May 26, 2013; Flushing, NY, USA; New York Mets pitcher Bobby Parnell delivers a pitch in the ninth inning against the Atlanta Braves at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: John Munson/THE STAR-LEDGER via USA TODAY Sports

With the rest of his team struggling so badly, Sandy Alderson must ask himself a question he last had to consider in 2011: with the Mets still in rebuilding mode, should he trade one of the team’s few bright spots before the July 31 deadline?

The last time Alderson had to ask this question was in the wake of Jose Reyes’s and Carlos Beltran’s stellar final years in New York. Recognizing the trade value of a reinvigorated Beltran, who was in the final year of his seven-year megadeal, Sandy shipped him off to San Francisco at the 2011 deadline for now soon-to-be major-league starter Zack Wheeler. That same year, he listened to the fans’ impassioned pleas and held onto Reyes through the whole season. While Jose finished the year as the Mets’ first-ever batting champion, the team finished 77-85, good for fourth place in the NL East, and free agent Reyes bolted for the rebranded Miami Marlins during the Winter Meetings.

While Parnell’s contract situation isn’t nearly as dire (he’s eligible for arbitration next year but won’t be a free agent until 2016), the talent shortage that plagued the Mets in 2011 remains, even two years later. Hence the question: is it worth it to keep Bobby Parnell on a roster with so many other holes?

Tamer Chamma’s Bleacher Report article from May 19 provides the “don’t trade” side to the argument: Parnell finally has a second pitch (the knuckle curve) to go along with his fastball, and the Mets have their first home-grown closer since Randy Myers or arguably Tug McGraw. The “trade” argument comes from a June 1 piece by Jon Krouner, also of the Bleacher Report: Parnell is a guy Alderson can sell high on, and his talent is wasted on a team that won’t give him many save opportunities to begin with.

May 27, 2013; Houston, TX, USA; Colorado Rockies left fielder Carlos Gonzalez (5) hits an RBI double against the Houston Astros during the first inning at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Campbell-USA TODAY Sports

I am torn between these two choices, much more so than I was on the Beltran and Reyes situations of 2011 (trade Beltran, keep Reyes). On one hand, I recognize the need for the Mets to bring in talent as they prepare to make a run in 2014 and 2015. Matthew Cerrone of MetsBlog reports that the team will be buyers at the deadline, in pursuit of high-quality outfielders like Carlos Gonzalez and Andre Ethier. Packaging Parnell with a couple of farmhands from New York’s fertile starting pitching crop, such as Noah Syndergaard or Rafael Montero, could be enough to commandeer CarGo or someone of his caliber.

On the other hand, Parnell’s development means that of all the holes in the Mets’ lineup, one of them has finally been filled by arguably the only really good reliever in the bullpen. I seriously doubt Brandon Lyon, Greg Burke, or a healthy Frank Francisco could do a better job closing out games than Parnell is doing right now. Additionally, I am a sentimental man when it comes to seeing players I have come to know on the cusp of leaving the team. We all have watched Bobby Parnell grow from young flamethrower to quality reliever, and seeing him finally flourish in the closer’s role after so many failed attempts warms my heart.

Still, those many failed attempts raise still one more question: do the Mets trust Bobby Parnell to be their long-term ninth-inning answer? Parnell’s biggest problem during past stints as closer was his lack of poise on the mound; he was more a flamethrower than a polished pitcher, thus easier for experienced major leaguers to get ahold of for extra-base hits. This year he has more consistently been the latter, but Tuesday’s night DC debacle saw him revert back to his old flamethrower mentality, resulting in two doubles in five plate appearances for the fortunate Nationals.

Both sides present strong arguments, but if I were Sandy Alderson, in regards to the original question, I would side with trading Bobby Parnell at the deadline. If this were the beginning of the season, I would have gone with keeping Parnell, but that was back when the Mets’ only significant holes seemed to be in the outfield and the bullpen. Now with the future at first base and shortstop in question, the return for shipping off Parnell and a top starting pitching prospect could be too big to pass up. More than that, though, it ultimately comes down to the fact that I don’t trust Bobby Parnell to close games.

May 28, 2013; New York, NY, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera walks off after giving up the winning runs to the New York Mets in the ninth inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: John Munson/THE STAR-LEDGER via USA TODAY Sports

Cases in point, let’s take a look at the Mets’ recent ninth-inning comeback over the Yankees and the Nationals’ ninth-inning rally from three days ago. When Mariano Rivera blew the save, everyone was surprised, and when Bobby Parnell blew the save, no one was surprised. Granted, there will likely never be another closer as lockdown as Rivera, but the basic principle is universal across the major leagues: teams with reliable closers don’t expect to lose leads in the ninth inning. When Parnell pitches with a lead in the ninth inning, I don’t often enough expect the Mets to keep the lead. If Sandy Alderson feels the same way, his choice is an obvious one.

Bobby Parnell has had a very good season thus far, and if he keeps it up, he has an outside chance of representing the home team in next month’s All-Star Game. After the three day break, though, he should buy a new set of luggage in preparation for his departure from Queens.

