Free agent reliever Darren Oliver considering pitching in 2012
Things can get tricky for any baseball player who is nearing the age of 40. However free agent reliever, Darren Oliver is 41-years old and he is contemplating another season on the mound. Though he is still thinking about the prospect of going into a deal
with a club for the upcoming season, he wants to end his career on a high note. After losing to the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2011 World Series, Oliver is heavily leaning on a return. He talked to the press on Tuesday, November 1.
"After what happened this year, that leaves a bad taste in my mouth," Oliver said. "I don't think I want it to end like that."
With the Texas Rangers in 2011, Oliver was 5 – 5 this year, pitching in 61 games. Though his role as a closer played out weakly earlier on in the year, he managed to gain two saves from six opportunities. His earning runs average for the club was 2.29 from
51 innings. In the postseason however, he was costly. He gave up 4 runs in 6 1/3 innings. He ended his season with an earning runs average of 5.68 in the playoffs.
The veteran has played for the club for 10 of his 18 years. There is reason to believe he wants to sign back with the team and retire on a high note.
"I don't see why not," Oliver said. "Why wouldn't I? I'm going to leave the door open."
The only question now is: Will the Rangers sign him on for another year, given his age?
For Oliver, the loss to the Cards in the World Series plays on, over and over again but he says it is the same case for all the players in the team.
"There are so many scenarios that go through your mind about what could have happened," Oliver said. "The bottom line is we lost. We got beat. The scenarios give you a headache when you try to think about it. It stings. It's going to sting for a while for
a lot of guys, not just myself. That was a tough one to take."
If the Rangers sign Oliver back, they could work out some of the issues they have in the bullpen at the moment. Oliver would anchor a standard of performance with experience.
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