I'm not sure exactly what the deal is with Parnell, but something don't look right. Guy routinely running it up there near 100 last year, and in st, he was 89-91, and opening day he topped out around 92-93. He is coming off surgery on his neck or something like that and he didn't look hurt, but obviously there is an issue there if his velocity is so significantly down on opening day. It was a nice day in NY, so it's not like he was pitching in 25 degrees and the weather in ST was obviously not a factor either.
Mets coach already said he wasn't intending on pitching Parnell in b2b games. I think Valverde gets ample save opportunities early (whether he is effective or not is an entirely different story).