Bard made two appearances after being called up this past Wednesday.  The first one was a fairly clean inning on Thursday.  But yesterday, Bard entered an 8-3 game and walked the only two batters he faced before being quickly pulled by John Farrell. He only managed to throw one of his nine pitches for a strike in an ugly performance.

May 29, 2012; Boston, MA USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Daniel Bard (51) throws a pitch in the third inning against the Detroit Tigers at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

I think at this point, we have to say the Red Sox have no idea what to do next with Bard.  Farrell and others say all the right things about getting his arm slot and mechanics corrected, but the bottom line is the Red Sox may have just ruined this guy’s career with that asinine experiment last year in trying to make him a starter.

I, and many in Red Sox Nation, still do not understand the purpose of that fiasco besides it being a way to find a cheap fifth starter.  As much of a lightning rod as Bobby Valentine was when he was here last year, he was right about keeping Bard as a reliever.

The Red Sox should have known Bard was strictly a relief pitcher.  When he was drafted it was clear that he had control issues in his college career at North Carolina.

It was only when Bard was made into a full time relief pitcher, where he could concentrate on repeating his delivery over a max of two innings, that Bard really thrived.  Asking him to go back and be a starter again last season obviously messed with his mechanics and psyche and now he can’t get it back.

I am openly rooting for Daniel Bard to succeed and return to his 2011 form in Boston’s bullpen.  But that bullpen is pitching very well right now and with Hanrahan and Craig Breslow due to return soon, Bard may just be the permanent odd man out.

April 23, 2013; Boston, MA USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Steven Wright (35) pitches during the fourth inning against the Oakland Athletics at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

Steven Wright, who made his Major League debut last night against the Athletics, was swiftly optioned to AAA Pawtucket following the game. Wright was acquired from Cleveland at last year’s trade deadline for former top Red Sox prospect, Lars Anderson. Wright was borderline dreadful in his first taste of Major League action, getting tagged for six hits and five earned runs in 3.2 innings of work. It wasn’t all negative for the knuckleballer though,  as he struck out four and managed to keep the rest of the bullpen intact, due to being the last pitcher in the game before it was called on account of rain.

March 24, 2013; Clearwater, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Daniel Bard (51) throws a pitch during the fifth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Bright House Networks Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

To take his place on the roster, Daniel Bard is being recalled from AA Portland. Bard is one of the few pitchers who are already on the 40-man roster, and have some experience at the Major League level. Bard hasn’t exactly been impressive and overwhelming for the Sea Dogs, having given up eight hits, five walks and five runs (four earned) in nine innings pitched. That said, he has put together a string of five appearances, totaling six innings, without allowing an earned run. Bard probably won’t be immediately thrust into high leverage situations, but some solid performances in relief would be great for his confidence and for the Boston bullpen.

March 24, 2013; Clearwater, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Daniel Bard (51) throws a pitch during the fifth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Bright House Networks Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Daniel Bard had to have a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach this spring. In eight Grapefruit League appearances, he clocked in with a chubby 6.75 ERA over just eight innings of work. Wednesday’s outing against the Florida Marlins – 3 hits, 3 runs and walk in an inning of work – sealed his fate. In the end Bard once again struggled mightily and lost – at least for now. Today the Red Sox sent Daniel Bard to the AA Portland Seadogs. Clayton Mortensen now gets the nod and fills the roster spot.

We’ve all had that feeling. It’s that feeling before you get sent to the Principal’s office or when your dad is waiting up for you because your missed curfew by an hour. Only this screw up means your reputation and potentially your livelihood. You did it yourself and you know you’re in for it.

It could not have been a comfortable meeting that Bard had with Sox manager John Farrell and pitching coach Juan Nieves on Thursday. What he is left with, just as a he did last year, are what ifs and where do I go from here moments. He’s a good guy. He works hard. He just can’t seem to get his mojo back.

Stephen Drew, who sustained a concussion on March 7, was placed on the seven-day disabled list retroactive to March 27. Drew’s return to the lineup will be important since feather weight hitting SS Jose Iglesis won’t be able to hold on for long.

