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It is no secret that Derek Holland has had a rough go of it since the 2013 season. Derek was 10-9 with a 3.42 ERA in 2013, then the dog incident happened. and Derek missed most of the 2014 season, although when he came back and pitched, he was pretty darn good, going 2-0 with a 1.46 ERA in just 5 starts. We all thought good Derek Holland was back. Then, he got injured in his first start of the 2015 season, and once again he missed most of that campaign, and when he did come back, he was not a sharp as the season before, going 4-3 with a 4.91 ERA in ten starts.
Now fast forward to the 2016 season, where it all seems to be derailing for the young star. If you look at the collective ERA of the five other pitchers who have made starts, without adding in Holland’s stats, the team’s starters have an ERA of 3.17. If you add Holland into the mix, however, the ERA goes up to 3.58. Derek has an ERA of 5.63, the next closest in the rotation is Cesar Ramos, with an ERA of 3.57.
With the return of Yu Darvish being eminent this coming week, I asked a question on our Facebook page who fans thought Yu would replace in the rotation, and the answers were unanimous: Derek Holland. Just a few short years ago he was deemed as the number two starter on this club, now it looks like he is going to be beat out by the likes of Ramos and Martin Perez. I don’t know what has happened to cause the downfall of Holland, but I like him as a person and as a player. I have interviewed Derek several times and enjoyed talking with him, but right now AI have to agree with the fans. He needs to get something worked out to where he can be good again, because right now, he is not.
I don’t know what the plan for him is when Yu Darvish comes back Saturday, but I do know that the smart decision would be to take Derek out of the rotation right now and hope he gets his issues worked out, because, if not, he is just going to be another in a long line of disappointing left handed starters for the Texas Rangers, and I had a lot more hope for Derek than that.