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MLB Roundup: Day 2 Biggest Conclusion
(2:02)
In the fifth inning of the Rockies’ eventual victory over the Rangers on Saturday (COL 3, TEX 2), reliever Daniel Bard took the mound to Colorado. That’s remarkable because in doing so, Bard appeared in a major league game for the first time since April 27, 2013, that is, more than seven years ago, or to be exact 2,646 days ago.
Bard, a first-round draft pick from the University of North Carolina in 2006, debuted as a tough reliever with the Red Sox in 2009 and was effective for three seasons overall. The Red Sox attempted to transition to a starting role, but around that time Bard almost completely lost his ability to throw punches. After the 2012 season when he threw a 6.22 ERA and walked 43 hitters in 59 1/3 innings, Bard’s MLB career seemed to be in jeopardy. Other equally disastrous seasons followed in the minors with the Red Sox, Cardinals, Rangers and Mets.
Against all expectations, Bard, now 35, has returned to the highest level. In case you thought otherwise, this is not a mere act of novelty. Bard still has a great fastball, as the harsh smell of Texas would surely say:
Yes, that’s 99 mph on the gun, and that, suffice it to say, is the elite speed of the fastball. On the day, Bard worked 1 1/3 innings without runs on two hits and a strikeout versus no walks. Of his 25 launches, 20 went on strike. That strikeout is the first since April 25, 2013. Bard also claimed victory on Saturday, and that was his first MLB victory since May 29, 2012.
Undoubtedly, Bard seemed like a quality reliever in the big leagues on Saturday, but even if his comeback is short-lived, he’s already a baseball miracle. Given Bard’s obvious will and drive, he won’t be satisfied with “just” that.