Bard and Drew were the bad and ugly. Perhaps Boston’s projected Opening Day lineup with (drum roll please) Jackie Bradley in left field will be the good.

Boston’s projected starting Opening Day lineup against the New York Yankees and CC Sabathia:

1. CF: Jacoby Ellsbury
2. RF: Shane Victorino
3. 2B: Dustin Pedroia
4. 1B: Mike Napoli
5. 3B: Will Middlebrooks
6. DH: Jonny Gomes
7. C: Jarrod Saltalamacchia
8. LF: Jackie Bradley Jr.
9. SS: Jose Iglesias
SP: Jon Lester

—————————————–

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May 29, 2012; Boston, MA USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Daniel Bard (51) throws a pitch in the third inning against the Detroit Tigers at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

He never really found himself in a lost 2012 season, but he’s determined to change that in 2013. Bard showed up to camp early and today he pitched his first live batting practice session. Coaches and reporters who watched from the side said that Bard showed good control and Bard had some words in regards to his performance.



”It felt good. Just trying to work the kinks out. It takes a few pitches to get used to the having the cages and the L-screen in front but once you kind of settle in, it felt good… I threw all my pitches. The focus was on being in the strike zone as much as possible, trying to be down with everything. Toward the end, second half, I was pretty pleased and felt like I accomplished most of those goals.”

Bard is absolutely not guaranteed a spot in what should be one of the league’s best bullpens. However, it’s fantastic that he’s out to grab one of the few spots remaining in what would be the front end of the ‘pen. He is sort of the forgotten man after his lost 2012 season, but we can’t forget that he was arguably the league’s best setup man in the years before last. If he can come close to the level he was at, this bullpen is just one notch better.

Jun 3, 2012; Toronto, ON, Canada; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Daniel Bard (51) delivers a pitch against the Toronto Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

On December 29, 2011 Oakland As closer Andrew Bailey, along with Ryan Sweeney, was traded to the Red Sox. Bard was asked to become a starting pitcher. He was bad from the get go, either getting knocked around hard after a few decent innings or eventually becoming so wild opposing batters actually got jumpy in the box.

Even though Bailey went down before opening day with a bum thumb, an injury that would keep him out of action nearly the entire season, then manager Bobby Valentine insisted on keeping Bard in the starting rotation, instead tapping Alfredo Aceves as the closer.

Bard continued to worsen and was eventually removed from the starting rotation too late by Valentine. The damage had been done. Bard moved to the pen, continued his wild, inconsistent, ineffective ways and spent the rest of the season in the minors trying to get his control, psychological balance and mojo back. It  didn’t happen.

Now, as always, hope springs eternal as grown men head to Florida and Arizona to sharpen their skills and play a child’s game at a very high level – so one would hope. Therein lies the promise and precariousness of Bard’s situation.

Daniel Bard will turn 28-years old early in the 2013 season, his fifth major league campaign. It is a crucial year for him and the Red Sox. He badly needs to have a bounce back season if he’s to win a role. Boston badly needs to get back to respectability after what can only be characterized as a 2012 voyage on the Titanic with Captain Valentine.

If Bard returns to form, the back end of Boston’s bullpen – relievers Alfredo Aceves, Koji Uehara, Junichi Tazawa, Andrew Miller, Franklin Morales, Andrew Bailey (setup) and Joel Hanrahan (closer) – could become a force in the American League. Where Bard fits in is largely up to him. He will have to win a role in spring training in a crowded field that also includes Clayton Mortensen, Craig Breslow plus some rookie dark horse candidates and trades like Rubby De La Rosa.

Almost to the day of the one-year anniversary of the Bailey trade Bard commented to WEEI’s Rob Bradford about Boston’s acquisition of Hanrahan as their new closer. “I haven’t really thought about how it affects my situation,” Bard told Bradford. “I know I have a lot to prove coming into spring training, and I’m getting ready for that. Obviously my goal is to get back to the role I held for two or three years, setting up or better. Whatever I earn, that’s my goal.”

If there is a positive spin for Bard going into spring training it’s that new manager John Farrell, once Bard’s pitching coach for two seasons and a man who understands him, will likely be assisting new pitching coach Juan Nieves with evaluation and personnel management.

