UVV is returning to the Dutch Hoofdklasse for the first time since 1988. Among well-known players like Danny Rombley and Jurien van Zijl, the club from Utrecht also has brought in a new head coach. Royce Holder began his baseball career in Texas, where he also worked as a coach before coming to the Netherlands in 2009. In the past two seasons he successfully was at the helm for the Vos Cardinals, leading them into the First Division in Dutch Baseball (one level below the Hoofdklasse). Mister-Baseball did a short Q&A with Royce Holder.
Mister-Baseball: Did you always wannabe a coach and how did you end up in the Netherlands? What stood out for you during your first two years with the Vos Cardinals?
Royce Holder: After I was done playing full time, I wanted to stay in the game. So I started being a player/coach. I was coaching in professional ball here in the States and the team I was going to be with, changed the General Manger right before the season and I did not have a job when he brought in a new staff. A friend of mine from college is a sports agent and put my resume on a few websites in Europe. I was contacted by a few teams and I came to the Cardinals. I did not know the different levels that you have here. I thought all 1st teams played together.
So when I came to the Netherlands, it was a learning time of how your baseball system works, but I worked the Cardinals hard and they won back to back Championships with the 1st team and also with the junior team. My two year record was 36-5 with 1st team and 37-1 with juniors. Not having the knowledge of the little things were what stood out with the Dutch baseball. Here in the States we have umpire associations, so all teams have two umpires at their games. No club umpires. So you have umpires that know the rules.
MRBB: You now have joined the promoted UVV, which are returning to the Hoofdklasse for the first time since 1988. What did you know about the club before and what are your expectations for the 2011 season?
RH: UVV was in our league this year (their 2nd team) and I also did a clinic at their field for European Baseball School. I heard UVV is a big club and has a good history in the sport of baseball. For the 2011 season I plan on having a very sound and competitive team. I hate to lose! I expect my team to be the same way. To play hard and win.
MRBB: The team acquired about a dozen players during the transfer period, but only lost two to retirement. What do you think about your roster in comparison to the other clubs in the league and what are you planning to do during training camp to find the 15 to 20 players to go into the new season?
RH: Since I do not know most of the players from the Dutch leagues, I will depend on my coaches to help with this (Cliff Foster and Patt Romney). I will work them out and put together the best team possible with the group of guys that we have. We will train and play hard. Hopefully we will be in the top 4 at the end and play for the Championship. I always shoot for the top.
MRBB: Are you planning to bring in more players during the winter?
RH: Right now we have a nice group of guys but you never know who might become interested in playing at UVV.
MRBB: Did you have a chance to follow the Hoofdklasse in the past two years? What do you think about the league and what are the main differences to your experiences in the US?
RH: I only got a chance to see a couple of games at that level the last 2 years. It is a very good level of baseball. In the States in pro ball you play just about every night and there is a lot of traveling, to where here it is more a weekend sport than a job and business. My last team (Grand Prairie Airhogs) was a new team in the league and had a new stadium, cost 20 million dollars. Out of the 10 teams in the league (American Association of Independent baseball), 1 team was 45 min. away, next was 3 1/2 hours, and after that the other 7 teams were 8 hours (Wichita, Kan.) up to 17 1/2 hours on a bus (St.Paul, Minn.) away. So you had some long bus rides , motel rooms and a lot of fast food places.
MRBB: What do you see as key elements to have success on a baseball field?
RH: You have to have solid pitching and play good defense. My home town Texas Rangers found that out against the SF Giants in the World Series this year. As long as you do that, you will be in a lot of games. I hope we will be able to do just that this year in the top class.
Mister-Baseball thanks Royce Holder for taking the time to answer our questions.