Lots to Learn in a Great World Series

I am really enjoying watching this World Series unfold. I am a NL fan, but the Rangers are winning me over with their grit and approach.

We were discussing Quality AB's this fall as our goal of each AB, and one of our players told me that the Rangers have a definition of a Quality AB on their batting cages. You can see the consistent application of a practical mental-game approach that has brought guys like Matt Harrison from obscurity to the starting rotation in the playoffs.

And then we saw last night. The Cards seemed to have broken the Rangers' spirits after a 16-7 rout for the ages when Albert Pujols and Co. made history and seemed to turn the series in St. Louis's direction.

And then the Rangers put their fate in the hands of Derek Holland, a promising young lefty who had struggled through the playoffs with an ERA above 8 ... yes, 8 ... the next night. All Holland did was shut out the Cardinals for 8-2/3 while only giving up two hits to Lance Berkman. The series is now even, 2-2.

Here's a great recap of Holland's and Ron Washington's thinking that set the stage for last night's special WS moment:

http://espn.go.com/mlb/playoffs/2011/story/_/id/7141337/2011-world-series-derek-holland-star-performance-evens-series

So, the night after the Cards looked like they were incapable of being stopped ... a young lefty who had struggled through the post-season shut them down (and nearly out) because he stayed in the moment and remained committed to his approach.

If he keeps doing this, we'll come to expect it of him, too.