ARLINGTON, Texas - There aren't a lot of players on last-place teams who are hoping that the baseball season could last a little longer.
Derek Holland is one of the rare exceptions.
Holland's tough 2014 season comes to an end Saturday with just six starts at the major-league level. It's not near what he was hoping for after he had microfracture surgery on his left knee in January but at least he knows he did everything he could to get back and try and help the seasons.
And if his sixth start is anything like his first five have been, he'll leave Rangers fans wanting more for 2015 too.
"I got into it like spring training and to get into the swing of things the way I have, you want more," Holland said. "You can't be done with just this month, but at the same time I've got to look forward now to next season and I have to finish strong. I have to prepare myself for 2015."
Holland has to hope that 2015 is a continuation of his pitching in 2014. Holland (2-0) has a 1.31 ERA in his five starts and he hasn't allowed more than two earned runs in any outing. While the numbers are nice, he was hoping to be pitching for the Rangers after the All-Star break and for a playoff contender.
That hasn't happened and while Holland does have nice numbers in a small sample size, it hasn't made a year that started with a mishap with his dog and knee surgery any easier to take.
"It's been like a rollercoaster," Holland said. "It starts with me not being able to play and come out here and watch these guys perform every day and not really feel like you're a part of the team and then to get back with the team and then make an appearance and Wash (Ron Washington) is gone. Just a big battle. The main thing is I've held out pretty strong and I've held up mentally."
Holland's approach to getting back hasn't been lost on the organization. Since he returned to the rotation the Rangers have played some of their best baseball of the season.
Interim manager Tim Bogar doesn't think it's a coincidence.
"It's inspirational to other guys that he worked that hard so when he got back here you've seen the benefit of it, the games that he's pitched," Bogar said. "It's been pretty special and those guys in there just love having him around and that energy has been infused into this team. It's been part of what's happened."
While Holland isn't ready for the season to end, he is ready for more of a regular routine this offseason. He still plans to rehab his left knee but he also plans to take some time off after what he called a "stressful year". But then he'll get back into the swing of things and what he hopes is a full season with a playoff contender in 2015.
He's hoping the team's play over the last two weeks is an indication of what's to come.
"I think doing what we're doing is huge," he said. "The season we've had, even talking to the fans and the people, they've got of forgotten what's happen, look what's happening now. I think they've turned the page and we have already turned the page too."
