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| AP Photo |
Remember those halcyon days when Daniel Bard would come into an eighth-inning situation and blow away even the best of hitters with triple-digit cheese? Well, that dairy product has been downgraded from Cabot Colby Cheddar to Kraft American Slices. The 100-MPH gas we had been used to is only borderline mid-90's today (94 MPH average). So, what the heck happened in the transition from set-up to starter? The
Boston Herald's Scott Lauber suggests it might be the tendency to "pitch-to-contact" to conserve his energy and ramp it up in key spots. But, the problem with this theory is that he hasn't thrown close to triple digits at any point all year. By contrast, his mound opponent tonight—Justin Verlander—routinely hits 100+ MPH in the ninth inning! All the more reason to overpay Oswalt and move Bard back to his comfort zone. Aceves in the eighth, Bard in the ninth? Bailey—we'll see ya when we see ya?
