The New York Mets are doing everything in their power to help Matt Harvey through his injury.
Today the Mets placed their ace on the Disabled List today with a tear in his UCL. It is unclear whether or not Harvey will need to have Tommy John Surgery.
Later on the team announced that they will wear a commemorative patch in Harvey’s honor for the remainder of his stint on the DL. Harvey admitted he was touched by his teammates devotion during what he called his “Vietnam.”
We caught up with Harvey at a coffee shoppe/record store/speakeasy in SoHo to talk about the patch.
“The guys have been wonderful since I hurt my arm,” the 24-year-old former ace began. “I couldn’t ask for a better group of bad baseball players.”
Harvey told us Mets Management asked him to break the news to his teammates, deeming that they were ‘not competent enough to do so.’
“I went in there and said ‘look there’s a chance that a few of you may be around when I’m winning the Cy Young with another team, probably the Yankees or Dodgers.’
He admitted things went in a very emotional direction when he left the clubhouse. John Buck had to be sedated because he began throwing equipment at the team doctors.
Justin Turner apparently left the clubhouse without saying a word only to sit in his car and listen to Bright Eyes for two hours.
Centerfielder Juan Lagares was inconsolable and was one of six Mets who asked to be placed on the bereavement list.
The Mets all along were steadfast in saying that they were going to handle Harvey with the utmost caution, sticking to an Innings Limit around 215. Team management promised they never did anything to put Harvey’s career in jeopardy, like letting him pitch after he complained of fatigue in his arm.
“Matt Harvey’s mechanics are flawless,” Owner Fred Wilpon said. “We know what we are doing.”
Met fan Sam Goodman was standing outside Citi Field burning Tommy John in effigy.
“The American Dream is a fraud,” Goodman said in between tears. “How am I supposed to believe in anything? THEY SAID HIS MECHANICS WERE TOO GOOD FOR THIS!”
Joining Goodman was lifelong Met fan Stewart Talmander who was holding up a sign that said, ‘#PrayForMatt.’
