Erik Bedard
Encyclopedia
Érik Joseph Bédard is a free agent Canadian professional baseball
pitcher
in Major League Baseball
.
Bédard previously pitched for the Baltimore Orioles
and Seattle Mariners
. With Baltimore, he was the staff ace
, setting the franchise single-season strikeout
s per nine innings record at 10.93 in .
, a suburb of Ottawa
. A Franco-Ontarian
, Bédard began his baseball
career in the Orleans Little League and the Ontario Baseball Association. He was a pitcher
on the 1992 Orleans Junior Red Sox team which beat Glace Bay
in the 1992 Canadian Championship.
Bédard did not play high school baseball, which is the norm in Canada due to the short season.
Although 5 inch and 120 pounds (54.4 kg) as a senior, he grew seven inches and gained 30 pounds (13.6 kg) during the summer between graduating from high school and beginning college. He accompanied a friend to a tryout at Norwalk Community College
in Norwalk
, Connecticut
, and made the baseball team as a walk-on.
While in college, he added 10 miles per hour to his fastball
, gained another 30 pounds (13.6 kg), took the "lowest level" non-credit English language
course to enhance his knowledge of the language, and became a junior college All-American.
starter, Bédard pitched four seasons with the Orioles. After posting dominating numbers when he was at the Double-A level, he quickly gained recognition as one of the best pitching prospects in baseball, gaining comparison to lefty Cy Young Award
winner Johan Santana
. However, an elbow ligament injury forced him to the operating table, and set his development back 18 months. After spending most of in rehab, he received an invitation to big-league spring training
the next year. He made the most of his opportunity, beating out other pitchers for the fifth spot in the starting rotation. In , he posted a 4.59 ERA
in 137⅓ innings of work. His strikeout numbers were 7.93 K/9, and he had 71 walks
allowed. Bédard was criticized for having a high pitch count (19.5 pitches/inning), forcing him to frequently make early exits from ballgames, and he was criticized for lacking a third type of pitch.
Under the tutelage of pitching coach Ray Miller, who rejoined the Orioles in the middle of the 2004 season, Bédard refined his control of the changeup
(his third pitch) to go along with his 91-93 mph fastball
and slurve
. In the beginning of , he posted a 2.08 ERA, but after a sprained knee sidelined him for two months, he posted a 5.44 ERA.
Bédard had one of his best statistical years in , going 15-11 in 33 starts and posting a 3.76 ERA and 1.35 WHIP. He also pitched a total of 196.1 innings, his highest in any season.
Bédard was named the Orioles' 2007 Opening Day starting pitcher. On May 20, Bédard recorded his first major league hit
, a single
up the middle in the 5th against the Washington Nationals
. In his next at-bat, he looped an RBI
single over shortstop
, going 2-2 with a sacrifice in the game.
On July 7, Bédard struck out 15 Texas Rangers
, matching the Orioles franchise record set by Mike Mussina
. In the same game, he faced the minimum number of batters (27), as the only two batters who reached base were later out on double play
s. His 15 strikeouts also set the record for the most in a game by a Canadian. His performance throughout the month earned him the American League Pitcher of the month
award for July .
Although he played for a losing team, Bédard's individual performance put him among those shortlisted to contend for the American League
Cy Young Award. Then-teammate Kevin Millar
stated that Bédard "probably has the best curveball
in baseball." Bédard broke the franchise single-season strikeout record on August 26. The previous record was held by Mike Mussina, who had 218 in .
The results of an MRI
on September 4 confirmed that Bédard suffered a strained
oblique
in his previous start on August 26. Because the Orioles were eliminated from playoff contention later that week, manager Dave Trembley
decided to shut down Bédard for the remainder of the season on September 9, prematurely ending Bédard's season by placing him on the 60-day disabled list
.
Bédard finished the season with a 13-5 record, posting a 3.16 ERA with 221 strikeouts. He was eligible for arbitration
from the Orioles during the 2007- offseason.
in a 5-for-1 deal sending outfielder
Adam Jones
and pitchers George Sherrill
, Tony Butler, Chris Tillman
and Kam Mickolio
to the Orioles. On February 13, Mariners manager John McLaren
announced that Bédard would be their Opening Day starter. Bédard signed a one-year, 7-million dollar deal with the Seattle Mariners on February 15, avoiding any salary arbitration. In spring training in 2008, he led the major leagues in home run
s given up, with nine in 24 innings. On July 10, 2008, he was placed on the 15-day disabled list.
