I liked Bard tonight.

[Dojji]

Screw megathreads. Megathreads suck. Megathreads are the evil spawn of satan and a particularly boring history teacher. BREAK THE CYCLE!

 

Anyway back to Bard.

 

I thought he did well tonight. Don't let the box score fool you. There were a lot of positives tonight. He got through a good lineup a couple times and showed that the starting thing was something he has a chance to handle. Through 5 it was 3 ER and 5 IP.

 

Then he gets put out there in the 6th and gets burnt for it. Which I think is stupid on Valentine's part. V never should have brought him into the 6th inning with his pitch count over 80 in his first careeer big league start. That blew up in his face and ruined what should have been a pretty decent effort from Bard. This kid isn't toughened up for 100 pitch outings yet, and should have been brought up to it more gently. Valentine needed to bite the bullet and go to his pen to start the inning rather than letting Bard get knocked around.

 

That said, the stuff looked good, and the command was better than I thought it'd be. This littke experiment could end up working out, if he can refine his command just a little bit more and keep it down and out of the middle of the plate.

[iortiz]

Don't let the box score fool you?, mmm... I do not know man, I want to see Bard a couple of more starts.

[Station 13]

The astrosturf killed him. Put him in Fenway to get real bounce. And give him a real defense on the left side of the infield.

 

Encouraging with all the swinging strikes.

[Elktonnick]

I'll give Bard a C. He pitched better than Beckett and Buchhoiltz which of course isn't saying much. He didn't mix his pitches well in the first few innings perhaps because of understandable jitters. Relied way too much on the fastball. He didn't look comfortable until the fourth and fifth innings. Didn't throw a a changeup until his 50th pitch. As they say he was throwing not pitching. That being said it was an important first step and very encouraging. He should get at least two or more starts as a result unless there is some unforeseen disaster that causes a change in those plans

[jung]

Bard made a more than respectable showing tonight.

 

The more he gets into mixing his pitches the better he gets. A catcher with half a brain would do him a world of good. I thought Bard did a great job especially with all the pressure of first time out and this swirling closer controversy.

 

I believe his confidence in his secondary pitches is going to grow and he will continue to improve from a darned good beginning.

[jacksonianmarch]

Avoided the walk for the most part. As he will always do, he got away with some cookies due to his stuff. It wasnt a putrid effort. It wasnt exceptional. More importantly, it wasnt one that changes the status quo. He wasnt bad enough to relegate him to the pen. He wasnt good enough to gain a strong foothold in the rotation.

[Station 13]

I'll give Bard a C. He pitched better than Beckett and Buchhoiltz which of course isn't saying much. He didn't mix his pitches well in the first few innings perhaps because of understandable jitters. Relied way too much on the fastball. He didn't look comfortable until the fourth and fifth innings. Didn't throw a a changeup until his 50th pitch. As they say he was throwing not pitching. That being said it was an important first step and very encouraging. He should get at least two or more starts as a result unless there is some unforeseen disaster that causes a change in those plans

 

He only threw 50% fastball. Even less than when he was a reliever who could just pump 100 gas for 15 pitches.

 

He got 5 hits all sneaking through the IF. A broken bat bloop. 2 IF hits. Only 2 flyball outs.

[Elktonnick]

He only threw 50% fastball. Even less than when he was a reliever who could just pump 100 gas for 15 pitches.

 

He got 5 hits all sneaking through the IF. A broken bat bloop. 2 IF hits. Only 2 flyball outs.

 

Those stats are misleading since he threw mainly fastballs for the first few innings. He didn't mix his pitches until the fourth and fifth innings. McCclure went out there to tell him to mix it up more. Mc Clure's body language with BV told all you needed to know. The Jays were sitting dead red. He didn't throw his first changeup until the 50th pitch. If he were to do that regularly he'd get clobbered (not mix he pitches the way he did during the first three innings.)

