Will Parnell Be The Man?

Mets rookie Bobby Parnell is going through the rigors of trying to learn how to adjust to life as a major leaguer. Parnell most likely will be assigned to the Mets AAA affiliate in Buffalo, but there is a slight chance he might make the club.

That all depends on Duaner Sanchez. Sanchez, who has been miserable to say the least, is rumored to possibly be released, and after another poor outing, with a fastball not even approaching 90, leaves much room for concern. If the Mets release Sanchez on or before April 1, they will only be responsible for a small portion of his salary.

If Sanchez is not released, chances are that Parnell will be assigned to Buffalo because Brian Stokes is out of options where Parnell has options left.

Parnell is being taught to go pedal-to-the-metal from the moment he arrives on the mound as a reliever. Parnell spent 92 or his 94 appearances as a starter, so this mindset is different than what he is used to. The Mets want gas from the 6'4” 200 pound righty, and don't want him to save himself. The Mets expect approximately 25 – 30 pitches and/or an inning or an inning and two thirds from the 24 year old. Says pitching coach Dan Warthen, “When we bring you in the game, we don’t want to see 91-mile-an-hour sinkers — that’s what Luis Ayala was for last year. With Bobby, we want 96, 97, a power arm that can throw an inning, an inning and two-thirds, and get strikeouts and get out tough lefties.”

Speaking of this change in philosophy, the 2005 ninth round pick out of Charleston Southern said, “That’s the trick. I know that if I’m at 91, 92, I’m not doing my job. But I don’t want to overthrow, either. It’s something that I’m going to have to continue to work on.”

This Spring Parnell is using a slightly altered delivery that requires a strength in balance that will produce greater velocity.

Although I would love to see some of these young kids on the Major League roster, the Mets might be better served if Parnell gets a little more seasoning at Buffalo.

Source: Ben Shpigel - NY Times