Bédard only played the first four months of the season before landing on the disabled list due to a torn labrum in his pitching shoulder.He finished with a 5-3 record and a 2.82 ERA. He became a free agent following the season.
On February 6, 2010, Bédard re-signed with the Seattle Mariners to a one-year contract with a mutual option for 2011. At the start of the 2010 season, there was hope Bédard would return to the majors as soon as May or June 2010. Since then, he suffered multiple setbacks while rehabbing his shoulder and did not pitch in 2010.
After the 2010 season, the Mariners declined their 2011 option on Bédard's contract. The Mariners re-signed Bédard to an incentive laden non-guaranteed contract.
were traded to the Boston Red Sox
for minor league outfielders Trayvon Robinson
and Chih-Hsien Chiang
as part of a three team deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers
and Seattle Mariners
.
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
.
Bédard previously pitched for the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
and Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
. With Baltimore, he was the staff ace
Ace (baseball)
In baseball, an ace is the best starting pitcher of any team and nearly always the first pitcher in his starting rotation. Barring injury or exceptional circumstances, an ace usually always starts on Opening Day...
, setting the franchise single-season strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s per nine innings record at 10.93 in .
Early years
Bédard was born on March 6, 1979 in Navan, OntarioNavan, Ontario
Navan is a village within the city limits of Ottawa in eastern Ontario, Canada, located south-east of Orleans. Prior to its amalgamation with the city in 2001, Navan was located within the City of Cumberland....
, a suburb of Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
. A Franco-Ontarian
Franco-Ontarian
Franco-Ontarians are French Canadian or francophone residents of the Canadian province of Ontario. They are sometimes known as "Ontarois"....
, Bédard began his baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
career in the Orleans Little League and the Ontario Baseball Association. He was a pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
on the 1992 Orleans Junior Red Sox team which beat Glace Bay
Glace Bay, Nova Scotia
Glace Bay is a community in the eastern part of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality in Nova Scotia, Canada. It forms part of the general area referred to as Industrial Cape Breton....
in the 1992 Canadian Championship.
Bédard did not play high school baseball, which is the norm in Canada due to the short season.
Although 5 inch and 120 pounds (54.4 kg) as a senior, he grew seven inches and gained 30 pounds (13.6 kg) during the summer between graduating from high school and beginning college. He accompanied a friend to a tryout at Norwalk Community College
Norwalk Community College
Norwalk Community College , formerly known as Norwalk State Technical College and Norwalk Community-Technical College, is a public community college in Norwalk, Connecticut. It is the second-largest of the twelve colleges in the Connecticut Community Colleges.The school, which has an open...
in Norwalk
Norwalk, Connecticut
Norwalk is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of the city is 85,603, making Norwalk sixth in population in Connecticut, and third in Fairfield County...
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, and made the baseball team as a walk-on.
While in college, he added 10 miles per hour to his fastball
Fastball
The fastball is the most common type of pitch in baseball. Some "power pitchers," such as Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens, have thrown it at speeds of 95–106 mph and up to 108.1 mph , relying purely on speed to prevent the ball from being hit...
, gained another 30 pounds (13.6 kg), took the "lowest level" non-credit English language
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
course to enhance his knowledge of the language, and became a junior college All-American.
Baltimore Orioles
As a left-handedLeft-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
starter, Bédard pitched four seasons with the Orioles. After posting dominating numbers when he was at the Double-A level, he quickly gained recognition as one of the best pitching prospects in baseball, gaining comparison to lefty Cy Young Award
Cy Young Award
The Cy Young Award is an honor given annually in baseball to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball , one each for the American League and National League . The award was first introduced in 1956 by Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick in honor of Hall of Fame pitcher Cy Young, who died in 1955...
winner Johan Santana
Johan Santana
Johan Alexander Santana Araque is a Major League Baseball left-handed starting pitcher who is currently playing for the New York Mets. He is a native of Venezuela....
