A controversy arose on Friday when Scott Boras made a big public stink about the New York Mets’ usage of his client, Matt Harvey. Boras told CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman that doctors advised a 180-inning limit for Harvey this season because he is returning from Tommy John surgery. The Mets said that number was a recommended soft limit and that they planned to manage the pitcher responsibly, as they have done all season.
Harvey is known as a fiery guy, so many were wondering whether Boras was speaking up on his behalf. Apparently that was the case.
Harvey told reporters Saturday that, much like what Boras said, he considers 180 innings to be his limit.
Matt Harvey tells reporters that he's always considered 180 IP a limit, and won't answer questions about the playoffs. Can't believe this.
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) September 5, 2015
So Harvey, who was once so insistent about pitching as much as possible that he made a scene over 6-man rotation, has become docile. #Mets
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) September 5, 2015
Harvey is now getting crushed by fans and the media alike not just because he plans to shut himself down, but also because he now appears to be a liar.
On Wednesday, Mets manager Terry Collins said Harvey told him he wanted to pitch in the postseason.
(1/3) #Meys Collins' quotes We'd now look shaky: "One of the things we had discoursed all summer long when all the innings things started..
— Mike Vaccaro (@MikeVacc) September 4, 2015
2/3 #Mets "… to rear its ugly head, matt said, ‘I’m pitching in the playoffs. If we get to the playoffs, I want to be able to pitch' …
— Mike Vaccaro (@MikeVacc) September 4, 2015
3/3 #Mets … In all the discussions we’ve had he’s said he’s said, ‘listen I’ll do it but I’m pitching in October.’ "
— Mike Vaccaro (@MikeVacc) September 4, 2015
If Harvey told Collins that he was demanding to pitch in the postseason but now insists that 180 innings is the limit, why the change? Did Boras get in his ear? Or was he lying all along about wanting to pitch in October?
Plus, in an interview with Jimmy Traina three weeks ago, Harvey said he did not believe in innings limits and said he had no idea about whether he had one. How can he go from acting so nonchalant about the matter to now taking a hardline stance about it?
Harvey is about to go from beloved to bashed in New York. Take a look at some of these tweets.
There's no delicate way to say this: Matt Harvey comes across as an abject phony the way this has all gone down. Period. #Mets
— Mike Vaccaro (@MikeVacc) September 5, 2015
If Matt Harvey shuts himself down he will found what it's like to play in New York. The fans will destroy him. #selfish
— PeterD (@pete807) September 5, 2015
Matt Harvey's not the Dark Knight. He's Two-Face. Terrible https://t.co/DLCmahShKS
— Adam Blickstein (@AdamBlickstein) September 5, 2015
The genius of Scott Boras: he and his client Matt Harvey will now be perceived as working AGAINST #Mets playoff chances #ByeEndorsements
— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) September 5, 2015
