Special_K19
04-23-2003, 03:59 PM
Bard flashes signs of leadership
04/23/03
Paul Hoynes
Plain Dealer Reporter
Seattle- Catchers catch, throw, hit and block balls in the dirt. That's what they've done for more than 100 years.
Manager Eric Wedge expects a little more. During the off-season and throughout spring training, Wedge said the biggest thing he wanted from his catchers was to make his pitchers better. He considered all other things secondary.
To make that happen, a catcher had to get to know his pitcher. He didn't have to know his favorite color, or whether or not he liked "NYPD Blue." But when it came to a pitcher getting a double-play ball with a splitter or two-seam fastball, that was required knowledge.
It was one of the reasons that Wedge insisted catchers shake hands with pitchers after every throwing session early in spring training. In the end, familiarity may breed contempt, but at least it's contempt with a first-hand knowledge of the facts.
Catcher Josh Bard has done everything Wedge has asked him to do. The results have been impressive.
The Indians opened a three-game series against Seattle last night at Safeco Field with a starting rotation that is 7-7 with a 3.58 ERA.
That's the second-lowest ERA in the American League, next to the supernatural numbers laid down by the New York Yankees rotation - 14-0, 2.46 ERA.
The Tribe's rotation consists of C.C. Sabathia, Ricardo Rodriguez, Brian Anderson, Jason Davis and Jake Westbrook.
"Since I came to Cleveland from the Dodgers last year, he's the only catcher I've had," said Rodriguez.
"I don't have to worry about thinking too much out there. He knows what kind of pitches I like to throw in certain situations."
Rodriguez is 2-0 with a 2.08 ERA in four starts.
Bard's job is to not only get Rodriguez to throw the right pitch at the right time, but to keep him calm and cool. Rodriguez throws inside and is not above showing up a batter he's just retired. Kansas City's Michael Tucker will attest to that.
"Josh is always trying to pick me up," said Rodriguez. "If I'm down, he'll say, 'Hey, big man, that's not you. Let's go!' I love that about him."
Rodriguez came to Cleveland in the Paul Shuey trade in July. He made four starts at Class AAA Buffalo after the trade, going 3-1. Bard caught his three victories.
"He knows what kind of person I am," said Rodriguez. "He knows how to calm me down and what to do to make me more aggressive."
When the Indians beat Chicago, 7-4, Sunday at U.S. Cellular Field, Davis pitched 6Ҡinnings for the victory. After the game, he credited Bard with the victory.
"To me, Josh Bard was the highlight of the game," said Davis. "He knew I didn't have my good stuff, but he stuck with me and kept encouraging me."
Bard is one of seven rookies on the Indians. Wedge calls him an "old soul" because of his ability to call a game and handle a pitching staff.
He is a guy who listens well.
"A veteran pitcher once told me that, 'Thirty percent of the time you're going to have your good stuff and you should pitch well,' " said Bard. "If that's true, that means 70 percent of the time you're not going to have your good stuff and you're going to compete to win."
Bard feels that's where he can help with encouragement or advice. One word of warning: a pitcher should not expect a great deal of originality in Bard's pep talks.
"You know me, I'll say every cliche in the book," he said.
Indians starters have pitched five or more innings in 17 of their 19 starts. Overall, the Indians have the fifth-lowest ERA in the league at 3.81.
The bullpen is 0-5 with three saves and a 4.27 ERA.
"I feel comfortable with the whole staff," said Bard. "These guys have good stuff and there's not one guy on the staff - and I'm talking starters and relievers - who's scared to throw strikes. They come in and pound the strike zone. We don't walk a lot of people."
That does a catcher with an old soul good.
04/23/03
Paul Hoynes
Plain Dealer Reporter
Seattle- Catchers catch, throw, hit and block balls in the dirt. That's what they've done for more than 100 years.
Manager Eric Wedge expects a little more. During the off-season and throughout spring training, Wedge said the biggest thing he wanted from his catchers was to make his pitchers better. He considered all other things secondary.
To make that happen, a catcher had to get to know his pitcher. He didn't have to know his favorite color, or whether or not he liked "NYPD Blue." But when it came to a pitcher getting a double-play ball with a splitter or two-seam fastball, that was required knowledge.
It was one of the reasons that Wedge insisted catchers shake hands with pitchers after every throwing session early in spring training. In the end, familiarity may breed contempt, but at least it's contempt with a first-hand knowledge of the facts.
Catcher Josh Bard has done everything Wedge has asked him to do. The results have been impressive.
The Indians opened a three-game series against Seattle last night at Safeco Field with a starting rotation that is 7-7 with a 3.58 ERA.
That's the second-lowest ERA in the American League, next to the supernatural numbers laid down by the New York Yankees rotation - 14-0, 2.46 ERA.
The Tribe's rotation consists of C.C. Sabathia, Ricardo Rodriguez, Brian Anderson, Jason Davis and Jake Westbrook.
"Since I came to Cleveland from the Dodgers last year, he's the only catcher I've had," said Rodriguez.
"I don't have to worry about thinking too much out there. He knows what kind of pitches I like to throw in certain situations."
Rodriguez is 2-0 with a 2.08 ERA in four starts.
Bard's job is to not only get Rodriguez to throw the right pitch at the right time, but to keep him calm and cool. Rodriguez throws inside and is not above showing up a batter he's just retired. Kansas City's Michael Tucker will attest to that.
"Josh is always trying to pick me up," said Rodriguez. "If I'm down, he'll say, 'Hey, big man, that's not you. Let's go!' I love that about him."
Rodriguez came to Cleveland in the Paul Shuey trade in July. He made four starts at Class AAA Buffalo after the trade, going 3-1. Bard caught his three victories.
"He knows what kind of person I am," said Rodriguez. "He knows how to calm me down and what to do to make me more aggressive."
When the Indians beat Chicago, 7-4, Sunday at U.S. Cellular Field, Davis pitched 6Ҡinnings for the victory. After the game, he credited Bard with the victory.
"To me, Josh Bard was the highlight of the game," said Davis. "He knew I didn't have my good stuff, but he stuck with me and kept encouraging me."
Bard is one of seven rookies on the Indians. Wedge calls him an "old soul" because of his ability to call a game and handle a pitching staff.
He is a guy who listens well.
"A veteran pitcher once told me that, 'Thirty percent of the time you're going to have your good stuff and you should pitch well,' " said Bard. "If that's true, that means 70 percent of the time you're not going to have your good stuff and you're going to compete to win."
Bard feels that's where he can help with encouragement or advice. One word of warning: a pitcher should not expect a great deal of originality in Bard's pep talks.
"You know me, I'll say every cliche in the book," he said.
Indians starters have pitched five or more innings in 17 of their 19 starts. Overall, the Indians have the fifth-lowest ERA in the league at 3.81.
The bullpen is 0-5 with three saves and a 4.27 ERA.
"I feel comfortable with the whole staff," said Bard. "These guys have good stuff and there's not one guy on the staff - and I'm talking starters and relievers - who's scared to throw strikes. They come in and pound the strike zone. We don't walk a lot of people."
That does a catcher with an old soul good.