New arrival: Bobby Parnell

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

Cigars all around, fellas. I'm the proud papa of recent Met draftee Bobby Parnell.

Look at this goofy motion (tho I think this is a photo of him playing 3rd base in high school)



Bobby is like the ultimate Rick Peterson project, a guy with rotten stats and good stuff. He's from Salisburry, N.C., went to school at Charleston Southern, and figures to be a member of the 05 Brooklyn Cyclones.

Bobby is the son of Tonya and Bob Parnell. He was born on September 8, 1984, while the Mets were losing to the Cubs 6-0 thanks in part to shaky relief pitching from Doug Sisk and Wes Gardner. It's destiny!

The Mets aren't the only ones with some hopes for him. He pitched last summer for the Chatam A's of the Cape League, and went 0-0, 2.00 in 18 innings/14 games, with 13 K's and 5 walks.

Here's an article:

Arm-strong: The New York Mets think Bobby Parnell has unlimited potential.
Salisbury Post

Statistics aren't always worth the paper they're printed on.

Former East Rowan standout Bobby Parnell posted ugly numbers during his junior baseball season at Charleston Southern, but the New York Mets see happier days in Parnell's future.

New York selected the quiet, 6-foot-3, 175-pound fireballer in the ninth round of Tuesday's Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.

Parnell was the 269th overall pick.

"That's No. 269 out of about 750,000 kids that were out there," said Allen Wilson, who scouts for the Mets and coaches the South Rowan American Legion team. "I know how much the Mets like him and I know 29 other teams had him on their draft board somewhere."

Wilson recommended Parnell, despite his 3-5 record and 8.86 ERA. Parnell struck out 45 batters, while walking 29. He uncorked 13 wild pitches and plunked nine batters. The scariest stat of all might be that opposing hitters batted a robust .330 against the right-hander.

Those aren't typical draft-pick numbers, but Wilson insisted all that alarming arithmetic isn't a big deal.

"Kids can't control the team they play for," Wilson said. "Besides, no big-league team drafts stats. They draft potential, and Bobby's potential is incredible."

Bottom line?

"The Mets wouldn't be drafting him if they didn't believe he could play in the major leagues," Wilson said.

It's just a matter of everything coming together for Parnell, and the Mets believe they are the ones that can make it happen.

Parnell has several natural gifts. He has serious juice in his right arm, and he has the perfect pitcher's body. He's long, lean and loose, and he has a textbook arm-swing that unleashes fastballs that travel in excess of 90 miles an hour.

"Bobby has some things you can't teach," agreed Jim Gantt, who coached Parnell when he played for the Rowan County American Legion team. "You can't teach a kid to be tall and to throw hard."

Parnell seldom pitched at East Rowan, where he was mostly a gold-glove, rocket-armed third baseman.

He also didn't throw much for the Rowan Legion, where he was a .300-hitting first baseman for the 2002 state champions.

"Bobby pitched almost none at East, just about none for Rowan," said Wilson, who has known Parnell since the prospect was 10 years old.

"But he's always kept working. He's never given up. He got a college scholarship, and now he's a draft pick."

Gantt wasn't shocked at all that Parnell's name was called.

"The thing I always liked about Bobby is that he was always the first one at the ballpark," he said. "I'd be out there mowing grass, and I'd see him come in and I'd know it was about an hour before the team was supposed to be there.

"He always wanted to be good. Every day, he wanted to be good. You talk about desire, well, he has it. He always had it."

Parnell, who has a good slider as well as a blinding fastball, has the option of returning to Charleston Southern for his senior year, but there's a pretty good chance that he'll sign.

He would have zero bargaining power next June, but if he signs now, he can expect a substantial bonus.

The 269th pick in the draft last year was UCLA third baseman Ryan McCarthy. He signed with the Chicago White Sox for $70,000.

If Parnell does become a Met, he would most likely be assigned to the Brooklyn Cyclones of the short-season New York-Penn League.

Whatever his stats are in Brooklyn, the Mets won't be overly concerned.

They're looking at the big picture.

"I see Bobby and I see long arms and a skinny body that's gonna fill out," Wilson said. "A lot of people in the Mets organization believe in him."

[Guest Edgy DC]

That's one slender fella.

[MFS62]

Hope he puts on a few pounds before he visits the Big Apple. He might slip right through a subway grating.

Later

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

I've put him on a strict diet of nathan's -- hot dogs and curly fries, eaten with a wooden stick off paper plates.

He is also required to eat fried clams, marino's italian ices and drink Booklyn Pennant Ale.

He'll be in game shape in no time.

[Guest holychicken]

Bobby is like the ultimate Rick Peterson project,

Does that mean he needs twenty minutes with him as opposed to the normal ten?

[willpie]

[quote="Johnny Dickshot":953xln5d]I've put him on a strict diet of nathan's -- hot dogs and curly fries, eaten with a wooden stick off paper plates. He is also required to eat fried clams, marino's italian ices and drink Booklyn Pennant Ale.[/quote:953xln5d]

Aww, man... I miss the city.

[Guest Rotblatt]

He's well within the average weight range, according to his BMI. As a matter of fact, he could lose 25 pounds and still be considered average weight.

