FLUSHING, NY – Maybe the Mets should let Bobby Parnell only pitch to open a homestand, because since becoming a starter, he’s allowed no runs in 13 innings when he opened up Citi Field, but 24 runs in his other 15 innings.

Although Parnell says it’s “over thinking” there may be more to it. This is a young pitcher, the Mets are very high on and when he sits around all week, the pressure mounts.

“It’s something I have to do with myself,” Parnell said. “I need to go out there and have some fun. Over the past few weeks, the game hasn’t been fun for me.”

Tonight, though, Parnell had fun with the Cubs, as he was able to pitch out of jams, while maintaining a very fragile 1-0 lead thanks to Corey Sullivan’s second inning homer. He was getting his breaking pitches over, while able to spot his 97 m.p.h. Fastball. That’s what he needs to be successful.

Hopefully, this is the start of something big for Parnell, who really has struggled over the past month. Right now, the Mets are in a situation where they can evaluate their players. Next season, they probably  will need two starters if John Maine, who could be looking at $4 million to $5 million in arbitration is non-tendered. That means, Parnell may be right in line for a spot before even football betting is even started.

Also, as we saw this season, pitching is fragile, and there’s always going to be room for a starter. If Parnell can make it through these final weeks not looking like a batting practice pitcher, then we might have something here, otherwise, he may pitch his way out of the Mets plans.

With today’s post-Madoff Mets, MLB Bets say there’s probably going to be room for a rookie in the rotation next year. Besides Parnell, they Mets will also look at Jon Niese, who is coming back from his hamstring injury, and Brad Holt will also get a long look in Spring Training. But it’s probably unlikely the team will carry two rookies on the staff as they will probably try to either sign or trade for a veteran presence to go with Johan Santana.

So Parnell has some work to do. These next four or five starts of his could be the key for him to secure a spot in 2010. If the young righthander, who says he prefers starting, doesn’t come through, it might mean back to the bullpen or worse – a trip to Buffalo.

First he has his next start – probably on Thursday against the Marlins. There Parnell can prove he can pitch to end a homestand, not just to open one.

Posted under Uncategorized

Finally, the Mets have a closer:

The conjecture of the past two days and, more accurately, of the past two months, reportedly has turned into something substantial. The Mets have agreed to terms with free agent closer Francisco Rodriguez, according to published reports.

Terms of the deal are reported to be three years and $37 million. There is a vesting option for a fourth year at $14 million that would make the deal worth $51 million

Contract details have to be worked out and the deal is contingent on Rodriguez passing a physical. The Mets have not confirmed that an agreement has been reached.

I was initially against the Mets pursuing KRod because I never thought 37 over 3 was a reasonable expectation of what it would take to sign him. I changed my mind after it was reported that Fuentes was seeking 33 million over 3 years. For the extra 4 million, KRod is the obvious choice.

I’ve also been wary of this delivery and the shoulder problems that could arise from his form. The first time I ever watched KRod pitch, I said to a friend “The Mets will sign him 3 months before he develops a shoulder or arm problem.” I really hope I’m wrong. At 27 I think he should be fine throughout the contract. If this guy develops arm problems, I see it hitting about the time we saw Pedro fall apart health wise.

I have to believe that Hoffman meeting had to be a tactic to get KRod and his agent Paul Riser Kinzer to the table quickly. I can’t see Minaya bringing in another old arm to try and fix a team’s biggest need on a club that got old very quickly since October 2006.

Kudos to Minaya getting this done early. Though I’m not placing the blame at his feet for the sluggish off-season last year, setting the market AND addressing the Mets biggest need in early December gives him plenty of time to find a corner outfielder, possibly a second baseman and finding a viable starter, hopefully before the end of the year.

Alight, the Mets set the market and the signings should start to come in a rapid fire fashion throughout the week and not a moment too soon. I’ll be glad to stop bitching about college football and Lifetime movies and start focusing on the 2009 Mets and important issues like who wears number 57, K-Rod or Santana?

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Destination: Out of town

Is a bag of waterlogged baseballs too much to ask for?

From Mets.com

NEW YORK — With holes in their rotation and their bullpen not yet repaired, the Mets have another pitching issue to address, one that might add a starter at the cost of one of their incumbent relievers. Aaron Heilman wants out of the ‘pen and into the rotation, or, if that can’t be arranged, out of the Mets

Well one of those things is definitely going to happen. The other, not so much. Maybe Aaron is hoping that some other team hasn’t watched him pitch in the past two seasons…or doesn’t have access to video…or the internet…or doesn’t read any newspapers…or talk to people.

Anyway, this idiot had something to say:

“The object the entire time has never been to get out of New York,” agent Mark Rodgers was quoted as having said. “The object is to get out of the bullpen.”

Rogers continued. “Well that and the other object was to set a new example of horrid relief pitching in New York, the likes of which eclipses Doug Sisk and I think he’s done that without a shadow of a doubt.”

Ok, he really didn’t say that, but what a pair on this guy. Unless of course, Aaron is so unhappy in Queens he wants a trade at any cost. If you remember (I try to block most Heilman related memories) this isn’t the first time him and his douchy agent have tried this. Then of course, there was Aaron’s public unhappiness with his lack of a parking spot, after his last appearece cost the team a trip to the World Series.

Honestly, I could live the rest of my life and never see Heilman in a Mets uniform and I’m sure I have a good number of companions on that opinion. You know what, scrap that, I am so tired of watching Aaron blow leads late in games, it almost made me hate baseball last season so I’m going to go ahead and write little sarcastic digs after random paragraphs, ok? Great:

Now, though, after a season in which he fell into disfavor and then into disuse, Heilman wants to be used in a role he considers better suited for his skills, and for the first time, he has reinforced his request with an expressed willingness to leave the organization that developed him if his request isn’t accommodated.

Because why wouldn’t it make sense to plan you rotation around a man you depend on to get to the sixth inning when he couldn’t string together three outs without giving up a home run and/or walking the ballpark.

Because he was the Mets’ primary “crossover” pitcher — a pitcher used against right-handed and left-handed hitters — his ineffectiveness affected the bullpen more than the shortfall of any other reliever.

And by crossover, it means he’s equally ineffective against right and left-handed batters.

I’m tired of this already. I would like to thank Aaron for lowering his trade value even lower (if that’s even possible.) Incidentally, the story currently up, written by Marty Noble originally linked to a story by Jim Mallory and was much more critical of Heilman.

Anyway, the point of all of this is that any and all things from Notre Dame suck sweaty balls …except Mark Bavaro.

NOTE: the alternate title I had in mind was Aaron Heilman and the horse he rode in on.

Posted under Angry Rant, FJM ripoff, Humorous, Unsubstantiated Rumors