It's not just the 100-mph readings Bard has been registering since last summer that have the Red Sox and much of the Baseball world giddy about the 23-year-old right-hander. The movement on his fastball, and Bard's command with it, left one longtime scout not prone to gushing to gush during spring training that Bard's fastball was the best he had ever seen.

High praise for high heat is one thing, and as general manager Theo Epstein said yesterday, ``There's been a lot of guys who throw hard'' who get called up to the big leagues and do not stick around. But there is a buzz about Bard that defies the usual hype that turns some call-ups into run-of-the-mill warm bodies.

Bard's numbers for Pawtucket this spring have been sick enough - 16.3 strikeouts per nine innings, second-best in all the minors; 29 strikeouts, five walks in 16 innings - that it was a matter of when, not if, he was going to get the call. At first glance, the timing here seems off, other than Javier Lopez' steep dropoff in performance. The Red Sox' rotation is where the troubles are right now, and Bard does nothing for that, other than become a fresh arm for a tired bullpen.

This stint could be a short one for Bard, who could ride the Pawtucket shuttle all season, or it could turn into a long and glorious one.

More important than the short-term results for Bard is how the Red Sox finesse this call-up as an opportunity to help, not hurt, Bard.

It was no accident that the name ``Cla Meredith'' got brought up in discussions about Bard yesterday.

Meredith was the 22-year-old right-hander the Red Sox promoted from Double A in early May of 2005. Meredith had been shredding minor league hitters when he got the call, and on May 8, he came into a tie game against the Mariners with one runner on, two outs. He walked two batters, then gave up a grand slam to Richie Sexson.

Sure, he made an appearance the following day, and one more four days later but for all intents and purposes his Red Sox career was over - he was traded a year later.

``Good move on my part,'' recalled manager Terry Francona. ``Thought with his funkiness, and teams not seeing him, it could work. It went against everything we believe in, Theo relented, and it was a bad mistake on my part.

``We're not perfect. We make mistakes.''

Bard is nothing like Meredith as a pitcher, this call-up sure does not feel like a mistake, and the Red Sox are nothing if not very self-aware when it comes to learning from theirs.

Bard was cool, calm and collected before the game. Well-prepped for the moment, Bard exuded confidence without cockiness, modesty without it sounding false - the juggling act you want any major leaguer to have down pat.

``I wasn't necessarily expecting (a call-up) this soon because the pitching staff has been doing well and is a pretty full staff - it's a great opportunity,'' said Bard. ``I don't think I'm a finished product or anything, I've still got a lot to learn and this is a good place to do it.''

That's half the battle, anyway. The Red Sox want Bard to learn to not just survive, but to thrive.

Both teacher and student are taking notes.

- msilverman@bostonherald.com