Two words. You'll have to take this one at face value. It's not as if Bobby Valentine stood at a podium and expounded on how the natural state of Daniel Bard was, in fact, as a reliever. Someone in a sea of reporters asked Valentine if Bard was an option to close if Alfredo Aceves and/or Mark Melancon continue to struggle. Valentine responded:
Daniel Bard Might Close For Red Sox After All
”Could be.“That could mean several things.
Dismissive: “Yeah, I guess. I mean, that’s a pretty stupid theory this early, but I’m not ruling anything out.”
Serious: “Daniel Bard certainly could close. This is something I’ve thought about often.”
Confused: “I thought you asked ‘Did you park your car closer?’ and I was all, man, where did I park? So I said ‘Could be’ and later realized that you were talking about Bard. Figured that was going to start a crapstorm in the papers the next day, so I slept in.”
But it's not a crazy idea. Bard was moved to the bullpen after horrific control struggles in the minors, and he was one of the Red Sox' best relievers the past two seasons. The Red Sox are also without Andrew Bailey, who had thumb surgery. That means that the Red Sox have lost their two best bullpen arms and the player they acquired to help replace them. There has to be a temptation to put Bard back there.
Of course, we’re talking about three games. Three freaking games. Temporary closer Alfredo Aceves hasn’t had a great start to the season, and neither has ostensible setup man Mark Melancon. Again: three games. Daniel Bard hasn’t even made a start yet. It’s too early to panic.
Except in Boston, where the default state is panic. And Bobby Valentine said that Bard “could be” an option to close if things don’t improve. So that’s news. You just read about it. Now you feel dirty. Serves you right.
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