Matt Harvey supports Bryce Harper’s viewpoint that baseball needs more excitement in the sport.
In recent comments to ESPN The Magazine, the reigning NL MVP stated that he felt MLB was “tired” and needed some more flair. He cited NL East opponents like Harvey and Jacob deGrom as examples of players who show excitement on the field, which he likes.
Harvey likewise has Bryce’s back.
“You don’t want to create a circus,” Harvey said Friday via Newsday. “But I don’t think that’s what he’s trying to accomplish. It’s just having fun. I think at no point whatsoever do you want to show up your opponent or show up the game. But having a little flair is never bad.”
The Mets starter thinks that as more young players come into the game, the sorts of celebrations older players found to be offensive will begin being accepted. He believes a seeming changing of the guard will be coming.
Harvey also wants to show there is more to being a baseball player than just what one does on the field.
“When [Harper] said baseball was tired, I think he might mean it’s boring for some people. He’s trying to get across that we want to do more interesting things, and in this day and age — with Instagram, Twitter and all that stuff — we’re more than just someone people acknowledge on the baseball field. His work ethic is second to none, and he obviously knows that’s the most important thing. But we do have other interests, and we’re a lot more than just baseball players.”
Harvey knows this as much as anyone. He has done magazine spreads, dated models, and made it clear he wants to have a similar dating record to Derek Jeter. If that’s not showing everyone you want to be known for more than just what you do on the field, I’m not sure what else would. And maybe he’s right, too; baseball could be in for a changing of its unwritten rules.
