New arrival: Bobby Parnell

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

Thanks, Metman. Was getting a little worried.

Hagerstown could use his help.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

Told the kid to watch his obliques.

Baseball America:

Parnell led the short-season New York-Penn League in ERA in his debut last summer, but had his full season debut delayed by a strained oblique suffered just before the start of spring training. Yesterday the 21-year-old allowed two unearned runs in three innings while fanning three and walking two and took a no-decision as Hagerstown fell to Lakewood 3-2. "We had to take him out of the game a little earlier then we wanted to because he had a 33-pitch inning," Barton said. "There was kind of a costly error behind him which kept the inning alive. He kind of lost focus a little bit and walked a few guys. "Our Mets policy is that we don't want kids throwing over 30-pitch innings and he was at 33 so we didn't want to run him back out there, especially coming off of an injury." Parnell threw a total of 64 pitches and had his fastball was clocked as high as 92 mph and he showed strong feel for his changeup.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Good policy.

And good policy by adopters to go for adoptees who aren't on the fast track, but who need your nurturing to develop.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Page 291 of the Mets 2006 Media Guide is the cover to their "Minor Leagues" section. The cover model? Bobby Parnell about to let rip a slider, that's who.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

Bobby's holding his own at Hagerstown so far, yet could still use some work on his control.

3-6, 4.23 in 12 appearances, all starts, and one CG. In 61.2 IP, he's whiffed 57 but walked 24 and allowed 57 hits but just 6 HRs.

Here's a recent photo, C 2006, The Salisbury Post:


And here's his real dad, the Fire Chief (right):

[Guest Edgy DC]

It seems to me that he's cocked to come over the top there. Hadn't he been more of a 3/4 slinger?

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

Good question.

He looks 3/4ths here:


Hard to tell here:


Also worth noting he's been No. 39 in both stops so far.

[Guest Edgy DC]

I'm thinking of back when he was 144 pounds and pitching with a firstbaseman's mitt.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

Bobby lost his last outing Thursday and is now 5-8, 3.97 in 16 starts.

These numbers aren't dominant but don't particularly suck:
81.2 IP, 71 K, 36 BB, 72 H.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

Bobby can't catch a break.

Aug. 9: 7 IP, 3 ER, 8 K, 0 BB -- but a 3-2 loss.

Aug. 15: Despite 5 whiffs in 5 innings, a costly 1st-inning error led to 4 runs and dropped his mark to 5-10 on the year.

That said, the cool website Minorleaguesplits.com reports the following tidbitz: He's held opponents to a .239 batting average against and is whiffing 8 guys an inning. Of 271 batted balls against him, 150 have been grounders, 64 have been fly balls, 15 have been pop-ups (nice ratio, must be working that heavy sinker), 37 have been line drives, and 5 have been bunt attempts. Who counts this stuff up?

They also do a thingy called "Major League Equivalencies" that applies a multiple based on degree of difficulty and attempts to give a picture of what they'd be doing in the big leagues today. This bit of imagination -- that's what it is -- suggests Bobby'd be whiffing --- and walking -- 11 guys per 9 innings (!) and opponents would be hitting nearly .400 off him.

I'm certain these MLE's are whackier the further you get away from the big leagues, so Sally League MLEs have got be be taken with a lot of salt.

[seawolf17]

[quote="Johnny Dickshot"]That said, the cool website Minorleaguesplits.com reports the following tidbitz: He's held opponents to a .239 batting average against and is whiffing 8 guys an inning. Of 271 batted balls against him, 150 have been grounders, 64 have been fly balls, 15 have been pop-ups (nice ratio, must be working that heavy sinker), 37 have been line drives, and 5 have been bunt attempts. Who counts this stuff up?

[Guest Edgy DC]

I've since found out on good authority that the shot of Bobby bringing it three quarters is from his high school days, and he's actually playing first, throwing to the plate after taking a throw and making the out on the base.