[jung]

The one thing you wonder about is that you would think with a valuable asset like a pitcher with his stuff, the Sox would have been working with Bard to improve the way he works through an inning and on a hitter.

 

We have seen several instances now of him getting up 0-2 in the count and then just grooving a nothing pitch which gets dumped into the outfield by the hitter. That is just sloppy pitching. It is lazy pitching. Instead of having an out in the bank he ends up with a jam.

 

I am convinced he will improve though and it is hard not to be impressed with the quality of the pitches he can throw.

[Station 13]

Here's what the scratch hits were:

singled to left (Grounder)

doubled to left (Grounder)

singled to shortstop (Grounder) IF variety

singled to center (Fliner) broken bat bloop

singled to right (Grounder)

singled to center (Grounder)

singled to right (Grounder)

singled to shortstop (Grounder) IF variety

 

Bard + Bobby V will be calling for Iglesias and Will Middlebrooks soon enough.

[jung]

Hard to ignore how bad the defense has been. Looks like these guys are going to make V's case for him.

 

Iggy can't get here soon enough for my liking and while the Sox probably owe themselves and Youk a bit more time....it's not buckets more.

[Station 13]

The astrosturf definitely exacerbate the weakness to our left side on the infield. But they won't be a lot better on a true grass surface.

 

A better defense should able to take away at least 3-4 hits here, surely on the IF hits.

[SCM33]

Here's what the scratch hits were:

singled to left (Grounder)

doubled to left (Grounder)

singled to shortstop (Grounder) IF variety

singled to center (Fliner) broken bat bloop

singled to right (Grounder)

singled to center (Grounder)

singled to right (Grounder)

singled to shortstop (Grounder) IF variety

 

Bard + Bobby V will be calling for Iglesias and Will Middlebrooks soon enough.

 

Scutaro was perfectly fine. If only we could afford players like him. If only we didnt have 178 million dollars tied up in awful contracts and have 2 backup infielders playing SS.

[Dojji]

Scutaro had the same problem, more so because of his age and health problems.

 

Did anyone here really think Marco Scutaro was our shortstop because of his defensive range?

 

Ever since Beltre left, and Adgon came in, that left side has been hideously exposed. Beltre could cover for scoot, Youks can't.

[RedSoxRooter]

Scutaro was perfectly fine. If only we could afford players like him.

 

Made me laugh.

 

But yeah, I liked what I saw with Bard tonight. It's easy to see the stuff he has, but he's a bright guy too it seems. The experience he's had will only help him and he'll get better I think - it's sort of like how starters used to be born. Plus he's got that golden arm.

 

I vote stay in the rotation.

[ipot]

If that's the "get the butterflies out" start, then sure I'm fine with giving him the ball for a couple of more.

 

My only concern is that - if he doesn't work out in the rotation, how will it affect his move back to the pen..

[a700hitter]

Bard didn't look bad. He was certainly good enough to earn another start, but let's face it 5 runs in 5+ innings is not very good. If the state of the bullpen remains poor, he may be much more valuable in the pen.

 

That lefty kid needs to go, so does Albers. Bowden probably needs to go too. They need to bring in a couple of good bullpen arms soon, or they will be forced to put Bard back in the pen and promote Cookm. When is Cook's next start?

[mvp 78]

People want Cook because he keeps the ball on the ground. Bard did that and was able to strike guys out, which Cook can't do. Best option for SP until they pick up someone else.

[Bellhorn04]

Bard didn't look bad. He was certainly good enough to earn another start, but let's face it 5 runs in 5+ innings is not very good. If the state of the bullpen remains poor, he may be much more valuable in the pen.

 

That lefty kid needs to go, so does Albers. Bowden probably needs to go too. They need to bring in a couple of good bullpen arms soon, or they will be forced to put Bard back in the pen and promote Cookm. When is Cook's next start?

 

I think they should hang on to Bowden for now, as a middle reliever of course. I think he has improved. He pitched decently in the spring. He's given up one run in 3 innings so far.

