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.

Ditch Castillo. I know he’s got that ridiculous contract, so what. Offload him somewhere. The Mets will have to pay the lion’s share of the freight, so what. He’s not getting any younger or healthier and New York isn’t going to be any easier a place to play in the next few years. This guy could be the next Kaz Matsui except with more trips to the DL. And don’t whine about the economy, use the money you were going to give Bernie Madoff and pay his way out of town.

Give Murphy secondbase to lose Let the guy compete for the deuce in Port St. Lucie. Is Dan Murphy the next piece of the Mets long term core? Hellifiknow. Let’s find out. It beats the hell out of watching Castillo flail at outside pitches all year.

Trade for Nady I may have already written a thousand articles advocating a trade for Nady but since he’s no longer under control of the Pirates and rumored to be shopped by the Yanks, make the deal now. We know Nady. Nady works in New York; sign him now.

Bring Uncle Cliff Back. I have railed against the Mets signing aging players and expecting results many, many times in the past. This is different. Cliffy Floyd won’t be expected to play everyday, shoot, he only played in 80 games last year. Cliff is respected as a veteran leader and clubhouse presence and it isn’t like he’s say, oh I don’t know, a 42 year old player who pees on his hands. I always felt that Cliff’s departure took away some of the great chemistry the Mets had in 2006. Omar is going to bring in some aging has been anyway, might as well be someone we already love.

Sure these moves aren’t as sexy as signing Manny Ramirez. Let’s face it; that is never going to happen. The above moves can allow Omar to concentrate on shoring up the rotation when and if Boras ever decides to let one of his clients sign.

“Closer in the making” -Billy Wagner on Aaron Heilman, Spring Training 2008

Even with Wagner’s grandstanding, empty proclamation, it’s obvious to even the most casual observer that Heilman is not a closer of the past, present or future. “He maybe a closer in another dimension” said the weird guy wearing a Lord of the Rings t-shirt, “but that’s just ridiculous.”

Only hours after being named interim closer by default and Billy Wagner’s endorsement as a closer in the making, Aaron Heilman took the mound at Shea Stadium with a 6-2 lead and the task of collecting the last three outs. Only moments later, Heilman had soiled walked the leadoff hitter, allowed a bloop hit, allowed a homerun to a punch and Judy hitter and soiled himself before dejectedly slinking into the dugout.

Coming as a shock to absolutely no one, Heilman was completely ineffective as the ninth inning pitcher, unsuccessfully deceiving hitters or locating his change up, or as it’s been know around the league, “the homerun ball.”

Manuel had foolishly selected Heilman as his interim closer, referring to the veteran right-hander as “a cross-over pitcher” in that he gives up homeruns against weak right-handed and left-handed hitters alike.

Manuel also made nonsensical assertions that Heilman’s changeup could be effective as an out pitch in late game, pressure situations.

In the aftermath of the Mets’ 6-5 victory against the Padres on Tuesday night, the Jerry Manuel opened a bottle of water and asked out loud if it could be changed to wine. It was a stunningly frightening indication that the Mets manager had become so delusional he actually believed he was Jesus.

Before the homestand began, Manuel had used the phrase “closer by committee” and soon after, he acknowledged Heilman would do most of the closing, or in other words, be the committee chairman.

Chairman Heilman accepted the challenge and immediately disbanded the committee and filed for chapter 11, but not before ciphering off enough company assets into accounts in the Cayman Islands that investors lost their lifesavings.

It’s been a long, strange fall from grace for Heilman. After being the Mets first draft pick in 2001, Heilman was actually held in high regard by Mets management. Unbelievably Heilman made an impressive start, pitching a complete game one hitter. But, it was all downhill from there.

After surrendering a homerun in the 2006 NLCS to Yadier Molina, bitching about a parking spot in spring training, countless multiple run innings and gutless performances, Heilman arrived at Shea Wednesday afternoon to find the personal effects of his locker laying in the gutter on Roosevelt Avenue and banned for life from Shea Stadium.

As Heilman ran down Roosevelt Avenue, chased by angry Mets fans hurling bags of their own urine, it served as a perfect microcosm of his career with the Mets.