Dear Derek:
Listen, kiddo. Your performance on the mound in Game 4 was spectacular. The Rangers wouldn’t be headed back to St. Louis up 3-2 without your fine work. So I’ll give you the weak mustache. Have some fun. You’ve earned it.
But now I need you to sit up straight in your chair and listen carefully. It’s time to act your age. Specifically, I’m talking about the top of the third inning last night when the Fox guys gave you a headset in the dugout and you got to do an interview with Joe Buck. You’ll recall that the Rangers were losing 2-0 at that point. It was a tense game. A lot was on the line. That is not the time to do your Harry Caray and Arnold Schwarzenegger impressions. Do you understand me?
Yes, yes. This Rangers team is all about playing hard and having fun. Claw, antlers, ducks on a pond, all that. I get it. But there is a time and place for everything. Last night, you embarrassed yourself. Please don’t let it happen again.
61 comments
Lighten up. He’s just being himself – a laid back kid. There was no chance of him being used in the game, so let the guy relax…it was the THIRD INNING.
grandpa rogers getting mad at the talking box again. Got no problem whatsoever with this, and I think it might be a reason the Rangers have done this well. They’re always loose, and don’t let the moment get the best of them, which is usually what separates winners from losers.
Oh, I was so hoping I dreamed that. Painful.
Lay off the kid! Baseball needs more guys like Derek who realize that:
a.) it’s just a game
b.) being uptight doesn’t necessarily boost team morale
and
c.) it’s the top of the 3rd inning, and an early 2-0 deficit in this series means absolutely nothing.
Oh, for Christ’s sake. Tim Rogers, arbiter of propriety. Now I’ve seen it all.
I have no problem with Holland having fun after his lights-out performance. He was being interviewed on national television and the subject came up. He only did the impression after CJ got the outs and only after he was asked to by Joe Buck.
Dear Tim,
Lighten up. Everybody makes some questionable decisions when they are young. Don’t make me pull out some old MET columns or , God forbid, some old air-checks from 93.3 The Merge.
No harm done and his Arnold made me laugh going into the break.
AMEN
You probably should’ve stopped at the first paragraph.
Tim, you have officially crossed into the threshold of middle age (if not late middle age). That interview was genius, and made me like Holland a lot more. He doesn’t come across as a dbag, unlike C.J. Wilson’s pregame piece last night. Pitchers are strange guys Tim. Just let it go.
Try a little more fiber in your diet, Tim.
honestly, i felt the same thing… game should’ve been the focus, not fox fap-off time.
Dear Derek:
Please ignore Tim. He’s either off his meds or taking the wrong ones. He is not speaking for the majority of Texas Ranger fans. Keep on doing what you do and help the team bring the Commissioner’s Trophy home to Texas.
Regards, and GO RANGERS!
Spartacus
I don’t fault Holland, but I’ve had my fill of Buck and McCarver. Even doing an interview like that in the midst of a tight game is another example of the disregard those yahoos have shown for Texas throughout the series. Sunday night drove me crazy – Buck says “the people of Arlington are happy tonight.” No clueless, the people of North Texas are happy. Too bad we’ll have to keep hearing his gas during football games.
Are you really telling someone who gets paid an obscene amount of money to play with sticks and balls to grow up?
Geez get over yourself. The Rangers have stayed loose and had fun all season, that’s one reason they’ve done so well. The fact that people are sitting at home turning coal into diamonds with their rear ends while watching the game really shouldn’t be their concern, people need to lighten up. It’s just sports. Typical DFW over-obsession over our pro teams.
@Tim Rogers…Just wonderin’, but what’s the journalism equivalent of a 8 1/3 inning shutout in a pivotal game in the World Series at the age of 25? Because until you can flop that out on the table, I think the Dutch Oven earned the right to have a little fun w/out you taking a leak all over his name on the Interwebs. I’d love to see your Pulitzer winning piece that you wrote fresh out of college. Heck, I’d take a link to a Caldecott Medal winning work and let it slide…
Go Rangers!
Cringe-worthy. Nolan is rolling over in his grave. Fox set him up too. They stuck with him way too long. It’s not the X Factor. He’s 25 and acts like he’s 17 and they exploited that. Damn media! You just lost a listener.
Good lord, what’s next? “Hey (shaking fist weakly), you kids get off my lawn!”
