Parnell Endorsed By K-Rod As Mets Next Closer

Posted on July 14, 2011 by Jessica Estremera

This season Francisco Rodriguez has served as a bullpen mentor for Bobby Parnell, even endorsing the hard-throwing righty just last week.

Rodriguez said this about Parnell’s closing abilities:

He can do it and he knows it. I love that kid. I talk to him a lot and I love him. He’s a guy who comes here everyday trying to improve himself to get better and better. He definitely has the tools.

Parnell was crowned the 8th-inning man for the Mets in spring training but had a 6.14 ERA in April when he was placed on the disabled list with circulatory issues in his right hand. Since returning to the Mets on June 2nd, he regularly hit 100 mph  on radar guns, has only 3 earned runs in 17 1/3 innings with a 1.56 ERA.

GM Sandy Alderson told reporters on Wednesday that there are strong candidates in the existing bullpen who can take on the closer role.

Izzy has been in that role before, and pitched effectively in that role and effectively for us, this year. And the way Bobby Parnell has thrown the last three weeks or so has been impressive and also was a factor.

Alderson went on to say that those decisions will be best left up for Terry Collins and pitching coach Dan Warthen to address.

About Jessica Estremera

A Mets fan since she was born. The next year the Mets won the ’86 World Series, forever cementing her allegiance. Jessica is a marketing coordinator for a high end digital communications firm in New York. She is interested in traveling to cities and baseball parks across the country while sporting orange and blue wherever she goes.
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7 Responses to Parnell Endorsed By K-Rod As Mets Next Closer

  1. Joe says:
    July 14, 2011 at 1:09 pm

    Izzy is a short term solution that might not even be able to play back to back days, especially not three days out of four in this sort of position. Beato is pretty young and raw for it. He’s more of a set-up guy. Byrdak is okay, but it’s asking for trouble to consistently have him pitch an inning. Parnell is basically the only serious long term option of the bunch.

    With an extra roster slot, is there anyone out there that might add something extra?

    • Steve S. says:
      July 14, 2011 at 1:34 pm

      Iggy should be OK in the bullpen—along with a somewhat improved Acosta.

      As for the closer position, if Parnell can continue to use a good slider, along with his 95-103-mph fastball, with decent command, he should do better than K-Rod. I think he’ll be OK.

      • Joe says:
        July 14, 2011 at 1:43 pm

        Acosta is a replacement level player that is “okay” at the back-end of the rotation. I will have to see how Parnell does over a span of time. Past experience warrants a wait and see attitude.

  2. Andy says:
    July 14, 2011 at 5:27 pm

    We’ve got two weeks to use Izzy as the closer and convince some team to overpay for him, then plug in Parnell after the deadline.

  3. Mic says:
    July 14, 2011 at 7:48 pm

    Or just use the comittee.

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