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(The) Harvey Rules!

batmagadanleadoff Mar 18 2014 10:10 PM

NY Mets Matt Harvey explains why he wants to stay with teammates, meets with Alderson about rehab and media rules BY Andy Martino PORT ST. LUCIE -- Tuesday in Metsland began when I asked Matt Harvey if he wanted to go on the record with his strong and rational case for why he should rehab from Tommy John surgery while around his teammates. Per the Basic Agreement, Harvey has the right to do his work away from the spring training facility, and wants to for compelling reasons; it is my opinion that he should be able to determine his own best interests, with the help of the training staff. This is not about Manhattan, and its lure of models, restaurants and clothing stores -- it’s about the pull of Flushing, Queens, teammates, and pitching for the Mets this season, which he is convinced he will do. In the morning, Harvey was under the impression that he was not allowed to grant one-on-one interviews (that perception shifted somewhat later in the day, but we’ll get to that), but he decided to talk anyway. Sitting at his locker, he said: “The biggest part is wanting to stay with the team. To learn the league. To learn Travis (d’Arnaud). To learn how to bond with the other starting pitchers, and the guys in the clubhouse, and the David Wrights who I plan on playing with.” And where does the front office stand on this? “I expressed that seven months in Port St. Lucie is a long time,” he said. “For me, I strongly felt that my best opportunity, and my motivation to come back quicker, stronger, work harder would be to be with the teammates. That’s kind of what I have always said. I have worked so hard to get to the big leagues and be with this team, it just felt like all of a sudden I was shooed to the back.” Why does he say that? “It’s just the fact that I have been not allowed to talk to anybody, and that every tweet or Instagram I send is, do not write,” Harvey said. “My locker -- me and (Jeremy Hefner, also rehabbing) was basically in a closet. I didn’t think that was right. I don’t know exactly who was in charge of the situation. [“That was a decision made by clubhouse personnel,” GM Sandy Alderson later told me]. “I have worked so hard to get to the point where I was, and all of a sudden I get hurt, and it’s ‘you’ve got to stay in Florida,’” Harvey said. “‘You’ve got to disappear from New York, you’ve got to do this.’ I took pride in living in New York, and being a New Yorker. I live there all year round. It’s a place I love being.” To be clear: This stuff was said in the morning. In a moment, you’ll see why that’s an important distinction. He continued, impassioned: “I love going to the ballpark every day. I love watching. I love being the first guy in the dugout when we have a home game, and giving guys high five every time they come off the field. I take pride in that. And with that, I think being a good teammate is part of being a leader, and that’s how I’d like to see myself.” About seven minutes into our conversation, Harvey and I noticed Mets PR man Jay Horwitz standing in front of us, glaring. “He’s alright, Jay,” Harvey said. “Jay, he’s alright.” “What?” I said to Horwitz. “I’ll talk to you later,” Horwitz said to me. “OK,” I said, but Horwitz did not move. “He’s good, Jay,” Harvey said again. “He’s good. If somebody at the top needs to talk, I’ll talk to him.” “You’re causing me some problems,” Horwitz said to me. “OK,” I said, then turned back to Harvey. “Are you writing something?” Horwitz said. “Can I --” “Jay,” Harvey said. “If somebody needs to talk to the Players’ Association, I have a right to have him writing about me.” Not wanting to make the situation any more awkward for Harvey, I turned off my recorder and wrapped up the conversation. Hearing of the interview, Alderson sought out Harvey shortly thereafter. “I talked with him to provide clarification,” Alderson later told me, explaining that they discussed the rehab process, and whether there was a team-imposed rule against sharing his thoughts with the public. “My recommendation is to manage doing interviews in a way that doesn’t interfere with his day-to-day-activities,” Alderson said. So, is the team’s official position to discourage Harvey from conducting one-one-one interviews? Alderson said that his preference was for Harvey to speak only to a larger group in order to save time, but “It’s up to him to manage.” As for the more important issue of where Harvey will rehab, the GM said that his staff is still working on a plan, and will discuss it with Harvey and make a mutual decision, likely within a week or so. After his powwow with the GM, Harvey wanted to make sure I knew, and wrote, that he felt much better. Moments later, Horwitz announced that Harvey would address the entire media; it was only fair, he said, given that the pitcher had spoken to one outlet. Harvey donned a Mets cap, smiled, and repeated his case for rehab freedom to the larger group. His overall tone was much more measured, after what he called a “good conversation” with Alderson. Everyone seemed happier than in the morning. Got all that?

