“Pushing Through the Peaks”
By Bret Dougherty
The ultimate comeback story keeps on going…
So much was said over the long and extraordinary return of former UNC Tar Heel ace and Colorado Rockies closer Daniel Bard who won MLB’s Comeback Player in 2020.
He was the late first round pick of the Boston Red Sox who became the primary setup man and 25 consecutive scoreless appearances. He then lost his command in bizarre fashion and still holds a jaw dropping stat line at any league level with eight batters faced, five walks, and two hit batters in his last minor league appearance.
He rebuilt himself as a mental skills coach with the Arizona Diamondbacks which was an amazing reclamation feat by itself. He closed the door on a seven-year absence with a rapid return to the majors in 2020 with six saves in 24 2/3 innings and 27Ks.
Photo via the Colorado Rockies/Charlotte Magazine.
His 2020 performance made for an easy and unanimous MLB Comeback Player of the Year choice. Yet by May of 2021, the gripes were that he was a different pitcher.
The slider lost velocity. The fastball was getting hammered. His spin rate and axis of rotation weren’t the same.
Bard admitted that he knew it was one of two things. His ‘sequencing was either getting too predictable, or they knew what was coming.’ Let alone pitching for the Rockies in Coors Field.
He stayed confident with adjustments. Until he reached a Dodger lineup on July 23, he had a stretch of four for four perfect saves, and he was scored upon once in nine appearances.
The Rockies are 18 back heading into the end of July. The white flags are being pulled out of the bag, and the odds are the Rockies will make a deal to sell high on Bard with the trade deadline looming this week.
He has high value. He holds four strong pitches and a refined mental game which is hard to find in a closer even at 36. He could be shipped to a playoff contender which would be another adventure to the tale.
Bard’s adventure is not just the comeback, but how he is pushing through the pains and slips in the peaks. He has provided a soothing message for us who have had a few rocky appearances in this summer of comebacks.
Keep throwing the heat.
Bret Dougherty is a UNC-Chapel Hill alum (’94, ’05, ’08). He resides in Chicago, and he can be reached via bret.dougherty@gmail.com or @dougherty.
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