Bard will need to unequivocally show the Red Sox that has the velocity, control and confidence back that he lost last year. Otherwise, with the field so crowded he could be relegated to starting the season in the minors.

Get back, get back. 
Get back to where you once belonged 
Get back, get back. 
Get back to where you once belonged. 
Get back Jojo, go home
- Get Back, The Beatles

Jun 3, 2012; Toronto, ON, Canada; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Daniel Bard (51) against the Toronto Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre. The Blue Jays beat the Red Sox 5-1. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-US PRESSWIRE

I’m not Daniel Bard, I have no idea what’s going on in his head. I can only imagine it. I don’t know how it feels. But I do know if I were one of the most consistent and dominant set up men in the majors from 2009-11 and had so profoundly tanked in 2012 as Boston’s once and then banished starter/closer, my appointment book would be loaded with sessions with the team sports psychologist.

From 2009-11, Bard sported an average 2.97 ERA, 71 Ks and walked just 25 per year while appearing in an average of 64 games in each year. In 2012, when he was moved to Boston’s closer role after Red Sox closer Andrew Bailey went down in spring training with a thumb injury that took him out for most of the season, all the wheels came off the cart.

In just 17 games, Bard’s ERA ballooned to 6.22 on 38 Ks and, the most damning statistic, 43 walks. They weren’t just walks, they were odysseys. He wasn’t justing walking wild. He was scary wild. In his 64 games from 2009-11 Bard averaged just 2.3 hit batsmen per year. In 2012 in 17 games he beaned eight batters. That’s bad. That’s Steve Blass bad.

OK, not necessarily Steve Blass bad. After Blass led the Pittsburgh Pirates to a World Championship in 1971, hurling five shutouts during a 15-8 regular season with a 2.58 ERA and again powering through lineups in 1972, going 19-8, he became the couldn’t-find-the-plate-with-radar poster child. My father more plainly stated it. “He couldn’t find his ass with both hands.”

In 1973 Blass went 3-9 with an obese 9.85 ERA. More alarmingly, he’ beaned 12 batters, walked 84 hitters in just 88 2/3 innings and got hit – hard. In 1974 Blass pitched one game and gave up five runs, walked seven and spent the rest of the season in the minors. By 1975 Blass was out of baseball.

I believe Bard can get it back. Perhaps it’s just that his early career dominance is still fresh in my mind and, like many fans, I’m waiting for the skinny whip to return to a set up role the Red Sox need. I think he can do it. I hope he can do it.

Kermit the frog sang, “It isn’t easy being green.” Bard’s opposing batters from 2012 echo back, “It isn’t easy being beaned.” Daniel Bard hasn’t had a lot to sing about lately and will have a lot to think about this offseason. Here’s to getting clarity and confidence.

It’s not easy bein’ green
It seems you blend in with so many other ordinary things
And people tend to pass you over ’cause you’re
Not standing out like flashy sparkles in the water
Or stars in the sky
– It Isn’t Easy Being Green, Kermit The Frog

But something went terribly wrong when the Red Sox and Bard attempted to make the conversion to a starter.  Maybe it was greed on Bard’s behalf to try and cash in on the elite starter’s money that so many make around the majors, or call it a lousy premonition that Sox management had that Bard would become an elusive starter.  Both sides were wrong and now we can only sit and wonder if one of the Red Sox great, future arms may be ruined for the rest of his career.

Bard rejoined the big club on Wednesday and is waiting for the official activation that will see his name once again on the 25-man roster.  There have been a few changes to the club since Bard was last seen wearing his number 51 when he was hitting batters on what seemed to be a regular basis.  Gone are Josh Beckett and Kelly Shoppach, both of whom Bard would have spent a considerable amount of time with trying to learn the starting pitcher’s role.

The interesting case with Bard’s promotion is that his numbers in Pawtucket haven’t improved any since his demotion.  Granted he hasn’t walked a batter in his last three appearances, he still owned an ERA of 7.03 and a WHIP of 1.88 in 31 games, totaling 32.0 innings pitched.  He struck out 32 batters, walked 29 and hit 10 so it’s difficult to argue that he has regained his once dominating control.