I guess there were about a dozen visual clues in the shot that should have made that clear to me. But what do you want? The Mets drafted a pitcher and that's the shot MLB.com had of him.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

Bobby was promoted to St. Lucie, where he's made 2 starts. Most recently, he went 4.2 IP vs. Daytona, whiffing 5 and giving up a single run, and allowing 4 walks in a no-decision.

Don't know offhand whether time exists for him to get another outing this year. Are the Lucies playoff bouind?

[Guest Edgy DC]

St. Lucie is the ffirst half division winner, so they hit the playoffs no matter how things work out.

The split season is a pretty good system for minor league teams, because the roster they finish with rarely resembles the one they start with. The first half championship gives the better players something to play for as a unit before they get re-assigned and replaced by older draftees and extended spring training refugees.

[Benjamin Grimm]

If that's the case, then when the playoffs start, isn't the first-half team represented by a bunch of guys who had nothing to do with winning that title?

[MFS62]

[quote="Yancy Street Gang":3njtw6ij]If that's the case, then when the playoffs start, isn't the first-half team represented by a bunch of guys who had nothing to do with winning that title?[/quote:3njtw6ij]

Yes

Later

[Guest Edgy DC]

Some teams --- Mets included --- have been known to relegate players downward at playoff time, reasoning that they were part of the team earlier in the year, and so have a right to be there.

[Guest baseballfan]

The Mets assigned Parnell, and four other minor league players to the Hiawaii Winter League. Play starts October 01, 2006 and runs until November 22, 2006.

Just for conversation: It seems like playing in Hiawaii is better, in terms of assignment and development, then going to instructs in PSL.... especially for a pitcher... A position player would certainly get more reps in the field at Instructs, and more at bats, but a pitcher can only throw some much......your thoughts?

[MFS62]

[quote="baseballfan":37y5g2ob]The Mets assigned Parnell, and four other minor league players to the Hiawaii Winter League. Play starts October 01, 2006 and runs until November 22, 2006. Just for conversation: It seems like playing in Hiawaii is better, in terms of assignment and development, then going to instructs in PSL.... especially for a pitcher... A position player would certainly get more reps in the field at Instructs, and more at bats, but a pitcher can only throw some much......your thoughts?[/quote:37y5g2ob]

Welcome, Baseballfan Jim!

It depends on how the teams in each fall league are constructed. In the AFL, each team is composed of players from several organizations, with limits on how much they can play. I'm not sure if your players are being coached by someone from another organization that they would get all the development they might if they were coached by folks from their own organization.

Later

[Guest Edgy DC]

A lot of the pitchers that get fall and winter assignments had limited use during the summer, either because they pitched in short-season leagues, were recovering from injuries, or were in the back end of the bullpen for part of the season.

Others are such fringe prospects that the increased exposure is worth the extra workload.

The seasons are short anyhow, as are pitchers' outings.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

I hope Bobby leaves that Tiki idol right where he finds it. I don't need to remind you about Greg's surfing accident and the Jan-Tarantula encounter.

Best of luck in sunny Hawaii: I'll send my friends & relatives out there to have a look.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Reason 11 why Bobby was Brady Number One.

By getting himself and Cindy lost in the Grand Canyon in one three-part episode, and the family cursed by black magic in another, he brought a darkness into the sunniest of shows. His faux pas also brought the traditional dances of Native Americans and Hawaiian naitves into the show.

Back to Bobby Parnell, who won't be cursed,

despite being named Bobby

and going to Hawaii.

Shit.

[Guest baseballfan]

Parnell has had two relief appearances in Hawaii thus far. 2 innings each, only 1 run, 4 Ks, and 1 BB.... No word on the "Tiki Idol". I wonder if he's found any grass skirts....if you know wht I mean.

The cool thing is that he is playing on the team with Roger Clemons' son, Coby. I wonder if Roger makes any of the games.

[Guest baseballfan]

I wonder if Bobby found that Tiki Idol Saturday morning! He was scheudled as the starting pitcher on Saturday evening, so I'd think the ""Bobby in Hawaii"" powers are at work again. Game postponed.

