Following a rough finish to the 2011 season, starters like Jon Lester, Josh Beckett and the frequently-injured Clay Buchholz were seen as undependable and inconsistent. On top of the questions surrounding the top three, the No. 4 and No. 5 spots in the rotation were still left unsettled.
Thoughts of a blockbuster trade for Michael Pineda vanished when the Yankees pulled that trigger. And hopes of landing prized free agent Roy Oswalt were delayed by the reliable right-hander's decision to return at mid season instead.
Boston may not have landed the golden calf in terms of available pitchers, but they did have a plan and were intent on executing it.
Enter: Daniel Bard.
New general manager Ben Cherington saw a spark in Bard, one that he felt would be best utilized starting games rather than finishing them. Boston's new man in charge, Bobby Valentine, wasn't sold on that decision out of the gate, but opened up to the idea as spring training wore on.
Now, after finally landing the job following an up-and-down spring, there's rumors that the slender righty may be headed back to bullpen before even making his first start.
The recent loss of closer Andrew Bailey, who will be sidelined for a few months after undergoing thumb surgery, was both unexpected and unfortunate.
Nothing quite showed the impact of Bailey's loss more than Boston's bullpen struggling to record three outs in the ninth inning of Thursday's 3-2 loss in Detroit. But forcing Bard out of the rotation to help solve the problem isn't the right answer.
As of now, Bard is still scheduled to start Tuesday's game in Toronto and he should see that outing through. But after Tuesday, then what?
Mark Melancon looked a bit uncomfortable on the mound for the Red Sox on Thursday, and Alfredo Aceves' stuff didn't appear to be that much better as the Tigers walked off with the win. Those sort of performances could lead to rash decisions.
Maybe it was just Opening Day jitters that had the pair a little too wound up — Valentine admitted to some added excitement heading into the season opener — or maybe it's just two guys struggling to adapt to a difficult situation. Whatever the cause, Bard's long-term future is more important than providing a short-term solution to a fixable issue.
When the Red Sox decided to stretch Bard out over the winter, they wanted to see how the 6-foot-4 flamethrower would respond. He passed the test, and even showed signs of the dominant starter Boston thought they were drafting 28th overall in 2006.
His ceiling may not be as the ace of this staff or a 200-strikeout-a-year pitcher. Heck, he may not even pan out in the starting role. But isn't it worth giving him the chance?
Bard's definitely got the talent to be a front-line starter. His best pitch is arguably his fastball, although his slider may not be far behind. He's still developing a changeup, but has been reluctant to trust it deep in games and continually reverts back to favoring the fastball.
Fastball-reliant pitchers don't often have great success at the major league level, that is of course unless you're 6-foot-11 and named Randy Johnson. Bard can and has at times hit 100 mph on the radar gun during relief appearances, as a starter that number will drop as the innings get later and the year goes on. That's why the development of his changeup will be key.
Bard is seen as one of those fastball pitchers hoping to overpower hitters, a la Johnson. That means later in games, opposing batters will sit on the fastball and try to unload on him — here's where an effective changeup will help immensely. Giving Bard an off-speed pitch should force hitters to take a more cautious approach at the plate, and that immediately makes the fastball more dangerous.
His development from the rubber could certainly be pushed off until later in the season, when Bailey can return, or even after the year is over. Then again, that may only resurface another potential problem — the starting rotation.
Boston has some options to fill the void in the rotation if Bard is sent back to the pen. Aaron Cook showed some positive signs of a return to his pre-injury form during the spring. Then there's always Daisuke Matsuzaka, who appears to be on the fast track back to the big leagues after Tommy John surgery late least season. But more variables remain with Felix Doubront's uncertain effectiveness as a starter remaining in the balance.
The unpopular, but intelligent move for the Red Sox would be to keep Bard in the rotation and let the season play out.
Every year there seems to be a major injury on the roster, and no team is going to make it all season without at least one starter making a trip to the disabled list. Wouldn't Boston be better served to have too many starters, rather than too few?
It's true. Daniel Bard may never become Justin Verlander or Jered Weaver. He might not even reach the level of a Clay Buchholz, but the potential is definitely there.
Bard has the chance to develop into a high-end No. 2 starter in the MLB. His height and length are prototypical for a power pitcher, and his arm strength backs up that notion. His command of the strike zone helps make his case even stronger.
Now comes the moment of truth. Can he hack it?
Tuesday's performance should be just a sample of what Bard could potentially show off this season, whether impressive or otherwise. The 26-year-old's outing against the Blue Jays will hold a lot of weight for his immediate future, but in reality it shouldn't have any bearing on how this season progresses.
If in June, Bard still hasn't settled into a starting role, then maybe it would be time to consider a return to the bullpen. Matsuzaka could be ready by then and it's probable that Boston will still need the help late in games.
It's far too early to start forcing the kid back into the bullpen, though. He has potential, he has skill and he seems to have the work ethic. So who knows, maybe we could see a future All-Star emerge in Bard this season.
It's certainly too early to tell, but it's also too early to pull the plug.
