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Mike Salk on M&M: Erik Bedard in Boston ‘ultimate recipe for disaster’ 08.01.11 at 11:54 am ET
By Matt Goisman

Seattle radio host Mike Salk checked in with Mut & Merloni Monday morning to vent about pitcher Erik Bedard, who was traded from the Mariners to the Red Sox on Sunday. To hear the interview, go the Mut & Merloni audio on demand page.

Salk, a former member of the Boston media who has worked for Seattle’s ESPN radio affiliate since 2009, said that the Bedard trade is “the ultimate recipe for disaster.”

“Erik Bedard plus angry Red Sox fans, I can’t see a way in which this ends well,” Salk said. “I just can’t.”

Salk said lack of motivation is Bedard’s biggest problem.

“I just don’t think he likes baseball that much,” he said.

“The things outside of baseball are the things that make him a lot happier. I don’t think he really cares that much whether or not he pitches well. I don’t think the idea of being in a pennant race is actually going to bring him to a better level.”

Salk also criticized Bedard for his bad start on Friday.

“With the opportunity to shine in front of the scouts, he tanked it,” Salk said, adding: “With all the scouts watching, he threw three to the backstop in front of the scouts in front of the bullpen, something he never does. There’s definitely a belief out here that he tanked that start on purpose so that he wouldn’t go anywhere.”

Salk said that the body language issues that have made John Lackey so unpopular are even worse with Bedard, although Bedard won’t blame his teammates the way Lackey has. Salk also called Bedard “pretty accountable,” another difference from Lackey.

“He’s not going to shine in glory and then run away from defeat,” Salk said.

Salk said that Bedard’s upside is, “When he is on, he’s fantastic.”

“I loved him from afar,” Salk said. “I thought he was one of the most talented pitchers I’d ever watched from the left side. Loved the hard fastball, loved the two-plane curve.”

Salk added that Bedard is generally considered a good teammate, noting how good Bedard has been with teammates’ children.

Read More: Boston Red Sox, Erik Bedard, john lackey, Mike Salk Print  |  Email  |  Bark It Up!  |  Digg It
  • Joe Mosley

    You should proof read your write ups. You kept writing “Bedard said” following Salk’s quotes. Just a tip.

  • jward23

    That was the knock on Foulke, too, that he “didn’t like baseball”. What he actually said was that he didn’t like “watching” baseball when he wasn’t pitching. Quite a difference. And what how did Foulke perform in the spotlight? Ruined his career throwing over 100 pitches total in 3 consecutive games during a memorable playoff series in ’04. Screw the gasbags and give Bedard a chance.

  • Gary

    As for Bedard tanking it in his last start, don’t forget that he didn’t have any rehab starts prior.

    Also, I heard that when Seattle was in Boston, and Bedard was throwing, he heard that the Sox were watching him, he ramped it up. That doesn’t sound like he was trying to tank it to avoid being traded.

    Lastly, he’s not coming here to be a #1 or #2 pitcher and perhaps not even #3.
    So he doesn’t have to be “The Show”.

  • leftarrow

    I live in Seattle and happen to across the article. Salk is a reactionary talk radio host who makes a living off of getting a reaction from listeners. Take what he says with a grain of salt. He isn’t a bad host, in fact I prefer him to others, but he is wrong on this case. I was at the game and watched Bedard pitch, I don’t think Bedard hates baseball. I think he was upset with him self for not locating his stuff. He hit 94 on the gun which is high for him. That implies to me that he was over throwing because he wanted a good start. If he wanted to tank it on purpose would he hit 94 when he normaly throws 89 to 92?

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