Commentary from Danny Abriano:

Good Piece, Will.  I don’t think it’s crazy to think about parting ways with Parnell in the right deal, but there’s no way I would consider dealing him just for the sake of it.  While it’s highly unlikely that the Mets will contend this year, they have every chance of being able to compete as early as next season.

Before his first true poor game of the season a few nights ago in Washington, Parnell had been as close to automatic as I’ve seen a Mets closer be in an extremely long time.  As you pointed out, his two blown saves prior to Tuesday night were due to defensive miscues behind him, not a failure to perform.  Was it a bit troubling to see Parnell stray away from his knuckle curve during his blown save against Washington?  Of course.  But one poor game shouldn’t erase what has been a tremendous season from Parnell, and it certainly shouldn’t change our long-term view of his potential.

In the 24.1 innings he pitched before his blown save against Washington, the only runs Parnell had given up all season came in three games (April 13th in frigid Minnesota, April 19th in Miami when his defense failed him, and May 22nd against Cincinnati when Ike Davis allowed two runs to score when he failed to field a grounder because he thought it was going foul).  Overall, Parnell has 23 strikeouts and 1.01 WHIP.  When he’s entered in a save situation this season, I’ve considered the game as good as over.

When you take a few other factors into account, trading Parnell becomes even more dicey.  For one, with the injury to Jeurys Familia, the Mets have no one in house who can potentially step in for Parnell in 2014 (and Familia was a long shot to grow into that role quickly anyway).  Second, the Mets have money to spend after the season, but that money should be devoted mainly to outfielders.  Basically, I see Parnell as a cost controlled, above average (at worst) closer, and that’s nothing to sneeze at.  If there’s a team who wants Parnell as one of the headliners as part of a package for a young, impact outfielder, go for it.  If not, he should be kept.  

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The Mets staked Matt Harvey to a 1-0 lead right away when David Wright deposited a two out home run into the left field bleachers in the first.  In the bottom of the frame, Chicago struck early against Harvey as well.  With one out, shortstop Starlin Castro singled, and first baseman Anthony Rizzo doubled.  Next up, Alfonso Soriano followed with an infield single to short which scored Castro from third, but Anthony Rizzo also circled around to score when Ike Davis failed to receive Ruben Tejada‘s errant throw to first.

May 17, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Matt Harvey (33) fields a bunt by Chicago Cubs left fielder Julio Borbon (20) during the eighth inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

The Mets tied the game at two in the fourth inning when Daniel Murphy led off the frame with his third home run of the season.  The Mets then took a 3-2 lead in the top of the seventh.  After John Buck led off with a fly to right, Rick Ankiel laced an Edwin Jackson offering in the same direction for a double.  Matt Harvey then stepped to the plate, and helped his own cause with his first MLB run batted in on a single to left.

Since allowing two runs in the first, Matt Harvey proceeded to retire twenty-one of the next twenty-two batters he faced.  He climbed the hill again for the eighth inning, and quickly surrendered a lead-off single to Darwin Barney.  After pinch hitter Julio Borbon sacrificed Barney to second, Terry Collins ascended the dugout steps and headed towards the mound to call in relief for his starter.  Scott Rice entered the ballgame and promptly surrendered a single to right field by David DeJesus.  As Darwin Barney rounded third heading home, Marlon Byrd charged the ball, fielded cleanly, and unleashed a pea to the waiting John Buck at home, who applied the tag to a surrendering Barney.  Terry Collins then made a second change, bringing in Greg Burke, who got Starlin Castro to ground out to third base for the final out of the inning.

After the Mets went down quietly in the top of the ninth, Terry Collins sent his closer Bobby Parnell to the mound.  Parnell responded by retiring the Cubs in order, preserving Matt Harvey’s fifth victory of the season.  Harvey’s record is now 5-0 this season.  He pitched 7.1 innings this afternoon, allowing two earned runs on five hits.  Matt walked no batters and struck out six before exiting.  His WHiP is now 0.72, while his ERA rose somewhat to a 1.55 mark.  He threw 106 pitches, seventy-eight for strikes.  Bobby Parnell earned his fifth save.  His ERA now stands at a miniscule 0.98 mark after 18.1 innings pitched.  He has struck out sixteen batters his season, allowed ten hits, and only walked three for a 0.71 WHiP.

The Mets improved to 16-23 on the season, and have now won consecutive games for the first time since May 1st and 2nd.  This was also only the sixth time all season they have won back to back games.

HIGHLIGHTS

*  Daniel Murphy now has six hits in his last twelve at-bats.

*  Matt Harvey’s 0.72 WHiP leads the National League.  He is second in the senior circuit with sixty-eight strikeouts.  His first MLB run batted-in was clutch.

*  David Wright was the only Met with multiple hits, 3 for 4, and improved his season average to a .312 mark.  Wright also stole his ninth base.  He stole fifteen last year, and thirteen in 2011.

*  Entering the game as a pinch hitter and defensive replacement, Marlon Byrd’s throw to the plate was the play of the game.

