There’s a progression,
if you will, for starting pitchers who go bad.
They get sent to the bullpen, and, if they can’t provide meaningful
relief innings, they get relegated to slop.
After that, it’s time for the unconditional release. Derek Holland has gone through all the stages
over the past month, including his release this week from the White Sox.
In 135 innings, Holland
gave up 156 hits, including an astronomical 31 home runs to go with a 7-14
record, 6.20 ERA and 1.71 WHIP. Even for
a team that doesn’t care about winning now, this was too much.
The difference
between Holland and James Shields (2-6, 5.72 ERA), you ask? It’s elementary, my dear fan, it’s
elementary. Or should I say
contractual. Holland was at the end of
his one-year $6 million deal. A year
from now with the guaranteed portion of his deal done, Shields in all likelihood
will be next Derek Holland, after Mike Pelfrey (3-10, 5.13 ERA), that is.
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