Today, Andy Martino of the Daily News tweeted that he had “heard” Bobby Parnell would be the first choice for a spot start if Johan Santana needed extra rest. He then tweeted a clarification that Parnell would be the first out of the pen in a bullpen game (a game in which multiple relievers throw 2-3 innings).
There is a lot of speculation in this report, and it’s not clear who Martino’s source was. Terry Collins? Bob Geren? The assistant clubhouse attendant?
However, this is an idea that shouldn’t be immediately dismissed. Parnell has not had success in the past as a starter (1-5, 7.93 ERA, 1.90 WHIP), but his experience came in 2009. He was a two-pitch pitcher at the time, and didn’t have much of a slider. This Spring, he has developed a knuckle curve, taught to him by Jason Isringhausen, and has throttled back the velocity of his fastball in exchange for better command. Sandy Koufax also advised him to work up and down in the zone, as opposed to just in and out. The results have been impressive.
Parnell has not allowed a run in 9.1 Innings Pitched, walking 2 and striking out 8. It’s a small sample size. It’s Spring Training. But a statistical turnaround this drastic from last year (and the year before) is hard to ignore.
Parnell, now with 3 pitches, is better suited to multiple-inning outings than he was in 2009, or any year since.
The question remains, is he the ideal choice to get a spot start, even if it’s a 3-inning appearance? Miguel Batista is the most suited bullpenner to be a spot starter. In addition, Closer de Facto Frank Francisco, who has been lit up all spring, is about to get an MRI on his knee. Wouldn’t Parnell be more valuable as a set up man to Jon Rauch or Ramon Ramirez?
If Francisco loses any time, the answer is yes. If not, spot-starting Parnell is not such a crazy idea.
33 comments
Bryan
4/2/2012-3:04pm at 3:04 pm (UTC -4)
It would make more sense to start Batista, being the long man and all. But in a spot start you would probably need both Batista and Parnell to give you multiple innings, so I guess who starts isn’t all that important.
I think the fact that front office people are talking about Parnell as a possible spot starter is a good sign that they are starting to believe in him as a pitcher and not just a thrower and that he’s capable of having a big role on the pitching staff. That said, he still has a lot to prove to become even an 8th inning guy.
saltygary
4/2/2012-3:28pm at 3:28 pm (UTC -4)
Especially the way he finished out last season. What they are seeing in spring training has to be more than the results on paper, or there would be no rumor.
SpencerRealDirtyMets
4/2/2012-3:20pm at 3:20 pm (UTC -4)
I’m all for it, Parnell can go for multiple innings hes proven that.
Paul Festa
4/2/2012-3:33pm at 3:33 pm (UTC -4)
Parnell tossed the first three innings of today’s win over the Braves, allowing no runs on 2 hits.
MetsFan4Decades
4/2/2012-5:22pm at 5:22 pm (UTC -4)
If I’m not mistaken, Parnell’s record of giving up no runs in ST is still intact.
Hazmet
4/2/2012-3:41pm at 3:41 pm (UTC -4)
So both the Post and the News are hearing “things” today. Media generated non-news with a couple of days to opening day. You think they could have just stuck to talking about tonights NCAA title game to keep them occupied.
I keep hearing DeNiro in my head from Goodfella’s or Casino or whatever formula mob movie: “I’ve heard things. What kind of things, You know things” yawn….
Mr North Jersey
4/2/2012-3:56pm at 3:56 pm (UTC -4)
“So both the Post and the News are hearing “things” today.”
Yea seems like Puma is the flavor of the day round the blogosphere.
Personally I’m a big fan of Vanilla Swiss Almond.
Hazmet
4/2/2012-4:08pm at 4:08 pm (UTC -4)
lol, I’m a Vanilla Swiss Almond man myself.
If they wanted a Mets related baseball story why don’t they talk about DirectTV not having an agreement with Channel 11 so as of April 1st us DirectTV subscribers have zippo on Mets on WPIX. But no, let’s talk hypothetical player roles. oy.
Ceetar
4/2/2012-4:27pm at 4:27 pm (UTC -4)
Because they’re at all the games so they don’t care about things like that. What, you think they were writing articles based on what fans want?
