BALTIMORE—When the Orioles signed Matt Harvey as spring training began, they were hoping the veteran right-hander could benefit from the team’s philosophy and perhaps pitch well enough to become a trade chip come July.
Harvey did pitch well enough for the first month of the season, but he’s headed south since.
In his last six starts, including one as an opener last week, Harvey has allowed 31 runs in 19 2/3 innings for a 14.19 ERA. On Wednesday night, Harvey gave up seven runs on eight hits in three innings, the same number of runs and hits he allowed against the Mets in 4 1/3 innings on May 12th in his Citi Field homecoming.
The Orioles’ 14-1 loss to the New York Mets before an announced 9,584 at Oriole Park ended the most successful homestand of the season for the Orioles who won five of eight.
“It was location. Things felt good,” Harvey said. “Mechanically, [I felt] pretty sound. You have to be better than that. I missed my spots in situations where I shouldn’t have. A good offense is going to make you pay, and they did that tonight.”
They Orioles begin a seven-game road trip to Tampa Bay and Cleveland on Friday night with questions about their rotation.
John Means left Saturday’s game because of a strained left shoulder, and he’s on the 10-day injured list. The Orioles need to replace him in the rotation, and now there are concerns about Harvey.
Harvey been blunt about his decline, and he’s not sure what he can do to turn around his season.
‘If I knew right now, I would have done it tonight,” Harvey said. “It’s frustrating. It’s been a couple of years of really being horse [expletive].
“The amount of work I’m putting in between starts, especially with the start tonight. I felt good. I had good stuff. I missed spots. Those are the frustrating ones, where you feel good, and I was throwing 96, 97 mph and you get hit around.
“Those are the tough ones, the ones that I’ve been out of mechanics. There’s a reason for that. I guess an excuse for not pitching well. For tonight, it was, I felt good. I just missed spots and situations where I can’t, and I did, and it cost us the game.”
In the first, Pete Alonso hit his third home run in two games on a slider over the middle of the plate. In both games against the Orioles, Alonso hit a two-run homer in the first inning. The damage could have been worse except that centerfielder Cedric Mullins made a diving catch on leadoff batter Jonathan Villar in left-center.
The Mets (30-24) scored five runs against Harvey (3-7) in the third. James McCann and Billy McKinney had RBI singles, and Kevin Pillar hit a three-run homer, his third of the season for a 7-1 lead.
When Harvey pitched at Citi Field four weeks ago for the first time since he parted ways with the Mets in 2018, he was greeted with a huge ovation from the crowd. Camden Yards was populated with many Mets fans for the two-game series.
“I play for the Orioles,” Harvey said. “I’m not here for Mets fans or anything like that. I appreciate the Orioles fans that were here, and unfortunately I pitched like [expletive].
“I have to be better in front of my home crowd, and I guess I just have to work harder.”
Hyde said the Orioles plan to keep pitching him.
“There’s no talk of taking him out of the rotation,” Hyde said. “We’re going to give him the ball when it’s his turn, and hopefully he can turn this thing around.”
Said Harvey: “I don’t make those decisions. I know I’ve definitely pitched pretty bad the last five, six starts, whatever it’s been. My job is to prepare and to try and get better. Whatever they decide, they decide.
“I’ve obviously been released before or [designated for assignment] or whatnot. I’ve been through the whole situation. There’s really not many in baseball that I haven’t been through. My job is just to prepare and if they give me the ball, then I’m going to do everything between this start and the next one to be better.”
Ryan Mountcastle’s RBI single in the first scored Mullins.
Adam Plutko replaced Harvey in the fourth, and McKinney homered in the fifth for an 8-1 lead.
Rule 5 draft pick Mac Sceroler, who appears overmatched at the major league level, allowed six runs in two innings in his first game since missing eight weeks because of a strained right shoulder.
Pillar and former Oriole Mason Williams hit back-to-back home runs in the eighth.
Villar and Alonso had doubles in the ninth, and McKinney’s three-run home run made it 14-1.
