6/14 @ Philadelphia

[jacksonianmarch]

The wildness finally caught up with Daniel Bard. You cannot continually throw 97 down the heart of the plate without getting hit. Once they started hitting his fastball, he got gun shy. Now is the time for him to learn from it, not turtle and become a shell of himself. But kids will be kids. I think he has a fantastic future, he just isnt ready to take on a bigger role just yet IMO.

[YAZMAN]

The wildness finally caught up with Daniel Bard. You cannot continually throw 97 down the heart of the plate without getting hit. Once they started hitting his fastball' date=' he got gun shy. Now is the time for him to learn from it, not turtle and become a shell of himself. But kids will be kids. I think he has a fantastic future, he just isnt ready to take on a bigger role just yet IMO.[/quote']

 

I think they're going to trade him.

[jacksonianmarch]

I hope you do. He has made such significant strides since his conversion to the pen that he could become much, much better. Honestly, I had seen him once before when I was in Florida before he converted to the pen. What I see now is just ridiculously different. He used to have a fear of contact. He got over that quickly. He used to have no control of the slider and he rectified that as well. His problem now, is something he has always had, and thats problems pitch to pitch with his fastball. If he ever gets enough control to get the fastball out of the middle and onto the corners consistently, he'll be a big league closer for a LONG time. I hope you do deal him. I dont want to face a 1-2 punch of an improved Bard then Paps. Games will be 7 innings short. At least we can hit Ramirez and Delcarmen. I dont think we'll hit this kid when he gets his s*** straight

[YAZMAN]

I dont think we'll hit this kid when he gets his s*** straight

How long do you wait, until he isn't worth anything? He's tweaky, I have a bad feeling about him.

[jacksonianmarch]

How long do you wait' date=' until he isn't worth anything? He's tweaky, I have a bad feeling about him.[/quote']

 

well, we have all seen guys like him flame out. David Aardsma comes to mind. All the power in the world, no clue where to throw it. But he'll always get chances and eventually things may click. Aardsma is having a good yr even though he is still walking too many. I understand your reticent thoughts, but at the same time, he is the kind of hit or miss kid that could be in the Bagwell category in terms of bad deals.

[YAZMAN]

well' date=' we have all seen guys like him flame out. David Aardsma comes to mind. All the power in the world, no clue where to throw it. But he'll always get chances and eventually things may click. Aardsma is having a good yr even though he is still walking too many. I understand your reticent thoughts, but at the same time, he is the kind of hit or miss kid that could be in the Bagwell category in terms of bad deals.[/quote']

 

I just don't see it in his face or in his eyes when he's on the mound. You know exactly what I'm talking about, you can smell it on your opponent. Fear, creeping thoughts, call it what you want. I don't think he really believes the way he needs to in order to be a MLB player.

[TheKilo]

What?

[Dipre]

So he gives up a couple runs and suddenly he sucks?

 

Bad days: Everyone has them.

[MANNYHOF24]

Are you guys freaking kidding?

[Cocos Disciples]

^ Durr. It's in his eyes.

[a700hitter]

I think Bard is much more advanced at this stage than Delcarmen was, and Delcarmen has developed into a pretty good pitcher. He's not as advanced as papelbon, but very few take the league by storm like Papelbon did a an early age.

[YAZMAN]

What?

 

I don't believe he pans out as an effective MLB pitcher with average career longevity, and I don't think he does either.

[TheKilo]

Because of his eyes?

[Spudboy]

Bard is not a finished product. He's still learning his craft. So he got beat-up. All pitchers have bad days. Young ones can be given more rope to prove that they belong. This kid has really good stuff that needs to be developed. Either as a spot reliever with the Sox, or in Pawtucket where he would likely get more appearances. I like the idea that he can become the Sox closer eventually. Papelbon is not a lock to be with the Sox for the long haul.

[YAZMAN]

Because of his eyes?

 

Because of the fear in his eyes. He got the save the other night. Did he looked psyched? Did he look like he got an anticipated result? To me he looked relieved.

 

He struck out the side and hit a batter. If you look at the stats or the box score, you'd think he threw well and maybe hit a guy who's out over the plate like Youkilis.

 

To me, he looked like Nuke LaLoosh, almost hit everything but the mascot, and struck out the side because, quite frankly, he throws 100 and nobody in the park has any idea where it's going.

 

Of course your results may vary.

[Cocos Disciples]

JD Drew doesn't show a lot of emotion either, whatever.

[TheKilo]

JD Drew doesn't show a lot of emotion either' date=' whatever.[/quote']

 

HE DOESNT CARE NOT TUFF NO GRIT

[Keeper]

WAY too early to write this kid off. One bad outing does not a pitcher make.

[MANNYHOF24]

Because of the fear in his eyes. He got the save the other night. Did he looked psyched? Did he look like he got an anticipated result? To me he looked relieved.

 

He struck out the side and hit a batter. If you look at the stats or the box score, you'd think he threw well and maybe hit a guy who's out over the plate like Youkilis.

 

To me, he looked like Nuke LaLoosh, almost hit everything but the mascot, and struck out the side because, quite frankly, he throws 100 and nobody in the park has any idea where it's going.

 

Of course your results may vary.

 

Wow.

[YAZMAN]

JD Drew doesn't show a lot of emotion either' date=' whatever.[/quote']

 

Absolutely missing the point. You look at JD Drew and you see a man who knows he belongs where he is. Always, no questions asked, on his best days, and his worst.

 

Bookmark this thread because somebody will have a good laugh with it in a few years.

[Cocos Disciples]

I'm not missing the point, but I'm fairly certain it's a terrible one.

[YAZMAN]

Clearly with the ability to throw 100mph, the guy has freakish ability. How can he not, with such gifted physical tools, throw the ball into a 400+sq in target from 60' away?

 

When you talk about Lester having trouble with location, it's a difference of an inch or so. With Bard it's missing by feet. Is it mechanics that need to be worked on? When you talk about Buchholz and mechanics, it's about finding a motion and arm location that will give his arm longevity, but with Bard it's about finding a motion that will keep him in the zip code. You can't fix mental problems with physical solutions.