Note: Bobby Parnell is having a Tough Day

Yesterday, Brian Schneider hit a three-run home run off the porch to put the Mets up one run in the sixth inning.
The Mets then took the field, where Bobby Parnell faced four batters and allowed a hit to each, including a two-run home run to B.J. Upton and an RBI double to Evan Longoria.
Parnell has retired [...]

Buzz: The Stick, Dye, A.J., and LaRoche

This morning on ESPN Radio, Peter Gammons said the Nationals offered Nick Johnson to the Red Sox for 27–year-old set-up man Manny Delcarmen, who has a 0.95 ERA in 18 relief appearances for Boston.
…this makes sense, since i was told by a person connected to the team that the Nationals will likely want Bobby Parnell from [...]

Read: Parnell Making His Case

Brian Costa of The Star-Ledger profiles the young Bobby Parnell, who has apparently been impressing with his arm and his attitude.
“If he doesn’t make the Mets’ Opening Day roster, the plan is for him to be a starter at Triple-A Buffalo”, Costa writes.  “But so far, he has made a good case for himself to [...]

News: Cherry on Waivers, Parnell in Bullpen

Update, 10:55 am:
From what I can gather, Cherry will be returned to the O’s.
Original Post:
According to Adam Rubin in the Daily News, “The Mets have begun the process of returning Rule 5 pick Rocky Cherry to the Orioles.”
Cherry was placed on waivers Friday, reports Rubin, who also provides details on how much the transaction will [...]

Video: Interview with Bobby Parnell

The Mets drafted RHP Robert Parnell in the ninth round of the 2005 First-Year Player Draft.
Here is my interview today with Parnell, who talks about learning a split-finger fastball from J.J. Putz:

Here is my final question, in text, about him potentially switching from being a starting pitcher to a reliever:
Matthew Cerrone: There’s talk that you might [...]

Video: Parnell learning Split-Finger from Putz

Here is a quick 30–second video of J.J. Putz teaching a split-finger fastball to Robert Parnell – John Maine walks up mid-way, asks what they’re working on and then sticks around to watch:

Later in the day, I talked with Parnell, for an interview that SNY will upload later today, during which we talk about the [...]

Minors: Sickels Top 20 Prospect List

John Sickels has published his version of the Top 20 Mets Prospects on Minor League Ball.
Sickels believes SS-3B Wilmer Flores is the team’s top prospects, who he gives a B+, and says, “I might take some flack for this, but in this case I think his upside is higher than Fernando Martinez.  If I could have [...]

Minors: Mets Top 11 from Baseball Prospectus

The following, from Baseball Prospctus, is Kevin Goldstein’s list of the Top 11 Mets Prospects:
Four-Star Prospects: 1. OF Fernando Martinez, 2. SS Wilmer Flores, and 3. 3B Jefry Marte
Three-Star Prospects: 4. RHP Brad Holt, 5. LHP Jon Niese, 6. SS Reese Havens, and 7. RHP Jenrry Mejia
Two-Star Prospects: 8. 1B Ike Davis, 9. RHP Bobby Parnell, 10. [...]

Relief Pitcher: One Closer, Strikeouts and Youth

In a report for the Star-Ledger, Dan Graziano says a) the Mets will sign one of the big three free-agent closers, and b) they will focus on ‘strikeouts,’ when rebuilding their bullpen for 2009, according to ‘a person familiar with the team’s off-season plans.’
This is why, as Graziano explains, “the Mets are telling teams they’re not shopping Eddie Kunz [...]

Stats: Mets In AFL

Several Mets prospects are participating in this season’s Arizona Fall League for the Peoria Saguaros, who are 5-0 in their first week of action.
The following are stats for each Mets prospect playing in the AFL:
3B Shawn Bowman: .545 (6-for-11), 2 2B, 2 HR, 5 RBI
RHP Eddie Kunz: 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 2 BB, 4 K, 3.0 [...]

Opinion: The Search Goes On in the Bullpen

Last night, Duaner Sanchez entered the game with two outs and nobody on base, yet let three runs score in the seventh inning, ‘essentially putting the game away.’
Prior to Sanchez, Ricardo Rincon retired the only two hitters he faced.  Following Sanchez, rookie RHP Robert Parnell retired all three batters he faced getting two ground outs and pop [...]