The Bard Experiment

We are in the second week of the season and the second game of the Bard experiment is over. The Boston Red Sox are trying to convert Daniel Bard from bull pen pitcher to starter. The results are mixed but it is still early.


After the first game Bard's line was 5.0 IP, 8 H, 5 ER, 1 BB, 6K with a pitch count of 96 of which 65 were thrown for strikes. Some of that could be attributed to it being his first start, nerves and being on the road. He was putting the ball over the plate and obviously made some of the offering too juicy by allowing the 8 hits to the Blue Jays. 


In the second game Bard's line was 6.2 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 7 BB, 7 K with a pitch count of 111 of which 63 were thrown for strikes. Other than the glaring seven walks there were definite signs of improvement. Going longer into the game while allowing fewer hits and fewer runs to the Rays is a big plus. The walks were a by product of trying to avoid the meat of the plate and missing on attempts to catch the edges. While his WHIP took a beating the other stat improvements are a good trade off.


One positive out of both games is that there were no wild pitches, no passed balls and only one HBP. Another positive is that in the second game Bard had an improvement on first pitch strikes on 20 out of the 30 batters faced. In his first game it was 14 first pitch strikes on 24 batters. Same gap but going further into the game against more hitters gives you better math. One more positive in the second game the ratio of strikes-in-play to batters faced was 15 to 30 while in the first game it was 17 of 24. Less contact while facing more hitters is a definite plus.


Control is the issue and if Bard can harness his then his future is that of a starter. Between the first two games the improvement is there and his next start will show if that can continue. His right arm is a powerful weapon that the Red Sox hope be used in their starting rotation for the long haul. So far the Bard experiment is off to a good start.