Ron Darling On WFAN: Familia, Not Harvey, Should Have Started Ninth Inning
NEW YORK (WFAN) -- Matt Harvey pitched eight brilliant innings on Sunday night in Game 5 of the World Series.
After the eighth inning, with the Mets leading the Royals, 2-0, Harvey was seen lobbying manager Terry Collins for an opportunity to pitch the ninth.
NINTH INNING OF GAME 5 PUT A CAP ON A BIZARRE SEASON FOR METS' HARVEY
He got his opportunity to pitch a complete game, but it didn't work out. Harvey walked Lorenzo Cain to start off the inning, and Eric Hosmer doubled him home after Cain swiped second. Closer Jeurys Familia then came in to relieve Harvey, and Kansas City scored another run to tie the game.
The Royals ended up winning the game -- and the World Series -- in 12 innings.
Former Met and current SNY and TBS analyst Ron Darling joined WFAN host Mike Francesa on Monday afternoon, and he said that he would have gone straight to Familia for the ninth.
METS' COLLINS ON HARVEY IN NINTH: 'I LET MY HEART GET IN THE WAY OF MY GUT'
"These kids are not taught to finish a game," Darling said. "They're taught to pitch to 100 pitches. He was at 102. It was time to go to one of the top five closers in the game. Harvey kind of bullied his way back into the game ... In my day, if Davey Johnson came to me and said, 'You're done,' there would be no argument, Mike.
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"You couldn't say a word, because you just didn't do that to managers or coaches in those days. You might not pitch for five weeks if you did that. It's a little different today. I understand that. And I do love that Matt wanted to pitch."
