Derek Holland grips maturity, summarizes 2011 season
There would have been nothing more special for a pitcher than to pick up his career high win figures in the regular league and then go on to lift the World Series title in the postseason. For Derek Holland, the final stage of the Major League Baseball campaign
will look disdainful for the next few weeks as his team recuperates from the World Series loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. The player spoke about his year in pitching form from the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington on Saturday, October 29.
The Texas Rangers player addressed the press and openly expressed his opinion on how he has been performing this year.
"I definitely matured, that's the big thing," Holland said. "That's what it all comes down to. I feel like I grew stronger as a pitcher and did a good job for the most part, except here and there with some of my starts."
Holland picked up a 16 – 5 standing in the regular season from 32 game starts. This not only was his best season in his career but it made him a regular starter at the club. With a modest strikeout tally of 162, the hurler was an amazing figure in the campaign.
Going into the postseason, Holland went 2 – 0 with an earning runs average of just 3.38 in six games, four of which he started.
His last start impressed a lot of fans in Texas as he pitched 8 1/3 scoreless innings in Game 4 of the World Series. The player returned in Game 6 and Game 7 as a bullpen reliever. His efforts could not prevent the Cards from picking up the title as the
Rangers crashed out of the competition on the last day.
"We all have ups and downs, but I had a rollercoaster season, I feel, and I'm not going to let that affect anything," Holland said. "I worked really hard, continued to battle through the hard times and the good times. I think this was a good season for me.
Got to get ready for next season."
With the season over the offseason coming on, Holland is expected to work on his pitching as he looks to utilize his prowess in the 2012.
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