. However, an elbow ligament injury forced him to the operating table, and set his development back 18 months. After spending most of in rehab, he received an invitation to big-league spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
the next year. He made the most of his opportunity, beating out other pitchers for the fifth spot in the starting rotation. In , he posted a 4.59 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
in 137⅓ innings of work. His strikeout numbers were 7.93 K/9, and he had 71 walks
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
allowed. Bédard was criticized for having a high pitch count (19.5 pitches/inning), forcing him to frequently make early exits from ballgames, and he was criticized for lacking a third type of pitch.
Under the tutelage of pitching coach Ray Miller, who rejoined the Orioles in the middle of the 2004 season, Bédard refined his control of the changeup
Changeup
A changeup is a type of pitch in baseball. Other names include change-of-pace, Bugs Bunny change-up, the dreaded equalizer, and simply change. The changeup is sometimes called an off-speed pitch, although that term can also be used simply to mean any pitch that is slower than a fastball...
(his third pitch) to go along with his 91-93 mph fastball
Fastball
The fastball is the most common type of pitch in baseball. Some "power pitchers," such as Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens, have thrown it at speeds of 95–106 mph and up to 108.1 mph , relying purely on speed to prevent the ball from being hit...
and slurve
Slurve
The slurve is a baseball pitch in which the pitcher throws a slider as if he were throwing a curve ball. The term is a portmanteau of the words "slider" and "curve".-History:...
. In the beginning of , he posted a 2.08 ERA, but after a sprained knee sidelined him for two months, he posted a 5.44 ERA.
Bédard had one of his best statistical years in , going 15-11 in 33 starts and posting a 3.76 ERA and 1.35 WHIP. He also pitched a total of 196.1 innings, his highest in any season.
Bédard was named the Orioles' 2007 Opening Day starting pitcher. On May 20, Bédard recorded his first major league hit
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
, a single
Single (baseball)
In baseball, a single is the most common type of base hit, accomplished through the act of a batter safely reaching first base by hitting a fair ball and getting to first base before a fielder puts him out...
up the middle in the 5th against the Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
. In his next at-bat, he looped an RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
single over shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
, going 2-2 with a sacrifice in the game.
On July 7, Bédard struck out 15 Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
, matching the Orioles franchise record set by Mike Mussina
Mike Mussina
Michael Cole Mussina , nicknamed Moose, is a former Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher. He played for the Baltimore Orioles and the New York Yankees ....
. In the same game, he faced the minimum number of batters (27), as the only two batters who reached base were later out on double play
Double play
In baseball, a double play for a team or a fielder is the act of making two outs during the same continuous playing action. In baseball slang, making a double play is referred to as "turning two"....
s. His 15 strikeouts also set the record for the most in a game by a Canadian. His performance throughout the month earned him the American League Pitcher of the month
Pitcher of the Month
The Pitcher of the Month award is a Major League Baseball award named by each league for each month of the regular season. The National League started recognizing the award in . The American League followed in...
award for July .
Although he played for a losing team, Bédard's individual performance put him among those shortlisted to contend for the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
Cy Young Award. Then-teammate Kevin Millar
Kevin Millar
Kevin Charles Millar is an American former professional baseball first baseman and current analyst for MLB Network and New England Sports Network. Millar played college baseball at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, where he continues to reside in the off-season. Millar is the nephew of former...
stated that Bédard "probably has the best curveball
Curveball
The curveball is a type of pitch in baseball thrown with a characteristic grip and hand movement that imparts forward spin to the ball causing it to dive in a downward path as it approaches the plate. Its close relatives are the slider and the slurve. The "curve" of the ball varies from pitcher to...
in baseball." Bédard broke the franchise single-season strikeout record on August 26. The previous record was held by Mike Mussina, who had 218 in .
The results of an MRI
Magnetic resonance imaging
Magnetic resonance imaging , nuclear magnetic resonance imaging , or magnetic resonance tomography is a medical imaging technique used in radiology to visualize detailed internal structures...
on September 4 confirmed that Bédard suffered a strained
Strain (injury)
A strain is an injury to a muscle or tendon in which the muscle fibres tear as a result of overstretching. A strain is also colloquially known as a pulled muscle...
oblique
Abdominal external oblique muscle
The external oblique muscle is the largest and the most superficial of the three flat muscles of the lateral anterior abdomen.-Structure:...
in his previous start on August 26. Because the Orioles were eliminated from playoff contention later that week, manager Dave Trembley
Dave Trembley
David Michael Trembley is a former manager of the Baltimore Orioles. Before managing the Orioles Trembley was a minor league manager for twenty seasons compiling a 1369–1413 record. He won two league titles and earned Manager of the Year awards in three leagues...
decided to shut down Bédard for the remainder of the season on September 9, prematurely ending Bédard's season by placing him on the 60-day disabled list
Disabled list
In Major League Baseball, the disabled list is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players.-General guidelines:...