Earth Quake skook him out of bed, but no damage nearby. No electrical power for a whole day, otherwise all is fine. All ball players are fine.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

It's Sunny Drive Time in Hawaii again.

[MFS62]

[quote="Johnny Dickshot"]It's Sunny Drive Time in Hawaii again.

[MFS62]

From the BaseballAmerica wrapup of the AFL:

While righthander Bobby Parnell had a 7.48 ERA in Hawaii Winter Baseball, he'd found his groove with a move to North Shore's bullpen, throwing seven scoreless innings over three outings.

Later

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

Bobby's been assigned to St. Lucie, where you might recall he ended last season.

On track!

[MFS62]

From Baseball America:

Parnell Impressing in FSL Posted May. 16, 2007 3:11 pm by Chris Kline Filed under: Daily Dish Righthander Bobby Parnell is back to being Bobby Parnell, and the 22-year-old Mets righthander might even be more than that. The 2005 ninth-round pick out of Charleston Southern burst on the prospect scene right after the draft, leading the short-season New York-Penn League with a 1.73 ERA in his first exposure to pro ball. But Parnell took a step back in his first full season in 2006, first putting up 5-10, 4.04 numbers in 94 innings at low Class A Hagerstown and then was pummeled in three starts in St. Lucie. And even though Parnell allowed a season-high four earned runs on seven hits over 3 2/3 innings in St. Lucie’s 4-3 loss to Palm Beach on Tuesday, there are plenty of reasons to believe he’s for real. Parnell’s fastball has been sitting anywhere from 92-to-96 mph, touching 97. He also has a power 84 mph slider and a workable changeup. “I was very impressed,�

Johnny Dickshot Jun 05 2007 08:20 AM

Bobby continues to kick major patootie in the minors. He's 3-3, 3.25 with 62 whiffs in 55.1 IP for St. Lucie -- 12 games, all starts.

Edgy DC Jun 05 2007 08:37 AM

I'm going to go ahead and disagree with Daily Dish, and say that a 4.04 ERA in Hagerstown wasn't such a bad showing.

Johnny Dickshot Jun 06 2007 08:06 PM

Promoted to AA Bingo, starting this weekend.

Johnny Dickshot Jun 12 2007 10:23 PM

5 IP, 2 ER, no decision in his Bingo debut

Edgy DC Jun 13 2007 02:29 PM

I guess his promotion ruins it for him, but Bobby was named --- along with shortstop Jose Castro and cather Drew Butera --- to the Florida State League All-Star Game.

Johnny Dickshot Jun 17 2007 08:41 PM

Nother ND the other day but 6 IP, 6 Ks, and 2 ER.

Edgy DC Jun 22 2007 11:57 AM

Dude, I'm totally embarrassed. Your boy exited with a 6-3 lead over Reading, turned the game over to Serfass tension and it ended an 8-6 loss. He's upstairs right now thinking about just what he's done, and we'll be over later to talk about it.

Frayed Knot Jan 17 2008 10:44 AM

Minor League guru John Sickels wighs in on Parnell: ... has a 90-95 MPH sinking fastball, and a slider which is often overpowering. He gets plenty of ground balls, but his changeup is below average, and Double-A hitter exposed this weakness. His track record, in college and as a pro, is erratic. He clearly has the arm strength to succeed, but is still making the transition from thrower to pitcher. He's a least a year away from being ready for the majors. My guess is that he'll have to move to the bullpen to succeed in the majors.

AG/DC Jan 17 2008 10:49 AM

I don't think so. I think a guy with spotty consistency like him needs to start so he cna make adjustments as he goes along.

Benjamin Grimm Jan 17 2008 11:13 AM

If he's any good the Mets should throw him onto the pile of players that they'll send to the Twins for Santana. Why leave any talented young players in the system?