[mvp 78]

Those stats are misleading since he threw mainly fastballs for the first few innings. He didn't mix his pitches until the fourth and fifth innings. McCclure went out there to tell him to mix it up more. Mc Clure's body language with BV told all you needed to know. The Jays were sitting dead red. He didn't throw his first changeup until the 50th pitch. If he were to do that regularly he'd get clobbered (not mix he pitches the way he did during the first three innings.)

 

And BV said if Bard had 30 more of those starts he'd end up with lots of wins. But I guess you get more from reading body language?

[Station 13]

I think they should hang on to Bowden for now' date=' as a middle reliever of course. I think he has improved. He pitched decently in the spring. He's given up one run in 3 innings so far.[/quote']

 

But it always the HR his 91 flat fastball that are hit. He always look like s*** to me. And Thomas need to get DFA.

[a700hitter]

I think they should hang on to Bowden for now' date=' as a middle reliever of course. I think he has improved. He pitched decently in the spring. He's given up one run in 3 innings so far.[/quote']I have more patience for Bowden than Albers or Miller. Where Bowden will end up will be dependent on his next couple of outings.

[redsoxfan3]

I have more patience for Bowden than Albers or Miller. Where Bowden will end up will be dependent on his next couple of outings.

 

I agree. Bowden did not look horrible, except for giving up that home run. The guy has some potential.

[Station 13]

I agree. Bowden did not look horrible' date=' except for giving up that home run. The guy has some potential.[/quote']

 

His fly ball/homerun is going to haunt the team if given any pressure inning situations.

[a700hitter]

I agree. Bowden did not look horrible' date=' except for giving up that home run. The guy has some potential.[/quote']

When he gives up the long ball it is usually crushed. Has last night's ball landed yet?

[ORS]

And BV said if Bard had 30 more of those starts he'd end up with lots of wins. But I guess you get more from reading body language?

Of course, reference my post in other thread about people's pet issues and them shoe-horning it in whenever/wherever they feel like. Nobody knows what that body language was about, except of course, the guy with a pet issue, and wouldn't you know, that body language confirms his pet issue. It's all so very convenient.

[Elktonnick]

And BV said if Bard had 30 more of those starts he'd end up with lots of wins. But I guess you get more from reading body language?

 

You totally misconstrued or distorted my post. McClure and BV were concerned that Bard wasn't mixing his pitches in the first few innings. Bard never threw a changeup until after McClure mound visit. Bard's best innings were the 4th and 5th after McClure's visit, He still gave up 5 earned runs. Eck said overall his performance was "worse than mediocre" BV refused to commit to Bard permanancy as a starter. So yes you can tell a lot by watching the game and seeing what is going on, everything that is going on.

[Bellhorn04]

Bard did give up 5 earned runs. But last night's game is a good illustration of what an imperfect stat ERA is. Bard left 2 men on base and Thomas allowed them both to score. Drabek also left the game with 2 men on base, but Frasor got a DP so neither of the inherited runners scored. The jobs done by the relievers made a difference of 2 earned runs for the starters.

[Station 13]

Bard did give up 5 earned runs. But last night's game is a good illustration of what an imperfect stat ERA is. Bard left 2 men on base and Thomas allowed them both to score. Drabek also left the game with 2 men on base' date=' but Frasor got a DP so neither of the inherited runners scored. The jobs done by the relievers made a difference of 2 earned runs for the starters.[/quote']

 

I'd be concern about the immobilize Youkilis at 3B and whoever plays SS on certain nights.

 

Thomas will get send down to AAA soon enough. Good riddance. Quit bringing up LOOGY that just walk the man he is in to get out. Same s*** for eternity now.

[mvp 78]

I'm not seeing anything about BV complaining about mixing up pitches. I'm seeing several quotes about him being happy with the performance.

 

Was the body language your only indication of them wanting to mix up pitches more?