Rangers Notebook: Derek Holland Deserves Better
By Jared Sandler | @SandlerJ
105.3 THE FAN -- Derek Holland deserves better.
Maybe that would be tougher to suggest earlier in his career when he appeared to be a free-wheeling kid who needed to mature, but who am I to say that? He and I are approximately the same age.
Now, though? I can say unequivocally: Derek Holland deserves better.
You don't have to pity someone who gets paid millions of dollars to play a sport, but just because someone isn't fighting off poverty or homelessness doesn't mean they don't struggle with their own obstacles or challenges, too.
This was supposed to be Derek Holland's year.
This was supposed to be Derek Holland's year because injury prevented last year from being Derek Holland's year.
But last year served its purpose, seemingly acting as a wake up call to Holland who, through his words and his actions, noticeably grew up before people's eyes.
He worked his ass off just to join the team for the lost 2014's final month because, "If his teammates were losing, he wanted to lose with them." When the quitting narrative developed around the clubhouse, Derek Holland was doing anything but.
Holland then pitched superbly in September, his lone month of action. His performance foreshadowed an outstanding 2015.
The lefty, who can regularly be seen putting smiles on faces around the community, made his presence felt in the off-season, working hard to help better integrate Yu Darvish into the clubhouse. And guess what? All of a sudden Yu Darvish became much more a part of the team's hijinks and fun and much more approachable to the media, too.
It wasn't a coincidence that Holland was bestowed the responsibility of having his Surprise locker sandwiched between Darvish and Prince Fielder, who wasn't truly able to mesh with his teammates due to last year's tumultuous injury battle of his own. But, Fielder is now the life of the clubhouse and a friendly face to come across. Holland definitely helped with that, too.
Quietly, Holland wanted to prove his place in baseball among starting pitchers. And while we all automatically referred to Yu Darvish as the staff ace, even when Yu was still healthy, Holland wanted to challenge that thought with an ace-like season of his own.
When Darvish went down, the Rangers still had Holland. Many within the organization remained quietly optimistic he could carry the load, too.
So was I.
I saw it. At least 18 wins with a ERA that threatened to dip below 3.00 and Top 5 AL Cy Young consideration.
But it won't happen. At least, not to that extent. Holland's out at least two months and, as much as I'd hate to suggest this, maybe more. But not because of a lack of work ethic, but because of a lack of luck.
And what makes this so much worse is how good of a person Derek is. Here's a local athlete who goes out of his way to use his platform to help others with service to the community and ally a sports town for his support of the other local teams.
Holland, who loves Batman and even took the mound to the movie score of The Dark Knight, will rise again just like his favorite movie character did in the series' next chapter.
Quote of the Week
"He told me to man up. He's been a great mentor to me, a guy for me to get knowledge about hitters' minds. And for him to come to me at that moment just reassured me that I had everyone behind."
-- Keone Kela on what Prince Fielder told him during the high-leverage seventh inning in which he successfully preserved a two-run lead.
Stat of the Week
3.60 Pitches/Plate Appearance
Jeff Banister harped on the Rangers working the count and getting the opposition's starting pitcher out of the game as early as possible. So far, the Rangers have not executed that request. There are only two teams who have seen less pitches/at-bat through the first week of the season.
Stock Up/Stock Down
Here's a weekly look at performances of Rangers players
UP -- Carlos "Corpy" Corporan: The team's backup catcher has done a very nice job defensively behind the plate. In the three games he's caught, Rangers pitchers have posted a 2.25 ERA.
DOWN -- Elvis Andrus: The team's starting short stop has gotten off to a rough start. Not only did he commit errors in each of the team's first three games, but he's hitting just .167 and is 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position.
Rangers Xtra Innings Postgame Show Call of the Week
Without question, this goes to Gene from Redonia. Not only did he come up with his own rendition of a name for the manager he wanted the Rangers to hire, but he basically wants to get rid of everyone still with the club.
Elsewhere In Baseball...
41 years ago, Wednesday (April 8th), Hank Aaron hit his 715th HR, breaking Babe Ruth's all-time record. It was a seminal moment in sports history, especially considering America's racial climate at the time. While I wasn't alive for the event, I not only remember Vin Scully's home run call, but, more importantly, his poetic commentary encapsulating the bigger picture of what just happened.
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