Oh my Bard

Sean Riley, contributing writer
Baseball is unlike any other of the major sports for many reasons, one being the fact that one year a player can have a monster break through season and then just as easily disappear into the corn fields. Daniel Bard is a perfect example of that. Bard came onto the scene with a young, strong arm with great strikeout stuff. He was one of the best set up men in all of MLB, then Jonathon Papelbon went to the Phillies which was Bard's opportunity to take over as sole closer. Nah, he'd rather be a starter so for whatever reason they gave him a chance to be one. As we know that, ended about as quickly as it started and he was demoted back to the minors to work on his issues of power and control.

That story continued into this year where he was demoted again and started the season in Double-A Portland. In just 13 games for he has a 6.39 ERA, 17 walks, and 8 wild pitches. Bard hasn't pitched in a game since May 15th and as it stands right now there has been no indication of his immediate return into one.

“He’s back to throwing bullpens right now,” manager John Farrell said.“Once there’s some repetition to the bullpens, [he’ll get into a game].”

Not the news Red Sox fans were hoping to hear and neither was I. The question that popped into my head after hearing this about Bard was, how long are they going to continue the Daniel Bard project? He's lost his power, certainly his control, so why don't they call a spade a spade and cut their losses? I get that he's not worth anything to trade but do they really think the Bard of old is going to return to the team, cause I don't. But then again what do I know, I'm not their watching these bullpen sessions or games he's been in. I just think he is just another one of those players who has a great year and then flakes out. If he is he is, but do they see something more in him than I do? That is the question we'll have to wait on an answer to.