Bard deserved All-Star nod

BOSTON Pitching hasn't always gone as smoothly for Boston middle reliever Daniel Bard as it has this year. His first professional baseball season in 2007 was an absolute disaster. Bard, who was drafted as a starting pitcher, posted a 6.42 earned run average in 17 starts at Single-A Greenville and a 10.13 ERA in five starts at Single-A Lancaster in '07.