Mets pitcher Jeremy Hefner, who starts vs. the Brewers today, took a swing at some Q&A with Post columnist Steve Serby.
Q: What is it like watching Matt Harvey?
A: We played together in Buffalo last year, we both started the year in Triple-A together, and to see where he was then, to where he is now, is not even the same person. If you would have told me last year at the beginning of the year that he would be doing what he is now, I would have told you no way. Not that he didn't have it in him, but I didn't see it on the field in Buffalo, as far as that killer instinct, the stuff. ... The stuff was there, but not what it is right now, as far as velocity, location, the delivery being repeated, the ability to throw strikes with all of his pitches — his changeup was nonexistent at the beginning of the year last year.
Paul J. Bereswill
Jeremy Hefner
Q: How does that killer instinct manifest itself?
A: If you look at his batting average [against] with runners in scoring position, I'm sure it's not very high. And [allowing] hits with two strikes, I'm sure that's not very high. And I think that's, "OK, I've got my foot on his throat, let's finish it off now." And so that's something *** I've **** learned from him — he's three years younger than me, but I go out and I watch his bullpens every turn. And I've learned more from him this year than maybe anyone ever.
Q: You faced seven Phillies last season and didn't get an out. Was that the low point?
A: Oh, without a doubt.
Q: Walking off the mound, tell me what you're thinking.
A: "When is the next flight to Buffalo (smile)?" to be quite honest with you. And after it got past that, it was, "OK, it can't get any worse, so let's fix it, let's try to adjust something. I got two more starts left in the season, what can I do to improve myself, prove to myself and prove to [manager Terry Collins] and Dan [Warthen, pitching coach] that I belong here, and to my teammates that I belong here?" ... That's when me and Dan sat down and we discussed the slider, 'cause I'd just thrown a cutter, and I'd thrown a slider in college and the Padres took it away from me.
Q: Seven home runs allowed in 14 innings this April.
A: I think I got away from my sinker a little bit. I lost the feel for it, so I had to throw some four-seamers in there, and obviously this is the big leagues. ... I worked really hard during that stretch to get my sinker back going, and at that point, we made the mechanical adjustment, trying to turn my hips a little bit, along with my sinker coming back kinda all merged together, and now building off of that.
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