Bard Demoted to Triple-A

Yesterday, Daniel Bard was optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket to make room for Darnell McDonald to return to the Red Sox from the disabled list. Naturally, Bard did not take this news very well. Sunday’s outing where he gave up 5 runs on one hit in 1.2 innings (which also included 6 walks and 2 hit batters) was the final straw. Bard needed out of the rotation so the Red Sox have a chance at
winning more games.

But, don’t think this is a Joba Chamberlain-like story. The Red Sox will not be messing with Bard’s mechanics and never let him get comfortable in a position, like what happened to the Yankees pitcher (I don’t believe there will be in any “Bard Rules,” like there were the infamous “Joba Rules.”). Joba Chamberlain was supposed to be the ultimate stud-pitcher, but he was forced to be reliever, starter with restrictions, starter without restrictions, reliever with restrictions, etc. Right now, Joba Chamberlain is nursing an ankle injury (which he got jumping on a trampoline and his bone went through his skin), and his return to professional baseball is in question.

Pitching coach Bob McClure and manager Bobby Valentine have both said that they think it is best for Daniel Bard to go to Triple-A and work on his mechanics without the pressure of trying to win ballgames. I agree with this. It would’ve been much easier to demote Bard to a reliever, bring up Matsuzaka as a starter, and option another reliever to Triple-A (my vote would be Vincente Padilla) and called it a day.

Sending Bard to Triple-A, though, provides Bard with experience, lets him work on his mechanics, and continues his transition as a starter. Everyone knew it wasn’t going to be smooth sailing to have one of the games most dominant, reliable relievers transition to a starter. Bard had good games. The game on April 16th in which the Red Sox lost 1-0 to the Rays comes to mind immediately, with the only run coming on a bases-loaded walk to Evan Longoria in the 7th inning. Yes, Bard walked 7 batters, but he also struck-out 7 and minimized the hits to 4.

It’s also been said that Bard isn’t expected to remain in Triple-A for an extended period of time. Once he gets his mechanics (specifically his arm angle back where it’s supposed to be) in check, Bard should be returning. The Red Sox are set on Bard being a starter, and I think that should be encouraging for Bard.

In 2001 at age 24, after a horrible season in 2000, there was a pitcher who was sent to Single-A to work on his mechanics and rebuild his delivery; his 10.64 ERA in 19 games- 13 starts- is the worst season for any pitcher in history with at least 50 innings pitched. His pitches were clocking in around 95 mph, which was good, but the ball had little movement, which was bad, and were left up in the strike zone, which was worse. This pitcher worked on his mechanics and delivery and started to rely on more than his strength. After a month and a half, he was promoted to Double-A, a month later Triple-A, and by mid-season he was back in the Majors. This pitcher went on to win two Cy Young Awards (one in each league), is an 8-time All-Star (twice as starting pitcher), and has lead his league in complete games 7 times.

Of course, I was referencing Roy Halladay. Is it fair to compare Daniel Bard to Roy Halladay? Maybe not, but I did want to show that even one of the greatest pitchers in the past decade needed help in his younger years. Obviously, Halladay was able to work it out; and hopefully at age 26, Bard can do the same.