Bobby ParnellBobby Parnell is a bit of an easy target after failing to record an out in the tenth inning and giving up the go ahead run to the Pirates last night. That the game got to Parnell in extra innings because the team failed to cash in on scoring opportunities is a separate issue, but Parnell hasn’t exactly been a beacon of light since returning from a 14-month rehabilitation after Tommy John (TJ) surgery.

Since returning to the Mets on June 11th, Parnell has thrown 18.2 innings over 22 games. His ERA sits at 4.82, though his FIP is a bit better at 3.64. While not great, those numbers aren’t alarmingly bad. His other peripherals, on the other hand, paint a picture of a pitcher that is certainly not back to his old form. His atrocious 1.714 WHIP bespeaks the incredible amount of contact he’s given up (10.6 H/9) and the high number of walks (4.8 BB%) he’s issued so far. His K% of 4.8 is also the lowest of his career.

To be fair, 18.2 innings isn’t exactly a large sample, even for a reliever. But it’s not just his results that are way out of whack from his best years of 2012-2013. The velocities for all of his pitches are down this year, which isn’t really much of a surprise. That goes for both the average speed and the top speed for each of them. What’s more interesting is the change in the usage of his pitches.

Parnell threw both his four-seam fastball and his sinker just about equally in 2012 and 2013. In 2012 it was 36.18% for the four-seamer and 37.61% for the sinker, while in 2013 it was 38.65% for the four-seamer and 32.68% for the sinker. In 2015, he’s only thrown his four-seamer 13.40% of the time and his sinker 60.48% of the time. That’s a remarkable difference in what he’s throwing at hitters, and it doesn’t seem to be working too well for him. Worse, the batting average against his sinker is .348. He’s just not fooling anybody right now.

Why has he thrown so few four-seamers? Could it be that he simply is afraid of injuring himself again? Perhaps he’s just not all that confident in it these days? Sure, he’s not throwing it quite as hard as he used to, but that’s to be expected so close to his return from surgery. Additionally, the vertical movement on both of these pitches is not quite as stark as in years past. Maybe he just hasn’t gotten the feel for his arsenal back yet, which brings us to his readiness to return.

There was absolutely nothing in his rehab assignment to suggest that he was remotely close to being ready to return. If his 0-4 record with an 11.57 ERA and 14 walks wasn’t bad enough, surely his 92 MPH fastball velocity should have raised some flags. Unfortunately, the team was essentially backed into a corner once his 30-day rehab clock expired. Parnell’s service time meant that he could reject a demotion to the minors to continue working his way back. Additionally, the major league pen was facing several problems of its own. The team, it appears, brought him back out of necessity rather than because he was actually ready.

The fact of the matter is that Parnell has not been the same pitcher either in approach or results since his return. This should not be a surprise considering he’s working his way back from TJ surgery. We’ve been spoiled by the almost immediate success of Matt Harvey after the same surgery, but not all pitchers return so fast and so spectacularly. Most don’t, actually. What this means is that Terry Collins simply cannot trust Parnell in high-leverage situations at this point. That is until, and if, he starts showing signs of being the pitcher he once was and regains some of the confidence that his fastball usage indicates he currently lacks.

8 comments on “Bobby Parnell is not the same pitcher

  • Brian Joura

    There’s no way he should have pitched in a high-leverage game like last night after he had pitched the day before when Carlos Torres hadn’t pitched in nearly a week. That was a bonehead move by the manager.

    At some point he needs to be able to pitch back-to-back games. The time to try that is not an extra-inning contest against a playoff team. We have plenty of games the rest of the way against the dregs. Try it then.

    • boomboom (formerly Eric)

      agreed. didnt deserve to be booed, but definitely not put in the best position to succeed by his manager.

    • Matt Netter

      Totally agree.

  • Metsense

    Torres and Gilmartin have FIP’s of around 3.00. Parnell should not be used before either one of them. Parnell will be a free agent next year. Currently he makes $ 3.7 M . The Mets should not sign him for anything near that nor are they obligated to pitch him during a pennant race. Parnell should recieve limited opportunities going forward and needs to produce in order to secure a playoff roster spot. I think he came back too soon.

  • 1973Mets

    You’re all forgetting one thing that even Gary and Keith aren’t bringing up. There’s talk about Parnell’s TJ surgery and his
    inability to gain 5 mph on his fastball. I think what’s being
    overlooked is the spinal fusion surgery he had during his neck operation the year before his TJ surgery. I don’t think removing two disks from the neck and inserting a cadaver bone with a titanium rod mix with a 99 mph heater.

    Check John Harper’s column from Feb. 2014:

    http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/harper-parnell-credits-save-peyton-article-1.1701941

    • Frank

      Excellent point!!! This speaks more to not only why he’s not the same pitcher he was, but why he will never get his top game back. I like Bobby, but unless he reinvents himself, he’s not long for the majors.

  • Patrick Albanesius

    I wish he would mix in his traditional curveball more. That used to be a signature of his, and the knucklecurve is not nearly as effective.

  • Chris F

    Truth be told he’s exactly the same pitcher. An over hyped, on again off again, undependable, inconsistent reliever. All he’s ever been. All he ever will be.

    I’d dfa him today…for the 10th time.

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