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The Mets have signaled to the bullpen for John Franco.
Only days after Franco told The Post he’d be interested in mentoring Bobby Parnell, the team has arranged for its all-time saves leader to begin “frame of mind” discussions with the righty fireballer.
Pitching coach Dan Warthen yesterday indicated Franco might begin sessions with Parnell before the team hits the road following tomorrow afternoon’s game. Manager Terry Collins pursued the idea after The Post informed him Franco would like to get involved with Parnell.
The sessions could be a first step in Franco becoming a pitching coach within the organization. According to a major league source, the lefty expressed interest last winter in becoming Mets pitching coach, as the new regime of Collins and general manager Sandy Alderson assembled a staff. But Warthen was ultimately retained.
Warthen said Franco will be used in a “Harvey Dorfman” role — a reference to the late, famed sports psychologist.
“The more that [Parnell] can understand it’s an attitude, that you’ve got to believe that everything is going to work your way and you’ve got to choose your battles, the better he will be,” Warthen said. “I think John Franco can help him in that respect. He’s a good, name guy and I try to use all the people I can.”
Parnell has struggled in auditions for the 2012 closer’s job. In last night’s 3-2 loss to the Nationals, he entered in the seventh and allowed Ryan Zimmerman’s go-ahead single before pitching two scoreless innings. Parnell is 3-6 with a 4.05 ERA overall and has blown five saves in 10 chances.
Franco and Parnell talked briefly over the weekend just to get acquainted. Franco was at Citi Field as part of Sunday’s 9/11 pregame tribute. “I told [Franco] if there’s any direction that he can put me in that can help, that would be great,” Parnell said. “He had both hands open, so I’m looking forward to the opportunity to be able to talk to him.”
From a mechanical standpoint, the Mets want Parnell to start throwing a slurve — a hybrid curve and slider in the 85 mph range — that is noticeably different from his 100 mph heater and slider in the low 90s.
“We’re trying to get him something where it’s a 13-14 mph variation,” Warthen said. “It doesn’t have to be a strike, so I want a little bigger breaking ball.”
But Franco likely won’t be involved in helping Parnell develop the new pitch. Warthen instead would like to see Franco transform Parnell’s personality. Warthen noted Parnell’s negative body language during a recent appearance in which David Wright committed an error behind him.
“Bobby’s head went down. He didn’t know it went down, but that’s a show of something you can’t have,” Warthen said. “Instead of saying, ‘[Bleep] it, David, I’ve got the next guy, I’ll take care of this, be ready for the next one.’ That’s the kind of mentality you want to have, and Bobby has not matured to that yet.
“Franco, he’s as comfortable with the bases loaded as with nobody on. He’s going to pick his battles and look at the lineup and say, ‘I know I can get this guy out.’ ”
Warthen also hopes Franco can help Parnell develop something of a mean streak.
“We all know that Bobby is almost too nice,” Warthen said. “We’d like to see him hit the bull every now and then. Every so often he’s going to have to air the ball out and not let people be comfortable at 100 mph. Not necessarily hitting somebody, but let them know he’s effectively wild.”