G-Fafif Mar 18 2014 10:34 PM Re: (The) Harvey Rules!

Given that Martino's having a good spring getting players to open up on the record (Harvey, d'Arnaud, Murphy), it's disappointing that he smugly lashes back at those who question reporters' reliance on blind quotes. Justin Turner took a shot at anonymous sources in Metsville, and while I greatly respect Turner and understand his complaint from a player standpoint, I’ll say this: Baseball people often feel the need to say B.S. on the record. If you, the reader, want stories full of fluff, fine. But if you want stories that cut closer to the truth, and bring you near to the heart of any matter, sometimes anonymity is necessary. A reporter always prefers to quote someone by name. But oftentimes, reality is too hot or delicate, and people need to be protected. If that’s the cost of telling you what’s really going on, it’s an easy one to pay. As for Harvey, good for him wanting to stick it out in New York. Port St. Lucie in July was described by Keith and Ron as "dying on the vine" for a major leaguer. When I think of players rehabbing there, I think of Kaz Matsui sleeping in the clubhouse as a hurricane bears down on Florida. I don't get how the Mets imposed an alleged ban on one-on-ones with Harvey this spring. Did the kid really think that was kosher? Did all it take was Martino being enterprising enough to go up to him and ask him to talk? And WTF with Jay hovering over their interview? "You're causing me some problems" -- did Horwitz mean with his employers or because now, goddamn it, everybody who'd been kept away from Harvey was going to want a turn? And why would the other media outlets get to March 18 and not have gone after "an exclusive" or a simple on-the-record chat? The Mets' thing about not wanting Harvey to be the story of the spring has sprung leaks. But since when is it the media's responsibility to agree to not make waves? Implicit (I think) is how well The Alderson Group has tamed the Mets' press corps. They'll all passive-aggressively snark and snipe about how much the team sucks but everybody buys into "oh well, there's nothing this management team can do" almost unquestioningly. New York is supposed to be such a nightmare, yet for going on four seasons this administration has had a near-total media honeymoon. Even if we factor in the Wilpon element -- that it's all on Fred and Jeff, and Sandy's crew is dutifully trying to navigate through circumstances too complex to be easily cleared away -- it's astounding that nobody's really challenged them even for the hell of it.

Zvon Mar 18 2014 10:51 PM Re: (The) Harvey Rules!

I read that whole article and my first thought coming away from it is if they okay this business with Matt would Hefner be given the opportunity to do the same thing? And why is this done through an intermediary? Why can't Harvey just go to Anderson and hash it out behind closed doors? I respect Harvey for what he's saying but not how he's going about communicating it to the team.

Fman99 Mar 19 2014 04:56 AM Re: (The) Harvey Rules!

Do the Mets ever tire of looking like bumbling dopes in front of journalists?

Edgy MD Mar 19 2014 06:32 AM Re: (The) Harvey Rules!

Somebody needs to retirewitz.

Frayed Knot Mar 19 2014 06:34 AM Re: (The) Harvey Rules!

