WASHINGTON — It’s July 16 or bust for Bobby Parnell.
Over one-third of a season, the Mets fireballer has gone from answering questions about his suitability as a major league closer to whether he’s good enough to represent the National League in next month’s All-Star game at Citi Field.
“I’ve definitely thought about it, but not too much,” Parnell told The Post.
Matt Harvey’s arrival as a rotation ace has been the most significant development in the Mets’ disappointing season, but the 28-year-old Parnell’s emergence as potentially an elite closer might rank second.
In 24 appearances this year, Parnell is 4-1 with a 1.85 ERA and WHIP of 0.863. He has nine saves in 11 chances, going 7-for-7 in May.
Plenty could happen between now and the selection of All-Star rosters next month, but for now Parnell is a contender for a spot, along with teammates Harvey and David Wright, as the Mets prepare to host their first Midsummer Classic since 1964.
Just in case Parnell needs an advocate, Mets pitching coach Dan Warthen was a member of NL manager Bruce Bochy’s coaching staff with the Padres from 1996-97. The two remain friends.
If Bochy asks, what would Warthen’s case be for Parnell?
“Because [Parnell] should have a below 1.00 ERA, because he’s striking out a guy an inning, because he’s done the job each and every time he’s walked out to the mound,” Warthen said. “I don’t see anybody who has done any better than him, including [Braves closer Craig] Kimbrel.”
Parnell, who had dabbled in the closer’s role in each of the previous two seasons — to mixed results — said the fact he was essentially handed the job by manager Terry Collins this year in spring training made all the difference.
“What that did was kind of give me the ability to fail,” Parnell said. “I didn’t feel like my job is in limbo if I don’t convert a save opportunity or have a bad game.
“I don’t feel like the next day I’m going to come in and not know whether I’m going to pitch the ninth or not. This year I knew I was going to have the ability to fail and I knew if I had a bad game I was still going to be out there in the ninth inning the next day and sometimes in the last few years I didn’t have that luxury.”
The closest thing to a bump Parnell has encountered came in late April, after Parnell had blown a save against the Marlins. The Mets led in the ninth inning the following night, but Collins refrained from using Parnell because he had worked three straight days. Parnell felt snubbed and let the manager know he wasn’t happy. Parnell returned to the mound the following day and got the save.
“Terry still had the confidence to put me in the next day and it wasn’t whether my job was in limbo or not,” Parnell said “That’s what kind of really put my confidence up there — him having confidence in me.”
Warthen said Parnell’s transformation actually began in the final month of last season.
“It’s the arsenal that he’s throwing out there now instead of just fastball/slider and he’s doing a little bigger, slower breaking ball,” Warthen said. “He’s able to take it out of the zone, into the zone. He’s pitching.”
As for the idea of representing the Mets in the All-Star Game, Parnell realizes he’s competing against bigger names with deeper resumes, such as Kimbrel, Aroldis Chapman and Jonathan Papelbon, and that does include Pittburgh’s Jason Grilli or the Cardinals’ Edward Mujica, neither of whom have blown a save.
“I don’t have the track record, the experience,” he said. “I’m pitching well right now and everything feels good, but that’s a long way away.”