That's pretty fucked up right there . . .

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

Bobby made his pro debut Friday, 6/24 vs. the Aberdeen Ironbirds:
3 IP, 0 R, 5 K, 2 BB, 1 H, ND

He struck out the side looking in the first inning.

Here's his first pro photo:

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

Bobby has yet to allow a run in 3 appearances, including 2 starts, but still doesn;t have a decision.

The other night, he helped the Clones win a 1-0 game against the Joisey Cardinals. He went 4 innings, gave up 1 hit, 3 walks, a HBP and 2 K's.

For the year: 10.2 IP, 3 H, 7 BB, 9 K, 0 R.

[Elster88]

Wilson recommended Parnell, despite his 3-5 record and 8.86 ERA. Parnell struck out 45 batters, while walking 29. He uncorked 13 wild pitches and plunked nine batters. The scariest stat of all might be that opposing hitters batted a robust .330 against the right-hander. Those aren't typical draft-pick numbers, but Wilson insisted all that alarming arithmetic isn't a big deal. "Kids can't control the team they play for," Wilson said. "Besides, no big-league team drafts stats. They draft potential, and Bobby's potential is incredible."

The first half of that statement makes little sense. I don't know how the team someone plays for affects wild pitches, HBP, or BAA.

Of course, the second half does make sense, and so far he has been good. Good luck to your son.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

Bobby's statline in the above post seems to indicate a relief appearance he didn't make. (Follwing stats in this league is more difficult than you think).

I can say with certainty that he picked up his first win of the year last week vs. Hudson Valley, he went 5 innings, whiffed 5, walked 2, gave up NO HITS and an unearned run.

For the year 12 innings, 2 hits, NO RUNS, 12 whiffs.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

Bobby got a no-decision last night vs. Auburn and gave up his first two runs of the year:

5 IP, 4 H, 2 R/ER, 1 BB, 5 K. His era is now 1.06

[Guest Edgy DC]

[Insert cheap crack about plummeting trade value.]

[Frayed Knot]

BA:
Perhaps the Mets got a find in righthander Bobby Parnell, their ninth-round pick out of Charleston Southern, who opposed [Lowell on Sunday]. The projectable 6-foot-3, 175-pounder went just 3-5, 8.86 in the Southern Conference this spring, but he lowered his ERA in the short-season New York-Penn League to 1.26 with five dominant innings. Parnell, who has a low-90s fastball and hard slider, struck out eight while giving up three hits and two walks. He’s 2-0 and has 35 strikeouts in 35 2/3 innings on the year, and while he’s walked 17, he’s given up just 17 hits (.139 opponents average).

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

He's gonna project himself to the big leagues, I tellya.

[Frayed Knot]

Maybe it'll help if you feed him every now and then.
Guys who make me look husky are bad candidates for athletic stardom.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

Updated 8/16:

11 games: 2-1, 1.58. 34 hits, 19 BB, 48 K in 51.1 IP.

It's been a good rookie season.

[metirish]

Bobby The All-Star..

August 16, 2005 - On August 23rd, the Cyclones will host the New York-Penn League’s first-ever All-Star Game. Earlier this week, three of Brooklyn’s players were named to the All-Star team: OF Joe Holden, RHP Bobby Parnell, and 3B Josh Petersen. Holden has been one of the year’s best surprises. After starting the season as a fourth outfielder, Holden, a Long Island native, hit his way into the leadoff spot. The lefty is hitting .327 through 53 games, good for fifth best in the league. He has also tied the team’s single-season record for triples, with five, and is second on the team with 15 stolen bases. Parnell has been a rock in the rotation for Brooklyn, with a 1.58 ERA in 11 games. He has just two wins, thanks to a lack of run support, but has pitched 51.1 innings, second-most on the team. He has allowed 14 runs, only nine of which were earned, and walked just 19, while striking out 48. Petersen has been a force in the middle of the Cyclones’ lineup. He is hitting .286 (52-for-182) with three home runs and 22 RBI. Petersen has also smacked 13 doubles, second-most on the team, and has one triple. The All-Star Game on August 23rd will be preceded by a Street Festival at KeySpan Park, beginning at 3pm. A limited number of tickets are still available for the All-Star Game by calling 718-507-TIXX, visiting the KeySpan Park Ticket Office, or logging on to www.brooklyncyclones.com

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

Update: 2-3, 2.05, 60 Ks, 25 BB in 61.1 IP

Bam.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

Eat Santa. Eat!

Swiped from Ed's website, hope he don;t mind.

[Guest SI Metman]

I got to see him pitch this past Friday. He's got some good stuff. He shut down the baby MFY's (the best team in the NYPL) for 7 innings and arguably only made 1 bad pitch that went 350 feet foul.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

Yah. I taught him to hate the MFYs.

[Frayed Knot]

Parnell gets named by B.A. as the #20 best prospect in the NY-Penn league, the only Brooklynite to make the list.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/minors/05league20s/nyp.html

There'll be a 2PM Q&A if anyone wants some more NY-Penn info.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

Update:

Milledge is the son of a state trooper. Wright's Dad is a vice cop.

