Brock Holt

[Palodios]

Deal him now before the rug gets pulled out from under him.

 

I would be extremely surprised if anyone gives up a mid-level prospect for him. No reason to trade him, unless a contender gets extremely desperate for a super-utility guy.

[sk7326]

I would be extremely surprised if anyone gives up a mid-level prospect for him. No reason to trade him, unless a contender gets extremely desperate for a super-utility guy.

 

I expect him to turn into a pumpkin - I expect other teams see that too. But no reason not to ride the wave while he is proving us wrong. With the dumpster fires at 3B/SS and LF, there is work for him.

[seabeachfred]

I expect him to turn into a pumpkin - I expect other teams see that too. But no reason not to ride the wave while he is proving us wrong. With the dumpster fires at 3B/SS and LF, there is work for him.

 

Well I will have to agree to disagree with you and others on that. I said a week or so ago that I thought Brock Holt was the real thing and I have no reason now to change my mind. If Cherington is smart and wants to start reversing some of the stupid things he done since the off-season, he would make sure Holt is keeper. The kid can hit and he has a little power to boot. Find a spot for him and pencil him into one or two in the lineup and we have a solid player for years to come. As much at this sounds blasphemous to many of you, I would rather have Brock up there in a tight situation that Bogaerts right now because Xander continues to show that he cannot hit well at all with RISP.

[sk7326]

Well I will have to agree to disagree with you and others on that. I said a week or so ago that I thought Brock Holt was the real thing and I have no reason now to change my mind. If Cherington is smart and wants to start reversing some of the stupid things he done since the off-season, he would make sure Holt is keeper. The kid can hit and he has a little power to boot. Find a spot for him and pencil him into one or two in the lineup and we have a solid player for years to come. As much at this sounds blasphemous to many of you, I would rather have Brock up there in a tight situation that Bogaerts right now because Xander continues to show that he cannot hit well at all with RISP.

 

.395 BABIP raises tons of suspicion ... though his line drive rate is up, but way outside of his career trajectory. This sort of line screams "regression" - but that's ok. He is performing now, and now is what matters.

[jd98]

.395 BABIP raises tons of suspicion ... though his line drive rate is up, but way outside of his career trajectory. This sort of line screams "regression" - but that's ok. He is performing now, and now is what matters.

 

I'd expect him to regress, but don't see why he'd turn into a pumpkin. He hit over .300 at every level of the minors (I know the new age thinking doesn't like batting average, but I still think it's important. You can't drive a guy home from 2nd with a walk). He could be a .300 hitter, decent amount of walks, mostly doubles power, some speed, and can adequately play every position. That's not too bad.

[Wasatch]

Holt is playing some impressive baseball right now. Hopefully it lasts a long long time. Go RedSox!

[Spudboy]

I have been waiting to see Holt slide down to reality. But it has not happened. Maybe his BABIP is a little inflated now. Just look at his mechanics in the box and you can see that he is a more advanced hitter than many players on the Sox. I'm not sure where he will end up. Maybe not above .300 BA but nowhere near Mendoza either.

 

Time will tell.

[RedSoxNC84]

I have been waiting to see Holt slide down to reality. But it has not happened. Maybe his BABIP is a little inflated now. Just look at his mechanics in the box and you can see that he is a more advanced hitter than many players on the Sox. I'm not sure where he will end up. Maybe not above .300 BA but nowhere near Mendoza either.

 

Time will tell.

 

His babip is hugely inflated right now. He'll come back down to earth soon, but I don't think he'll be a bust, just a bench piece.

[Behindenemylines]

Either Holt or Lester were the first half MVP for the Sox. I think the Sox will use him as a super sub in 2015. He seems to have found it at the plate. Too bad it didn't happen sooner, and maybe the whole Drew signing could have been avoided.

[seabeachfred]

Either Holt or Lester were the first half MVP for the Sox. I think the Sox will use him as a super sub in 2015. He seems to have found it at the plate. Too bad it didn't happen sooner, and maybe the whole Drew signing could have been avoided.

 

Still not too late to make up for that miserable Drew signing by trading or releasing him. I think that Holt could actually play shortstop and he sure as hell can outhit Drew from here to Mars. A super-sub feels like a bad toothache, though, unless he plays somewhere every day. He looks like he is a decent hitter and this year he is a terrific ballplayer. Besides, believe it or not, my grandson Kyle looks a helluva lot like him and even my wife Linda agrees with me on that.

