AA Starters: Niese Good, Parnell Bad

In AA Binghamton, Jonathon Niese has been wonderful on the mound. After 5 starts, Niese has managed to go 2-1 but more importantly have an era of .71. The Mets 7th round draft pick pitched very well in his first career spring training start this past spring training. He had 3 starts and went 1-0 with a 3.12 era, 5 hits, 6 strikeouts, and 7 walks.

The 20 year old left handed pitcher finished up the regular season with an 11-7 record with a 4.29 era and 110 strikeouts. Niese went 5-3 with a 5.32 era before the all star break and had since gone 6-4 with a 3.52 era. Niese was 8th in the league in strikeouts. The thing to watch is opponent’s batting average against Niese; it is .285, not very good. In his only start for St. Lucie in the playoffs Niese pitched superb going 6 innings with 1 hit ball and 9 strikeouts. He Went 11-9 with a 3.93 ERA in 25 starts with Class A Hagerstown in 2006.

On the other hand, Bobby Parnell has not been so hot. He is 0-2 with an era of 7.15 after 5 starts. He has given up more walks (14) then he has strikeouts (13)... never a good sign.

The Mets 7th pick in the 2005 draft Robert Parnell was invited to spring training this year. Parnell started his career in Brooklyn with 2 wins and 3 losses but a 1.73 era, 67 strikeouts in 15 games, 14 starts. The 6 foot 3, righty pitcher went 5-10 with a 4.04 era with 54 strikeouts in 18 starts for A Hagerstown in 2006.

He also started 3 games for A St. Lucie; 0-1, 9.26 era.Parnell started the 2007 in St Lucie going 3-3 with a 3.25 era, 62 strikeouts in just 12 starts (55.1 innings) making him a FSL Mid-Season All-Star. After being called up to AA Binghamton, the 23 year old struggled with a 5-5 record and era of 4.19 in 17 starts.

The scariest stat for Parnell in AA was the difference between bases empty, runners on base, and runners in scoring position. Bases Empty he had an era of 1.09, runners on 7.99 era, runners in scoring position 12.04 era.