Prior to the 2009 season, Bobby Parnell knew that he was, by no means, guaranteed to make the Opening Day roster. Nonetheless, he worked hard and pitched very well in Spring Training, which him earned a spot on the 25-man roster.
His role with the team was supposed to be the seventh inning bridge to J.J. Putz and Francisco Rodriguez, and foor the first half of the year his role on the team was just that.
Parnell embraced his spot in the bullpen rather nicely and in the first two months of the season he compiled a very impressive ERA of 2.13.
During this time period he also maintained a respectable K:BB ratio of 19:9.
After getting roughed up a bit in the month of June, Parnell returned to form in July by pitching 10.1 scoreless innings.
What impressed me the most about Parnell was his velocity. At times, his fastball was clocked at 100 mph, and normally hovered somewhere within the 94 mph range.
Unfortunately mid-way through the season, like many other teammates, Parnell was thrust into somewhat uncharted territory when he was called upon to join the starting rotation.
To be fair, Parnell had spent his minor league career as a starter, but he never really showed that he was more than an average starter, at best, during his four years in the Mets farm system, as his ERA generally hovered in the mid-to-high 4 range.
On August 15th, Parnell made his first start as a New York Met, going up against the San Francisco Giants. His debut was stellar as he pitched six scoreless innings, while striking out seven batters.
The success was short-lived and Parnell was rocked in the following three outings against division rivals, Atlanta and Philadelphia, as well as the Chicago Cubs.
In those three games alone, Parnell was clobbered for 22 earned runs in only 12.2 innings pitched. In simpler terms he gave up, on average, nearly two runs per inning.
Despite not having much success, aside from another shut-out performance, Parnell remained in the rotation until mid-September due to the team not having any other options.
Upon being moved from the rotation back to the bullpen, he finished the year strong by hurling 6.1 innings and only allowing one run.
One of the main reasons behind Parnell’s lack of success last year was the fact that many of his secondary pitches were unpolished and he ended up relying too much on his fastball.
While a pitcher may be able to get away with throwing fastball after fastball for one inning or so, it just doesn’t work when they face the same batters two or three times in a game.
I know it’s been said before, but Parnell really needs to develop secondary pitches in order to become an effective starter. Surprisingly, when the Mets wanted to send him to winter ball to work on these pitches, the righty declined, citing fatigue.
Until he has better command of his “other stuff”, Parnell should remain in the bullpen where he has shown he can flourish.
Final Verdict:
Unless he is shipped out in a trade, Bobby Parnell should be in a New York Mets uniform next year and rightfully so. Despite not having much success as a starter in 2009, he did prove to be a very effective reliever.
On top of that, Parnell made the league minimum of $400,000 last year, which is cheap when you consider that even with his struggles his performance was valued at two million dollars.
Next year, I envision Parnell taking the spot that once belonged to J.J. Putz, which was setting up for Frankie Rodriguez. Depending on how well he performs, it wouldn’t surprise me if one day he took over the role as closer after Rodriguez departs.
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It’s a short resume and, i may be wrong, but i was never a fan of Parnell, privately urging the Mets to trade him when the planet was raving about him blowing the Red Sox away.
That’s because, his minor league stats were putrid. Phil,
you’re too kind. Plus, i think it’s a red flag when a power pitcher gives up more hits than innings pitched. And the fact that he declined to pitch this winter tells me he’s either hurt or doesn’t have the work ethic to develop as a good pitcher in the Majors.
If he has any trade value, i say trade him maybe to the Dodgers: Castillo and Parnell for Pierre and Blake..or somewhere for a piece we need.
Nice post Phil. I must say that I thought it was stupid and irresponsible of the Mets to even consider send Parnell to play Winter Ball. After all the injuries this team sustained, the Mets have shown that they learned very little from their mistakes. They were already playing with fire after they thrust Parnell into the rotation, and then continued to let him rack up appearances on his young arm. I’m glad Parnell had the smarts to say no to the Mets, as his decision probably saved him from a season ending injury. As for next year, I still think he needs more seasoning before being thrust in the setup role, but I wont be broken up by it if the Mets go that way. I would prefer they bring in someone with more experience.
i heartily disagree. The guy pitched 88 innings in 2009. Now, perhaps Manuel over-used him as well as anybody else that was doing well for any period of time…but 88IP over the course of a season for a reliever isn’t odious. Phil Hughes pitched 92 innings, including the playoffs, and Joba, under the Joba ,pitched 163IP, including the playoffs.
