Matt Harvey Appears to Have Lost His Damn Mind With Latest Demands

As an athlete, I'm sure it's difficult to come to the realization that you aren't the player you once were, especially for someone like Matt Harvey, who was once the ace of the New York Mets and the toast of Gotham.

Well, the Dark Knight is not what he once was, as he's dealt with several severe injuries that have precluded him from playing full seasons and finding any sort of rhythm and success.

It's clear, though, that Harvey still thinks he has something left in the tank. So much so, in fact, that he's considering triggering the opt-out clause in his recently-signed minor league deal with the Oakland Athletics with hopes of landing with a contender that will play him down the stretch.

The A's ARE a contender. And they won't play him down the stretch. So...yeah.

Does he really think this is a smart decision? I know he's looked pretty good in three minor league starts with Oakland, posting a 3.60 ERA, but in his lone big league stint with the Los Angeles Angels this season, he owned an abysmal 7.09 ERA over 12 starts, which has been par for the course in recent years for him.

Why would a contender want to see that once every fifth day?

On top of his less-than-ideal numbers this season, Harvey has no intention of becoming a reliever. If he signs, he expects to be placed in the starting rotation, no questions asked.

The minor league season is almost over, so this is a clear ploy to get back in the bigs, but if you are a contender in the mix, signing Harvey wouldn't put you over the top. If anything, it would hurt your chances.

If Harvey wants to return to the major leagues, he'll likely need to wait 'til the offseason, and maybe think about changing roles.