PAWTUCKET, R.I. -- It took nearly half of the 2012 season, but the Daniel Bard-as-starter experiment is finished.

The right-hander called Boston Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington recently, and both felt it would be best for the club if Bard converted back to being a reliever for the remainder of the season.

"We felt at this point in the season putting Daniel back in the 'pen gives him the best chance to impact our team the most for 2012. He's committed to returning to a role that he's been exceptional in at the big league level," Cherington said.

Bard was optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket on June 7 after posting a 5-6 record with a 5.24 ERA in 10 starts and one relief appearance for the Red Sox this season, his first as a starter. The 26-year-old made one start for Pawtucket, but he's since worked out of the bullpen.

"After going and doing it a couple of times it felt like I belonged," Bard said. "It felt like that was what I was meant to do is pitch late in games. My skill set and my experience is built for that type of role. It's just a feeling, and there's conviction to it. Everyone I've talked to, including how I feel myself, I know I can be a good starter, but I already know I'm a great reliever. Maybe that's what I was meant to do, and I'll try to embrace it from here on out."

During their conversation, Cherington told Bard that the club hasn't totally shut the door on him being a starter, but Bard said he would rather be in the bullpen.

"He tried to make it sound like it wasn't permanent in his mind, if I wanted to still go back to starting next year, they'd be open to it, but I told them for now this is where I want to be, in the bullpen," Bard said.

When Bard returns to Boston, the idea at this point is he'll be used again as the eighth-inning setup man that made him so successful from 2009-11. However, Boston's bullpen has done well this season, and Bard knows that.

The Sox are jam-packed with productive arms, and Boston relievers lead the majors with a combined 1.99 ERA entering Friday night.

"What they tried to communicate to me was they'd try to use me the way they used me in Boston," Bard said. "I'm not sure how I'd fit into that bullpen right now. Obviously, there are a lot of guys throwing well. I think they want to fit me like kind of the other day (with the PawSox), I came in and finished the eighth, got us out of the jam, and then the ninth didn't go as well, but it was a similar situation to maybe what I could see up there."