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jul 19 2008 08:11 PM

Baseball America reports from AA All-Star Game: A few pitchers did flash potential as solid bullpen arms, most notably the Mets� Bob Parnell. The Binghamton righthander sat with his fastball at 93-94 mph, touching 97 a few times. Parnell, who in 105 innings has a 3.94 ERA and a 76-49 K-BB mark, allowed a home run. With his non-fluid arm action and additional velocity in a one-inning stint (as a starter he operates in the low-90s, touching 95), the 23-year-old Parnell could end up in the bullpen, though the Mets will likely given him the opportunity to continue starting.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Aug 09 2008 07:20 PM

Promoted to AAA to take the rotation spot of Brian Stokes.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Aug 12 2008 08:46 AM

Rockin the International League, knockin on the bullpen door Bobby Parnell was the winning pitcher in his Triple-A debut for New Orleans on Monday. He allowed five hits and two runs in six innings in a 3-2 victory against Memphis. He struck out five and walked two. Parnell retired 12 of 15 batters during four scoreless innings to begin the game, and Memphis tied the score with a two-run fifth. Parnell batted in the top of the seventh, popping up a bunt to fall to 0-for-3 at the plate. Jesus Feliciano hit a go-ahead RBI single in the next at-bat. Parnell threw 88 pitches, and 53 were strikes. Back-to-back hits, including a triple, with two away produced Memphis' runs.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Aug 17 2008 08:47 PM

Bobby took a perfect game into the 5th inning of his last outing but then got hammered for 4 runs on 5 hits including a steal of home, and he took the loss. Still, he had 10 Ks in 5 IP and four great innings and one bad one.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Aug 22 2008 09:50 AM

Bobby Parnell didn;t get out of the 3rd inning last night in Albequerque -- triple, walk, single, triple, walk. 5 ER in 2.1 IP and a loss... to Bobby Keppel.

seawolf17 Aug 22 2008 09:55 AM

Hey, I remember Bob Keppel. Not for nothing, but the dude was lights out in my computer baseball game for a few years.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Sep 03 2008 01:46 PM

