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By ERIC BENEVIDES Sports writer PAWTUCKET --- When Daniel Bard got the word in spring training that he was going to spend the ’08 season as a reliever -- not a starting pitcher -- he could have sulked and taken the news hard, but he didn’t.
The former University of North Carolina standout was coming off a dismal first year in pro ball that saw him post a 3-7 mark with a 7.08 ERA and walk 78 batters (and uncork 27 wild pitches) in 75 innings in Single A stints with Lancaster and Greenville. Because of that showing, the Boston Red Sox organization, who were still high on Bard’s electric arm that consistently hit 95-97 mph on the radar gun, felt it would be best to use their prospect out of the bullpen and see how he would fare.
“It came as a little bit of a surprise,” Bard said at Friday afternoon’s PawSox Hot Stove Media Day in the team’s clubhouse at McCoy Stadium. “I didn’t know what I was going to be doing for sure last year, but when I found out I was going to be a reliever, I was like, ‘Well, if that’s what they want me to do, I’m going to try and attack it, grab it by the horns, and make the best of it.”
And that he did. Bard dramatically turned things around by going 5-1 with a 1.51 ERA, saving seven games, and striking out 107 batters in 77.2 innings in 46 appearances with Greenville and Double A Portland.
That performance not only earned him Red Sox Minor League Pitcher of the Year honors by the organization, but Baseball America also tabbed Bard as the No. 4 prospect (No. 3 pitcher) in the organization -- a sharp rise from the No. 19 ranking he held at the start of last season.
“I had a good year, but I had stretches where I was good and stretches when I wasn’t so good,” added Bard. “But I like it out of the pen, and I really just want to continue to pick up where I left off last year.”
A first-round draft pick (28th overall) of the Red Sox in 2006 after helping the Tar Heels get to within one win of capturing the College World Series, Bard had spent virtually his entire baseball career as a starter, but that came to a halt after the ’07 season.
Bard suffered a triceps injury after his fifth start with Lancaster, and after spending some time in extended spring training, he took a small step down to Greenville, but didn’t fare any better, as he struggled with his mechanics and lost his release point.
From there, Bard pitched in the Hawaii Winter League, and even though he recorded a 1.08 ERA, he still struggled with his control, walking 15 batters (and hitting five other) in 17 innings.
But it was also in Hawaii where Bard got a brief introduction to the bullpen and life as a reliever, and he began to warm up to the role.
“I did a little bit of relief work in winter ball in Hawaii,” said Bard. “I got a taste of it and I really liked it.”
When he got the word that he was going to be used exclusively as a reliever last year, Bard absorbed the role and put together a magnificent season, but with his excellence came a lot of adjustments.
“I had to prepare to pitch every second or third day, rather than every fifth day,” said Bard. “It’s a big difference physically, your lifting routines, your throwing routines -- everything changes a little bit.
“But the big thing I focused on is that I’m still there to get outs. Once you toe the rubber and the batter’s in the box, your job is still to get that guy out. As long as I kept my focus on that and made sure that I was prepared, I felt good.”
One adjustment Bard made last year was in his delivery. He pitched from a low three-quarter arm slot in college, but once he reached the pros, he went to a higher slot and fared miserably.
“I dropped back down to my three-quarter arm slot because it’s where I’ve thrown my whole life,” added Bard. “I wanted to drop down, but at the same time, work on finishing my pitches and get further out in front and closer to the plate, and that’s a big stride I made over last year. I think it adds a lot of deception to the batter and it makes your ball look even harder when you’re releasing it closer to the plate.”
Bard also found himself not being as aggressive as he should be on the hill and throwing far too many pitches (most of them balls) to batters, but that also quickly changed last year. In addition to his 107 strikeouts, Bard only issued 30 walks.
“I wanted to shoot for the knees, the middle of the plate early and try to get contact,” Bard said. “The organization has said, ‘We want (batters to be) on base or out on three pitches.’ If you’ve done that, then you’re working quick and being efficient, and that’s important out of the bullpen. If you throw an eight or a 10-pitch inning, then you’ll be good to go the next day.”
While last season was great, Bard will be the first to admit that he still has a few other things to work on. His changeup is still “a work in progress” and he wants to brush up on his consistency and command of his fastball and slider. But like everyone else, Bard will have a chance to work on his things next month in spring training.
“I’m looking forward to it,” admitted Bard. “There’s pitches you will throw in Double A that will get guys out, but may get hit by a big league hitter, and I’m sure I’ll find out pretty quickly how good you have to be to be effective in the big leagues.”
Bard is obviously a longshot to begin the season in Boston, but whether he heads up to Maine to pitch for the Sea Dogs or kick off the spring with the PawSox is the least of his worries.
“If I go to spring training and handle myself well -- if I prepare accordingly and the results are there -- I’ll be where I need to be,” said Bard. “Whether it’s Portland, here, Boston -- who knows. I’m going to just go out there and pitch. That’s the only thing I can control.”
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