Collins: Harvey 'mad' with media's bladder jokes

Earlier this week, it was discovered that Mets ace Matt Harvey had blood clots in his bladder. In the ensuing hours, people had a field day with jokes. Deadspin’s headline was “Matt Harvey’s wee-wee hurts because he didn’t do enough tinkles” and the New York Post had more than a half-dozen different front page headlines using punny word play.

They weren’t alone, as fans and media alike on Twitter let loose with the jokes for days. Evidently, Harvey saw at least some of this and is angry — again, notably, with the New York press. He refused to speak with reporters on Thursday. Here’s manager Terry Collins, to the New York Daily News:

“I don’t blame him. Nobody in here blames him. We were scared Monday. You know how scary it is when they are talking about having to decide in 24 hours what kind of procedure they would have to do to remove the clot if it didn’t pass? They were talking about the fact he wouldn’t be able to fly to New York.

“He was scared,” the manager said. “We were all scared for him. And to see everyone make a joke out of it … yeah, he’s mad. He’s not the only one who is.”

That’s certainly understandable. I’m sure some will run along the lines of “Yeah, well he’s rich and famous and plays a game for a living!” which is true, but he’s also a human being. I’m ready to cut him some slack here and avoid the jokes.

Matt Harvey is lined up to pitch in Sunday’s opener, a World Series rematch. (USATSI)