Fallen firemen a driving force for pitcher Bobby Parnell By Mike London mlondon@salisburypost.com In the visitor's clubhouse at Milwaukee's Miller Park, Bobby Parnell reverently pulled on a New York Mets uniform. Butterflies danced in his belly, but the lean right-hander dressed stoically among millionaire celebrities who were preparing for a Labor Day game with pennant-race implications. Parnell stared in silent awe at his gray No. 39 road jersey. He studied the orange and blue "New York" across his chest, the perfect leg-stripe and the bright blue bill on his black cap. Then he headed for his new residence � the bullpen. On his first day in the big leagues, Parnell's thoughts were partly about $400 million Miller Park and the proper grip on his changeup. Mostly they were about Justin Monroe, a 19-year-old firefighter who died in a March blaze at Salisbury Millwork. The Mets' roots are in the blue Brooklyn Dodgers and orange New York Giants, franchises that represented the Big Apple in the National League until they joined a second California gold rush 50 years ago and relocated. Parnell's humble roots can be traced to hunting, fishing, Staton Field, Newman Park and fire stations. Parnell was invited to Spring Training by New York and reported in mid-February to the complex in Port St. Lucie, Fla. On March 7, he received word of the raging blaze that claimed the lives of Monroe and 40-year-old Victor Isler. "I tell you, it was the worst news I've ever gotten in my life, and it hit me hard," Parnell said. "It just tore me up. Justin and I were hunting and fishing all the time this offseason, and we were close. As soon as I heard, I came home." Parnell's father, Bob, is Salisbury's fire chief. Bobby has spent countless hours at the station. He's driven trucks to calls, although he's never had to pit his courage and a water hose against an inferno. Parnell and Monroe spent peaceful times in the woods as well as the station, and the conversation often turned to baseball. "Justin told me he wanted to see me play in the big leagues," Parnell said. "Justin and Victor � they've been kind of a driving force for me all year." After returning to Spring Training, Parnell faced the regular lineup for the Florida Marlins. He fanned Dan Uggla and Hanley Ramirez, a sign he wasn't far from completing an improbable journey from role player to major leaguer. Parnell was on terrific high school teams at East Rowan. The 2002 Mustangs went 21-4 with a lineup that included third-round draft pick Cal Hayes Jr., Division I signees Drew Davis, Julian Sides and Spencer Steedley and D-II signees Nick Lefko and Michael Gegorek. The most surprising signing from the group came when Parnell got an offer from Charleston Southern. As an East senior, Parnell played third base, batted .283 and was the No. 6 pitcher. He threw eight innings. East coach Guy Wirt, like Jeff Safrit before him, noticed the way balls sizzled across the infield when propelled by Parnell's loose right arm, but Parnell couldn't throw consistent strikes and there were never enough innings to go around. Parnell rarely pitched, but he played first base for the state championship Rowan Legion team that went 43-2 in 2002, and he was still eligible for Legion ball in 2003 following his freshman year at Charleston Southern. Rowan coach Jim Gantt gave him a shot as Rowan's closer. He went 2-2 with three saves and 45 strikeouts in 31 innings. But Parnell never shined at Charleston Southern. His ERA as a junior was 8.86, and opposing hitters clobbered him at a .330 clip. But the draft is about talent, not stats, and each team had Parnell somewhere on its board in 2005. The Mets had him highest. He went in the ninth round � 269th overall. New York offered $65,000. Parnell signed as soon as he could grab a pen and headed to Brooklyn for rookie ball. Many thought that was the last they'd hear of him, but he was an all-star for the Cyclones. He struggled at low A Hagerstown in 2006, but he got back on track at St. Lucie in an advanced A league and was an all-star in 2007. Parnell finished that year and opened the current season at Double-A Binghamton. Still shaken by the fire, he started miserably and was 0-2 with a 7.15 ERA after five outings. But he began challenging hitters again and became an all-star for the third time. His record was 10-6 when he was promoted to Triple-A New Orleans. His mark at New Orleans was 2-2, including an eye-catching start against the Iowa Cubs in which he retired the first 12 hitters he faced � nine on strikeouts. "I had a chance to watch their hitters five days and saw how aggressive they were," Parnell said. "I got them to expand the strike zone, and I got strikeouts from guys swinging at balls. "I couldn't tell a real big difference between Double-A and Triple-A, but Double-A hitters will miss a few mistakes. In Triple-A, whenever you make a mistake, it gets hit hard." It goes without saying National League hitters miss even fewer mistakes and hit them harder still, but Parnell has a chance because he's added an improved changeup to his sharp slider and crackling fastball. "I've always had the changeup, but I got away from using it for two years," Parnell said. "I've gotten that pitch back this year, and I'm confident I can throw any of my three pitches for strikes now." Spring Training discussions with mound artists Johan Santana and Pedro Martinez helped Parnell refine changeup mechanics and his mental approach. "Two great guys who will sit down and talk to you about anything," Parnell said. Parnell, who struck out 91 batters at Binghamton this season and another 23 at New Orleans, is still pinching himself hourly, but his big-league dream is real. "I didn't expect this," he said. "I played with so many great players � Drew, Cal, Nick � I never thought for a minute it would be me that got this opportunity." The Mets return home this weekend, and Parnell, who turns 24 on Monday, hopes for a relief role against the Philadelphia Phillies. If he's called upon, memories of the fallen firefighters will accompany him to the mound at Shea Stadium. "Their initials will always be in my cap," Parnell said. "I think about those guys every day, and I feel like they're right here with me."

metirish Sep 15 2008 08:17 PM

Looked good tonight , congrats.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Sep 15 2008 09:16 PM

First kid ever to make it to the show, and a longshot adopted five seconds after that draft. Couldn't be a prouder dad. Well, maybe I could, but I'm proud of him anywhoo.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 07 2008 11:44 AM

