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PERSONAL:
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- Bedard grew up in Navan, a small farming town just east of Ottawa, Canada with a population of 1,450. The small community is known for its vegetables. It is about an hour and a half from the United States border. He spoke mostly French.
"My uncle owned a huge farm," Eric said. "Summer or winter, we were on his land. Snowmobiles, motorcycles, four-wheelers, shooting BB guns, building tree houses, campfires, jumping in pools. We didn't play video games or anything; everything we did was outdoors.
"I still like the peacefulness, the country, and not having so much traffic. It's the simple life," Bedard said.
- Erik played softball, not baseball, when he was a youth. There was not much baseball around the region he grew up in. So, when he was seven, he took up softball, along with hockey and basketball.
He pitched softball until he was a teenager, using a big, windmill windup from the southpaw side. When he was 13, some schoolmates encouraged him to give baseball a try, telling Bedard it was more fun and competitive than softball.
Erik honed his pitching skills throwing to his brother, Mark, in a barn at his cousin's poultry farm.
- As a youth, Erik was a big Toronto Blue Jays fan. His favorite player was pitcher Pat Hentgen, whom he got to meet a few years ago during Orioles spring camp, when Hentgen first joined the Baltimore club.
"I watched every game in the '92 and '93 World Series season. He was good. He won the Cy Young. I remember telling him, 'Damn, I watched you every time you pitched.'"
- Bedard didn't start playing baseball until he was 13. His high school didn't have a team. When he finally picked up a hardball, he was a first baseman and outfielder, as well as a pitcher. He played in the Babe Ruth League World Series in his first year!
When Erik was 16 years old, he stood only 5-feet-3 and weighed just 145 pounds. He was built more like a jockey than a pitcher. "Fortunately, I grew 6 inches my senior year of high school," he said. That is because he ate a lot and worked out even more. But he wasn't big enough or impressive enough to be offered a college scholarship.
- In 1999, scout Jim Howard signed Bedard for the Orioles. Howard has a knack for finding fine cold-weather pitchers. Bedard walked on at Norwalk (Conn.) Community College after a friend, Rock Seguin, who was a catcher, invited him to tryout.
He lifted weights, and his fastball added velocity. Erik, who majored in computer science, steadily progressed, gaining interest from the Orioles.
- Erik won a clubhouse arm wrestling championship at Norwalk Technical College, even though he was smaller than almost everyone of his teammates and competed with his right arm.
- During the off-season before 2004 spring training, Baseball America rated Erik as the 7th-best prospect in the Orioles' organization.
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Bedard is not real fond of dealing with the media. But by the 2007 season, he was starting to come into his own, as part of the normal maturing process all of us go through. He is still a quiet, even-keeled guy, but his demeanor has improved. He isn't a bad guy, just intensely private, and occasionally stubborn. His own man, for better or worse. He is a very genuine person, but he keeps things to himself. He doesn't like B.S. and does not like adulation.
"He's more comfortable in his skin," Orioles executive vice president Mike Flanagan said. "He's had some success. He feels comfortable in the major leagues. It's been a challenge ... one thing after another ... but there comes a time when other pitchers start coming to you and asking for advice. Leadership roles are not taken—they are assumed. I think we're seeing some of that happening."
The Orioles talked to Erik about the need to make himself more available to the press. They pointed out that if he didn't talk to the media, it put more stress on teammates to talk for him. That helped.
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Asked if he watches reality TV, Erik said, "I only watch 'American Idol' the first two weeks when all the contestants are going through. After that, it is boring. The first two weeks are funny because none of those people can sing. I love that part. Me and my brother and my Mom and Dad watch it together and we just laugh. Why do they go on there? Don't they know they can't sing?"
- Bedard has admitted in the past that it takes a while for him to develop a trusting relationship with coaches.
There is no ego in Erik—none at all. He is quiet and unassuming, a small-town guy who is not comfortable with having every move he makes being scrutinized. So he has a reputation of being short on words when interviewed by baseball writers after games.
"You always have to keep your guard up," when talking with the press. "With my friends and family, I'm different."
The only two places Erik truly feels comfortable are on the mound and in his hometown of Navan, Ontario, 18 miles east of Ottawa.
- As of 2008, Bedard still lived in his parents' basement in Navan.
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During offseasons up until after the 2008 campaign, Bedard slept in his parents' basement, with a poster of Bruce Lee on the wall and a kegerator for Molson beer in one corner. Trophies for his many athletic accomplishments abound.
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In 2007 and 2008, Erik had a new home built. It has more than four times the size of his parents' home and has a gym, a screening room, a wine cellar, an outdoor dome-covered swimming pool and a huge garage that he can pitch to his brother/housemate, Mark, who is emploryed as an elevater mechanic, like their father was.