[Behindenemylines]

Holt still looks like he has worked his way into the 2015 plans. A guy who can do what he has done this year is so important over the course of 162 games.

[Spudboy]

Unfortunately Holt has been in a significant slump for about 5-6 games. He has gone from .327 down to about .306 in that time.

 

I hope that it is just a slump and not an indication that he will be another low .200s hitter.

 

His minor league stats seem to indicate that he knows how to hit. And his approach up until recently has been great.

 

We'll see!

[seabeachfred]

When Farrell benched him for one game the slump starter the next game. Farrell seems to have acquired the bad habit of turning to s*** everything he touches this year.

[Spudboy]

When Farrell benched him for one game the slump starter the next game. Farrell seems to have acquired the bad habit of turning to s*** everything he touches this year.

 

This is not accurate. Holt had two offers before the ASG I believe.

[seabeachfred]

This is not accurate. Holt had two offers before the ASG I believe.

 

He also had a few multiple hit games where his batting average reached 327. We haven't seen that since his benching until tonight when he got two hits. Now we need to release Drew, put Bogey back to short and see if he can handle that spot, put Holt or Middlerbrooks at third and if it's the latter, then Holt plays left field. And get rid of Carp. He is only showcasing himself for a DFA because every time he plays he stinks. Gomes could go too. And just for the record, Vazquez is NOT our future catcher, Blake Swihart is b ecause he can hit and has power. WE NEED HITTING--WE NEED HITTING====WE NEED HITTERS!!!!!!!!!!

[Behindenemylines]

If WMB tanks the last couple of months I could see Holt as the every day third basemen and lead off hitter in 2015. The guy plays the game like Pedey, the right way.

[Spudboy]

If WMB tanks the last couple of months I could see Holt as the every day third basemen and lead off hitter in 2015. The guy plays the game like Pedey, the right way.

 

That could happen. Cechini is probably another year off at this point.

[Behindenemylines]

That could happen. Cechini is probably another year off at this point.

 

Cecchini was struggling in AAA this year. Hopefully, he corrects the problems and starts to hit. I liked his swing and he looked like he knew what he was doing in the box. So he will probably start 2015 at AAA. Holt can hit leadoff so that is a plus for him.

[GomesBeard]

How will they know about WMB, though, unless they lay him significant minutes for the rest of the year? If they platoon him that won't answer the question.... Not sure what his contract status is (I'm sure he has a couple of years of arbitration coming up) but they need to make a decision one way or the other this off-season. Either play him and see if he can 1) stay healthy and 2) contribute or dump him and let Holt have the job, even though he doesn't really fit the offensive profile of a 3Bman...

[Palodios]

WMB's numbers intrigue me. Look at this 2014 line against lefties : .320/.370/.440/.810.

 

That's in a year where he was terrible at the plate. Maybe he's just a platoon option, but those numbers are very good. Worst case scenario, he replaces Gomes's platoon ABs off the bench, which was worth 6 million a year, and highly productive.

[BornToRun]

WMB's numbers intrigue me. Look at this 2014 line against lefties : .320/.370/.440/.810.

 

That's in a year where he was terrible at the plate. Maybe he's just a platoon option, but those numbers are very good. Worst case scenario, he replaces Gomes's platoon ABs off the bench, which was worth 6 million a year, and highly productive.

 

Think we can get him some reps in the OF and at 1B? Maybe he could become the right handed Nava with some extra power.

[SoxFanForsyth]

WMB's numbers intrigue me. Look at this 2014 line against lefties : .320/.370/.440/.810.

 

That's in a year where he was terrible at the plate. Maybe he's just a platoon option, but those numbers are very good. Worst case scenario, he replaces Gomes's platoon ABs off the bench, which was worth 6 million a year, and highly productive.

 

Think you'd get more value from him in a trade than you would as a platoon guy. A lot more. RH power is extremely rare right now.

[Palodios]

Think you'd get more value from him in a trade than you would as a platoon guy. A lot more. RH power is extremely rare right now.

 

At best, you're getting back a mid-level prospect for Middlebrooks. Maybe a relief pitcher or mediocre regular.

 

If they platoon him for lefties, he will actually have value for the team, and if he ever figures it out against righties the Red Sox are golden.

[SoxFanForsyth]

At best, you're getting back a mid-level prospect for Middlebrooks. Maybe a relief pitcher or mediocre regular.

 

If they platoon him for lefties, he will actually have value for the team, and if he ever figures it out against righties the Red Sox are golden.

 

Look what Mark Trumbo brought back. