Daniel Bard's comeback bid is gaining momentum

For a time, Daniel Bard was one of baseball’s most effective and feared relievers.

Now the 31-year-old right-hander is scratching and clawing for one more opportunity in the big leagues, which he hopes will come this season with the St. Louis Cardinals.

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For the first time in a long time, there seems to be real optimism that Bard’s goal can be achieved. This stems from a recent workout where he impressed on-lookers with his velocity and command.

According to Hall of Fame writer and MLB Network contributor Peter Gammons, Bard’s fastball still has the same zip that once made him a top prospect and then a top setup man with the Boston Red Sox. Of greater significance, though, is that he appeared to have harnessed the control issues that threatened to drive him out of MLB for good.

Here’s a look at the video.

For a lot of us, it’s difficult to grasp the significance of a bullpen session or a simulated game, but those often come in the details scouts are trained to spot. Bard was popping the glove at 96 mph, which would obviously catch any scout’s attention. But the key lies in his command. Before the Cardinals or anyone else will buy in, they’ll need to see him consistently control his pitches, regardless of the settings.

Bard’s issues first appeared in 2012, when the Red Sox attempted moving him to the starting rotation. His decline was stunning, as he walked more batters (43) than he struck out (38) over 59 1/3 innings. His 6.5 walks per nine innings that season nearly doubled his career average. But it’s not like anyone needed to see the numbers to know something was way off.

In baseball terms, what Bard has gone through is commonly referred to as Steve Blass disease. The former Pirates hurler famously went through the same struggle in 1972, one year after earning an All-Star selection and finishing second in the N.L. Cy Young award balloting. There was no explanation. He simply lost the ability to throw strikes and never got it back. He ended up retiring in 1974 at age 32.

Cardinals fans are quite familiar with these struggles too after watching Rick Ankiel falter in the early 2000’s. The former top prospect was poised for big things as a pitcher until he lost his command. When it became apparent he’d never get it back, he reinvented himself as an outfielder and enjoyed another seven seasons in MLB.

For Bard though, that’s not an option. His skill set does not cater to reinventing himself as a position player, just as his mindset does not cater to giving up. He’s a flamethrower who will have to pitch his way back to prominence.

It won’t be easy. People will be looking for any blip on the radar as a sign that he’s off track again. His comeback will require more patience and understanding from those handing out the opportunities than from himself, but that would make any success he achieves all the more satisfying.

So far at least, the signs are promising. But it’s only one step on a long journey.

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Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at bigleaguestew@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!

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