At least this much we know; when we do see Bard for the first time since being recalled, we can be confident that it will be out of the bullpen in relief and not starting a game that would see the Red Sox almost immediately behind in.  The club has plenty of other starters who are proficient at doing that.

David Ortiz is inching closer to a return from his nagging achilles injury that has sidelined the slugger since July 17.  Big Papi was smashing balls during batting practice in the Bronx over the weekend, but did not participate in any running drills.  Ortiz is hoping to get back in the lineup during this week’s six-game homestand, a move that will surely kick start an offense that has been dormant at times in his absence.

Ortiz made it clear that he did not want to rush back from the injury and put his career in jeopardy.  The 36-year old is set to hit the free agent market after this season and he’s been quite vocal about his displeasure with the fish bowl setting that follows the Sox club.  Papi is having a typical contract type year, producing a slash line of .316/.414/.609/.1.024 with 23 home runs and 58 RBI. A beloved icon in Boston, it’s hard to imagine Ortiz signing elsewhere, but given his frustration and the drama surrounding this club, it certainly is a possibility.

Do you remember the name Daniel Bard?  He was that pitcher that would work the eighth inning in year’s past and smother any hopes of the opposing team’s thoughts of a comeback, before turning the ball over to Jonathan Papelbon.  Well, he’s been anything but effective this year and has been buried in the minors ever since his demotion on June 5.

Reports indicate that Bard will return to the Red Sox this season despite his below average numbers in Pawtucket.  The Boston Globe reports that Ben Cherington was discussing the possibility of recalling Bard before the rosters expand on September 1 in what sounds like a move to restore his confidence (if he has any left).

“He’s going to be back in the big leagues,” Cherington said. “I don’t know when it’s going to be. But its important to get him in this environment again and around people he knows well.”

“We’re trying to find the right time to do that and to do it in a way that’s fair to everyone.”

Through 29 innings of relief work, Bard has given up 29 walks, hit 9 batters, thrown 9 wild pitches and has an ERA of 7.45. With numbers like these it’s any wonder why the Sox would recall him at all this year.  Sure the postseason is now a pipe dream, but there is still something worth playing for….respect.  Bringing Bard into the ball game renders that and puts opposing batters at risk of injury.

As Carl Crawford gets set for Tommy John Surgery, Daniel Nava is inching closer to a return from a wrist injury that saw him land on the disabled list on July 29. It’s expected that Nava will rejoin the big club this week, taking Crawford’s spot in the outfield.

With a position player set for TJS, another pitcher continues to recover from the procedure.  John Lackey, the $82 million dollar man threw a 45-pitch bullpen session on Saturday and the reviews are positive; at least according to Bobby Valentine.  It is expected that Lackey could see some game action before the season ends, albeit in the minor league levels.  Lackey is in year three of a five-year deal that he signed with Boston in the 2010 off season.

The injection will force Ortiz to refrain from doing any activities but the Red Sox are hoping that he can return to the lineup on Thursday when the club travels to Cleveland to take on the Indians.  Ortiz made it public that he doesn’t want to rush back to the lineup and jeopardize his career with the injury

In other Red Sox injury news, Vicente Padilla will need a day or two of rest after suffering a slight groin pull along with bicep and tricep issues.  Maybe that explains the meatballs he’s been throwing over the plate over the past week (speaking more on the Texeira home run).

Remember Andrew Bailey?  He was the bonified closer that the Red Sox acquired and gave up the mashing outfielder, Josh Reddick in return.  Reddick is likely to hit 30 home runs in Oakland of all places and Bailey has yet to throw a pitch for Boston this season.  But the report on Bailey is positive as he’s scheduled to work in back-to-back outings this week and is said to be progressing nicely.

Daniel Bard, another forgotten name in the Red Sox organization is still in triple-A Pawtucket and still trying to avoid hitting batters.  The latest report on Bard is he’s progressing nicely despite a shaky second inning after a dominant first inning.  Valentine thinks that Bard is close to returning to Boston and if he can be effective, adding a dominating Bard to the bullpen is better than any acquisition the team could make.