Local Boy Continues to Do Well Still Drinks Local Soda Gallagher column: Parnell riding wave of success Tuesday, October 07, 2008 12:58 AM We used to know him as Bobby Parnell, the country boy, who looked forward to hitting the Gas-n-Go convenience store in Granite Quarry for a hotdog and a Cheerwine. Then, he was drafted and became a professional baseball player. Now, he's Bobby Parnell, surfer dude. Well, kinda. Baseball has given Parnell, an East Rowan graduate, a tour of the United States. He has pitched for teams in places like St. Lucie, Brooklyn, New Orleans and Binghamton. However, he loves to tell the story of pitching for two months in a winter league based in Hawaii. "I went to a couple of luaus," he drawled, "and I took surfing lessons. "I just hung out, man." Hanging out is basically what Parnell did once he was called up to the New York Mets last month. The team was involved in an intense pennant race so he saw limited action: six appearances and five innings pitched. He did get a taste of big-league life, something he'd love to continue. And the bet here is, he will. The first step began Saturday when he left his parents' Barger Road home and headed to an instructional league in Arizona for a month-and-a-half. "(The Mets) said when I come to spring training, they don't know whether I'll be starting or be in the bullpen," Parnell said. "Just getting to be up there with them in a pennant race was an honor. It's definitely an experience I won't forget. It shows they had a little faith in me." - Parnell was home last week for a few days. He spent his time like you'd expect a country boy from Rowan County to: duck hunting, visiting grandma and grandpa, seeing high school buddies and playing golf. And surely, there was a Cheerwine or two swallowed. We caught up with Parnell at a Salisbury softball field, watching brother Adam play in a church league. Parnell was the only one in the park wearing a Mets pullover. Just seeing "Mets" on the front of it brought back memories of the final day of the regular season when New York lost to the Florida Marlins, completing a collapse from first place in the NL East for the second straight year. The Mets not only lost the East title, but any chance of a wild-card berth. "I'd never been in a situation like that," Parnell said. "Everybody took it pretty hard." - Parnell hurt for his new teammates because of how they treated him. "There are so many good guys on that team, it's amazing," he said. "They'll reach out to you. They lended me a lot of advice." Some of the advice included the fans and the media. "The fans will let you know how you did," Parnell grinned. "I made four appearances in Shea Stadium and was booed in one of them." That was the night he walked a man and then gave up a broken-bat single. As he walked back to the dugout after being relieved, the fans let him have it. "I knew it was coming," he laughed. "I didn't mind too much. At least, I'm there." Parnell remembers his first major-league appearance in Washington. "It's a different feeling," he said. "Everybody's looking at you. I go out there and either get the coaches on my good side or just be another guy in the pen. My adrenaline was definitely rushing." It took only eight pitches to get three outs. "I felt like I had a 100 pounds off my shoulders," he said. Parnell also can say he struck out Alfonso Soriano and Derrek Lee. As bad as the Mets bullpen was the final month, the media had to notice, right? He was asked if the New York media ever swarmed his locker. "No," he said emphatically, "which is a good thing because they're always looking for bad stories. I figured if there weren't 100 people at my locker, I was doing well." - Parnell said that after four years in the minors, his Mets' stint was nothing short of heaven. His first major-league eye-opener came in Milwaukee shortly after joining the team. "There were stained wood lockers," he said. "Everything's bigger, better and cleaner. There are people standing behind you asking, 'You need anything?' " But the money, Bobby. The money. "I think maybe now, playing one month in the big leagues, I've made minimum wage over the last four years," he chuckled. "I don't have a lot but I got a little lump there in the last month. There were a couple of days I went to Manhattan looking around and seeing what I couldn't afford." - Parnell paused for a moment as Adam came to the plate for Gloria Dei. "He said he hit a home run last week," said Bobby, who then stayed after the game to get in a few throws with Adam. Hopefully, the fireballing right-hander eased up on little brother. The radar gun has hit 99 mph in Double A, and he consistently fires in the mid-90s. That 24-year-old arm will certainly start out in Triple A or with the big club next season. It's mind-boggling to everyone around here who recalls Parnell as anything but a pitcher. That is, until Allen Wilson persuaded the Mets to draft him in the ninth round. Now, Wilson, the former South Rowan Legion and East Rowan coach, looks like a genius. And Parnell doesn't intend to let him down. "I've had some breaks and some luck," he said. "I feel like I've done the right things and kept my head on straight." If the breaks and the luck continue, Parnell may be in for a long and prosperous career. Which means he'll owe Wilson big-time. Hey, maybe during an offseason, he can take Wilson on a trip to Hawaii for a couple of luaus and some surfing ... you know, just hang out, man. - Contact Ronnie Gallagher at 704-797-4287 or rgallagher@salisburypost.com.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 24 2009 07:17 PM

