This was supposed to be the sign of things to come.
Having Matt Harvey and Zack Wheeler in the rotation was supposed to give the Met fans hope that 2014 will be at least a contending year.
And now it all came crashing down.
With the news today that Harvey has a partially torn UCL in his right elbow, the Mets plan is has come crashing down.
Talk about snake bit.
“It was the last thing I expected,” said Harvey, who had an MRI on his right elbow this morning. “I was shocked at the news.”
But signs started on Saturday when he complained of fatigue and discomfort. The Mets took the precaution of an MRI.
“I figure everybody is going to go through a stretch there where you’ve got to battle through some fatigue and some discomfort,” Harvey said after Saturday’s start to reporters. “It’s a long season — 162 games — and you’ve got to push through it. Right now I’m not doing a good job of doing that, and we’ve got to figure something out. The last couple of starts it’s been tough getting out there and getting things going. But, like I said, I’m doing a poor job of pushing through it.
“Everything is a learning process. I’ve never been through this before. So, obviously, paying attention to it and figuring out ways to move past it is all part of learning and growing as a ballplayer.”
Well at least Rex Ryan should be relieved. He’s off the back page.
But what does this do to the Mets plans. Next season was supposed to the year they come back to relevancy. But without Harvey – and if he has Tommy John surgery, he won’t be back until 2015 – the Mets will be searching for the top of the rotation ace that he happily filled this season.
Sure they have pitching depth, but is anyone comfortable with Noah Syndergaard or Rafael Montero filling Harvey’s shoes right away and Wheeler looks like a great 1-A, who needs a Harvey to take the pressure off.
Now, you have to wonder what will happen. Maybe Harvey will be fine and the UCL will heal itself with rest. However, you figure where there’s smoke, there’s fire and Harvey will require some sort of surgery.
And then we may have to punt on 2014.
Such is the life of a Met fan. So close, but so far. You have to wonder if the Mets are paying a penance for Game 6 or that this is the payback for the Wilpons getting away scott-free from the Madoff scandal.
You have to wonder.
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