Comments on: On Daniel Bard and the “Untouchable” Tag

By: JSG

JSG — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 13:52:09 +0000

No player should be untouchable and I sure that if the right offer came along (ie the only way to have gotten Halladay or King Felix was to throw in Bard) Theo would have traded him in a heartbeat. Bard might have shown that he has some of the stuff to be a closer last night after coming back after his error, but he still is young. And before everyone anoints him the “closer in waiting” and wants Papelbon out the door, Bard is still young and Paps is pretty damn good (despite some moments this year).

By: Joe R

Joe R — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 13:43:08 +0000

I feel like an asshole now, thanks Bard for last night.

By: Slurve

Slurve — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 07:50:56 +0000

But Reed was supposed to be the next Tony Gwynn!

By: Ezra

Ezra — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 22:28:47 +0000

I was thinking about the untouchable tag this trade deadline season as well, with Kyle Drabek in mind. I thought the Phils were just juicing his value by labeling him untouchable before sending him packing to Toronto. Guess not, but his value is certainly higher than it was a month ago.

By: alskor

alskor — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 20:53:48 +0000

It wasnt that. They were concerned his mechanics were going to result in injury, so they tweaked his delivery. He initially agreed to it, but didnt like the results and ended up butting heads with the organization on it. He finally went back to his original delivery last year.

Its always dangerous to mess with a young pitcher’s delivery.

By: Joe R

Joe R — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 20:24:13 +0000

I kind of feel bad for Craig Hansen, he was in the majors within months of being drafted (albeit only for a spot appearance). He was rushed to the show and never got to develop. 12 2/3 IP in the minors before his big league debut.

Way to let him figure his stuff out, Red Sox.

By: Judy

Judy — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 20:02:22 +0000

Also, if I remember right, Daniel Bard came into the Red Sox system pre-hyped, as did Craig Hansen. They both got plenty of hype before anyone knew what team was going to draft them.

By: Joe R

Joe R — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 19:49:29 +0000

Exactly what I’m saying. You’d be crazy to not do King Felix for a reliever.

By: Rob in CT

Rob in CT — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 19:43:20 +0000

He’s a reliever. I seriously doubt that Theo thinks any reliever is untouchable, even one who throws 100mph with a sick breaking ball coupled with good control. Which is to say I’m sure they value him highly, but of course they’d part with him in the right deal. A deal for a true “untouchable,” apparently (King Felix).

As for the USSM piece, what Sam said. Exactly right.

By: Joe R

Joe R — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 19:25:10 +0000

I still think that in a current scope, Bard is close to being “untouchable”. 11.2 K/9, like I said, is very tough to duplicate.

Come end of 2010/beginning of 2011, however, and it may be a different tune. I’d rather trade him away then if I could see the Sox acquire a big name starting pitcher or a good SS rather than let him hit his arb years and get expensive.