newsday.com/sports/baseball/mets/ny-spmets0221,0,2625054.story Newsday.com Mets rising star Parnell's got stuff to make team BY DAVID LENNON david.lennon@newsday.com 9:19 PM EST, February 20, 2009 PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. Jose Reyes had never seen one of his bats split from the top of the barrel almost down to the knob. When the shattered half flipped in the air toward the mound, Reyes looked at the piece in his hand, shook his head and walked to retrieve the fragment. Just another victim of Bobby Parnell's evil sinker, which is what caused the bat to virtually explode on contact. Asked to describe the pitch, Reyes offered one word: "Heavy." Parnell is no fun to face, and he's about to become even more dangerous with the addition of a split-fingered fastball. Pitching coach Dan Warthen suggested that he use these next six weeks to revive his splitter, which Parnell used in college, and he plans to have a morning tutorial Saturday with J.J. Putz, who throws a nasty one. "He's going to lend a helping hand with it," Parnell said. The Mets already consider Parnell a serious threat to win a bullpen spot, and if he starts throwing a splitter like Putz's, it's going to be difficult to keep him down at Triple-A Buffalo. At 24, Parnell is a rare commodity. His fastball is a consistent 96-97 mph -- he's reached 99 -- and he's combined that with a slider and improving changeup. Add the splitter, and Parnell will get more swings and misses as it dives into the dirt. "With that power fastball at the top of the zone," Warthen said, "we wanted him to have another look with another strikeout pitch." Parnell, a ninth-round pick in 2005, got a taste of the majors last season with the Mets' bullpen in disarray. After only five games for Triple-A New Orleans in which he went 2-2 with a 6.64 ERA, Parnell made his Mets debut on Sept. 15 in Washington and retired the side on eight pitches. "I felt like I was floating off the mound," he said, "getting some quick outs like that." That composure is one of the things the Mets like best about Parnell. For an organization that tries to accelerate its prospects along the learning curve, that performance spoke volumes about Parnell's character. "We spend a lot of time working on fundamentals," said Tony Bernazard, the vice president of player development, "but we also want to know their level of maturity, how they handle a certain situation." Manager Jerry Manuel, desperate for a closer, briefly considered using the untested rookie in that role last season. It never came to that, but the Mets could use him in the bullpen this year for the sixth or seventh innings. The Mets have a number of veterans competing for bullpen spots, without many vacancies if everyone stays healthy. Francisco Rodriguez, Putz, Duaner Sanchez, Pedro Feliciano and Sean Green are locks, with two possible openings. Brian Stokes has the inside track to one of those, and the Mets would love to develop a prospect for the other. If Parnell doesn't make the team, he will start the season in the rotation at Triple-A Buffalo, but this opening could be his to lose. Said Warthen, "He's certainly going to get a good look."

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Feb 27 2009 10:52 AM

[quote="John Cougar Lunchbucket":1n9fg4hz] Just another victim of Bobby Parnell's evil sinker, which is what caused the bat to virtually explode on contact. Asked to describe the pitch, Reyes offered one word: "Heavy." [/quote:1n9fg4hz] Anytime anyone can impute malicious intent to your stuff, you've got my attention-- the worse the epithet ("nasty"<"filthy"<"evil"), the better.

OlerudOwned Feb 27 2009 12:04 PM

When Brandon Webb is throwing his Hitler, you just hope to get back to the dugout without embarrassing yourself.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

Bobby continues to kick major patootie in the minors.

He's 3-3, 3.25 with 62 whiffs in 55.1 IP for St. Lucie -- 12 games, all starts.