Bedard: Running out of prep time

After the Twins traded Johann Santana and the Red Sox’ Josh Beckett’s back recently started to flare up, many thought that the Mariners had pulled off the biggest coup of the off-season when they traded for Erik Bedard.  By near unanimous opinion, Bedard was being cited as the best pitcher in the American league heading into the 2008 season.

However, Bedard has put up troubling numbers this spring that belie the notion that the M’s ace has arrived: over 24 innings Bedard allowed 23 runs, nine home runs, eight walks, and ten strikeouts.  As Tim Brown points out on Yahoo!, Bedard needs to get his ‘game on’- STAT!  Brown points out that with the trade, Bedard went from a developing ace in a hitter’s ballpark on a non-contending team to an ace in a pitcher’s park on a contending team.  Considering what the M’s gave up for last year’s American League leader in strikeouts- future superstar Adam Jones and unhittable left-handed reliever George Sherrill- if Bedard fails to deliver on his high expectations, it could be the type of trade that could cripple the Mariners franchise and all but guarantee Bill Bavasi and the rest of the front office the loss of their jobs.

The first step towards the conclusion of this high-stakes gamble will happen in four days…