NewsParnell continues audition as starter
New York (56-63) vs. Atlanta (62-57), 7:10 p.m. ET
By Tim Britton and Marty Noble / MLB.com
08/18/09 11:27 PM ET
NEW YORK -- With his eye already tilted slightly toward 2010, manager Jerry Manuel will be very interested in observing Wednesday night's starting pitcher. Bobby Parnell contributed one of the best starts of the season for the Mets his last time out, limiting the Giants to three hits over six innings while striking out seven. As he heads to the mound for his third start, Parnell, a reliever all season before being converted to the rotation for two recent starts, is still acclimating himself to starting. "I think I'm just now stepping into it. It's going to be a big adjustment," Parnell said. "I've got to get more consistent and have a few good outings before I say I'm comfortable with my routine. I've just got to take it one game at a time." Parnell had a shaky outing in his first Major League start, throwing 68 pitches in 2 1/3 innings of a 3-1 loss in San Diego. He was a different pitcher against the Giants, getting ahead early in the count and finishing hitters off with his slider. The slider could be the key for Parnell. He didn't need to use it as much when he was facing each batter once out of the bullpen. Now that he's seeing hitters two and three times per game, he needs that extra pitch to keep them off-balance. Combine that slider with his two-seam and four-seam fastballs, which come in at 92 and 96 mph, respectively, and you've got the recipe for a filthy starting pitcher. Parnell said his secondary stuff has felt better in his recent bullpen sessions. Another adjustment for Parnell has been just that: adjusting between at-bats. Seeing hitters once a game as a reliever didn't require the same amount of attention and adjustment to individual batters. "I've got to really stick to my game plan and what's working for me that day," Parnell said. "And learn from their at-bats as the game goes, watch their swings and really pay attention instead of coming out of the bullpen and just going right after them." Pitching coach Dan Warthen said Parnell's pitch count will be in the 85-90 range. The right-hander threw 86 pitches Friday against the Giants. Parnell is one of several younger players the Mets will pay close attention to in the season's final six weeks. Parnell's performance down the stretch can greatly influence where he slots into the Mets' pitching staff next season. The same can be said for Daniel Murphy and Anderson Hernandez -- players who are likely to see everyday playing time the rest of the year. Murphy, of course, started the season as the Mets' left fielder before problems defensively and the injury to Carlos Delgado forced a move to first base. With Delgado ready to hit the free-agent market, Murphy's time to stake his claim to being the Mets' first baseman on Opening Day 2010 is running short. Hernandez, meanwhile, will probably see the bulk of playing time at shortstop now that Alex Cora is out the remainder of the season. Manuel said he is interested to see how Hernandez, a career second baseman, handles things on the other side of the bag. "Anderson is a guy we're going to look very closely at," Manuel said. "We feel very confident he's a good second baseman in this league. If he can handle shortstop that well, then he can become a part of a decision this winter as to a backup to Jose [Reyes]." Pitching matchupNYM: RHP Bobby Parnell (3-4, 3.50 ERA)
Parnell did his best professional pitching against the Giants Friday in his second big league start. He allowed three hits, struck out a career-high seven and walked none in six scoreless innings. He has made six relief appearances against the Braves this season, allowing two unearned runs on five hits in four innings. Two of those hits, including a double, were delivered by Martin Prado. The Braves as the whole are 5-for-15 against Parnell. He has been marginally more effective against left-handed hitters than against right-handers. Parnell has allowed two home runs in 59 innings in the big leagues. ATL: RHP Jair Jurrjens (9-8, 2.99 ERA)
Jurrjens' lone mistake against the Phillies on Friday night resulted in a two-run home run by Chase Utley. The rwo runs were the only runs he surrendered in seven innings. He was more effective than he'd been while allowing the Dodgers four earned runs in his two previous starts. Jurrjens pitched six scoreless innings against the Mets July 17, and during his only previous start at Citi Field, on May 12, he allowed two runs in 7 2/3 innings. He has a 3-1 record and a 2.84 ERA in five career starts against the Mets. Right-handed hitters are batting merely .218 in 284 at-bats against Jurrjens. This date in Mets history
Aug. 19: The 1962 Mets, already the victims of a 17-game losing streak, were defeated, 10-5, by the Cardinals at the Polo Grounds. It is their 10th straight loss; three straight will follow. ... Seven years later, Tommie Agee hit a home run off Giants starter Juan Marichal with one out in the 14th inning to secure a 1-0 Mets victory at Shea Stadium. The shutout, produced by Gary Gentry (10 innings) and Tug McGraw, is the fourth of five the Mets would pitch in a 19-game sequence.
Kevin Mitchell hit a two-run home run in the first inning and Mookie Wilson drove in two runs, all against Fernando Valenzuela, in the Mets' 6-4 victory against the Dodgers in Los Angeles on this date in 1986. The Mets were 38 games over .500 and 18 games ahead of the second-place Expos. Wilson batted .319 with five doubles and two home runs in 72 career at-bats against Valenzuela.
Mike Piazza hit home runs in the third and seventh innings of a 6-5 Mets victory in Los Angeles on this date in 2001. They were his 298th and 299th as a catcher and put his career total, as a catcher, one beyond that of Gary Carter and even with that of Lance Parrish. At that point, Piazza trailed only Carlton Fisk (351), Johnny Bench (327) and Yogi Berra (306). He passed all of them before his tenure with the Mets ended.
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• Thursday: Mets (Johan Santana, 13-8, 3.10) vs. Braves (Kenshin Kawakami, 5-9, 4.13), 7:10 p.m. ET
• Friday: Mets (Mike Pelfrey, 8-8, 4.75) vs. Phillies (Cole Hamels, 7-7, 4.69), 7:10 p.m. ET
• Saturday: Mets (Livan Hernandez, 7-8, 5.47) vs. Phillies (J.A. Happ, 9-2, 2.66), 7:10 p.m. ET
Tim Britton is an associate reporter for MLB.com. Marty Noble is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
