Bard needed to pitch out of 2 jams prior to he could smile like he hadnt in years, thanks to the Rockies 3-2 success over the Rangers at Globe Life Field on Saturday afternoon.
Bard, 35, worked for the D-backs last season as a mental skills coach and mentor, but he found in playing catch with gamers that all the things that once made him unique was back. The butterflies and racing heart that caused a lot stress and anxiety prior to were now his allies, the way they are supposed to be.
After Bard relieved Gray and stranded 2 Texas runners, he came back out for the 6th. He quit a one-out single to Joey Gallo and a two-out single to Todd Frazier, but that didnt faze him. Bard fanned Rougned Odor on a 98.7-mph fastball in between those hits, and he caused a flyout to left to end an 11-pitch fight with Willie Calhoun.
” I got him at the end of the dugout, and he stated 3 words: That was fun,” Colorado manager Bud Black said.
– Box score
Capturing his breath after his fun trip, Bard went to the clubhouse and devoted his only faux pas of an otherwise golden day.
Saturday will be remembered for all the pitches Bard made after a long hiatus.
And now, Bard has more than three words for aiming athletes, or anybody who is having problem with, well, anything.
” You have to change your viewpoint on whats going on, it makes that feeling a really positive thing where it assists you, or a truly unfavorable thing where it squashes you,” stated Bard, who credits his better half, Adair, for sticking to him and states much of his viewpoint originates from raising three kids– boys David (4) and Sykes (2) and child Campbell (8 months).
” Funny thing is, I came in after the sixth inning and I grabbed my phone,” Bard said. “Now, MLB is quite tight on everybody looking at their phone. I just sat the phone right down and sat back in my seat.”
And he makes the win in his very first game back after 7 years, 2 months, 28 days. The Daniel Bard Movie is going to be remarkable. pic.twitter.com/aI7D4SMd6H— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) July 25, 2020
It was completely okay for Daniel Bard to launch an ear-to-ear smile 7 years in the making.
Bard needed to pitch out of 2 jams prior to he could grin like he hadnt in years, thanks to the Rockies 3-2 success over the Rangers at Globe Life Field on Saturday afternoon.
Bard had just pitched in a Major League game for the very first time given that April 27, 2013, when his strange lack of control and the yips made it difficult to stick to the Red Sox and wouldnt let him make it back with many other groups. With 1 1/3 scoreless innings of relief, Bard notched his first win because May 29, 2012, when he started for Boston and went 5 1/3 innings to beat Justin Verlanders Tigers.
” The amusing thing is, hes one of the guys who I have history versus– among the couple of men in this league Ive dealt with, probably,” Bard said.
Bards long road back has actually been a warm story in a year that needs them. Hes more than just a story. Bard revealed why hes a viable part of Colorados bullpen as he threw 20 of his 25 pitches for strikes and hit 98 miles per hour on 4 of his fastballs.
It was fun being a kid once again.
” It wasnt something I learned overnight,” Bard said. Bard replaced fatiguing Rockies starter Jon Gray with 2 outs and two runners on, looking to protect a 2-1 lead in the 5th. Bards long roadway back has actually been a warm story in a year that requires them. After Bard relieved Gray and stranded 2 Texas runners, he came back out for the 6th.” Funny thing is, I came in after the 6th inning and I grabbed my phone,” Bard said.
It helped that Bard went back to a familiar visual: Elvis Andrus in the batters box. Bard changed fatiguing Rockies starter Jon Gray with two outs and 2 runners on, seeking to preserve a 2-1 lead in the fifth. He then got Andrus to fly out to left field, which made the Rangers shortstop 2-for-6 in his profession versus Bard.
Bard was likewise part of a wild bullpen flight. Carlos Estévez (two strolls), Jairo Díaz (bunt single, hit-by-pitch and wild pitch) and Wade Davis (one run permitted on one hit and one walk) each worked in and out of trouble after Bard to protect the Rockies victory.
” I cant imagine. … I mean, [7] years earlier, thats a long period of time,” stated Gray, who provided up one run in 4 2/3 innings.
Thomas Harding has covered the Rockies because 2000, and for MLB.com given that 2002. Follow him on Twitter @harding_at_mlb and like his Facebook page.
It was perfectly OK for Daniel Bard to release an ear-to-ear grin 7 years in the making.
” It wasnt something I found out over night,” Bard stated. “Its taken practice. Its taken a lot of intentional deal with my part, but hopefully this proves to any person out there thats dealing with anything that it can be done.”
