MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- Yes, Twitter is the ultimate forum for overreaction.
That is why you can't take too seriously the fan concern over Royals closer Greg Holland.
Holland hasn't exactly been struggling. He has 11 straight saves since his last blown one, which came in a game the Royals won 2-1 anyway.
But because Holland sets such high standards, there has been worry that he is hurt or fatigued. He has wobbled slightly lately, giving up two runs in his past six appearances. And he has wiggled out of jams, having walked hitters in four straight appearances.
Such is the life of a closer: Even when you're successful, sometimes it's not enough for fans -- especially if you happen to create a few stressful situations in the process.
Holland, who has 37 saves on the season, insists that physically he is OK.
"My arm feels fine," he said. "Everyone gets to a certain level of fatigue at this point of the season. That happens because of the everyday grind of a baseball season.
"I just haven't been as sharp as I've wanted to the last few outings. Fortunately, it's still translated into wins. I'm pretty confident that when I get back to where I want to be, we'll be winning those games (too)."
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Manager Ned Yost has said several times in the past two days that he thinks he's overusing Holland and that he might try to work someone else in for a save just to give Holland some rest.
Holland's response?
"I'm getting paid to do the job," he said. "I have no problem with someone else going in there in the ninth. But like I always tell (Yost) when he tells me I'm having a day off, 'Hey, I'll be ready when the phone rings.'
"I don't ever want to be in a position where I'm not prepared to do the job. I know we got six or seven other guys, however, who can do the job, too."
No one should panic, Holland said, about his recent outings. And he's not about to change his approach or mechanics.
"You just go through lulls where you're not sharp," he said. "I really try not to nitpick. If you do, that can turn into a two-week process of (adjusting). You have a few key things (mechanically) you remind yourself, but that's it."
Rest, he said, isn't necessarily the answer.
"We really don't have time for that," Holland said. "Not now."
You can follow Jeffrey Flanagan on Twitter at @jflanagankc or email him at jeffreyflanagan6@gmail.com.