Mr North Jersey
4/2/2012-4:48pm at 4:48 pm (UTC -4)
Well sticking with the ice cream metaphors some like chocolate some vanilla and some like Neapolitan. Everyone has their own personal flavors.
Now excuse me as I go get me some Good Humor Toasted Almond Bar.
Hazmet
4/2/2012-6:35pm at 6:35 pm (UTC -4)
Sad but true commentary on some journalists. But then again at least we have the blogosphere to help fill in some of the blanks.
saltygary
4/2/2012-4:56pm at 4:56 pm (UTC -4)
I am so tired of that BS. This is the first year in I think 9 years that I am not getting the baseball package through DTV. It goes up every hear and just couldn’t do $250 this season. Now MLB.tv is $120 less and I can get the same content through my xbox and ipad, so I am doing that. Hopefully the PIX doesn’t effect that. And don’t get me wrong I love DTV, this is MLB and the local station BS usually.
Now they only got PIX either last year or the year before and PIX generally just does weekend games. And if it’s a Saturday day game you won’t get it anyway due to the blackout rules with Fox’s game of the week contract. If it’s not a “local” game then the only game you can watch between 1pm-6:59pm is the local Fox affiliate. So you might not be as SOL as you think.
Hazmet
4/2/2012-6:27pm at 6:27 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah, it shouldn’t be that bad. As my wife observed for games on WPIX just get a pair of rabbit ear antenna’s and hook’m up. With TV’s now I’d need to get an adapter just to hook it up to the back somehow… might be like the old days when as a kid we’d have to stand holding one of the antenae for better reception.
It just annoys me further considering I was Program Manager about 8 years ago that oversaw the development of 2 proprietary chips that go into the telemetry adapter module for their satellites it really pisses me off.
darknova306
4/2/2012-7:54pm at 7:54 pm (UTC -4)
Use mlb.tv and download Tor. It bounces your data packets through proxy servers all over the place, so you easily get outside the blackout rules. I’m so sick of these ridiculous non-competitive contracts going around to force you to pay for cable to watch your local team despite paying for a service that should allow you to watch them.
Stick
4/2/2012-4:13pm at 4:13 pm (UTC -4)
And yet one more reason to be real careful reading too much into ST stats:
“Everything felt great. I had a good two-seamer,” Parnell said. “And they’re probably ready to go up north, so they were swinging early”
Also, just saw that Cain is likely off the table.
MetsFan4Decades
4/2/2012-5:24pm at 5:24 pm (UTC -4)
As is Votto, so I’m reading. Not the we need a first baseman.
I can’t decide if I want the Phillls to give up some big contract for Hamels and spend even more money, or lose him to FA. Probably either one works for me.
kingman 26
4/2/2012-6:05pm at 6:05 pm (UTC -4)
Eh, probably more fabricated baloney.
If Parnell can ever harness another pitch, he could be a great closer.
What would be more ideal than Parnell putting it together sometime this year and we can jettison Francisco or make him be 8th inning guy as he should be, and we have a cheap homegrown closer.
Martino has the credibility of a sick alley cat.
Paul Festa
4/2/2012-6:26pm at 6:26 pm (UTC -4)
LOL, that’s not very credible.
kingman 26
4/2/2012-6:34pm at 6:34 pm (UTC -4)
gategem
4/2/2012-7:19pm at 7:19 pm (UTC -4)
Nothing wrong with the “Stray Cat Strut.”
kingman 26
4/2/2012-6:09pm at 6:09 pm (UTC -4)
“According to Mike Puma of the New York Post, Terry Collins said Parnell could be used for multiple innings of relief, but will not be used to make spot starts.”
From Metsblog–note the “according to Terry Collins” part–not according to Martino’s inane imagination–sorry Paul but I think still hoping Parnell is the closer of the future is the clear path for this team.
Hazmet
4/2/2012-6:31pm at 6:31 pm (UTC -4)
Agree with you on Parnell, in for a penny in for a pound at this stage. I say go all in now since no one else is stepping up.
Also on Martino, remember last year his innuendo that the Mets were an anti-Hispanic team since they were looking to cut Castillo. I believe that was his fine pulitzer worthy effort.
kingman 26
4/2/2012-6:33pm at 6:33 pm (UTC -4)
I sure do remember that; a truly idiotic and irresponsible piece about a team that most definitely was not anti-Hispanic nor did they cater to anti-Hispanic fans.