.
Bédard finished the season with a 13-5 record, posting a 3.16 ERA with 221 strikeouts. He was eligible for arbitration
Pendulum arbitration
Pendulum arbitration, otherwise known as final offer arbitration , is a type of interest arbitration in which the arbitrator chooses one of the parties' proposals on each disputed issues. For example, in the case of labor collective bargaining, a trade union may demand a wage increase of 7% and...
from the Orioles during the 2007- offseason.
Seattle Mariners
On February 8, 2008, Bédard was traded to the Seattle MarinersSeattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
in a 5-for-1 deal sending outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
Adam Jones
Adam Jones (baseball)
Adam La Marque Jones is a Major League Baseball center fielder for the Baltimore Orioles. Jones was born and raised in San Diego, California where he starred at Samuel F. B. Morse High School. He was drafted in the first round of the 2003 draft by the Seattle Mariners...
and pitchers George Sherrill
George Sherrill
George Friederich Sherrill , also known as "The Brim Reaper", "Flat Breezy", and "Duckbill" , is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher, who is a free agent-College and independent baseball:Sherrill was not drafted after graduating from Austin Peay State...
, Tony Butler, Chris Tillman
Chris Tillman
Christopher Steven Tillman is a Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles. According to Baseball America, he was Baltimore's second best prospect, behind only Matt Wieters....
and Kam Mickolio
Kam Mickolio
Kameron Kraig 'Kam' Mickolio is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp of Nippon Professional Baseball.-Amateur career:...
to the Orioles. On February 13, Mariners manager John McLaren
John McLaren (baseball)
John Lowell McLaren is a former Major League Baseball coach and manager, best known for his brief tenure as manager of the Seattle Mariners, from July 1, to June 19,...
announced that Bédard would be their Opening Day starter. Bédard signed a one-year, 7-million dollar deal with the Seattle Mariners on February 15, avoiding any salary arbitration. In spring training in 2008, he led the major leagues in home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s given up, with nine in 24 innings. On July 10, 2008, he was placed on the 15-day disabled list.
Bédard only played the first four months of the season before landing on the disabled list due to a torn labrum in his pitching shoulder.He finished with a 5-3 record and a 2.82 ERA. He became a free agent following the season.
On February 6, 2010, Bédard re-signed with the Seattle Mariners to a one-year contract with a mutual option for 2011. At the start of the 2010 season, there was hope Bédard would return to the majors as soon as May or June 2010. Since then, he suffered multiple setbacks while rehabbing his shoulder and did not pitch in 2010.
After the 2010 season, the Mariners declined their 2011 option on Bédard's contract. The Mariners re-signed Bédard to an incentive laden non-guaranteed contract.
Boston Red Sox
On July 31, 2011, Bédard and minor league pitcher Josh FieldsJosh Fields (pitcher)
Joshua Fields is an American baseball pitcher in the Boston Red Sox organization.Fields Played four seasons for the University of Georgia, 2005–08, Selected by the Atlanta Braves in the second round of the 2007 draft but choose to return to school, then was selected 20th overall in the first round...
were traded to the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
for minor league outfielders Trayvon Robinson
Trayvon Robinson
Trayvon A. Robinson is an American professional baseball outfielder with the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball.-Los Angeles Dodgers organization:...
and Chih-Hsien Chiang
Chih-Hsien Chiang
Chih-Hsien Chiang is a Taiwanese professional baseball player.Chiang is signed as an infielder for the Boston Red Sox organization in 2005, from Taiwan and has played in various levels in its minor league baseball system since. He was converted to the outfield after the 2008 season. He played for...
as part of a three team deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
and Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
.
See also
- List of Baltimore Orioles Opening Day Starting Lineups
- List of Major League Baseball players from Canada