Scott Atchison‘s season is in the balance.  The reliever is awaiting word on his latest examination as to whether he’ll need Tommy John Surgery or a simple rehab assignment will be enough to salvage the veteran’s season.  Atchison is dealing with a forearm and elbow injury and has been out of action since early July.

Daisuke Matsuzaka, who is likely in his last couple of months as a member of the Red Sox, made his second rehab start for Pawtucket.  Dice-K, who is recovering from a trapezius strain, surrendered four runs (one earned) on on five hits, while giving up one walk and three strikeouts in three innings pitched.  There is no word as to when Dice-K will be ready to rejoin the big club, not that he would have a spot given the success of Felix Doubront, Clay Buchholz and Franklin Morales.

All injury updates were courtesy of ESPNBoston.com.

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I’m calling it…3:28 PM…EST…July 22nd…

The frustrated surgeon snaps off the gloves and the nurse covers the patient’s head and Red Sox hat with a white sheet.

R.I.P. Boston Red Sox, 2012.

(more…)

Let’s start with Garza of the Cubs.  Everyone knows what Theo is doing in Chicago; stripping down and rebuilding from the ground up.  He has set the price tag on Garza incredibly high and given that there are 17 teams within seven games of a playoff spot, he’ll likely get the asking price.  Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe recently wrote that if the Sox want to acquire anyone of Garza’s talent, it means having your prospect cupboard potentially raided.  If not, start focusing on next year.

Cafardo thinks the Cubs could be enticed by a package surrounding around Daniel Bard given the history the reliever has with Epstein and Jed Hoyer. Jose Iglesias could be another name that could be included given the sudden depth the Red Sox have at shortstop and the slow offensive development the one-time phenom is showing.  Add another high level prospect and suddenly you might have Epstein’s ear.  Of course with the Dodgers reportedly heavily interested in Garza after they too pulled out on Dempster, this could become a bidding war of prospect packages, driving up the price for a pitcher who is likely a number two in the rotation at best.

Cafardo also discusses the potential to trade catcher Kelly Shoppach.  With Jarrod Saltalamacchia emerging as the starting catcher and Ryan Lavarnway all but busting at the seams for a promotion to the big club, Shoppach is expendable.  The Mets are one team that has recently scouted Shoppach and given there are multiple other clubs in need of help behind the plate, the Red Sox could look at moving the 32-year old.

Francisco Liriano of the Twins is drawing interest and it was once reported the Red Sox were said to be looking at him but that hasn’t been mentioned lately, making it a possibility that Boston is focusing on Garza first and foremost.

Finally we have Jon Lester.  On Saturday, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reported that the Atlanta Braves had called inquiring about Lester’s availability.  The 28-year old lefty is under team control through the 2014 season making him an attractive trade piece.  But given his rough outing on Sunday and the fact he’s battling through his worst season in the big leagues, Lester’s trade value may not be overly high based on his performances. Maybe not.

The Braves GM, Frank Wren said pitching is at a premium based on the lack of quality pitchers available.  Now might be the time the Red Sox should consider dealing Lester if clubs are willing to overpay despite his struggles in a Boston uniform this year.  Nothing was reported as to what or who the Braves would be willing to give up for Lester, but some of their young arms could be attractive to Ben Cherington.

Lots of rumors, what ifs and possible scenarios, some of which will pick up steam in the next eight days while others will fizzle  faster than Kris Humphries fame.  We’ll keep you posted right here at BSI as the trade deadline approaches.

You’re Ben Cherington and you’ve got the ball.  You always wanted to be the guy on the mound with the entire season on the line. You got what you wished for: to be the one who makes the choice at the moment of decision on the diamond: this will be the turning point in your baseball career.

(more…)

Daniel Bard makes his way from the bullpen to the dugout with pitching coach Bob McClure. Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-US PRESSWIRE

Today Daniel Bard announced that he’s decided that he should go back to the bullpen and the team agrees. Despite Bard blowing the save in Pawtucket last night and throwing two wild pitches, I think it’s the right move.

For a couple days now I’m been debating writing an article pleading with the Red Sox to move Bard back to the pen. I’m glad that they are finally seeing things my way.