I apologize to those who admire all of these reporters–and surely some are good–but some most definitely exaggerate and fabricate simply to get attention. Martino being a classic example.
Hazmet
4/2/2012-6:51pm at 6:51 pm (UTC -4)
knog – unrelated, ever seen one of these:
http://www.guitarfail.com/guitar-urinal-return/
I couldn’t believe someone came up with this.
kingman 26
4/2/2012-10:23pm at 10:23 pm (UTC -4)
Oh. My. God.
The best urinal I have ever seen is one in the men’s room right off the casino in the Main Street Station hotel in downtown Las Vegas—the owner bought and imported a big chunk of the Berlin Wall and has several urinals mounted on it. Yes, really.
ConnorUAF
4/2/2012-8:26pm at 8:26 pm (UTC -4)
I sure hope he isn’t the future closer. Why are the Mets so stubborn? The Parnell experiment didn’t work, and neither did the Pelfrey experiment, yet both of them are still around.
Every player every spring has some “huge breakthrough,” when in reality, it’s nothing.
NJstuckinTX
4/2/2012-9:40pm at 9:40 pm (UTC -4)
Once he can prove to me that he can get people out consistently during the season, then maybe we can mess with turning him into a starter. Though, I’d probably take Parnell over Pelfrey at this point regardless…
kingman 26
4/2/2012-10:21pm at 10:21 pm (UTC -4)
Connor, you don’t give up on someone with an arm like Parnell until you absolutely have to; you certainly don’t when you are as mediocre and thin as the Mets are. Guys from Nolan Ryan to Randy Johnson to Heath Bell have developed relatively late. Sometimes guys who relied on throwing so hard since they were kids take a longer time to develop the secondary pitch(es) needed to succeed. With Parnell’s velocity, if he DOES develop a good curve and/or another secondary pitch, he could be devastating as a closer.
NJstuckinTX
4/2/2012-9:37pm at 9:37 pm (UTC -4)
Further bit of Constructive Criticism – Maybe have on the “recent comments” section which post said person is commenting on. With all the posts going up (which is, how we say in Texas, “Uhhhh… Cool.”), it’s tough to follow who is saying what and where.
Stickguy
4/2/2012-11:40pm at 11:40 pm (UTC -4)
just mouse over the time stamp and it tells you. I had the same reaction at first.
NJstuckinTX
4/3/2012-9:05am at 9:05 am (UTC -4)
But that involves effort…
Thanks holmes.
gategem
4/3/2012-12:49am at 12:49 am (UTC -4)
I saw this column by KEN DAVIDOFF over at Newsday and I found the following excerpt interesting.
Best defense
“John Dewan is well-known in baseball circles as a defense statistical guru. The president of Baseball Info Solutions, which services about half of the 30 major-league teams, Dewan relies on a constantly improving system of video analysis to produce his defensive ratings and projections.
The Mets, Dewan added, attained “addition by subtraction” on the defensive side by losing Jose Reyes to Miami. Reyes cost the Mets 13 runs with his glove last year; replacement Ruben Tejada is projected to be responsible for only one run against the Mets’ ledger.”
http://www.newsday.com/sports/columnists/ken-davidoff/baseball-insider-and-7th-inning-stretch-1.3621305
MetsFan4Decades
4/3/2012-7:47am at 7:47 am (UTC -4)
I’ve been seeing this debate over the winter on more than one site. Probably in an effort to make us all feel better about losing Reyes. LOL.
Seriously though, Reyes has a bullet for an arm and up through last year saw no slowing down on that. But his defense in the field has regressed somewhat since he first came up. I’m a little leery of some defensive stats – and can’t read this article b/c it’s behind Newsday’s ‘pay’ site – but I wouldn’t exactly say he’s a butcher out there at SS. I think Ruben has a strong arm too but is his defense that much better than Reyes’ at at SS? I honestly don’t know. His range might not match Jose’s but he’s made some fine plays out there. I always thought his defense was better suited for 2nd, but maybe with a full year at SS under his belt, by the end of this season he’ll prove those projected stats correct.