The home is a 10-minute drive from their parents' home.
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Bedard is a quiet guy. He doesn't like the attention afforded a Major League player. But he normally is cordial.
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After his playing career is over, Erik says, "I'd like to play a lot of golf, get a cabin on a lake and fish a lot. Then in the winter, I'd snowmobile and hang out with friends. I'm a very simple guy. I can guarantee I'll go back home."
TRANSACTIONS
- June 1999: The Orioles drafted him in the sixth round, out of Norwalk Community College in Connecticut.
- February 17, 2007: Erik and the Orioles agreed on a one-year, $3.4 million contract.
- February 8, 2008: Bedard was acquired by the Mariners, who sent pitchers George Sherrill, Chris Tillman, Tony Butler, and Kam Mickolio to the Orioles.
- February 15, 2008: Erik and the Mariners avoided salary arbitration, agreeing on a one-year, $7 million contract.
- January 20, 2009: Bedard and the Mariners avoided salary arbitration, agreeing to a one-year, $7.75 million contract that includes an additional $650,000 in innings-pitched bonuses that start at 150 innings and end at 205 innings. (Editor's note: In 2009, Bedard pitched only 83 innings.)
- February 5, 2010: Bedard again signed with the Mariners.
- December 2, 2010: The Mariners signed Erik again. His contract had a $1 million base for making the team out of spring training. Then comes the heavy bonus structure: $250,000 for 50 innings, $300,000 for 75 innings, $350,000 for 100 innings, $425,000 for 125 innings, $475,000 for 150 innings, $500,000 for 170 innings, and $500,000 for 190 innings.
He also has a similar scale for games started: $250,000 for eight games, $300,000 for 12 games, $350,000 for 16 games, $425,000 for 20 games, $475,000 for 24 games, $500,000 for 27 games, and $500,000 for 30 games.
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July 31, 2011: The Red Sox acquired Bedard from the Mariners in a three-team trade. Bedard and fellow Mariners pitcher Josh Fields headed to Boston; Dodgers outfield prospect Trayvon Robinson is going to Seattle; Red Sox prospects Tim Federowicz, Juan Rodriguez, and Stephen Fife are headed to the Dodgers; and Boston prospect Chih Hsien Chiang is headed to Seattle.
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December 7, 2011: The Pirates signed Bedard as a free agent. It was a one-year, $4.5 million contract. The lefty starter joined an all righthanded group of Jeff Karstens, Charlie Morton, Kevin Correia, and James McDonald to make up the team's starting five.
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August 28, 2012: The Pirates released Bedard.
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January 21, 2013: Bedard signed with the Astros.
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October 31, 2013: Erik filed for free agency.
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February 14, 2014: Bedard signed with the Rays organization.
But they released him on March 25, 2014. But he signed back with the Rays two days later.
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January 19, 2015: Eric signed with the Dodgers organization.
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PITCHING:
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- Bedard has an 88-93 mph two-seam FASTBALL that has fine sinking-and-tailing action, good breaking stuff (a slurvy-CURVEBALL that has good snap), a solid CHANGEUP, and an aptitude for pitching. His pitches have good movement. He likes to pitch inside.
Actually, Erik has three types of fastballs: a four-seamer that used to hit 95 mph, a two-seam sinker in the 88-93 mph range, and a CUTTER.
But by 2014, Bedard's fastball was peaking at 89 or 90 mph, tops. - Erik considers himself more of a finesse pitcher than a power pitcher.
- Bedard was asked when he came up with his twisting, Luis Tiant-like delivery, saying, "During my third pro season. I just started doing it instinctively. The coaches said it was fine as long as I threw strikes. It helps me hide the ball better and gives hitters a split second less time to make their decision."
- He maintains his composure under pressure and is very competitive, going right after the hitters. Erik rarely gives up a home run.
Bedard hides the ball very well. And he has good rotation on the ball. He just knows how to pitch. Nothing fazes Bedard.
"My brother is really outgoing, my Dad is hilarious, and my Mom is more conservative, like me. Some of my friends and family want me to show more emotion when I do good. They want me to jump around, but it's just not me," Erik said. "I give a little tap of the glove every once in a while when I'm excited, but that's it.
"I might be having fun, but you're never know it. I might be miserable, but you'll never kknow it. Obviously, I love playing baseball or I wouldn't be doing it. I love the competitiveness and the pressure," Bedard said. - Crowd the plate and Erik will bust you inside; step in the bucket and he will nibble outside.
- Midway through the 2008 season, one longtime National League scout described Bedard: "He has good stuff and has a feel for pitching, but is extremely short with [guts]. . . . Two of his pitching coaches have said that after six innings, nine out of 10 times he'll say, 'I've had enough.' If he had [Curt] Schilling's makeup, he'd win 20 games every year."