Alonso was 8-for-16 (.500) in four games against the Orioles.
Taijuan Walker (5-2) who limited the Orioles to one run on four hits in seven innings when he last faced Harvey, allowed a run on five hits this time. He retired 13 straight Orioles at one point.
Notes: The 14 runs and six home runs allowed tied a season high. … Harvey hasn’t won in his last seven decisions.
Minor Matters: Triple-A Norfolk scored a season-high eight runs in the fifth in their 9-3 win over the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp. Third baseman Domingo Leyba, who was claimed on waivers last week from Arizona, drove in five runs. His grand slam was the big hit in the fifth. Second baseman Ramón Urias also homered. First baseman Tyler Nevin had three hits.
Alexander Wells (3-2) allowed a run on three hits in five innings, striking out five without walking a batter for the win.
Kevin Smith, the left-hander who was obtained in the trade with the Mets for reliever Miguel Castro, allowed two runs, one unearned, in five innings in Double-A Bowie’s 9-1 loss to the Binghamton Rumble Ponies. Smith (0-1) allowed three hits, struck out eight and didn’t walk a batter. He had his 19 2/3 innings scoreless streak broken, and his ERA is 1.04.
Adley Rutschman played first base and was 2-for-4. His batting average is .296 and his OPS is 1.007.
Connor Gillispie allowed four runs on five hits in 4 1/3 innings as High-A Aberdeen lost to Bowling Green, 7-5. Gillispie, who was a ninth-round selection in the 2019 draft, was the first pitcher picked by the team. He’s 3-1 with a 2.73 ERA.
Rightfielder Zach Watson had two hits, including a two-run home run. Adam Hall, who played center field, also had two hits for the IronBirds.
Low-A Delmarva’s game at Lynchburg was suspended in the third inning. The scoreless game will be resumed on Thursday and will be followed by a seven-inning game.
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Good morning Birds Fans
Today I share an interesting (& lengthy) article about team owner Peter Angelos.
I thought I knew all there was to know about the man who shares the same H.S. Alma mater (Patterson H.S. Balto. MD) as myself. But boy was I wrong.
https://defector.com/peter-angelos-couldnt-stay-a-hero-forever/
Enjoy the read. After of course, you read Mr. Dubroff's fine piece.
Yes Hallbe I saw/read this article a few weeks back. Shows some good qualities in Peter but definitely illustrates his negative aspects too. Can't argue about his loyalty to Baltimore but his managerial style left a lot to desire.
Thanks for the link to the excellent article about Peter Angelos. Some interesting insights into his political and business background. Although I generally share PA's politics (unlike probably most folks on this site), its clear that he has been an absolutely awful owner of the Orioles franchise.
Funny watching these reporters polish turds day in and day out! You mean to tell me that a sorry Orioles scout cant find another arm from any where in the world better than Harvey then I hope you all see the problem!this team is full of idiots from top to bottom. And a rebuild! Yeah right.always excuses and insane moves! #nohopeeverin Baltimore
Harvey was good early on in the year. Then Tom Verducci gave Harvey a breakdown and he’s been terrible since. I wonder if teams have picked up on something. We’re not going anywhere so might as well run Harvey out there until Baumann or Bradish are ready. Smith needs to be promoted. Wells looks to be turning it around. I think if there is one guy who the pandemic affected it was him being from Australia and not able to get to the alternate site last year.
He must have tuned a deaf ear to Holt. How else can you explain it?
Holt can only give him the game plan it’s up to Harvey to execute it. Which the pitchers have done since Holt came back. Oh wait it’s just a coincidence according to some
#20 .... don't take me so dang seriously. It's all in fun.
Sarcasm, tongue in cheek, inside joke type comments unfortunately don’t translate well here
Read harder. Or maybe I should put a winkie face on everything? Some people get it ...some don't.
Whoa whoa whoa big fella… you once lectured me that sarcasm doesn’t translate well in print. Seems you have done an about face. Passion insight and consistency the BRR trifecta
But here is where this is different. If you look closely at my comment .. there was no sarcasm there. Icty mistook it as such. I was simply sticking it to the "Holt must be a God" crew. All in good fun of course! Poking fun it's called.
