PITTSBURGH — Matt Harvey is the leader of the Mets’ pitching parade. There is no doubt the experience of being around other All-Stars at such a young age and most certainly starting Tuesday’s game at Citi Field for the National League will help Harvey grow as a pitcher.
Harvey plans on making the most of his All-Star experience.
“This is a huge honor for me and to be able to put that uniform on is really awesome, especially being there with David [Wright],” Harvey told The Post last night at PNC Park before the Mets’ 4-2 loss to the Pirates.
“David told me to keep my eyes open, keep my ears open and really just enjoy it,” Harvey said. “All of this is new and I’m taking it in stride, but when it comes to Cliff Lee and guys that who have done it multiple times, it’s really something I’m looking forward to and hopefully, it’s not my last All-Star Game.”
Harvey is 24 and is looking to excel every year and this first All-Star appearance is another motivating force for the power right-hander.
The Mets are hopeful Harvey is just the start of the parade of pitchers, not one isolated All-Star appearance. He is the leader of the Brat Pack of pitchers that include Zack Wheeler, Noah Syndergaard and Rafael Montero.
“Absolutely I want to lead these guys with the way Zack is coming on, we have Syndergaard coming, Montero coming and the way [Jeremy] Hefner has been throwing the ball lately,” Harvey said. “I think David said it best, ‘Be a leader for these guys.’ I love that role and I’ve taken to that role. It’s something I want to live through and successfully come out and say, ‘I really helped these guys.’ This is just the start.”
Syndergaard (USA) and Montero (World) are starting today’s Futures Game at Citi Field. The Mets are hoping to develop a conga line of pitching excellence that will lift the franchise out of its fourth-place hole. Other young arms include: Cory Mazzoni, Domingo Tapia, Jacob deGrom, Jack Leathersich and Gabriel Ynoa.
Wheeler said he has been impressed with Harvey’s leadership.
“Matt is professional about the whole experience and he is enjoying it, that’s what I’ve really noticed,” Wheeler said. “He’s not big-leaguing guys. He’s fun to be around. We joke around about everything — everything from how somebody looks on the other team to pitching.
“I watch him because he’s a power pitcher.”
One of the biggest things Wheeler has picked up from Harvey is something so simple yet so important: the proper breathing techniques on the mound. Any young pitcher could learn from this.
“His whole thing is about staying back over the rubber and breathing,” Wheeler said. “It’s breathing right before the pitch and as he delivers it.”
That technique enables Harvey to give a maximum effort on every pitch.
“When he comes out of the game, he is mentally maxed out and physically maxed out,’’ Wheeler said.
Passing those types of tips along will help.
Harvey was given that breathing regime by Don Carman, a 10-year major league veteran who works with Scott Boras. Carman has given Harvey much insight.
“This game can speed up on you, especially on the mound,” Harvey said. “The last thing you want to do is get the ball back and not think about what you are doing and just go. Then you find yourself rushing, you don’t take enough time, your muscles are tense. You breathe, visualize the pitch, then you can let go and execute to the best of your ability. You can’t just throw a pitch and say ‘I hope he doesn’t hit it.’
“I get the sign, take my breath and when you have that breath you can have that time to say, ‘OK, fastball away.’
“Don Carman told me pitching is a lot like golf. If you go up to your golf swing and you’re tense, you’re not breathing, but if you step back and take a breath you get into the swing. I could eventually feel what he was talking about and it just took off.”
Come Tuesday night, the world will get to see Harvey take off in the All-Star Game using that technique. Just breathe.