MLB

Collins: Parnell’s the ‘lead dog’ in Mets’ pen

Terry Collins raved about Ike Davis and Shaun Marcum, of course. But the Mets manager also had high praise for the growth he has seen in closer Bobby Parnell.

“He’s got the demeanor of a closer,” Collins said of Parnell, who flipped the Braves 1-2-3 on 12 pitches in the ninth inning, racking up a pair of strikeouts to save the 4-2 Mets win. “He’s kind of the lead dog. He came up with the idea they all go down together. I think it’s his time and his turn.”

Collins noted the growth in Parnell over the past two seasons and how he has taken on “a huge responsibility” in the bullpen.

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“Bobby’s down there the whole night, he doesn’t just go down in the eighth inning,” Collins said.

* Mets general manager Sandy Alderson squashed two timetable theories last night. There was no timetable for Davis, who had the game-winning his last night, to show something before being deported to the minors and there currently is no timetable for Zack Wheeler to arrive at Citi Field.

“I can honestly say there hasn’t been a deadline [with Davis],” Alderson said. “Things can change day-to-day. … They may not change at all. But there never has been a deadline as far as I’m concerned.”

As for Wheeler, Alderson said he pitched one game after an exam for mild inflammation in his shoulder. “He came out of that fine,” Alderson said.

“Is there a timetable? No, I wouldn’t say there’s a timetable, but I would say that if he continues to pitch well, he’d be here sometime in the near future,” Alderson said of Wheeler, who is expected to throw about 180 innings, roughly 30 more than last season.

* The Yankees went to the scrap heap and plucked gems in the form of Lyle Overbay, Vernon Wells and Travis Hafner. The Mets still are sifting through. Alderson said he admires what the Yankees have done.

“I’ve always said you’ve got to put yourself in position to get lucky,” Alderson said. “That’s what we try to do here.They’ve done a very nice job. They’ve sorted a few players, but there’s definitely been a lot of keepers. That’s to their credit,” said Alderson, who said the Mets’ rivalry with the Yankees “reaffirms the standard to which we aspire.”

* The pitching staff should get some help soon. Relievers Scott Atchison (disabled list on May 14 with elbow inflammation) and Jeurys Familia (DL on May 9, biceps tendinitis) each pitched one scoreless rehab inning Saturday for High-A St. Lucie. One more for Atchison could get him back to the Mets. Familia, “someone we’re counting on long-term,” according to Alderson, will go to Triple-A Las Vegas. The Mets still are deciding where to assign Jenrry Mejia, progressing well in his return from elbow inflammation (DL on March 31). He may also go to Triple-A.

* Last night was Marcum’s fourth career double-digit strikeout game. Marcum had struck out 11 in seven innings with the Blue Jays against the Nationals on June 16, 2007. Three other times, he had double-digit strikeout games, his last on July 30, 2010 against the Indians, also for Toronto.