From 2009-2011 (during which time Theo Epstein was the Red Sox GM) Daniel Bard was one of the best set up men in baseball. And then he mysteriously forgot how to find the plate. Bard failed as a starter for Boston in 2012, then responded terribly to being demoted to AAA. With Pawtucket he walked 29 batters (and hit another 10) in just 32 innings, with an ERA of 7.03. This year in AA he gave up 17 walks, 13 hits, and 11 runs over a span of just 12.2 innings. Last week in the Gulf Coast League (rookie level ball below single A) Bard hit rock bottom when he walked 5 hitters in two thirds of an inning, while also letting two runs score on wild pitches. On Sunday the Red Sox cut Bard from their roster. Yesterday Theo Epstein (now running the Cubs) decided to claim him off waivers for Chicago.
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