SAN FRANCISCO — For much of his first season in orange and black, Derek Holland was known for what he was doing off the field. His use of an Alhambra water jug became a staple in the early walk-off celebrations and his outings were usually punctuated by an odd postgame t-shirt.
There was a downside to all that, too. Holland got in hot water for a racially insensitive skit in August and apologized multiple times.
All of that distracted a bit from what Holland was actually doing on the mound. He was one of the most consistent starters in the National League, resurrecting his career while working with Curt Young, Matt Herges, Buster Posey and Nick Hundley.