Parnell was 1-5 with a 7.93 ERA in eight starts for the Mets.

Parnell was not very upset, telling reporters:

“I wasn’t performing well enough to stay there,” Parnell said, “so I totally understand. I’m not discouraged.”

In addition, Jerry Manuel had this to say about Parnell:

“He was probably not advancing at the level that we would want him to be…I think the one thing that it’s given him is versatility at least.”

…i would think that he would be more versatile if he could be a reliable starter as well as a reliever, and he seems to be better suited for the bullpen, which doesn’t show me versatility…

Parnell will return to the rotation in Winter Ball this year, but it doesn’t appear likely that he is a part of the Mets rotation plans for 2010.

Manuel told reporters:

“I have to see and know where he is individually and mentally, if we feel it is somewhat productive to keep giving him an opportunity.”

…personally, i feel bad for Parnell…but at the same time the team needs to explore other viable options for next season, and Bobby hasn’t shown that he can consistently get Major League hitters out as a starter…

…i do think that a return to the bullpen in the setup role is where he should be…he was effective early in the year and i think that he is very talented and with a little more seasoning, he can be a valuable commodity for the Mets…

After the game, Parnell told reporters:

“It was a good feeling out there.”

…i’d have to agree…i have to say i was charged up for the first time in a long time when he was able to induce that comebacker to end the inning…

Despite the positive performance, David Wright wants Parnell to be able to find some consistency, telling reporters:

“He’s got to find that middle ground…where the highs aren’t so high and the lows aren’t so low.”

Jerry Manuel praised Parnell’s ability to get out of that bases loaded jam in the seventh inning, saying:

“I thought he had a pretty good chance because I thought he was still throwing the ball pretty well…That’s part of his maturation process. That was huge for us.”

In addition, Manuel had this to say about Parnell in general:

“He’s a guy that has a tremendous, tremendous arm…And they’re very rare.”

…he does have a great arm and it was really exciting to see him strikeout Kosuke Fukudome on a 97 mph fastball in the seventh inning, as he was around the 100-pitch mark…

…what i think the club needs to determine is whether or not he has the ability to mature, and that comes down to his mental makeup…i don’t think anyone has ever questioned the physical talent, but like a lot of players, what’s going on in his head and therefore would he be part of the solution…

“I felt good at the end and still had stuff in the tank,” Parnell told reporters following the game.

Basically, it was like a typical relief outing, except he pitched the first three innings not the last.

He had a rough first inning, used 29 pitches, he seemed anxious, walked two batters, and allowed a hit and a run.  He relied on his fastball a lot, still, and could not command his slider.

He has to be more economical with his pitches, obviously.

Prior to yesterday’s game, Jerry Manuel said Parnell would only be allowed to throw around 65 pitches. 

Manuel said Parnell will throw 85 pitches or so in his next start.

“I think he’s got a chance to be a good starter,” Manuel said after the game.

Again, it’s hard not to be intrigued by the idea of Parnell as a starter, but last night was impossible to judge.

Parnell had been 2–3 with a 3.74 ERA and a 1.60 WHIP in 45.2 innings in relief this season, while striking out 38 batters.

Parnell, who pitched as a starter in the minor leaguers, told reporters that being a starting pitcher in the major leagues is a dream come true.

First off, this is a necessary move – especially considering the state of the season, and knowing the team will only have around $20 million to spend on new acquisitions in the off season – and so, if they’re going to need a starting pitcher, and they will, if not two, it would be nice to know how parnell might fit in to those plans.

The popular concern seems to be whether he will rely on his fastball as a starter in the same way he did as a reliever.  The thing is, he apparently has a very good slider, and he’s been working on a splitter.  However, he rarely gets a chance to throw them, always being aggressive in relief.  So, it will be interesting to see how he works in these additional pitches, especially during the second time through the batting order.

In addition, Mike Pelfrey will start Monday in Arizona.

…as Matt reported earlier, it had been speculated that Parnell would take over for Jon Niese and i think that they have nothing to lose at this point by seeing what he has to offer as a starter…they need to explore all options at this point…

…i never thought the Mets would move him back to the rotation, because of the success he has had in the bullpen… however, maybe they learned their lesson with Aaron Heilman… who knows… the thing with parnell, though, like so many young pitchers, is whether he can command his secondary pitches, specifically the split-finger fastball he’s been working on since spring training… nevertheless, at this point, he most certainly should get a chance for a few starts… at worst, he’s a bust, and they know he has value still in the bullpen… however, what if he’s a success…

Meanwhile, according to Adam Rubin in the Daily News, Elmer Dessens is expected to replace Niese on the roster.

Bobby Parnell

He pitched two innings in relief on Monday.

Following today’s game, Jerry Manuel said the Mets have been considering whether to move Parnell back to the rotation.

Parnell later told reporters he knew moving him back to the rotation had been discussed.

Last season for Double-A, before being promoted to the Mets, Parnell had been 10–6 with a 4.30 ERA n 24 starts.

…i bet parnell replaces Jon Niese next time through the rotation… i mean, at this point, why not… frankly, i am skeptical, because he seemingly lacked a strong secondary pitch in the bullpen, which will be all the more important when working a second and third time through the rotation… that said, if the Mets need a starter, it may as well go to parnell, so they can see what he’s got…

The 28–year-old Hairston hit .299 with 10 HR and 14 doubles in 197 at bats for San Diego this season.

Hairston is arbitration eligible through 2011, after which he can be a free agent.

Rosenthal also reports on the market for Braves RHP Javier Vazquez and Royals infielder Mark Teahen; and whether the Indians will trade OF Matt LaPorta for a top pitching prospect.

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 just two of the last 11 batters he faced, spanning three games.

As such, the New York Post writes, “The beleaguered Parnell should have monogrammed ‘B.P.’ on the baseballs he threw in yesterday’s seventh inning, serving notice those pitches were for batting-practice purposes only.”

…it’s not rocket surgery, though, i mean, parnell has nothing on his his secondary pitches, and so people are teeing off on his fastball, which he’s been throwing right over the plate…

Later, Sean Green faced three batters and gave up three hits.

In fact, the 2005 Reds are the only other team in the last 60 years to have two relievers face three or more batters in one game and give up hits to each batter, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, courtesy of ESPN.com.

…it really is amazing… i mean, it was just a few days ago that the bullpen was viewed as the strong part of the team, not just according to my eyeballs, but also according to the stats… but, boom, the wheels just totally fell off… it could be they’re a bit overworked, given how the short the rotation has been… it could be the odd weather… it could just be a collective slump… who knows…

Manuel, speaking to reporters about his bullpen’s struggles, said:

“What I need to do is really refresh the bullpen.  I probably, to a fault, use them too much.  I have to do all I can to refresh them and that will help.  What I have to do is trust the other people I have down there.”

Parnell has pitched in five of the team’s last six games.

However, according to the New York Post, Parnell disagreed, saying, “I don’t think Jerry owes me a break, I owe him a few outs… I’ve got to get better.”