Season in Review: Erik Bedard

AP

Preseason Predictions:
Not available, as I did not predict the Mariners' stats before the season

Actual Stats(w/ the Red Sox only):
1-2, 4.03 ERA, 1.55 WHIP, 2.11 K/BB, 3.85 FIP


In a trade deadline deal, the Red Sox acquired former Oriole and Mariner Erik Bedard for a package of prospects. Bedard had been pitching well in Seattle, when healthy, and the Red Sox were looking for him to step up in the wake of injury to Clay Buchholz and Dice-K, and mighty struggles from John Lackey. Bedard was pretty consistent in his first month with the team, although not really spectacular. In his first six starts with Boston (he made eight), Bedard averaged 5 1/3 innings, allowing an average of about 2 earned runs (2.5 total runs) on just over five hits, 2 walks, and 5 strikeouts. However, Bedard's final two starts at the end of the season were awful, just like every other start from the rotation in that stretch. In those final two starts, he pitched a total of six innings, allowing 7 runs on 10 hits. Bedard is a free agent this offseason, and if I were Ben Cherington, I would look into what it would take to bring him back. He is getting up in age, 32 at years end, so I wouldn't give him more than a one, maybe two, year deal. However, his K/BB ratio was pretty good, and his FIP indicated that he pitched a little better than his ERA suggests, and he consistently ends seasons with ERAs under 4. Bedard can be a valuable option in the back half of the rotation next year.

Final Grade:
Although Bedard did falter down the stretch, you can't entirely forget about his first handful of starts with the team. Because of his pretty good, but not spectacular, start to his Red Sox career, I will give Bedard a C+, despite his end of season struggles.