings on Tuesday in a minor league start in the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League.
Kershaw had no issues against lower-level hitters after making a couple rehab outings previously for Triple-A Oklahoma City. The future Hall of Fame southpaw is targeting a mid-May return to the Dodgers’ rotation, so he figures to make at least one additional rehab start before being activated to make his season debut.
Gabriel Moreno is day-to-day with left side soreness.
Moreno was scratched from Tuesday’s lineup in what was described as a manager’s decision at the time. The Diamondbacks revealed after the contest that their starting catcher is dealing with left side soreness. It’ll be Jose Herrera handling the catching duties in his absence.
Julio Rodríguez went 3-for-4 with a solo homer and two runs scored on Tuesday to lead the Mariners to a 5-3 win over the Athletics.
Rodríguez put the Mariners on the board early with solo homer off Jeffrey Springs in the first inning. He added a base hit in the third inning and was hit by a pitch in the seventh. Rodríguez reached for a fourth time with a single in the ninth and scored on a base hit by Cal Raleigh. The 24-year-old outfielder is hitting .221/.323/.407 with six homers, 25 runs scored, and five steals across 161 plate appearances.
Cal Raleigh drove in two runs with a pinch-hit single against the Athletics on Tuesday.
Raleigh entered to pinch hit for Mitch Garver with the bases loaded in the ninth trailing by one run. He came through with a line drive base hit to bring home two runs and give the Mariners the lead. The 28-year-old backstop has been among the top fantasy performers at the position, slashing .246/.364/.577 with 12 homers, 25 RBI, and four steals across 154 plate appearances.
Brent Rooker went 3-for-5 with two runs scored and two steals against the Mariners on Tuesday.
Rooker drew a walk in the first inning and stole second before scoring on a base hit to put the A’s on the board. He reached again in the third with a single and stole second again for his second swipe of the day. Rooker later doubled in the eighth and scored a second time before collecting a third hit in the ninth. The 30-year-old slugger is having a solid season at the plate, slashing .255/.323/.497 with nine homers, 25 runs scored, 19 RBI, and two steals across 164 plate appearances.
Carlos Vargas struck out two batters in a scoreless ninth inning to earn the save against the Athletics on Tuesday.
Andrés Muñoz was unavailable for the Mariners on Tuesday after pitching in two of the last three days. It was Vargas who got the call in the ninth to close out the game with a two-run lead. He stranded two runners, striking out two to record the save and secure the win for Seattle.