Colorado Rockies balance perception, reality, and the trolls of social media

CHICAGO — Colorado Rockies closer Daniel Bard enters the game against the San Diego Padres, looking to close out a 5-2 win at Coors Field on August 16. The ninth inning, however, doesn’t go according to Colorado’s hopes.

A pair of runners, each reaching base on singles that have an expected batting average of .210 or less, puts traffic on the bases and pressure on Bard. While the runners are a nuisance, the Rockies still have the lead as Bard has retired the next two batters. One out is all that separates Bard’s team from walking off the field victorious or preparing for the bottom of the ninth.

The latter, unfortunately for the Rockies that night, is what was in store as Trent Grisham takes a 2-1 pitch from Bard the opposite way and blasts it over the left field wall, knotting the game at 5.

Colorado would win the game in the bottom of the ninth on C.J. Cron’s home run, but that didn’t erase what had happened in the top of the frame from the record books or the minds of those lurking on Bard’s Instagram account.

Colorado Rockies closer Daniel Bard saw the comments on social media.

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The comments on posts soon began, whether it was on Bard’s personal account or Colorado’s official Twitter account.

Bard shouldn’t have thrown that pitch.

Bard shouldn’t be closing games.

Bard is done and should retire.

Suddenly, the world was filled with pitching coaches and those who could’ve gotten Grisham out from the comfort of their living rooms.

Yes, Bard has seen the posts, comments, and replies. No, Bard doesn’t care.

Well, let’s rephrase that. Bard absolutely cares about his performance and his team’s win-loss record. He does not, however, take the time to soak up the knowledge of those sitting on their couches or walking out of the stadium and mad tweeting on their phones.

“If it’s something that’s going to bother you, you have the option of not having an account,” Bard explained. “If someone telling you that you suck is something that you think might bother you, or if you don’t want to hear that someone lost 100 bucks because they have money on the line and you blew their bet, you don’t have to have an account. Because that will happen.”