Friday night was to be a big night in regards to one of the many trade rumors regarding the Boston Red Sox. It was, after all, the night Seattle Mariners lefty Erik Bedard was due to come off the disabled list, and the Sox were going to have plenty of eyes on him as he did his thing against the Tampa Bay Rays at Safeco Field.
What they saw wasn?t exactly encouraging.
Making his first start since late June, Bedard lasted just an inning and a third, giving up five earned runs on three hits and four walks. It was the shortest start of his career, and probably his worst too.
For a team like the Red Sox, who are becoming increasingly desperate to find a starting pitcher with Clay Buchholz?s return getting pushed back time and again, watching Bedard struggle had to be tough. They had, after all, seemed quite intrigued by him, and could have made a deal for him had he pitched well against the Rays.
Because he didn?t, the Sox have a pretty good excuse to back off and look for starting pitching help elsewhere.
True enough, the word from WEEI.com?s Alex Speier is that Bedard?s stuff was actually pretty decent on Friday night. He showed good velocity, with his fastball sitting in the 91-93 mph range. That would seem to indicate that Bedard is at least healthy.
While Bedard?s stuff may be okay, former Baltimore Orioles executive Jim Duquette said that what the Sox should really be worried about is Bedard?s character. Apparently, he?s not a big fan of the spotlight.
Via the Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald, here is Duquette?s take on Bedard:
He doesn?t like the attention. When he?s the guy, he doesn?t succeed. And I always thought, because he didn?t want to be the guy, that it would hold him back. I thought he?d be a real solid No. 3 (starter), maybe in a small market. But it would concern me going into a big market. After I left the Orioles, I even tried to dissuade a couple of big-market clubs that were interested in him.
If that makes you concerned, it should. The last thing the Red Sox need is a guy who can?t handle the bright lights, not to mention the relentlessness of the Boston press corps.
As ESPN?s Jerry Crasnick put it: ?Erik Bedard has J.D. Drew's durability and John Lackey's media relations skill. He's the perfect Red Sox player!?
Well said. And if Sox GM Theo Epstein has any sense, he will heed these wise words.
? why do I have this weird feeling that I just jinxed it?
Jason Terry Jason Kidd Dirk Nowitzki Jerry Stackhouse J.R Smith Kenyon Martin
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