4/25 vs Destroyers of slumps

[a700hitter]

Bard needs to find some consistency. He doesn't need to be lights out every time out there. His problem has been that for every good appearance he has had he has had 3 stinkers. He needs to get to where he has 3 out of 4 good appearances.

 

As for the fastball movement, that is a good sign. I remember when he was at his best he threw a 99 mph pitch in a Yankee game that was knee high and it had so much late movement that it looked like it was making a right turn. It was completely unhittable. The Yankee broadcasters replayed it and commented on it. I remember thinking that if he could throw that with any consistency, no one would ever have a chance against him. I never saw that kind of movement on any of his pitches after that. If he has regained that movement and he can have some command with it, he could be consistent even if his velocity is down a few clicks.

 

IMO the inexplicable loss of velocity and complete abandonment of command for such a prolonged period has made me suspect that he has been working through some physical problems. There was an article a while back where he discussed having some lower back issues. That could really screw you up from overcompensation etc. If the back troubles are finally over, he'll have a chance to rebuild himself. Unfortunately, back problems tend to be chronic.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Bard needs to find some consistency. He doesn't need to be lights out every time out there. His problem has been that for every good appearance he has had he has had 3 stinkers. He needs to get to where he has 3 out of 4 good appearances.

 

As for the fastball movement, that is a good sign. I remember when he was at his best he threw a 99 mph pitch in a Yankee game that was knee high and it had so much late movement that it looked like it was making a right turn. It was completely unhittable. The Yankee broadcasters replayed it and commented on it. I remember thinking that if he could throw that with any consistency, no one would ever have a chance against him. I never saw that kind of movement on any of his pitches after that. If he has regained that movement and he can have some command with it, he could be consistent even if his velocity is down a few clicks.

 

IMO the inexplicable loss of velocity and complete abandonment of command for such a prolonged period has made me suspect that he has been working through some physical problems. There was an article a while back where he discussed having some lower back issues. That could really screw you up from overcompensation etc. If the back troubles are finally over, he'll have a chance to rebuild himself. Unfortunately, back problems tend to be chronic.

 

I believe this is what you're talking about.

 

http://cdn.fangraphs.com/not/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/swishstrikeoutsonanasty.gif

[a700hitter]

I believe this is what you're talking about.

 

http://cdn.fangraphs.com/not/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/swishstrikeoutsonanasty.gif

I can't view this on my blackberry. I have to wait until I get back to my desk.

[italstallianion]

It's not showing up on my computer either.

[SoxFanForsyth]

http://www.fangraphs.com/not/daniel-bards-filthy-whiffmaker/

[a700hitter]

http://www.fangraphs.com/not/daniel-bards-filthy-whiffmaker/

Yep, that's the pitch. How do you find this stuff?

[a700hitter]

The freaking thing was 99 mph and it was moving like a crazy scewball.

 

BTW, Do any prominent pitchers throw the screwball today?

[kapsis21]

http://www.fangraphs.com/not/daniel-bards-filthy-whiffmaker/

 

crap, even the comments below say he hasnt been able to throw this ever after that one. must have been a seem that had a cut and tend to keep moving..

but filthy at 99mph

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

That pitch was FILTHY!

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

BTR watches the games on PovertyVision?

 

What haha?

[Station 13]

Notice the arm angle Bard of old. Now he's releasing the ball very inconsistently without driving the ball down.

 

Video of last night, the release point is terrible. Everything was left up.

 

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130425&content_id=45821918&vkey=news_bos&c_id=bos

[SoxFanForsyth]

Yep, that's the pitch. How do you find this stuff?

 

I've seen this gif a hundred times for some reason and as soon as you started talking about it, I knew exactly what you were talking about haha.

[a700hitter]

I've seen this gif a hundred times for some reason and as soon as you started talking about it, I knew exactly what you were talking about haha.

I think this is evidence of two things-- first, that I watch way too much baseball that I can remember a single pitch from a game that was more than one year ago. Second, you spend too much time on the computer researching baseball if you have seen that gif so many times that it is imbedded in your memory. Oh well, it's all harmless fun.

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

Forsyth doesn't post much anymore, and now I know why. He's too busy finding things no one else knows or has

 

Forsyth, how many times did Buchholz spit on the mound yesterday?

 

I'm just messing man. You really do have a thing for numbers.

[redsoxbeatz]

YAY FOR BARD!!!

 

He didn't look perfect but I'll take it. The confidence is coming back.

 

f*** ALL OF YOU who don't have confidence in Bard's return.

[a700hitter]

YAY FOR BARD!!!

 

He didn't look perfect but I'll take it. The confidence is coming back.

 

f*** ALL OF YOU who don't have confidence in Bard's return.

f*** Bard for insisting on starting and screwing himself up so bad.

[italstallianion]

I believe this is what you're talking about.

 

http://cdn.fangraphs.com/not/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/swishstrikeoutsonanasty.gif

 

http://i595.photobucket.com/albums/tt38/italstallianion/cleveland-family-guy-thats-nasty_zps19820a31.jpg

[italstallianion]

f*** Bard for insisting on starting and screwing himself up so bad.

 

Kind of reminds me of Joba just without the weight, child molester mustache and the DUI.

[kapsis21]

I just fell down from my seat watching this

http://i.imgur.com/8EXEeqJ.gif