Bobby Parnell's pop is a fire chief (link to gigantic photo)

[url]http://www.salisburync.gov/fire/salisbury_fire_department_news_4302004.htm

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

Scout.com > NY Mets
Splitsville: Bobby Parnell v1.1
Patrick Teale
NYFansOnly.com Mar 3, 2006

"Splitsville" is a series of articles on the Mets' prospects that we'll be doing throughout their minor league careers. In version one/chapter one (v1.1) of Bobby Parnell, we'll look at how he did at home versus the road, how he pitched with runners in scoring position, and more.

# Out Of Nowhere: The Mets drafted Bobby Parnell out of Charleston Southern University in the 9th round of the 2005 MLB Draft. Considering that his ERA rose with each passing year in college - going from 4.76 as a freshman, to 6.82 as a sophomore, before finishing his college career with an 8.86 ERA in his junior campaign - not many were expecting the dominating performance he had with the Brooklyn Cyclones last summer. Finishing with a 6.54 ERA in college, Parnell wound up with a 1.73 ERA in the NY-Penn League in his professional debut.

# Blistering Start: Parnell began his professional career in blistering fashion, opening up the NY-Penn League with 2-0 record and a 1.26 ERA in his first eight games with the Cyclones. He didn't finish out his first season too bad either. Despite going 0-3 in his last seven games, Parnell posted a tremendous 2.17 ERA over that stretch.

A big reason for his amazingly hot start was limiting his number of base runners. Opposing batters hit just .139 off of him over his first six games before NY-Penn League batters "figured" him out for a .227 average in his last seven games. Even if Parnell was to "only" pitch like he did down the stretch, he and the Mets would be very excited.

# Either Role Is Just Fine: What made Parnell's 2005 season so remarkable was his consistent success pitching either from the stretch or from the wind-up. Most young pitchers, especially those in their first professional season, tend to favor one or the other. Limiting opposing batters to a .185 batting average with the bases empty in 2005, Parnell matched that with runners on base, holding batters to a .185 average in those situations as well.

Parnell also held opposing batters to a .196 average with runners in scoring position and handcuffed leadoff hitters, containing them to a pathetic .164 clip. Still very early in his development, if Parnell can continue to display the same success pitching from both the wind-up and the stretch, he could open some doors for himself in a relief role if that is the only option available to him.

# First Inning Jitters? Overall, Parnell held opposing NY-Penn League batters to a .185 batting average in 2005. He was simply dominant from start to finish. However, if there was a time to get to him, it would have been in the first inning. Opponents hit .278 off of him in the first inning of his games.

Considering opposing batters hit just a combined .137 off of him in the following three innings of his games, 141 points lower than his first inning average allowed, it was quite evident it took Parnell at least an inning to warm up. While he pitched well from the stretch and the wind-up, the fact that he takes at least one inning to warm up could keep him in the rotation for a while, or at least send alarming signs about his warm up routines prior to games.

# What Home Field Advantage? One of the big thrills for Mets' prospects is getting the opportunity to play with the Brooklyn Cyclones at Keyspan Park. However, Keyspan Park wasn't exactly 'home sweet home' for the 6'3" right-hander. Parnell suffered all three of his losses in 2005 at home, posting a 3.16 ERA in seven games at Keyspan. However, he was simply dominant on the road, going 1-0 with a 0.65 ERA away from home.

For whatever reason, opposing batters didn't find too many holes in the Cyclones' defense when the team was on the road. Despite a higher strikeout ratio at home (9.77) than on the road (7.13), Parnell limited opposing batters to a .127 average on the road. Opponents enjoyed a .256 average at Keyspan. His home versus road splits will bear watching as he continues to progress through the Mets' farm system.

# A Very Good Sign: Aside from his consistent success pitching from both the stretch and from the wind-up, Parnell was also very consistent against both left-handed and right-handed batters. The right-handed Parnell kept left-handed batters to a .191 batting average, which wasn't too much worse than his .181 average allowed to right-handed batters.

More of a ground ball pitcher to right-handed batters, posting a better than three-to-one ground ball to fly ball ratio against them and a 1.78 ratio against lefties, Parnell actually posted a better strikeout ratio against left-handed batters. He struck out nearly ten batters per nine innings against lefties and just about seven batters per nine innings against right-handed batters. The fact that he did so well against left-handed batters, combined with the fact he is so consistent pitching with the bases empty or with runners on base, are good signs for future success.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

avi

[Guest Edgy DC]

Everytime he says "y'know," drink a shot.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

Considering how well he did last season, and the fact that he's a college guy, I'm surprised my boy hasn't been assigned to a full-season league: He'll be back at Brooklyn, looks like, or Kingsport?

If he has gone on to St. Lucie or hagerstown, I haven't seen it.

Has anyone seen my boy?

[Guest SI Metman]

Haven't come across him yet JD. My guess is spots will open up as Pelfrey and Soler move up, forcing them to move around the A ball staffs.

[Guest SI Metman]

Bobby Parnell is back. Made his debut today for Hagerstown, going 3 innings, giving up 2 unearned.