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Remember Red Sox reliever Daniel Bard?
Today is his 35th birthday and he's one of my very favorite baseball things, so here's a thread about why I think he's so interesting.
Today is his 35th birthday and he's one of my very favorite baseball things, so here's a thread about why I think he's so interesting.
2010: Bard is one of the best relievers in baseball. Full stop. 75 innings. ERA under 2.00. He's throwing 100 regularly. Dominant.
He also throws the first viral pitch gif, a 99 mph 2-seamer that moved like a reverse slider.
Dude is the man.
He also throws the first viral pitch gif, a 99 mph 2-seamer that moved like a reverse slider.
Dude is the man.
2012: Red Sox move him to the rotation, it goes horribly. Bard gets sent down to AAA, moves back to the bullpen and still gets rocked.
2013: Completely loses his stuff. Walks 27 batters in 15 innings (!!!) across three levels. Makes his last 2 big league appearances. DFA'd.
2013: Completely loses his stuff. Walks 27 batters in 15 innings (!!!) across three levels. Makes his last 2 big league appearances. DFA'd.
2014: He tries a comeback with Texas, who send him to Low-A Hickory.
In 4 outings as a 29 year old with Hickory he faces 18 batters, walks 9, hits 7 of them, strikes out 1 and allows 13 earned runs. A 175.50 ERA.
We happened to be at one of those games:
https://cespedesfamilybarbecue.com/2014/06/19/a-night-with-daniel-bard/
In 4 outings as a 29 year old with Hickory he faces 18 batters, walks 9, hits 7 of them, strikes out 1 and allows 13 earned runs. A 175.50 ERA.
We happened to be at one of those games:
https://cespedesfamilybarbecue.com/2014/06/19/a-night-with-daniel-bard/
Just want to make sure you all reread and really understand that pitching line.
0.1 IP
9 BB
7 HBP
13 ER
0 HITS (!!!)
Bard had completely lost it and was out there 10 years older than his opponents still giving it a go. Insanity or dedication or both. We couldn't look away.
0.1 IP
9 BB
7 HBP
13 ER
0 HITS (!!!)
Bard had completely lost it and was out there 10 years older than his opponents still giving it a go. Insanity or dedication or both. We couldn't look away.
Bard got released a week after we saw him but HE WASNT EVEN CLOSE TO DONE
2015: Spends all year in Cubs org. Doesn't pitch in any games. Released.
2016: Signs with PIT in spring, doesn't get in a game. Released in May. Signs with STL. 8 games, 3 IP, 13 BB, 8 ER, 5 HBP in High-A
2015: Spends all year in Cubs org. Doesn't pitch in any games. Released.
2016: Signs with PIT in spring, doesn't get in a game. Released in May. Signs with STL. 8 games, 3 IP, 13 BB, 8 ER, 5 HBP in High-A
2017: He's 32. Back with the Cards. Goes to AA and in 10 games, you guessed it, no control. 19 walks and 10 ER in 8.2 innings. STL lets him go in May
Mets pick him up. He has 1 outing in the GCL, the absolute bottom of the minors: Walks 5 and hits 2 in 0.2 innings. Same story.
Mets pick him up. He has 1 outing in the GCL, the absolute bottom of the minors: Walks 5 and hits 2 in 0.2 innings. Same story.
After 2017 he retires and joins D-Backs as a coach. He does that all of 2018/2019.
BUT NOPE HES NOT DONE.
2020: Age 35 he signs with the Rockies and gets in 3 Spring games before COVID, only walks 3 batters.
Great story from @ChrisCotillo about it: https://www.masslive.com/redsox/2020/05/daniel-bard-former-boston-red-sox-reliever-has-nothing-to-lose-in-comeback-attempt-at-age-34-this-is-what-throwing-a-baseball-is-meant-to-feel-like-chris-cotillo-mlb-notebook.html
BUT NOPE HES NOT DONE.
2020: Age 35 he signs with the Rockies and gets in 3 Spring games before COVID, only walks 3 batters.
Great story from @ChrisCotillo about it: https://www.masslive.com/redsox/2020/05/daniel-bard-former-boston-red-sox-reliever-has-nothing-to-lose-in-comeback-attempt-at-age-34-this-is-what-throwing-a-baseball-is-meant-to-feel-like-chris-cotillo-mlb-notebook.html
So now, he could just be on the Rockies taxi squad
Since 2013 Bard has had every reason to hang it up, but he keeps giving it a go. It's borderline insanity but it's endearing and wonderful. I'm so drawn to it
What I wrote when I saw him in '14 still applies
Godspeed, Mr. Bard
Since 2013 Bard has had every reason to hang it up, but he keeps giving it a go. It's borderline insanity but it's endearing and wonderful. I'm so drawn to it
What I wrote when I saw him in '14 still applies
Godspeed, Mr. Bard