LOWLIGHTS

*  Ike Davis finally snapped an 0 for 24 slump.  He had one hit in four times up today, with one strikeout.  In his last ten games and thirty-five at-bats, pitchers have fanned Ike thirteen times.

* John Buck and Ruben Tejada, 0 for 4, respectively.

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Terry Collins affirms Bobby Parnell is the closer when Frank Francisco returns — at least until Francisco gets some major league games.

— Adam Rubin (@AdamRubinESPN) May 7, 2013

Here’s the quote from Collins that Rubin was alluding to:

Frankie [Francisco] has got to show us that he can pitch back-to-back days up here — that he’s strong enough.  We’re talking three days in a row. Can he do that? The one thing I don’t think we’re ready to do is start to juggle our bullpen at this particular moment when Bobby [Parnell]  has done such a good job. We’ll wait until Frankie gets here to make those determinations.

Now, what is Collins thinking?  There’s simply no reason to even discuss the potential of juggling the bullpen (and Parnell’s role) at this point.  Obviously, if Bobby Parnell (or any closer on any team) gets shelled repeatedly, it’s time to discuss their job security.  Bringing this up today, though, was both pointless and foolish.  Terry Collins is actually leaving the door open for Frank Francisco to take over the role of closer from Bobby Parnell after Francisco “gets some major league games” under his belt.

Apr 13, 2013; Minneapolis, MN, USA; New York Mets relief pitcher Bobby Parnell (39) delivers a pitch in the ninth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. The Mets won 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

That Collins said the above is absurd on many levels.  The first, is the fact that Francisco (who is nearing a return to the majors after missing the first month and change of the season while rehabbing his elbow) was absolutely horrific last season.  He had a 5.53 ERA to go with a 1.60 WHIP.  The second, is the fact that even if Francisco’s numbers weren’t atrocious, he’s in the last year of a two year deal.  Barring something strange happening, he won’t be a part of the Mets in 2014 and beyond.  The third, and biggest reason why what Collins said is mind boggling is the following: Not only is Parnell likely a big part of this team’s future, he’s been pitching lights out baseball in 2013.

In 13 innings pitched, Parnell has a 1.38 ERA and 0.62 WHIP.  He’s given up only 6 hits, walked 2, and struck out 11.  The two games that went down as blown saves against him were both caused by defensive miscues, not Parnell.  The first blown save came when Ruben Tejada threw the ball away in Colorado, and the second came after Collin Cowgill‘s defensive mistake in Miami.

I simply can’t fathom why Collins would even mention the possibility of Francisco taking the role of closer back from Parnell.  All he had to say was “Bobby’s the closer.”  End of story.  Instead, he said something that will probably leave Sandy Alderson shaking his head while smirking in disbelief when he hears about it.  Just another instance of Terry being Terry.

Commentary from Michael Lecolant:

Some things are best left unsaid. Other times, people go too far and say too much – See Terry Collins. Problem is, I think Coach, Sandy Alderson, and even us civilians, are caught in a whirlpool of semantics. Elbow surgery aside, Frank Francisco was signed to be the team’s closer.  Entering Spring Training he still held that title.  Despite Francisco’s surgery and Bobby Parnell’s excellent start, the Mets never bothered to update their records and correct job descriptions – so to say.  In fact, I think both Collins and Alderson still firmly view Frank as the 2013 closer, if and when he is ready to resume the role, because as a free agent, that’s what he was brought here to do. At no time did I ever hear either Collins or Alderson lift the interim tag off Bobby Parnell.  So, in a sense, this matter goes a little beyond Terry Collins’ comments today. This actually brings Bobby Parnell’s 2014 role into question.  Will the Mets seek a trade or look into free agency for a new closer?  Or, will they allow Bobby Parnell a true, quality opportunity to nail down the job? Where the hell was the vote of confidence today?

I agree with Danny.  At present, Bobby Parnell is king of the hill.  Removing him from the closer’s role at this point for any reason other than poor performance would be ludicrous. It is not like one pitcher is lefty and one is righty. Parnell and Francisco do not, and can not form a tandem. In a figurative declaration, there can only be one closer.  This is now Bobby Parnell’s job to lose, instead of a role to be taken away from him.

In the spirit of fairness, Frank Francisco is on his way back.  He only blew three saves last season, while losing three others. Otherwise, he saved twenty-three games in forty-eight appearances, which is a somewhat low rate. As noted by Danny, his problem was issuing twenty-two walks, and allowing forty-seven hits in 41.2 innings pitched, for a 1.606 WHiP. He did, however, strike out forty-seven batters. The Mets’ downward spiral into the second division last season eerily coincided with Frank Francisco’s trip to the disabled list. Of course, there were many reasons for the Mets’ 2012 fall from contention. Frank’s return to action is still a good problem to have. Someone once said you can never have enough pitching.

Circling back to Terry Collins…if I were him, I would have said – “Bobby Parnell is doing a fine job.  There is no need to have this conversation. When Frank Francisco arrives, he will be expected to fit in, and contribute. If he happens to consistently out-perform Parnell during the season, you and I may revisit this conversation. Until then, Bobby Parnell closes games for the Mets. Thank you.”

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