NewsBard brings heat in debut for Red Sox
Hard-throwing rookie's career begins with 98-mph punchout
By Ian Browne / MLB.com
05/14/09 2:35 AM ET
ANAHEIM -- As Daniel Bard stepped on the mound at Angel Stadium in the bottom of the sixth inning to officially begin his Major League career, the fireballing prospect tried to gather his thoughts.Then, he decided there was little hope of that happening so he instead did what has gotten him to this point. He reached back and threw three unhittable fastballs. Mike Napoli waved and missed at all three of them, and Bard's career, which is filled with promise, started with a strikeout on a 98-mph pitch.
On a night the Red Sox lost, 8-4, to the Angels, Bard's debut -- which consisted of two scoreless innings -- was easily the highlight.
"We knew he was a fastball hitter, but first guy I'm facing, I just went with my strengths," said the 23-year-old Bard. "I kept it away and he was up there hacking."
Earlier in the game, Napoli belted a three-run homer against knuckleballer Tim Wakefield. Now, he had to adjust his bat speed significantly to catch up to Bard. It was a fruitless attempt.
"He kind of blew my doors off there," Napoli said. "He's got a pretty easy delivery, but he brings it up there pretty firm. I looked on the chart to see his velocity and it said 94 to 98. He got it up there and it was by me. After facing Wakefield, it was a pretty big difference. It's the first time I've seen [Bard], and he just threw fastballs. Our gun is pretty legit, so if it said 97, that's what it was. He was impressive."
When Bard was called into the game by Red Sox manager Terry Francona, there were runners on second and third with nobody out.
"To be honest with you, I thought there was just a guy on second until the third pitch I threw," Bard said. "Then I looked over and saw [Torii] Hunter on third. I guess it didn't matter. I was going after the hitter either way. Up four, they're not looking to do anything fancy. Their guys are up there to hit."
Forgive Bard for not being completely aware of the baserunners. He had a lot on his mind.
"Too many things to list, probably," said Bard, who was promoted to the Major Leagues on Sunday. "That was the one thing. I don't think I had more nerves than a normal outing or a Minor League outing but just kind of a lot going lot through your head. Things that aren't even baseball-related, different things."
Bard gave up a sacrifice fly to Juan Rivera, but that run was charged to Hunter Jones. Bard came back and worked around a single and a walk in the seventh.
"I thought he threw the ball very well," Francona said. "I'm sure his first Major League outing, he had some butterflies. But he threw the ball very well. Good life on his fastball up. I think you'll see a better breaking ball and a better changeup. I'm sure his heart was beating."
Bard's teammates came away impressed.
"Three heaters against a guy that's a fastball hitter -- boom, boom, boom," said Red Sox left fielder Jason Bay. "What was more impressive is that he pitched a little. He was two-seaming it in and out. He wasn't just throwing it as hard as he could. He was pitching a lot more than I expected and that's a good thing."
Ian Browne is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
