Tag Archives: Robert Parnell

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 the Mets for johnson… in my opinion, this is fair, but is not worth the risk because of johnson’s history with injuries…

Parnell is 2–0 with a 1.96 ERA in 20 relief appearances for the Mets.

Gammons also said the Indians will not trade Cliff Lee or Victor Martinez.

Later, in a report for ESPN.com, Gammons wrote of more trade rumors, including players like Matt Holliday, Jake Peavy and Khalil Greene.

Meanwhile, also on ESPN.com, in his latest Rumblings & Grumblings report, Jayson Stark says the White Sox are ‘open for business,’ suggesting the team will listen to offers for OF Jermaine Dye, 1B Paul Konerko and C A.J. Pierzynski.

Stark also believes the A’s will wait until July to begin fielding offers for Matt Holliday, and suspects players like Orlando Cabrera and Jason Giambi could also become available as well.

…this is an intriguing and reasonable group of players for the Mets to consider, especially pierzynski, dye and cabrera, who would only be needed if Jose Reyes and Alex Cora are out for a super-long time…

The Mets and White Sox were connected in rumor regarding Dye throughout much of the off-season.

…if Gary Sheffield fizzles out, and Daniel Murphy is successful at first base, dye could move to left and be the missing power bat in place of Carlos Delgado… meanwhile, pierzynski is the type of catcher the Mets always talk about wanting, but never seem to go and get, i.e., a vocal, tough, infield leader…

By the way, to listen to fans and reporters, such as this chat from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, it’s seems a foregone conclusion in Pittsburgh that the Pirates will trade 1B Adam LaRoche this season.

LaRoche hit roughly .270 with 20 or so home runs and around 85 RBI in each of the last two seasons, but is hitting just .232 in 39 games for the Pirates this year.

…from what i can gather, the Mets have no interest in laroche, which i am glad to hear… i still believe murphy can match those sort of numbers if given a full season at first base, where he’ll play more or less the same caliber defense as laroche…

To vote in this week’s Fan Confidence Rating, click here.

Tagged Robert Parnell |

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 be in the Mets bullpen.”

Talking about Parnell’s potential, GM Omar Minaya said, “We thought it could take him a little time, but with his fastball and the way he pitches, we thought he could definitely be a starter still, but possibly a reliever.”

Costa continues on to give Parnell’s reaction to playing in New York, and dealing with the boos, saying, “It won’t affect me. If you’re not getting booed, you’re not playing.”

…if you’re not getting booed, you’re not playing, love it…hopefully for him,  he won’t be subjected to the hello kitty backpack this season…

For more on Parnell, read Steve Popper’s article from Tuesday in the Bergen Record, and check out Metsblog’s interview with him earlier this spring.

Tagged Regis Courtemanche, Robert Parnell |

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 cost, and where Cherry will end up if he is not claimed.

Cherry has allowed one run on five hits in four innings this spring.

…on the flip side, though, Darren O’Day has looked very good… i have a feeling he will be on the Opening Day roster, because a) he’s a Rule 5 pick, b) the Mets consider him a ‘cross-over guy,’ and c) he gives them a ‘different look,’ as they say, because he throws side arm…

Speaking of the bullpen, in the Bergen Record, Steve Popper profiles Mets 24–year-old RHP Bobby Parnell, while adding, “with the release of Duaner Sanchez, he looks like a seventh-inning setup man for the revamped bullpen.”

…frankly, i think he has to be a lock to make the bullpen… most important, he can strike a guy out, and he can pitch to both left– and right-handed hitters, plus he can start if the team is in need… he’s a no brainer, at this point…

Tagged Robert 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 pitch in the bullpen.  Obviously, you come from being a starter.  How is that different for you mentally, and what can you pick up from guys like Putz?

Robert Parnell: Well, last year coming up from the minors and going in to the bullpen, just being up here with the guys I learned a lot about myself and how to come out of the bullpen.  This year I feel like I am more prepared for it.  I’ll just go out there and throw an inning, if they need two I’ll throw two, if they need three I’ll throw three.  I just take it an inning at time.

Matthew Cerrone: Did they have any advice for you?

Robert Parnell: (Smile), uh, just stay patient and see what happens.

Matthew Cerrone: That smile suggests that maybe there was and you’re just not gonna tell me (laughing)?

Robert Parnell: Well, uhm, not really, I mean, you get here and you’re just another pitcher that’s got to prove what he’s got – so, like I said, I’m just gonna be patient and take one inning at a time.

