Talk about a comeback. Long-lost MLB reliever Daniel Bard may finally be turning the corner in his latest attempt to return to the highest level of the game. Per Nick Groke of The Athletic, via Twitter, Bard “seems to be pitching his way to opening day” after a nice appearance in the club’s Summer Camp.
By now, Bard’s tale is well-known. The former first-round pick was a high-grade reliever for the Red Sox. When the Boston organization elected to try him out as a starter, Bard developed a case of the yips that persisted throughout several prior comeback efforts. (MLBTR’s Steve Adams documented this all a bit more thoroughly in his post on Bard’s signing in Colorado.)
Bard last appeared in a big league game in April of 2013. He’s now 35 years of age. If he can pull off even a lone MLB appearance, this would rate as one of the least-likely career revivals we’ve ever seen.
To make that happen, Bard will have to show the Rox that he’s in good enough form to merit clearing a 40-man roster spot and a 30-man (initial) active roster place. Bard has left the club “very pleased” with his performance thus far, says Groke, though his three Spring Training appearances weren’t as successful. In 2 1/3 innings before the game went on ice, Bard had coughed up seven earned runs on five hits and three walks.
My gosh, I saw him pitch at Fenway an age ago. I think it was the same game that John Smoltz started and Justin Masterson came in to relieve him. July 11, 2009 and it was a fundraiser game for the Pan Mass Challenge. That was a fun experience. I hope he comes back! Good for him to keep trying.
man, I had such high hopes for Smoltz when he came to Boston….wish he would have come over 10 years earlier…….
Rockies need to sign Jonny Venters too. Have two guys who have no idea what quitting is.
what a bad bullpen. no offense to Bard for it, but its says something that he has the inside track for a spot after having not played too well for almost a decade.
Bard’s story is almost Shakespearean..
Nice
Jeff – Can you please explain why my comment was moderated? All I said was that Bard had TOS surgery in January of 2014 and that we’ve seen numerous failed recoveries from it….
I think it was just on a thread that I was trying to wipe out.
Ah, gotcha. Would be nice to update the article at some point to not demean a player with a diagnosed medical condition. Bard didn’t have “the yips”.
Not sure if the link will get blocked, so posting it separately. Nice history at the Providence Journal.
https://www.providencejournal.com/sports/20160314/having-diagnosed-his-demise-daniel-bard-is-teaching-himself-to-pitch-again
I had no idea he was having nerve damage. That explains a lot and also makes me feel bad for making fun of the guy. Rooting for him now.
Good for you to bring that up! It is insulting to refer to a recovery as the “yips”.
Steve – Better idea….avoid “making fun of” people because you seldom know the whole story.
Let’s go, Daniel! I would love to see him have success after so many years of frustration and disappointment. This would be a great come back story and really show this guy’s perseverance and love for the game. I’m sure life hasn’t been easy for him up to this point as he has made very little money in the profession he loves. Win a spot, please! We are all pulling for you.
I’ve made negative references to Bard so I feel I now need to root for him. A great story if it happens.
Daniel Bard’s minor league numbers during his comeback attempts are one of my absolute favorite things to peruse from time to time. They are absolutely, positively unbelievable. In 2014, he gave up 13 runs in .2 innings without allowing a hit! Remarkable in the worst way.
What’s remarkable is a manager leaving him in long enough to give up 13 runs in just 2/3 innings. Bad defense does not account for 13 runs, that is a lot of walks and hit batters…..
If Shakespeare were alive today, he’d be rolling over in his grave.
If Shakespeare were alive today, they never should have buried him. That would be kind of cruel.
No better way to make a comeback than to pitch in Colorado
It’s actually the perfect place. Very little pressure and there is a ready made excuse for poor performance.
I’m very happy for Daniel. It’s a really great story n hopefully a really happy ending. I don’t think the RS did anything wrong during his recovery, they gave him time. Working at a starter is easier on the arm every 5 days opposed to a relievers rubbery arm.
Go Daniel n have a wonderful yr! Show that happy endings are possible.
Good Luck to him. I hope he does well.
There are much better options out there still in the FA market. Not sure I get this but good luck to him….
Good luck Daniel. I am pulling for you