If we look at Bard’s minor league numbers, in 07 he was a starter and his ERA was 7.08, his WHIP was 2.053, Bard averaged over one walk and one hit per inning yet he only averaged 5.5 strikeouts per 9. Those are terrible numbers. The next year he moved to the pen. He pitched in 46 games, finishing 17, with an ERA of 1.51, a WHIP of .0927, his hits per 9 dropped to 4.9 and his walks per 9 dropped to 3.5. His strikeouts per 9 jumped to 12.4. And the rest is history.

We know what he did this year as a starter and we know what he did last season as a reliever. So why not move him to the pen? If Bard bounces back to last year’s numbers he can be the closer. Alfredo Aceves has done a decent job but he’d be so valuable in the 8^th. Once Andrew Bailey comes back, he could take over the 9^th, with Bard going to the 8^th, and Aceves being the all so valuable bullpen guy that can pitch in any spot in the game, much like he did last year. That would make for a very good bullpen. Bard should the piece that this bullpen is built around. Hasn’t that been the story as long as we remember? We heard it again and again, closer of the future, closer of the future. So why did they bother to change it? Was the starting pitching market that tight this off-season?

Imagine if the Red Sox decided this before the season? They’d be able to keep either Marco Scutaro or Jed Lowrie, or trade them for something else. Right now Boston has Clayton Mortensen and Mark Melancon to show for it. What if they decided that they didn’t need to completely rebuild the bullpen? Which by the way, if we look at it now, looks pretty similar to last year, minus Bard and Jonathan Papelbon.

Just another case of team mismanagement.

With Youk’s value in free fall, only the clinically-diagnosable rabid Red Sox fan calling into sports talk radio still fantasizes about acquiring a #4 slot starter in a one-for-one trade.

But, there is a viable 3-team deal with the Sox, Dodgers, and Astros out there.

(more…)

The Red Sox are $12 million away from a .500 record this season.

Our sources say that the remaining glitch in the Kevin Youkilis for Joe Saunders [RHP] trade is the Sox willingness to pay half of Youk’s $12M salary this season.

(more…)

But recently Bard made some comments that are more than just showing his disappointment.  He disagreed with the Red Sox move to send him down and that’s fine, but it’s what Bard said following that is concerning and borderline selfish.

“It’s not my decision. I’m just an employee here,” – courtesy of the Scott Lauber, the Boston Herald.

Is that how he sees himself to the Red Sox, is just an employee who collects his $1.6 million dollars throughout the year, shows up, puts in time and then has a merry off season? Just an employee? How about a valued asset that most teams would love to have on their employee payroll.

Then Bard added the following:

“Obviously, I’m not thrilled with it. If it was me making the decision it might have been different. But I tried to be respectful about it. Once I get the anger and disappointment out of the way, you just have to try to make the best out of the situation.”

‘He tried to be respectful about it’ doesn’t sit well with me.  How about you respect the decision and while the disappointment is a natural feeling, the anger should be pointed in one direction and that’s back at Daniel Bard.  There is no reason Bard should be angry with the Red Sox and their decision to send him down.  He had become a liability on the mound and not just to the Red Sox but to opposing batters as well.  Just ask Edwin Encarnacion of the Blue Jays who’s lucky to only have a bruised wrist after getting hit by Bard’s uncontrollable fastball.

Bard could not find the strike zone and was piling up the walks faster than an all you can eat pancake house piling up the hot cakes.  His numbers do not resemble that of a major league pitcher: 6.1BB/9 versus 5.6K/9 with a 5.24 ERA through 55.0 innings so it’s easy to understand the move to have him work on his mechanics and confidence in a league that is designed to do just that.

For Bard to think that the Red Sox should have allowed him to remain in the big leagues and work through his issues is down right absurd and selfish.  Does he forget the Red Sox, his employer, are in the midst of a division battle with four other teams in which a loss on any given night could alter your position and potentially affect the postseason chances come September?

To have Bard on the mound trying to figure his problems out as a starter needs to happen in Pawtucket, not Boston or any other major league city.  Why he can’t comprehend that is beyond me.  I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt and say he was speaking out of frustration and anger when he made those comments so let’s hope that when he does return to the big leagues he will have a new outlook on his career and maybe, just maybe he will learn not to be selfish in a game that demands the ultimate team comradery.

