Boston Red Sox Should Not Overuse Reliever Daniel Bard

Let's hope Red Sox manager Terry Francona is careful in his handling of Red Sox key set-up pitcher Daniel Bard for the rest of 2011.

The season is still young, but already there is reason for some worry about whether Bard is being over-used. Beyond that, one wonders why Bard hasn't been the stellar pitcher he was in 2010.

He's still been quite good, but considerably more inconsistent and vulnerable than last year.

Bard has not pitched very well lately, including in Monday night's loss against the Cleveland Indians. In fact, Bard gave up the tying and go-ahead runs to the Indians last night after starter Clay Buchholz had pitched beautifully over seven innings.

Several days earlier, in a May 19th start against the Detroit Tigers, Bard came into a game the Red Sox were winning 3-1 in the eighth inning and gave up back-to-back home runs, allowing the Tigers to tie the game.

Luckily, that was a game Carl Crawford won with a "walk-off" single in the ninth.

Francona allowed Bard to rest in the first two games vs. the Chicago Cubs last weekend, before using him on Sunday night. Then on Monday night, Bard failed to hold the Sox lead against the Indians.

Francona acknowledged after Monday night's game that Bard had left pitches "out over the plate" too much in giving up the two hits that lost the game. But Bard seemed a bit in denial about his performance.

"I felt really good," said Bard in Nick Cafardo's column in the Boston Globe. "I threw both those pitches right where I wanted to." 

Bard has allowed five runs in his last seven outings, and has allowed runs in seven of his 24 appearances. His record is 1-4 with two blown saves and an ERA of 3.65.

Bard relies on his blazing fastball, often clocked at 98 or 99 miles per hour. The other pitch he throws the most is his slider, which can have good sharp movement when effective.

This season, Bard's fastball has been more hittable and his slider more erratic than in 2010. Plus, his control has been less consistent.

"I don't think his command at times is exactly what it was last year," Francona said in a May 24th interview with WEEI in Boston. "Because when he throws, the velocity is tremendous. I think there's times when the life (of his fastball) through the zone isn't quite the same."  

Bard was so outstanding last year that fans' expectations in 2011 are probably unrealistic. Toward the end of last year, some speculated that Bard might be showing signs of fatigue.

This year, Bard has already shown some of those signs. He told reporters last night that he had felt a little bit tired a few days ago, but fine the past few days.

Bard had appeared in 24 of the Red Sox's 47 games prior to Tuesday night's game vs. the Indians.

With reliever Bobby Jenks recently on the disabled list, Bard has been under more pressure than usual to come through in key set-up situations. Francona seems to be a bit too predisposed to call on Bard constantly rather than use other relievers before the Sox bring in closer Jonathan Papelbon; however, it's also true the Red Sox have been short of good pitchers in the bullpen.

"Still love going to him (Bard) ...obviously we do, and we will," Francona told Cafardo of the Boston Globe. "May not always be successful but we believe in him a lot."

It's easy to understand Francona's view of Bard, who has been a "stud" for the Sox in his short career.

Yet, Francona must exercise some restraint with Bard and protect him for the long-term. Bard is too good a pitcher to treat any other way.