Matt Harvey won’t quit, takes the ball against Nationals

The last time New York Mets starter Matt Harvey took the mound against the Washington Nationals, just five days ago, he had the worst start of his career. He gave up nine runs in 2.2 innings, and after doing that some people might want to get a little distance. But Matt Harvey isn’t some people. He’s Matt Harvey, and he’s going to figure out what’s going on in his own way.

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The Mets gave Harvey the option of skipping his start today against the Nationals, and he declined. ESPN’s Adam Rubin spoke with Harvey, and Harvey summed up his thoughts succinctly.

“For me, taking time off isn’t going to do anything. It’s finding it on the mound.

I’m not a quitter. I’m not going to just quit and put the ball down. It’s a fight. It was good for me to do that.”

Even though Harvey’s not taking a break, he’s continuing to try and figure out why he’s not pitching as effectively as he should be. Rubin reported that Harvey recruited fellow pitcher Matt Reynolds and first base coach Tom Goodwin to help him with a special pitching session on Saturday. At Citi Field, Harvey threw off the mound and worked with a “batter” in the box, which allowed him the time to work through things he wouldn’t have time for during an actual game.

Harvey, and the rest of the Mets, hope this brings him closer to figuring out why he’s struggled so mightily in 2016. Even before his disastrous start on May 19, Harvey had an ERA of 4.93, and he hasn’t pitched into the seventh inning yet this season. Rubin does float one possible source for Harvey’s struggles.

There has been speculation his arm, while not injured, is suffering from a hangover after logging 216 innings in 2015. That’s the most innings ever logged in a first season back from Tommy John surgery.

Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg overcame similar struggles after his return from Tommy John surgery, but that doesn’t make Harvey feel any better about what he’s going through. He sees the problems as being within himself, and he’s the only one who’s going to be able to figure them out and get past them.

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