Wow. Tim is 100% correct. I do not care what Derek does 21 hours a day. But for those 3 hours when millions of Rangers fans are living and dying with every single pitch, just shut up and be cool. No one cares if you can do a terrible impersonation. The only thing we care about is if you can win baseball games.
I loved the Derek Holland entertainment segment on Fox. I saw a 25 year old kid who still enjoys the game, with composure well beyond his age. These guys are the luckiest boys/men in America, playing baseball in the world series. Derek seems to realize that. Contrast his youthful exuberance to the constant scowls of some of the older players. Watch La Russa versus Wash. What I wouldn’t do to see Michael Young smile. Baseball is supposed to be fun. You go, Derek!
My boyfriend and I had this same debate last night – I loved the interview and absolutely appreciated him taking the time to say “listen guys, I focus when I need to”…My bf tried to pull a Romo comparison (what if that had been him on the sidelines during the Superbowl) – not even close to the same thing, he wasn’t playing, he was watching the game, cheering his team on and giving the announcers what they were asking for.
This has been said elsewhere, but it bears repeating. The media in general bemoans supposed “boring” athletes, like Tim Duncan or Pete Sampras or Troy Aikman or Michael Young for never saying anything interesting. Hell, the Fake Troy Aikman is premised on that very aspect.
The Rangers have two guys, in Holland and CJ Wilson, who seem genuinely funny, thoughtful and interested in talking about other things outside of baseball. They’re quote machines for the folks that have newspaper space to fill. They interact with their fans regularly on social media. And for that, they get jumped on for not being focused enough or embarassing or whatever.
I mean, one can think that professional athletes should exist in some kind of vacuum and should think about and do nothing but their craft 24/7/365…just never complain again about how pro athletes are boring and give bad quotes.
Is anyone going to stand up for Tim?
Me neither.
At least they weren’t interviewing Elvis. Couldn’t have dealt with that. Pretty sure Joe Buck wonders why Chuck Morgan keeps mispronouncing “Andrus”.
@Dallas Blog: I didn’t suggest that Holland be “uptight.” I suggested that he not do a comedy routine during Game 5 of the World Series, when his team is down 2-0 in the third inning.
@Duane: Just so I understand: because I haven’t won a Pulitzer, I can’t comment on a dugout comedy routine during a baseball game? Is that it?
@Chris Chris: What do my past transgressions have to do with Holland’s behavior last night (and Buck’s decision to indulge him)?
@topher: Precisely. At that point in the game, I wanted to watch the game, not watch Holland do impressions in the dugout.
I’m willing to bet that the people that loved his embarrassing bit last night also love the wave.
@ZachB: Well put, sir.
What did I learn from Holland’s performance? It’s just a game. Lighten up. I like this Holland guy. Tim is older than Schutze.
Funny how everyone seems to gloss over the part of the interview where he says how hard he works/has worked to get to the point that he could deliver a performance like the other night. And, for eff’s sake, he was 16-5 in 32 starts this year, with 4 CG shutouts and en ERA under 4, while playing in a “hitter’s” park. In fact, he’s #’s this year were on par with King Felix, last year’s CY winner.
To paraphrase Crash Davis, “If you win in the show, you can do impressions and play video games and tweet and the press’ll think you’re colorful. Until you win in the show, however, it means you are an immature kid.”
@Tim Really? Let Derek be Derek. He’s earned it. He’s being a kid. And as long as he continues to perform like Game3, why should you have an issue with it? Lighten up.
Always good when Tim Rogers tells someone to grow up. Especially when he uses his D Mag blog to talk shit to people who make him angrypants.
Shouldn’t you beef be with Fox and/or Joe Buck and whatever technical director was at the helm?
For the first time in my life, I think I actually agree with you Tim.
Had the interview and impressions taken place between innings and aired before play resumed following a commercial break – or maybe even during a game that we had the lead in – I would’ve enjoyed it. During a tense moment in a tight game, though, it was distracting and rubbed me the wrong way, too. But I say the blame lies with Buck and McCarver for putting him on the spot.
Dear rest of the team, please stop egging on Derek as you were during his interview because apparently old people aren’t ok with everybody having fun, they think that you have to sit there stone faced and unhappy at the fact that your playing in the World Series, something that might not ever happen again, so please DON’T enjoy it.
You need to understand that Derek is not a serious person. Very similar to how this article is not a serious piece of journalism. I’m glad he doesn’t care about your perception of him. I wish more people felt the same way.