This is all getting very NFL-ish, both in terms of the team treating an injured player as if invisible and where the club puts restrictions as to who the media can talk to and when. Heard of a story from this past winter where a reporter was trying to ask Peyton Manning something only to be told by the club that Peyton only speaks on Thursdays. 'But Peyton's standing right there and it's a quick question' protested the scribe. 'But it's not Thursday', he was told as if by some jock-ish version of Sheldon Cooper, 'therefore you can't talk to him'. In this case I think the press, knowing that the've had only David Wright as their go-to guy for so long, see Harvey as not only a legit star in his own right but one who's obviously not skittish about publicity. The Mets, perhaps fearing reporter-overload for a guy who's not even going to play until at least September, don't want him subjected to repeated and inane inquiries of 'How's the arm coming along Matt?', or, perhaps even more dangerously, have him go off the tracks and start yapping about Russian models, Howard Stern, Malaysian airliners, and god knows what else.

d'Kong76 Mar 19 2014 07:00 AM Re: (The) Harvey Rules!

Harvey's brain is going to explode by September and it's not going to end well for all involved.

Ceetar Mar 19 2014 07:25 AM Re: (The) Harvey Rules!

G-Fafif wrote: Implicit (I think) is how well The Alderson Group has tamed the Mets' press corps. I think this might be the focus of it, and of Jay hovering. Perharps of Niese's clubhouse tweet and even Davis' snipe at Puma. I'm not sure what it is. A desire as a group to be treated less as the damaged team in town to poke and prod at? A dedicated focus to cut down on media time? Whatever it is this whole camp has struck me as more serious than previous years. As for Harvey. good for him. He's a person and not just an asset and should be the one in control of his medical decisions, even if that means [crossout]flying to Colorado for a third opinion and making the decision to go ahead with the knee..[/crossout] If he wants to be up in NY and rehab there, fine. do it. No need to exile him to Florida like an aging grandparent, only checking in every couple of weeks. I'm not sure PSL is quite as dead as Keith and Ron make it out to be. It's changed quite a bit since they were last there, not that it's a hopping metropolis or anything, but there are more than 2 restaurants now.

Edgy MD Mar 19 2014 07:27 AM Re: (The) Harvey Rules!

The Mets have a responsibility to run interference for Harvey if he's feeling overburdened. They have a greater responsibility to shut up and let the Constitution play itself out if he's not. And if Harvey wants to speak to one guy and shut everybody else out, I would think that's his prerogative, too. I'm just a little bit sorry if saying so causes Jay Horwitz problems.

Mets Guy in Michigan Mar 19 2014 07:38 AM Re: (The) Harvey Rules!

If you, the reader, want stories full of fluff, fine. But if you want stories that cut closer to the truth, and bring you near to the heart of any matter, sometimes anonymity is necessary. I call BS. Sometimes, yes. But this has become standard operating procedure for many sports writers. And, frankly, sources demand the anonymity because they can. Don't be a conduit for a source to take a cheap shot at someone. If it's so good that you feel the need to write about it, do the leg work and get it on the record. This isn't Deep Throat and matters of national importance. This isn't whistle-blowing, exposing corruption or saving lives. This is guys covering a baseball team who have created a culture where snark is news and snarky people are protected for saying things behind someone's back.

Ceetar Mar 19 2014 07:45 AM Re: (The) Harvey Rules!

metsguyinmichigan wrote: If you, the reader, want stories full of fluff, fine. But if you want stories that cut closer to the truth, and bring you near to the heart of any matter, sometimes anonymity is necessary. I call BS. Sometimes, yes. But this has become standard operating procedure for many sports writers. And, frankly, sources demand the anonymity because they can. Don't be a conduit for a source to take a cheap shot at someone. If it's so good that you feel the need to write about it, do the leg work and get it on the record. This isn't Deep Throat and matters of national importance. This isn't whistle-blowing, exposing corruption or saving lives. This is guys covering a baseball team who have created a culture where snark is news and snarky people are protected for saying things behind someone's back. well, sometimes these guys might be risking their jobs by saying this stuff. I'm all for disgruntled employees getting their say, even if it has to be anonymous. But this is rarely that. Take the 90 win quote from Alderson, which was clearly one portion of one side of a conversation taken completely out of context that everyone made a 'fluff piece' out of.