BTW ... the line is "Steady Big Fella" ... not "whoa". It orginates from the old Lone Ranger radio show. I hate it when people get the lines/lyrics and cliche's wrong.
It’s always funny how pissed off people get after a loss (me included), someone said earlier sarcasm doesn’t translate well in texting, I would agree...go O’s...
The good feel about this winning streak was on a thin ice all along. Hopefully Harvey's debacle isn't that big step backward that could derail this past weeks "good feel". The big debate now is to keep throwing Harvey out there or plug a youngster(Bradish,Kremer,Akin,Lowther,Baumann,etc.)in there and let him learn on the fly. I'm thinking the ladder. Eshelman part 3 or 4(whatever it is)? Well it's off to Tampa Bay with reality staring us in the eyes.
Akin is already in the Os current rotation. Lowther and Baumann both seem to be struggling currently but may be ready for MLB action later this summer. My two cents - go with Kremer and Tyler Wells to fill Means’ spot until he returns and give M Harvey a few more starts or use him as an opener
Your 2 cents make sense.
Wasn’t Harvey’s start last night kinda like an opener, he lasted only three, or should he only go 1-2 innings...go O’s...
Two take aways from last night... Harvey is a liability and should be DFA’d. His day has long been passed and there is nothing to be gained by running him out there for two of three innings knowing you’re going to have to go to an overmatched bullpen.
Sceroler is just another wannabe/never will be taking up a roster space. I thought Armstrong was bad but this guy is worse. Three home runs??? Sheesh! Since everyone is so gung ho on Holt as a coach why not bring Kremer up permanently so he can work with him regularly rather than having two coaches messing with his mind and mechanics? Just saying...
Harvey’s velocity is still certainly major league level so it is a shame he cannot take off with that.I personally am still hoping he can get it together for his career but last nites interview tells me he is both frustrated and pissed off. Does not seem to hold the Mets that closely in his heart either.Hyde put out a bunch of pitchers last nite that to me are getting close (if not already there) to being on borrowed time.Offensively a few guys striking the ball good and a few not so much. Still a few holes that no one seems to be able to fill.Without some new blood though I don’t see much more happening this year other than the present norm.
His velocity is still good, but didn’t see a lot of movement; also if you ahead 0-2, why groove one down the middle. How many times has Jim Palmer preached no need to throw a strike in that situation yet Matt did on multiple occasions last night.
Anybody read the hatchet job Meoli did on the O's FANS? I wonder how many games he would attend if he had to pay MLB ticket prices to watch basically a minor league team. That would be "NONE"! He and the Sun should be ashamed and retract that whole STUPID article. Give the fans here, at least,a semi-competative team and you'll see fans come out. All Meoli wants to do is get to the next rung on the ladder, probably The New York Slimes. As for the Sun, they remain the 3rd rate POS that I cancelled 4 years ago.
I stopped the sun when they parted ways with Connelly. Followed him here.
NormO's
A few weeks ago I posted that I thought it was pure greed that O's management was not allowing what few fans were left the opportunity to bring in their own refreshments/food. The alibi was for "the safety of our fans". HAHA. It's for their pockets, which is OK but please don't treat us like we're stupid.
How much more safe I would feel bringing in my own sandwich, chips, etc. or whatever than buying from the concessions, forgetting the cost of everything. Give us a break, O's.
I agree. It’s insulting, but lots of businesses have used Covid as a primary reason for some absurd decisions in the name of safety.
Ultimately it IS about the shekels.
I’m glad this situation appears to be largely behind us.
(Relax - this isn’t a Democrat vs Republican thing)
“Rant” over.
Hey guys ... yeah it would be nice to bring your own food and drink ... but let me ask you ... when is the last time your took your own bottle into the neighborhood pub? Just sayin ...
Yes, I can remember being able to take your own burgers into Fenway, but that was about the same time that the world was aghast at Johnny Bench getting a 200k contract. Things have changed.