Maybe “living and dying with every pitch” is just freakin’ dumb. Nobody wants to win more than Holland and everyone in that dugout with him, but obviously they have a better sense of perspective than a bunch of emotionally disjointed fans. You’re not playing the game anyway, you’re just watching it. Try to enjoy it rather than sitting with panties in a bunch.
I have no problem if you disagree with the segment Tim..I liked it but understand some might not..I do think you condescending tone really destroyed any point you were trying to make…Your giving your opinion, your not his dad or judge and jury so quit with the smart ass tone of sit straight and listen.
As far as the segment..I liked it because IMO that is the attitude of this team..down 2-0, no problem we are not going to act like it is end of the world.
@Helen Lovejoy – there is no glossing over over of Holland’s actual baseball insight. That’s typically the purpose of those in-game interviews. But you make a good point: That insight was lost in the “interview” as Joe Buck was driven exclusively to make Holland look like a fool.
Reminds me of an old hockey joke – A guy goes to a comedy club and a baseball game breaks out…
I can do impressions.
@JJ: That’s a good point. Buck and the Fox crew deserve a good share of the blame.
Tim…Seriously?? If you wanted to watch the game & not watch Holland do impressions in the dugout then you need to tell Joe Buck not to ask him! I cannot believe you are jumping all over Derek after the game he pitched. I can only hope he doesn’t read your absurd letter! Way to put a negative spin on The Ranger Nation – World Series! GO Rangers!!
25. He’s 25. He’s acting his age.
You sound frustrated! His impression was great and you need to learn to laugh a little.
Man, if you live and die with every pitch, you need to wake up and live, people. I recommend LSD: It will make you talk to the Pharaoh. The Pharaoh is a good man.
The men who play baseball are known as the Boys of Summer: This is the station with which their decorum should comport. You want to see people getting all tense and grim-lipped while they make their millions, men hollow-cheek’d and sallow at 25, go watch a bunch of bond traders doing their thing. Have a hot dog and a beer for me.
Cute little interview, but at a completely inappropriate time in the game. To not show the ball during a critical inning of play, shame on you Fox! Unbelievable.
@Helen: nice. +1
You’re welcome, Derek.
I thought it was funny…but it did go on too long.
What Holland did last night showed me what I’ve seen throughout the playoffs – that the Rangers love to have fun, play ball and are genuinely passionate about the game. They love playing for their manager (who is equally as passionate and fun). Besides the obvious of pitching, fielding and hitting – those kids are showing what makes a World Series team.
What makes it fun is that you can see they are loving every moment of this. For the Cards, it just doesn’t look as fun to them and maybe too businesslike.
Yes, they were bad impersonations. But they made me giggle and root for the team even more (I’m a White Sox fan who has grown to like the Rangers).
Baseball is supposed to be a little silly Tim. Are you going to judge every team for their “kangaroo court”, crazy mound talks or jokesters?
When coming to the end of this montage of old “manisms”, I caught myself just before the last sentence realizing that this author was stealing my precious time, but it was too late…I had already read too much idiocy. I glanced to the top to be sure my freaking dad, or freaking grandpa had written this dribble…nope, it was Tim “fancy pants” Rogers.
Tim, I’ll assume that this is a filler article based on the pointless nature of your writing, in this era of moronic egotistical athletes you choose this instance to write about the character of an athlete. Really? It’s disturbing that I even have to explain this to you…how can this not be obvious? Was he pitching? Was there even a chance that he’ll pitch, or play anywhere? Did Buck not ask him to do this? Will you write an open letter to Joe Buck and old man Tim? Wait, did they not ask him twice???
Tim, wake up! Now I need you to sit up straight in your chair, wipe the old man drool from your old mouth and listen carefully. It’s time to act your age (although it’s quite likely you are). Specifically, I’m talking about the poor prose you wrote last night after you heard the Fox guys give an interview to Derek Holland, “The Dutch Oven” (or is it Clutch Oven as coined by Ben & Skin). You’re right, you haven’t won a Pulitzer – Holland is doing his job…saving the Rangers, clutch pitching performance, etc — and you continue to scribble out lame articles in Crayola Crown. This morning, you embarrassed yourself. Please don’t let it happen again.
With all due respect, Mr. Rogers, is this really the best you could come up with after such a pivotal, exciting game? You couldn’t blog about Wash’s brilliant managerial strategy or Napoli’s game saving hitting?!
