June 3, 2012: Red Sox @ Blue Jays

[SoxFanForsyth]

Why isn't anyone warming up??

[FredLynn]

What are you talking about? He had a 2.83 ERA last season before hitting the DL.

 

I am talking about experiencing failure and losing your confidence. I think he has the mental toughness of silly putty. And I am talking about what happened to Chamberlain in NY. You remember that fiasco, right? In 2008 he was a very good RP with an ERA of 2.60. The next year they made him a SP and he sucked; ERA: 4.75. So they put him back in the pen in 2010 and he still sucked: ERA: 4.40. That could easily happen to Barf....I mean Bard.

[FredLynn]

Why isn't anyone warming up??

 

Pointless. The game is just about over. Let Bard stay in there until the sixth inning. Thats what he wanted, right?

[Station 13]

Walks in a run........f***ing pussy.

[lesterkett]

WTFFFF get bard out of there ...

[SoxFanForsyth]

Oh good. Morales up first. Let's gradually tone down the control problems. Say, Bard then Morales then maybe Miller?

[TylerD]

I've seen Bard struggle before but today is just out of control. I have no idea what he's thinking. Clearly his confidence just isn't there today. Will be interesting to see what he says after his s*** play today. Very disappointing. He's not even giving a chance.

[mvp 78]

Bard is now a straight 92 FB and wild slider guy.

 

Great.

[SoxFanForsyth]

f*** you Bard. Seriously.

[Palodios]

That looked bad. Real bad. Bard needs to move to the bullpen just to prevent s*** like this from happening.

[ORS]

Prior to today, I'd say there were mixed results trying him out as a SP. I think he just pitched himself out of the rotation today.

[mvp 78]

Also, if you didn't get hit in the head, walk it off to first. Pussies.

[TylerD]

I want to order a pizza. Usually puts a smile on my face when Boston is losing.

[TutGadol]

The ref should eject him, if it was my team's opposing pitcher I'd demand so. Intentional or not, his lack of control became literary a hazard to the player's health.

[FredLynn]

Well, the game is now over. I am calling it. Its really a no brainer. Maybe a game like this is what is needed to force the FO to take Bard out of the rotation. Frankly, I think it is going to be a while before he is going to be effective again, if he ever is.

[mvp 78]

Prior to today' date=' I'd say there were mixed results trying him out as a SP. I think he just pitched himself out of the rotation today.[/quote']

 

Yup.

 

Diastastrous start.

[evilhand]

After an encouraging increase in velocity last time out, he's back to topping out at 94 and averaging around 92. And his control is as bad as I've ever seen it right now. I'm back to thinking he's injured.

[TylerD]

Yankees starting to take it to Detroit depressing day.

[mvp 78]

The ref should eject him' date=' if it was my team's opposing pitcher I'd demand so. Intentional or not, his lack of control became literary a hazard to the player's health.[/quote']

 

It doesn't work that way.

[TutGadol]

Can we forfeit to save the bullpen's arms? Is it legal?

[SoxFanForsyth]

Get an out and score a couple. The good news is that it's only the 2nd inning and 5 isn't too much to overcome.

[TutGadol]

It doesn't work that way.

 

It doesn't really matter how it works, if they let him pitch further he would hit many more batters. It's dangerous.

[SoxFanForsyth]

I have to say, that was the absolute worst pitching outing I've ever seen in my entire life.

[lesterkett]

i don't want to see bard ever Starting a game . i hope the red sox get it right sending him to the bullpen

[Elktonnick]

I hope we have seen the last of Bard as a starter. This experiment has failed utterly. The only question is whether this has ruined his usefullness in the bullpen as many of us feared.

[Palodios]

Podsednik, Byrd and Punto should finish the rest of the game on the mound.

[FredLynn]

No one was making excuses, though. People were pointing out that the team has weathered the injuries really well which puts them in a great position to make a run at the playoffs.

 

Also, I'd argue that the success is mostly due to the offense being second best in baseball, not the fact that the starters have remained healthy. Even healthy, they were the worst rotation in baseball for a while and last year the team managed to rack up a 100 win pace through the end of August even with Buchholz and Matsuzaka out and Lackey pitching with half an elbow.

 

If you want to win in the post season, you need good pitching. But you can win in the regular season with a team built around hitting. Luckily, the Sox actually have some really good pitching (or, at least we expect them to be).

 

I was not accusing you of trying to use injuries as an excuse. Some here have done that, but I never bought that. In fact, I am really not disagreeing with what you wrote about that.

I think that you CAN almost bash your way into the playoffs, but you need SOME pitching too. Last year is an example. We led the AL in runs scored and OPS, but still missed the playoffs because of mediocre to poor pitching. The year before we were second in OPS and runs scored, but again, our pitching sucked and we missed the playoffs.Its out pitching that will determine if we make the playoffs or not this year, once again.

[FredLynn]

I hope we have seen the last of Bard as a starter. This experiment has failed utterly. The only question is whether this has ruined his usefullness in the bullpen as many of us feared.

 

Nick, we both know that our FO is too stubborn and too stupid to see what is now clear to every single poster here today. The chance of Bard returning home to the pen is near zero.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Nick' date=' we both know that our FO is too stubborn and too stupid to see what is now clear to every single poster here today. The chance of Bard returning home to the pen is near zero.[/quote']

 

I disagree. I think he may well have just pitched himself out of the rotation, I really do.

 

With DiceK ready to return, they always say "these things figure themselves out", and I honestly think this just figured itself out.

 

They may throw him on the DL, though, and get him some reps as a relief pitcher in Pawtucket to get his legs back underneath him.

[Palodios]

A big Daniel Nava blast here make this game winnable.