And Tobi Stoner, pitched 9 innings for the Mets, 97 IP for Buffalo and id still hurling in the VSL (doing damn well i might add).
i think Parnell is either hurt or lacks a good work ethic. His 5+ ERA didn’t ‘blow away’ anybody in 2009, for sure. The guy has pitches to work on, or he’ll never make it.
If he’s hurt, i can understand it, but the Mets should know. If he has any value at all on the trading block, the Mets should trade him. Unless he devotes time and hard work to develop his secondary pitches, he’s not going to make it.
BOB, IN ONE SENSE, U ACTUALLY MAKE SENSE; BUT IN THE REALM OF THE REQUIRED “PATIENCE” NEEDED FOR YOUNGER CALLUPS, U FAIL. WHAT IS THIS? THE YANKEES, PASS-FAIL GRADING SYSTEM?
HOW’S THIS FOR CONSIDERATION…PITCHERS ABLE TO MUSTER TRIPLE DIGIT HEAT ARE FAIRLY RARE & CERTAINLY SHOULD BE NURTURED; NOT ABUSED. LET’S ALL TRY TO KEEP A PERSPECTIVE THAT PERHAPS HE WASN’T FULLY ACCLAIMATED TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF “ON DEMAND” PITCHING A BULLPEN DENISON NEEDS; HAVING BEEN DEVELOPED AS A SP ON REG ROUTINE OF 5D REST BETWEEN APPEARANCES, I THINK MORE THAN A SINGLE SEASON SHOULD BE ALLOWED FOR ACCLIMATION TO “ON-DEMAND” SUCCESS. IF THE KID’S ARM WAS TIRED, ADDING MORE WORK IS DESPERATIONLY REQUESTING CAREER ENDING ISSUES. SEE TYLER YATES. DID WE FORGET GEN K SO SOON? PRIOR TO ‘09 ALL I’VE READ ON THIS KIDS’ OUTLOOK WAS AS A BP ARM; YET WE KEPT HIM AS ROTATIONAL THROUGHOUT MILB EVELOPMENT. PERHAPS ‘09 SHOULD’VE BEEN HIS LAST DEVELOPMENT YR OF CONVERSION TO PEN WHILE STILL IN MINORS.
IT’S AMAZING HOW MANY OF US COMMENTATORS SCREAM FOR YOUNG DEVELOPING ADDITIONS YET FAIL MISERABLY TO HAVE THE REQUIRED PATIENCE. AT THE FIRST SIGN OF DIFFICULTY, NYers SCREAM, “OFF WITH HIS HEAD!” OR “KILL THE BUM!” NOT EVERY PLAYER IN THE HOF WAS A DAY 1 PHENOM WHO NEVER LOOKED BACK, SOME ACTUALLY REQUIRED PATIENCE FOR DEVELOPMENT. ARE U OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER HOW WILD “THE UNIT” WAS EARLY OR HOW BLISTERED NOLAN RYAN WAS REPLETE WITH WLID STREAK.
I agree. If only the Mets exercised more patience with Heath Bell.
Give Parnell one more year in the bullpen. Its clear he doesnt want the pressure of being a starter and thus probably wouldnt make a good setup guy/closer since he was pretty terrible in that spot as well. I have no problems with him being a 7th inning guy. He wasn’t bad in that role last season.
Bobby Parnell should have a spot in the BP for 2010 as long as the Mets put some effort into actually giving him some menaningful coaching to develop his abilities to a higher level. Secondary pitches have been talked about, but when are the Mets going to put some effort into actually giving him some real coaching regarding that? I have no problem, on the other hand, with roll him into a trade to fill one f the critical holes. If the Mets are unable to develop him further, then the best course of action is to trade him. It’s all up to the coaching competence of the organization.
Okay, i’ll agree with you guys, but i do have reservations aboutthe kid. Itt bothers me that he gives up more hits than IP. Says he doesn’t have control and command…but okay, he’ll be 26 next September (i think)…and you guys are right, a 97 – 100mph pitcher is rare.
i’ll be patient with him. Thanks.
I liked Parnell a lot out of the bullpen, I hated putting him in the starting rotation. Just because he came up as a starter doesn’t mean he has to be a starter for his career. I would like to see him to continue out of the pen.