Why Daniel Bard as a Starter Is a Huge Mistake for Boston Red Sox

Daniel Bard was named the fifth starter for the Boston Red Sox on Sunday, but it was a huge mistake based on Bard's past and now the news that Andrew Bailey is out likely past the All-Star break.

Bard would have been a decent closer or at least a great setup man with Bailey on the shelf, but the Red Sox will still rely on him as the fifth starter until he shows that it was a bad idea to mold him into something that he is not.

Bard Has Never Started a Game in the Majors

All Boston Red Sox fans have heard this time and again about Daniel Bard: he has just never started a game before. This may not be a huge reason not to start him, but he is built to be a two-inning guy at the most at the major-league level.

Bard could shine in the starting rotation as the No. 5 guy, but if he struggles in April into early May, then expect Aaron Cook or Vicente Padilla to get the call into the starting rotation.

Bard Struggled During Spring Training

In 24.2 innings pitched this spring, Bard had an ineffective 6.57 ERA for the Boston Red Sox.

Two of his final three starts came against AL East opponent Toronto Blue Jays, and in both starts he gave up multiple runs in single innings and struggled with his command. He walked a total 16 batters, but also had 18 strikeouts.

Bard needs to work on controlling his secondary pitches while in the starting rotation to be successful. If all goes right, he will be a great addition to the starting five.

The Red Sox Bullpen Is in Shambles

Andrew Bailey is out three to four months due to reconstructive surgery on his right thumb, according to multiple reports, including Boston.com.

With that being said, Bard should have been moved into the bullpen after the Boston Red Sox found out that their bullpen will be out of sorts when Opening Day hits on Thursday.

Their closer for now will most likely be Mark Melancon, who saved games for the Houston Astros in 2011. Alfredo Aceves may get the job as well since he has been a godsend for the Red Sox since the start of the 2011 campaign.

But the Sox bullpen has nothing else to offer now in the earlier innings if a starter, such as Bard, struggles, and that will hurt their chances of an making a run at the AL East title in jeopardy.

Bard Was Built for Relief Pitching

Daniel Bard is not a starter in the majors and will never be one if he can't throw his changeup and slider for strikes. No pitcher can survive on his fastball alone, and just because he can throw in the upper-90s does not mean he can just blow batters away.

That type of pitching can be saved for the bullpen, where Bard could throw even in the triple digits based on the fact he does not need to conserve his energy for more than two innings at a time. He was built and raised as a reliever, and it will hurt the Sox in the long run to have Bard in the rotation.

There Are Other Options

Aaron Cook should be in the starting rotation based solely on the fact that he has started multiple games in the majors before. His spring training ERA is 1.88, and he has induced ground balls with his sinker whenever he needs them.

The Boston Red Sox could have even just used a different starter until Daisuke Matsuzaka returns in June. That way Bard could stay in the bullpen. Ross Ohlendorf, Junichi Tazawa and Michael Bowden would be quality starts in the rotation, but Cook is the first man to get the job when Bard does not live up to expectations.