- In 2004, Bedard made the starting rotation for the Orioles with a superb showing during spring training. Erik went 2-2 with a 3.79 ERA in 5 appearances and 19 innings to be named the #5 starter for Baltimore's staff. But during the 2004 season, he labored at times trying to retire batters who would foul off his changeup in anticipation of a fastball.
Bedard admitted he lacked the confidence to mix his pitches or challenge hitters with fastballs. If he can throw his curve for strikes, he will get ahead in the count and get quicker outs. "In 2005, I just have more experience," he says. "I'm less afraid of contact. I am just trying a different approach." In 2006, Bedard led the Orioles starters in virtually every category. He was streaky at times—going 4–5 in May and June and 3–5 in August and September—but he made strides toward becoming a complete pitcher by pitching a full season. He finally shook the injury bug and made 33 starts, and he worked at least five innings 29 times. The lefthander allowed more than one home run in just three starts—and only one of those games came after May. On July 7, 2007, Bedard pitched the best game of his career, tied the Orioles' club record by striking out 15 and faced just the minimum 27 batters in the Orioles' 3-0 win over the Rangers. Erik threw 109 pitches in the first complete game of his career.
"That ranks up there with any of the greatest performances I've ever seen," said then-Orioles pitching coach Leo Mazzone, who witnessed more than a decade of mound brilliance in Atlanta.
As of the start of the 2014 season, Erik had a career record of 67-76 with a 3.94 ERA. He had allowed 123 home runs and 1,185 hits in 1,228 innings.
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CAREER INJURY REPORT:
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- June 2001: Erik went on the D.L. with soreness behind his left shoulder caused by a strained muscle and missed over six weeks of action.
- June 2002: Bedard went on the D.L. with elbow pain. An MRI revealed a strained ligament and a slight tear of the ulna collateral ligament in his left elbow.
The blown-out elbow was blamed in part on the Bowie BaySox coaching staff allowing Erik to exceed his pitch count. Six weeks of rest was prescribed. But, that didn't heal it. So, September 10, 2002, Erik underwent ligament-transplant surgery, peformed by Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala. He also missed most of the 2003 season. - March 28-August 4, 2003: Erik was on the D.L., having to undergo Tommy John ligament transplant surgery.
- September 12, 2004: The Orioles shut down Bedard for the season in a precautionary measure. He had pitched 133 innings coming off Tommy John surgery.
- May 22-July 18, 2005: Bedard was on the D.L. with a strained left medial collateral knee ligament.
- August 27, 2007: Erik was on the shelf for several weeks after suffering a strained right oblique muscle near his rib cage.
- September 9-end of 2007 season: Bedard was placed on the 60-day D.L. as a result of his right oblique strain.
- April 9-26, 2008: Erik was put on the D.L with inflammation in his left hip.
June 21, 2008: Bedard had to leave a game against the Atlanta Braves after three scoreless innings because of spasms on the right side of his back. "I've never had a back spasm before," Bedard said that night. "Now I sure know what they are. I had to be helped up the hallway [to the clubhouse]. I couldn't walk." July 5, 2008: Erik was on the D.L. with stiffness in his left shoulder. He tried to rehab the shoulder for 2 1/2 months, without success.
September 26, 2008, Bedard underwent arthroscopic exploratory surgery. Dr. Lewis Yocum performed a debriding of the labrum, removing damaged tissue (including a cyst) and foreign material. But Dr. Yocum did not find any tear in the labrum or rotator cuff—very good news. March 11, 2009: Bedard was sidelined for several days with a muscle strain in his buttocks—behind his right hip. June 8-24, 2009: Erik was on the D.L. with shoulder inflammation. July 26, 2009: Bedard again was on the D.L. with inflammation in his pitching shoulder. He was given anti-inflammatory medication.
But on August 14, 2009: Erik underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum. He was to be in a sling for two to three weeks after Dr. Lewis Yocum debrided an inflamed bursa and repaired the labrum during the procedure in Southern California. It will be four to six months before Bedard is able to begin baseball-related activity. March 26-July 5, 2010: Bedard started the season on the D.L. while recovering from the labrum surgery of the previous fall. But he went back on the D.L. following a few games of rehab. August 6, 2010: Erik underwent surgery on his left shoulder. It was his third surgery in three years. This time had had a bone spur removed from the AC joint of his left shoulder. It went well.
Mariners medical director Edward Khalfayan and Dr. Lewis Yocum performed the procedure. He would not be throwing a pitch in 2010, and his future is in doubt. June 29-July 29, 2011: Bedard was on the D.L. with a sprained left knee. April 12, 2014: Willingham was placed on the 15 day DL with a sore left wrist sustained on a hit-by-pitch last Sunday, April 6. The move is retroactive to April 7.
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