How else is P.A. supposed to pay great players like Crush?
BRR, that’s apples and oranges. You’re not going to your neighborhood pub and paying an exhorbitant fee just to get in and I’m pretty sure you’re not there to root for or against anyone. There’s no reason other than greed to not allow fans to bring food in. I’d actually gotten to know some of the fellas selling the burgers and dogs (which I gotta say are better than the ones inside) and peanuts. They bust their asses and earned every penny they got and now they’re a casualty of Angelos in the same manner the broadcasters were-just to help the bottom line. If he’d put as much care into the ball club as he does screwing the outside vendors and the fans the team would be much better off.
You make a good point about the 'cover charge' of just getting into the park vs. a pub. I never meant to make it sound like anything other than greed. But let's also face the fact that the price of doing business with the MLB players and thier union has risen significantly.
I understand the interest in Harvey's performance, but the O's offense was also totally lacking. When you only score one run,
your pitchers (the O's like to use lots of them in a game) have to throw a shutout to win. I guess we can call it inconsistency, going
from double digits to almost nothing. I think Harvey, of late, did best as an opener working on short rest. I suspect they'll keep wheeling him out there, hoping lightning strikes once or twice and someone will take a chance trading for him. Right now, Mullins, Mancini, and Mountcastle look like the best trading chips. Hays, Santander, and especially Means have value but also have an asterisk on the injury front.
Why the heck would you want to trade Mullins, Santander, Mountcastle or Hays? Means & Mancini make sense, but those others are keepers.
What makes sense about trading Means and Mancini we have enough top
prospects in pitching and possible the best player in the minors in Adley and a couple of SS here soon. You sign these guys to a 3 to 5 year deal and show this town you are a real major league team wanting to compete. As it is once that Albatross Davis gone we probably will have the lowest payroll in the big leagues
Agree ... only makes sense to trade Mancini and Means if your timetable to be playoff competitive is 2025 ... if the team is trying to be playoff competitive by 2023, then hold onto Mancini and Means (and Santander).
I dunno Birdman ... even if I traded Mancini and/or Means, I would certainly hope to be a playoff contender in '23. I mean that would be year 5 of the plan. I mean, if just a couple of these young pitchers come through ....add one or 2 via FA ... add Gunnar & Rutchsman .. Maybe Diaz ..and who know else ... and I think we're right there. It's all up to Mikey. When does he TRY to win?
Umm scored 18 and 10 runs in previous two games…no bad nights allowed!
WTH is he trying to say this time...go O’s...
Here’s a paraphrase for us old timers out there;
“And, that’s the end of the story. Matt Harvey, good day.”
Nice reminder, dl. And that's the rest of the story. If only Matt were as able in his field as Paul!
Well last evening showed how out gunned we are with pitching. Taylor pitched a very good game (major league level). He silenced our bat like any good pitcher can do. Brought me back to reality! Nothing else can be said other than we didn’t have a pitching staff to keep us in the game.
As other have said. I would trade Means this year, probably Trey too. I would hate to see us lose Trey though.
Remember Means is a bargain right now, making less than 600,000, no problem trading him but it should be a HUGE return...go O’s...
Exactly right, Diamond. Good pitching silences good hitting. Nothing earth shattering, but it’s true.
As to Means and Mancini, I hope we hold onto them.
Totally agree Icty, don’t want to see either one go, if only Mikey would listen to us...lol...go O’s...
maybe he can help in a relief role but as a starter he is done.
this is so frustrating. I want to see the young guys improve in the bigs but if kremer or akin 1 bad game they ship them back to Norfolk but they keep giving this joke start after start taking the place of starts kremer could be getting.
With the possible exception of Tate, none of the pitchers who pitched with team should be here next year if the Os expect to make a step forward. Unless they get a ridiculous offer for means and/or Mancini, they should try to sign them to reasonable long term contracts and us the fans their intent to build a winner sooner rather than later
I’d hang on to Fry as well. But I agree that most of them should be on other rosters next season,
Most of them could not pitch on another roster