Here’s Hunter Strickland explaining how he’s open to any form of help. Says he’ll attend a class or talk to anyone he needs to deal with anger management. pic.twitter.com/jgfu1ZXujV
— Kerry Crowley (@KO_Crowley) June 21, 2018
Hunter Strickland already apologized on Instagram to his teammates and fans for putting himself on the shelf Monday night, when he broke his hand punching a door in the clubhouse after blowing a save, knocking him out for six-to-eight weeks.
On Thursday he addressed reporters for the first time since the news broke, and took full responsibility for his actions.
“Obviously, this is on me,” Strickland said. “And if I could go back and take it back, I would, 100 percent. This is something I will always regret. But I don’t have time to sit here and feel sorry for myself, because I’m the one that created this problem.”
Strickland also mentioned that while he believes his anger issues are an on the field problem, he is not opposed to seeking help to get them solved.
“This is obviously something that I’m struggling with,” Strickland said. “I don’t think I have necessarily an anger problem all the time. I truly feel that my emotions get the best of me sometimes because I care what I’m doing.
“I’ll talk to whoever I need to talk to…whatever I need to do to just improve and get better.”
Strickland was on his way to having a career year in 2018, entering Monday’s game with a 2.01 ERA before blowing a two-run lead, and then his next two months of his season.
“I go out there and do my best,” Strickland said. “But when I don’t, it hurts. It’s tough, it’s a tough pill to swallow. But at the end of the day, whether it’s a good or bad outing, I can’t react this way.”