How 2013 actually went.
Matt Harvey made a rebuilding year feel important every fifth day. He dominated lineups, started the All-Star Game at Citi Field, and carried himself with the confidence of an ace who expected the entire sport to notice. His near no-hitters and packed home starts created Harvey Day before the team around him was ready to win.
David Wright remained productive and captained the National League in the All-Star Game, while Daniel Murphy gave the lineup steady contact. The rest of the offense was weak, and the club again finished near the bottom in runs. Late in August, the news that Harvey had torn his elbow ligament changed the future instantly.
The Mets finished 74–88 for the second straight year. Harvey’s Tommy John surgery meant he would miss 2014, delaying the dream of pairing him with the young pitchers approaching from the minors. The season is remembered less for its record than for the brief period when one starter made Citi Field believe it was watching the beginning of something huge.
Harvey Day made a 74-win season appointment viewing—until one elbow injury froze the whole plan.