Edgy MD Mar 19 2014 07:57 AM Re: (The) Harvey Rules!

I think Michigan is on to something. If the anymous source speaks only for himself, you're not doing anybody any service running it. If your headline is... [list]Source in Mets Management Says Leadership Team, Including GM Alderson, Thinks Tejada is Fat, Fat, FAT[/list:u] ...that's a story! If your headline is... [list]Source in Mets Management Says Tejada is Fat, Fat, FAT[/list:u] ...then your better choice would probably be... [list]Mets Harbouring Blowhard Coward on Payroll[/list:u] Because really, him/her leaking and breaking ranks with nothing more than an ill-informed opinion and no backup says more about him or her than about Tejada.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Mar 19 2014 08:00 AM Re: (The) Harvey Rules!

I know it's not the point here but is Harvey a douchebag or what?

TransMonk Mar 19 2014 08:07 AM Re: (The) Harvey Rules!

That's becoming a bigger and bigger point to me.

metirish Mar 19 2014 09:11 AM Re: (The) Harvey Rules!

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: I know it's not the point here but is Harvey a douchebag or what? He is intolerable but the Mets look worse in this , I think he is scared of missing NYR Playoff games....if they make it in.....Cliff Floyd once described PSL as a black hole....got in trouble for it. Would it be common for a rehabbing player to be around the team everyday?, he can't be on the bench right?

Benjamin Grimm Mar 19 2014 09:19 AM Re: (The) Harvey Rules!

I don't have a problem with him wanting to be in New York instead of Florida. I suspect it has to do at least as much with the Rangers and the supermodels as it does team spirit, but whatever. I also don't have a problem with him speaking to the press without permission. Jay Horwitz looks more the jerk here than Harvey does. I think if Harvey does stay in New York, he can be on the bench during games. (Other players on the disabled list have done this, I'm sure.) He probably wouldn't make any (or many) road trips, unless the Mets schedule coincided with the Rangers or the supermodels' schedules.

batmagadanleadoff Mar 19 2014 09:35 AM Re: (The) Harvey Rules!

"Hey Jay: I don't need no chaperone" [fimg=444]http://a1.espncdn.com/photo/2013/0708/040_Harvey_Matt_ESPN_0621112007_F.jpg[/fimg]

Nymr83 Mar 19 2014 12:22 PM Re: (The) Harvey Rules!

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I think if Harvey does stay in New York, he can be on the bench during games. (Other players on the disabled list have done this, I'm sure.) He probably wouldn't make any (or many) road trips, unless the Mets schedule coincided with the Rangers or the supermodels' schedules. Didnt Rey Ordonez in 2000 stay away from the team only to return and sit on the bench in October trying to soak up the playoff glory?

Edgy MD Mar 19 2014 12:59 PM Re: (The) Harvey Rules!

Well, "stay away" implies a personal initiative, while it's probably more accurate to suggest the Mets assigned him to be somewhere else, and he obediently complied.

Zvon Mar 19 2014 01:05 PM Re: (The) Harvey Rules!

metsguyinmichigan wrote: If you, the reader, want stories full of fluff, fine. But if you want stories that cut closer to the truth, and bring you near to the heart of any matter, sometimes anonymity is necessary. I call BS. Sometimes, yes. But this has become standard operating procedure for many sports writers. And, frankly, sources demand the anonymity because they can. Don't be a conduit for a source to take a cheap shot at someone. If it's so good that you feel the need to write about it, do the leg work and get it on the record. This isn't Deep Throat and matters of national importance. This isn't whistle-blowing, exposing corruption or saving lives. This is guys covering a baseball team who have created a culture where snark is news and snarky people are protected for saying things behind someone's back. So totally this^. Those who fear losing their job because of being quoted should not put themselves in that position.

batmagadanleadoff Mar 19 2014 01:15 PM Re: (The) Harvey Rules!

