ROCKET LAUNCHER: Mets third-base coach Tim Teufel believes Matt Harvey (above) has a presence like Roger Clemens (inset) when he takes the mound. (Bill Kostroun; Jeff Zelevansky)
On the day Matt Harvey is pitching, it is a much different Mets’ world.
It is a world of winners. It’s Met Harvey Day.
Harvey has a presence. How big a presence?
“He’s like a Roger Clemens with his intimidation factor out there,’’ Mets third base coach Tim Teufel told The Post last night. “He just looks like that kind of guy. He has what I call: the Determination Factor.
“Like, ‘Give me the friggin’ ball and get out of my way.’
“When he has his four pitches working, you’re talking dominance,’’ Teufel said. “You just look at his mound presence. He belongs. It’s like, ‘I got the stuff to do it and it’s going to be a long day for you guys at the plate.’ ’’
That’s Met Harvey.
The 5-0 Harvey goes against the Reds today at Citi Field. His next start also will be at Citi Field against the Yankees. That will be the Mets’ World Series.
Terry Collins is trying to get his team to survive on a daily basis so he cannot look too far ahead.
“I’m going to tell you, I know [Harvey] is a story, I know all through baseball people are fixed on him right now. I’m worrying about today’s game,’’ Collins said last night on another dismal Citi Field night, a 4-0 loss to the Reds.
“I can’t worry about who I save for tomorrow,’’ Collins said. “Or say to myself, ‘Gee, Matt is going to give us eight innings tomorrow so I can burn my bullpen out tonight,’ I have to do what I have to do today. I’ll worry about tomorrow when I get up in the morning … if I get up in the morning.’’
Such is the reality of Terry Collins’ world. His team is 17-26 but during Harvey’s starts the Mets are 7-2. What a difference one pitcher makes. Harvey’s ERA is 1.55.
“We’ve got to pull ourselves up,’’ Collins said after the Mets lost their 10th home game in their 12. “We got our guy going [today] so hopefully we can ride him again.’’
Over the last 30 years only two other major league pitchers remained undefeated through nine starts with as low an ERA as Harvey, according to Elias Sports Bureau. Kris Medlen of the Braves went 7-0 with an 0.86 ERA last season and in 2001 Pedro Martinez, then with the Red Sox, posted a 6-0 mark with a 1.62 ERA. Harvey has allowed the fewest hits, 32, has the lowest ratio of hits per nine innings at 4.52 and the lowest opposing batting average (.149) of any qualifying pitcher in the majors.
The big right-hander is coming off a strong start at Wrigley Field against the Cubs, a 3-2 victory during a week he was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated.
Harvey is having fun. When he took the field for pregame stretching last night “Clique’’ by Kanye West, Jay-Z and Big Sean was blaring throughout Citi Field. To his teammates’ delight Harvey busted some moves. Clique is off the album “Cruel Summer.’’
Indeed.
On game day, Harvey is all business. From bloody noses to all kinds of weather to playing for a team that has to scale a mountain to score a run, nothing seems to stop Harvey from doing his job.
In this era where excuse-making is prominent throughout society, Harvey makes no excuses.
“He grabs his lunch pail and goes to work,’’ Teufel said.
“He has a calmness about him,’’ noted 19-year veteran LaTroy Hawkins. “You never know what Harvey is thinking. He is a good teammate.’’
Harvey expects to win. He does the things necessary to win. It’s all about repeating his delivery and repeating his emotional approach.
“I try to go out there and take the same approach every time I take the mound,’’ Harvey explained. “No matter what is going on, I’m trying to throw up zeroes every time. In a long season you are going to have your ups and downs.’’
Nearly every time Matt Harvey takes the mound; it’s a great day to be a Met.