Tagged Robert Parnell |

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 split-finger, how long it takes to develop, as well as any advice he has been given from veteran relievers on potentially switching to the bullpen.

For more on Putz, and how his teammates are reacting to his pitches, check out Steve Popper’s blog for the Bergen Record.

Tagged Robert Parnell |

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 just one of them, I’d pick Flores.”

Sickels ranks Martinez second, followed in order by LHP Jon Niese, RHP Brad Holt, SS Reese Havens, 3B Jefry Marte, RHP Jenrry Mejia, RHP Robert Parnell, RHP Eddie Kunz and 1B Nick Evans, who round out the Top 10.

Ultimately, Sickels says the team’s farm system ranks among the middle of the pack in MLB, concluding:

“The Mets continue to make a big push in Latin America, and they seem to have a knack for finding some interesting pitchers in the later rounds of the draft… They have the financial resources to be a lot more aggressive in the draft than they have been, so there’s really no excuse for this NOT to be a good farm system…. They have made significant progress and there is quite a bit of upside here, but more needs to be done.”

Last week, Adam Rubin compiled the team’s Top 10 Prospects for Baseball America, while Kevin Goldstein released his Top 11 Prospects for Baseball Prospectus.

Speaking of minor leaguers…

According to Toby Hyde of Mets Minor League Blog, there is an Internet rumor going around that suggests Mets 20-year-old LHP Nathan Vineyard has decided to retire.

Hyde is working to confirm or deny the rumor about Vineyard, who missed most of the 2008 season following shoulder surgery.

By the way, Vineyard does not appear on any of the above lists.

Tagged Minors, Nick Evans, Reese Havens, Robert Parnell, Wilmer Flores |

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. RHP Eddie Kunz, and 11. RHP Scott Moviel

…to me, what’s most noteworthy here, is not who is ranked where and why, but, instead, goldstein did not list a single Mets prospect as being worthy of his five-star status…

Tagged Reese Havens, Robert Parnell, Wilmer Flores |

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 and Robert Parnell, who should get a shot at the big-league pen in 2009 if they aren’t dealt.”

Speaking of relief pitchers, and potential set-up men, the Giants are the most recent team to express interest in free-agent LHP Joe Beimel, reports MLB.com.

…seeing as Damaso Marte just got a three-year deal, and considering the value of set-up men from the last off-season, i see no way beimel agrees to anything less than three years, and, i’m guessing, $15 million or so…

…so, my hunch, albeit an informed one, but a hunch nevertheless, is that the Mets will sign a closer, sign a set-up man, and maybe even trade for an additional reliever, while hanging on to Joe Smith, Pedro Feliciano and Brian Stokes, and auditioning parnell, kunz, and other youngsters in spring training…

So far this off-season, Beimel has been linked in rumor to the Mets, Cardinals, Giants and Rockies, among others.

In 71 relief appearances for the Dodgers in 2008, the 31–year-old Beimel was 5–1 with a 2.02 ERA in 49 innings pitched, during which he struck out 32 batters and walked 21.

He had a 3.88 ERA in 2007, and a 2.96 ERA in 2006.

Tagged Robert Parnell |

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 IP
2B Daniel Murphy: .400 (4-for-10), 1 HR, 3 RBI
RHP Bobby Parnell: 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 2 K, 1.0 IP
RHP Tobi Stoner: 1-0, 1.93, 2 BB, 5 K, 4.2 IP
C Josh Thole: 1.67 (1-for-6), 3 BB
LHP Jason Vargas: 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1 BB, 3 K, 4.0 IP

Meanwhile, Mets prospect Eddie Kunz is blogging his AFL experience for MLB.com. You can read it by clicking here.

For more detailed information and daily updates on the Arizona Fall and Hawaiian Baseball Leagues, check out Toby Hyde’s Mets Minor League Blog.

Tagged Mike Nichols, Robert Parnell |

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 up.

I try to not hold Jerry Manuel responsible when the bullpen does well, nor when it does bad.  The bullpen is what it is, and, like my Grandmother used to say, “It’s hard to blame the shooter when the gun is out of bullets.”

That said, while I understand mid-September is probably not the best time to hold an open audition, I would like to see Manuel give the ball to Rincon, Parnell and Al Reyes a bit more.  I just don’t see how they could be any worse than what Sanchez has been, or when compared to the downside of Aaron Heilman, among others.

For all his inexperience, Parnell at least threw strikes and needed just eight pitches to get through three batters.  For all we know, he could be exactly what Manuel has been searching for.

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