Nothing's gonna change. People won't stop divulging secrets and writers don't wanna lose their sources. But wishful thinking.

Ceetar Mar 19 2014 01:18 PM Re: (The) Harvey Rules!

batmagadanleadoff wrote: Nothing's gonna change. People won't stop divulging secrets and writers don't wanna lose their sources. But wishful thinking. we could change as readers, become more understanding, stop listening to the rumor an.. nevermind. 12 days until Opening Day and I can lose myself in the statsheets.

Edgy MD Mar 19 2014 01:26 PM Re: (The) Harvey Rules!

Sandy knows investigative security guys from his days cracking down on player procurement corruption in the Dominican. If he wants to bust a mole, he's gonna bust a mole.

Mex17 Mar 19 2014 04:13 PM Re: (The) Harvey Rules!

Harvey is acting like a complete diva and is the one causing this particular issue (or set of issues), not the Mets organization. All the Mets are doing here seemingly is just following established protocols with regard to players who are rehabbing. This particular rehabbing player is acting out of line and behaving unreasonably. "WAAAHHH, I don't like where my locker is!!!!!" "WAAAHHH, I wanna be in New York!!!!!!" "WAAAHHH, I wanna pitch in August of THIS year!!!!! (While oblivious to the fact that Chris Medlen basically proved the point as to why he should not be thinking about that right in front of his eyes) He is a important piece to this team going forward and that needs to be acknowledged, but the irascible man-child act also needs to stop immediately!!!

Ashie62 Mar 19 2014 07:05 PM Re: (The) Harvey Rules!

Matt Harvey and social media are a bad mix.... And yes Kong I believe Harvey's brain may explode by September...

Mets Guy in Michigan Mar 19 2014 08:50 PM Re: (The) Harvey Rules!

batmagadanleadoff wrote: Nothing's gonna change. People won't stop divulging secrets and writers don't wanna lose their sources. But wishful thinking. In the 26 years I was a reporter, I can count the times I used anonymous sources on one hand. In fact, the only time I got burned with a story was when I trusted an anonymous source. Now, granted, I never worked for a paper as big as Tracky's. And I'm sure he's under tremendous pressure to get stories that the other guys don't have. But that pressure makes it all the more important to have stuff on the record. Because if we tired to call him on one of his stories, there would be no way to check. Those hidden sources make him unaccountable.

TheOldMole Mar 20 2014 12:43 PM Re: (The) Harvey Rules!

[youtube:q02kvznh]xIEzMBEOkAc[/youtube:q02kvznh]

Nymr83 Mar 20 2014 09:26 PM Re: (The) Harvey Rules!

metsguyinmichigan wrote: batmagadanleadoff wrote: Nothing's gonna change. People won't stop divulging secrets and writers don't wanna lose their sources. But wishful thinking. In the 26 years I was a reporter, I can count the times I used anonymous sources on one hand. In fact, the only time I got burned with a story was when I trusted an anonymous source. Now, granted, I never worked for a paper as big as Tracky's. And I'm sure he's under tremendous pressure to get stories that the other guys don't have. But that pressure makes it all the more important to have stuff on the record. Because if we tired to call him on one of his stories, there would be no way to check. Those hidden sources make him unaccountable. This all goes back to a conversation we've had before... that sports writers have far lower standards and accountability compared to other journalists.

Benjamin Grimm Mar 24 2014 02:33 PM Re: (The) Harvey Rules!

Kristie Ackert, Daily News wrote: PORT ST. LUCIE, FL. -- Matt Harvey is going home -- at least for now. The Mets injured ace, who publicly feuded with the front office over the conditions of his rehab, met with the team this week. They have made a plan that will allow him to do his rehab work back in New York City, where the 25-year old makes his home, a team source confirmed. It is not a huge surprise, considering it is his right under the current collective bargaining agreement. The team cannot force him to stay at the spring training complex for more than 20 days without his written permission.