You’re Daniel Bard and the Cheap Bastard Owners screwed you to “save” a few bucks.

You were great in the set-up role, but management [Lucchino and Henry] set you up by refusing to pay for another starter, they set you up to fail.

(more…)

The move comes only a couple of days since Bard was removed from the worst start of his career in Toronto on Sunday in what has been a lousy attempt at converting to a full-time starter.  Bard was yanked in the second inning after struggling with his command for yet another game going 1.2 innings, giving up just one hit but walking six and hitting two batters en route to coughing up 5 runs, all earned.  His ERA on the season sits at 5.24 and has now walked more than he’s struck out, 37 to 34.

Lauber goes on to report that the move creates room for Darnell McDonald to be reactivated from the DL and will join the big club tonight as they play host to the Baltimore Orioles.

The demotion of Bard doesn’t necessarily spell the end of his starting experiment but with Daisuke Matsuzaka set to start tonight in Pawtucket, in what could be his last rehab start, Bard could be heading back to the bullpen when he returns.  Regardless of where he pitches when he rejoins the Red Sox, a stint in the minors is just what he needs to straighten out his mechanics, rediscover his fastball velocity and gain some much needed confidence.

There will be more to come on this and as it unfolds we’ll keep you informed so check back often for the latest updates.

. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-US PRESSWIRE

From beginning to end, there wasn’t a whole lot to like about this game if you’re a Red Sox fan. They didn’t hit well and were staked to an early deficit after a miserable outing by Daniel Bard. Bard’s control was never there– as he walked the first two batters of the game. Jose Bautista worked a full count and eight pitch at bat before turning on a Daniel Bard fastball and sending it into the bleachers for a three run homer. Bard finally got out of the first after 28 pitches, but the Blue Jays got right back at it in the second– loading the bases with two outs on two walks and a hit by pitch. The Blue Jays took two more runs after a walk and hit by pitch with the bases loaded gave the Jays a 5-0 lead.

Bobby Valentine proceeded to do what any sane manager would do and pulled Bard from the game after just 1.2 innings. He put Franklin Morales into the game, a former starter with Colorado. If there was one good thing to take away from today’s game, it was Franklin Morales’ performance. Morales would throw 4.1 innings, allowing just two hits and striking out four. He was consistently ahead of Blue Jays’ hitters and they looked helpless on his breaking ball– which he could throw at any time. After his 4.1 innings, Scott Atchison and Rich Hill each threw a scoreless inning.

Blue Jays’ rookie Drew Hutchison really shut down the Red Sox today. He allowed just a run on a Kelly Shoppach home run in seven innings of work, striking out five and allowing five hits. The only real offensive bright spots were Shoppach– who went 1-2 with that homer and a hit by pitch– and Mike Aviles, who went 2-4 with a pair of singles. It’s a rarity for the Red Sox offense not to back their pitchers so I’d hope to see their offense back again next week. Hopefully, the Red Sox can just forget about this game as– believe me, it was not fun to watch.

The Red Sox signed Ohlendorf in February to a minor league contract with an invite to spring training and was apart of the low cost gamble that Ben Cherington was hell bent on sticking to this winter instead of overspending on the high-prized free agent starters.

Ohlendorf made 10 starts in Pawtucket, going 4-3 with a 4.61 ERA in 52.2 innings of work. He had a strikeout ratio of 6.3K/9 and a walk ratio of 2.6BB/9, certainly respectable numbers and given the fact he had not worked out of the bullpen in over four years it was rotation or bust for Ohlendorf and the Red Sox with the latter being the unfortunate consequence of an already crowded rotation.

You could make the argument that you can never have too many starting pitchers and the 2011 Red Sox would certainly attest to that.  But with versatility options in Daniel Bard and maybe Felix Doubront, Ohlendorf’s one track game led to his dismissal.

It would not come as a surprise to see Ohlendorf get claimed by another club given his numbers thus far in triple-A.  If Jamie Moyer can get 10 starts in the majors after recovering from Tommy John Surgery at the age of 49, then surely the 29-year old Ross Ohlendorf can be given a chance to start with another club.