If you really need a place to lay your trite condescension, then place it where it belongs -on Joe Buck, for putting the poor kid on the spot and egging him on. All Derek was doing was being himself and enjoying the moment – think he’s more than earned it.
So lighten up, remember what it’s like to be young and living a dream, and enjoy the ride – courtesy of Derek and the boys.
In case you haven’t figured it out, we regret having to show baseball games. Especially the Rangers. But it does give us a chance to run repetitive promo graphics and remind you we have the NFL. We have Pee-wee Herman as our field reporter! Talk about not caring. Regarding the Holland nonsense, actually I just wanted to keep Tim off the air as long as possible. Sorry for not showing the game, but I’m Joe Buck and I can do whatever I want. Bring back the Fox robot.
Daniel, please send Tim your resume, you will fit right in at Dee.
Tim, couldn’t agree more. I really like Holland and he’s got the best stuff on the staff. And as he did in game 4, he has shown some serious flashes that he could be a certified ace. But more often than not, his concentration and lack of maturity have shown themselves… either while out on the mound or off the field. We’ve seen Wash have to pull him aside many times in the past couple years, I just wish he would’ve last night. I’m wondering if Michael Young was aware of this episode last night. It can’t be something he’d approve of.
If he had gotten shelled the night before, I might have had a problem with it. Instead, he absolutely dominated and is just one great example of the attitude of this team! Fun loving, don’t take themselves too seriously and still win games!! The real travesty of this whole series is McCarver. Fox had GOLD with Terry Francona and it’s time to show Timmy the door.
Damn, Tim, I’m now envisioning you in a maroon v-neck sweater with a clip-on tie and a pair of garbardine tan pants. Ozzie Nelson syndrome should not have kicked in yet, particularly with the self-appointed King of Snark. In the name of Dizzy Dean, the kid really didn’t sully he game or do anything wrong. Egged on by Buck in particular, he played along while also emphasizing several times that he’s totally serious between the lines and in his preparations for games he pitches. It’s now time for you to assemble a shaving cream pie and self-administer it to your mug. It’ll help to remove the egg on your face.
Oh but we kid His Timness.
Score before the Holland interview: 0-2. Score after: 4-2. Tim Rogers apparently prefers that the Rangers “act [their] age” and lose rather than have fun and win.
Ed freakin’ Bark for the win.
Love Uncle Barky even more now for showing Tim how it is.
It went on too long, and the most egregious thing is that they asked him to do his Harry Caray, and not his Ron Washington, which is superior.
But TBH, I’d take Derek Holland doing impressions for 9 innings over Joe Buck and Tim McCarver pretty much any day. I may be overstating this, but if Joe Buck was on fire and I had a glass of water, I’d have to take a few sips before I decided whether to throw it on him.
Hey yo Tim. Lighten up a little. I get it you think that the World Series is way more important than some comedy routine. That’s your opinion, don’t shove it in everyone’s faces as if you have the ONLY valid opinion on the site and anyone who disagrees is below you. Why can’t comedy be used in a tense situation? Why? Because they get payed millions of dollars to play a game you love? I enjoyed his antics. Because it showed me he isn’t a CJ Wilson douche “ace” he is a down to earth guy. He’s 25 not 45. Learn to enjoy the small things in life, and not bicker over perception. Leave the guy alone. Besides you type words on an online website of so-called experts. He’s the one pitching every fifth day making millions of dollars and pitching in the WS. He’s doing something right.
Blame Fox and MLB for insisting on these inappropriately timed ‘human interest puff pieces.’ As for going after the Dutch Oven, get off your high horse folks! When the boss (MLB) says you have to do an in-game interview on your night off from pitching, the night after pitching 8+ innings of awesome, you do what is asked of you. If he had refused, I think these same naysayers would be calling him a prima-donna right now.
I was at the game and I’m sorry the folks at home missed a compelling pitching battle. I can’t stand televised baseball, but at the same time, home viewers can pause, rewind, and fast forward. We in the stands had to wonder why LaRussa brought in Lynn for an intentional walk, but the folks at home had better insight on the communications failure than we did. If the fans in the temple knew crowd noise contributed to the breakdown, we would’ve really pumped it up!
FYI: Tim boycotts going to games because he considers the Dot Race to be juvenile and distracting.