June 27, 2010
Hangin' Out With ... Daniel Bard
by NEBJ Staff/
Q&A
How did you get started playing baseball? My dad played and he put a bat and ball in my hands at a young age. I remember being like four years old and couldn’t wait to start tee-ball. From there, I always wanted to play and I kept doing it.
What’s the key for a young player hoping to play at the next level? I always made it a goal to just be as good a player as I was at the level I was at and not worry about trying to impress people. If you were in high school, you can’t worry about colleges noticing you. Just become the best player you can be at that level and you’re going to get noticed. You’re going to play at the level you’re supposed to play at.
What is the highlight/most memorable moment of your baseball career? First game was special, I think that goes for anyone in the big leagues. It’s just kind of seeing your childhood dreams come to fruition. That was out in Anaheim last year.
Who was your most influential coach? I’d have to go with my dad just because he knew baseball and he was a catcher in the minor leagues so he knew pitching better than anyone else I had growing up. He coached me until I was 11 or 12. After that, he would watch me throw my bullpens and stuff. He knows my delivery and he’s followed me the whole way.
What’s the best advice you’ve received? I remember Mike Cather, my pitching coach in the minor leagues, said, “I want to see you throw every pitch as hard as you can. I don’t care what happens.” From then on, that kind of turned things around for me in the minor leagues. I basically stopped worrying about the results and just worried about throwing every pitch the best I could and as hard as I could. Things kind of turned around from there.
Equipment
Glove: Nike
Cleats: Nike
Pop culture, etc.
Pregame meal: I just like to eat at about the same time, at about 6 o’clock every day. I want to make sure I’m not digesting while I’m out there pitching.
Favorite movie: “Fight Club”
Favorite TV show: “Seinfeld”
Favorite singer or group: I have a lot of Led Zeppelin on my iPod
You’re always playing the guitar in the clubhouse. How did that start? My best friend growing up is in a country band now called Love and Theft and that was the first guitar he bought when he moved to Nashville and he gave it to me as a wedding gift. I hadn’t picked up a guitar before that in my life. Sitting there all season, I started playing it and I went from there.
Favorite book: I’ve been reading Bullpen Gospels by Dirk Hayhurst. It’s a great book. I read a couple of his blog entries a couple of years ago and thought they were pretty funny, so I picked this book up from my iPad.
Favorite dinner: I love Mexican food.
Vacation spot: My family grew up going to the beach in South Carolina so it’s good memories going back there.
Sport other than baseball: I played a little bit of basketball, halfway through high school. Enjoyed it. It’s as fun as baseball to play. I just wasn’t nearly as good.
Favorite team growing up: The Atlanta Braves. I grew up in Charlotte. I used to go to the games. It was about four hours away.
