It has been my opinion for a while now that Bobby Parnell would be a perfectly reasonable option to close games for the New York Mets. Parnell, who turned 28 last month, just concluded a fine 2012 season. Throwing exclusively fastballs (at 95.7 MPH) and curveballs (at 82.8 MPH), he… Read More →
So Andy Martino, over at the New York Daily News, asked this question on Twitter: “Why do people compare Francisco to Benitez? There have been many bad closers in the intervening years.” His implication seemed clear, particularly from the writer who once wrote a piece speculating that Mets fans, who… Read More →
There’s the usual panic over a struggling closer, as Frank Francisco has now allowed runs in his last four appearances. His ERA this season is now 8.53, which is, you know, high. But a closer look at his numbers should provide reassurance. As should, of course, the tiny sample that… Read More →
Considering that the Mets spent nearly all of their meager offseason budget on the bullpen, it would be nice if I could rank them higher than fifth place in this category. Unfortunately, with the caveat that small sample sizes make it really hard to know what to expect from relief… Read More →
This is most unfortunate, just days before the season starts. But if Francisco is to miss any time, let me be the first to suggest that Bobby Parnell get a chance to close. He has been absolutely dominant this spring, without allowing a run in 11+ innings. But that’s not… Read More →
The flurry of activity continues. Ken Davidoff of Newsday reports that the Mets have signed Frank Francisco to a two-year contract. Jon Morosi reports the deal is for $12 million over two years. That’s a lot, but Francisco should provide decent value for the money. Still, feels like a bit… Read More →