Ashie62 Mar 24 2014 06:47 PM Re: (The) Harvey Rules!

The Mets are going to get into one of those one game playoff series and the Mets SP will be... Matt Harvey lol

Edgy MD Mar 24 2014 09:43 PM Re: (The) Harvey Rules!

I'm not sure how that's lol.

TransMonk Mar 26 2014 07:42 AM Re: (The) Harvey Rules!

Joel Sherman in the Post: Wright told Harvey when he was rehabbing the fractured bone in his lower back and had to be with the team because the rehab doctor was in New York, he made sure he arrived super-early to make sure he did not take away doctor/trainer time from active players. He advised Harvey do the same, and also to mimic what he has done in March -- attend the pitchers’ meetings and be an active cheerleader and information dispenser in the dugout. The message is simple: You have to be a supporting actor at Citi, not a star of the City; a dispenser of high fives, not a staple of Page Six. “It’s been my philosophy that I am an employee, not the employer,” Wright said. “The advice I gave him was to find common ground with the Mets. To definitely do what is best for him, but also not to lose sight that he is the employee, not the employer.” Bravo, Captain!

G-Fafif Mar 26 2014 07:47 AM Re: (The) Harvey Rules!

From David Lennon in Newsday. "Certain situations I feel strongly about and I may approach them a little bit differently," Harvey told Newsday. "But I'm all about this team. I'm all about the New York Mets and I'm all about winning. I can preach that until I'm blue in the face." Bravo, Dark Knight!

John Cougar Lunchbucket Mar 26 2014 07:55 AM Re: (The) Harvey Rules!

Harvey should stfu and work out.

Edgy MD Mar 26 2014 08:03 AM Re: (The) Harvey Rules!

TransMonk wrote: The message is simple: You have to be a supporting actor at Citi, not a star of the City; a dispenser of high fives, not a staple of Page Six. That's two turns of phrase and a plug for his employers in one sentence for Sherman. He should pat himself on the back and take the rest of the week off.

G-Fafif Mar 26 2014 08:14 AM Re: (The) Harvey Rules!

All love to the Captain, but fuck Sherman. He won't be happy 'til Wright is playing third for the MFYs.

Edgy MD Mar 26 2014 09:11 AM Re: (The) Harvey Rules!

That was sort of meant to be implied. Get it? Take the rest of the week off? Wocka-wocka?

G-Fafif Mar 26 2014 09:21 AM Re: (The) Harvey Rules!

Couldn't find the link, but a couple of years ago, Sherman wrote a column in which Wright comes to him all full of wonder about how great MFYs were and asks Joel to explain what a team that cares about winning is like. He's not my preferred venue for David is a Pro paeans since from Sherman I consider just about everything thinly veiled Met-bashing. But yes, the Page Six shoutout should earn him a little something from Rupert in the company newsletter.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Mar 26 2014 09:29 AM Re: (The) Harvey Rules!

I think Sherman's OK. Among the tabloid columnists I usually prefer reading from him over just about the entire Snooze team. You just have to adjust for the populist MFY bias like you would player stats in the deadball era. Wright's such a goody twoshoes, and Harvey -- what a douchebag!

G-Fafif Mar 26 2014 09:45 AM Re: (The) Harvey Rules!

Populist MFY bias ain't going anywhere soon.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Mar 26 2014 09:52 AM Re: (The) Harvey Rules!

That's just gonna make that champagne taste that much sweeter.

metirish Mar 26 2014 11:00 AM Re: (The) Harvey Rules!

G-Fafif wrote: Populist MFY bias ain't going anywhere soon. proof that there is indeed a lot of wankers in NYC

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Mar 26 2014 11:14 AM Re: (The) Harvey Rules!

So that's who's been cutting me off in traffic with incrementally-greater frequency over the last six years!