Bard pens a comeback story

He wants to erase control problems

DETROIT - The call came as a bit of a surprise. Daniel Bard had been a starter - albeit not a very successful one in 2007 - when the Red Sox checked in to tell him he was going to the bullpen for winter ball in Hawaii. After his summer struggles, he was willing to try anything.

"Basically, I had probably about as bad of a year as a minor leaguer could possibly have last year," Bard said yesterday. "It turned from a mechanical thing to a mental thing where I lost confidence in my pitches. I was battling that all year.

"After having such a bad year, it was make it or break it for me. I had nothing to lose.

"I went back to the mechanics that had gotten me to that point, gotten me signed to pro ball."

Helped by Portland pitching coach Mike Cather in Hawaii, Bard retooled his delivery. He lowered his arm slot from over the top to a low three-quarters slot, which got his eyes level. His head had been tilted, which didn't help him find the strike zone. It "led to more movement, better command, even more velocity," Bard said, estimating he has been around 95 to 98 miles per hour in Greenville this season.

"I saw video of myself pitching the first couple weeks out in Hawaii," said Bard, who posted a 1.08 ERA for the Honolulu Sharks in 16 appearances. "I hadn't seen myself on video like six months prior. I was like, 'I look terrible. That's not me. I've seen myself throw before and that's not what it's supposed to look like.' "

Since then, Bard has dominated, getting back to the stuff he had at North Carolina, the reason the Red Sox drafted him in the first round in 2006 (28th overall). But he's pitching in the Single A South Atlantic League, where a 23-year-old prospect is on the old side, especially for a second season in the league, as he tries to "erase a year from people's memory."

Despite breaking up his scoreless streak at 22 innings, when he allowed a home run on the first pitch he threw Wednesday and allowed another run in his second inning, Bard has given up just those two runs in 24 innings. He has allowed 12 hits and four walks, striking out 37.

The walk total is among the most noticeable, even with the rest of the eye-catching stats. Bard has suffered from control issues throughout his career - including college - and last season had 78 walks in 75 innings between Lancaster and Greenville.

Instead of the fear of issuing yet another walk, Bard now has confidence in himself.

"I can go in the bullpen and throw 80 or 90 percent of the balls where I want to," he said. "You carry it over to a game. You get in a 3-and-1 count, here comes another walk. You go, '[Forget] it. I can throw 90 percent strikes if I want to.' "

Though Bard has positioned himself well with his performance over the first six weeks of the season, according to director of player development Mike Hazen, there is no timetable on a promotion.

Hagadone progressing

Hazen reported that lefthanded pitcher Nick Hagadone, 22, the Red Sox' first pick in the 2007 draft, is doing well as he battles an infection that has kept him from traveling to get a second opinion on potential Tommy John surgery. The Red Sox should have blood work done on Hagadone shortly . . . Greenville first baseman Mike Jones, 23, saw his franchise-record hitting streak end at 28 games after going 0 for 3 in a 5-3 win over the Rome Braves last night. He's been "off the charts," Bard reported of his teammate. "Pretty good defense, which I think gets overlooked." . . . On Tuesday night, Portland first baseman Aaron Bates, 24, hit a grand slam and drove in seven runs. He tied a franchise record, and upped his own career record of six, set with Lancaster on the night he hit four home runs in a game . . . Catcher Mark Wagner, 23, is tearing it up lately at Portland. Heading into last night's game, Wagner was hitting .400 over his last 10 games, with three doubles, a home run, eight runs, and eight RBIs. He was hitting .320 this season, and might be the complete catching prospect the Red Sox have been seeking . . . Infielder Aaron Reza, a 21st-round draft pick in 2007, has hit well at both stops he's had this season. He hit .353 in 16 games in Greenville with three home runs and seven doubles. In nine games in Lancaster, the 23-year-old hit .448 with three doubles and two triples.

Amalie Benjamin can be reached at abenjamin@globe.com.

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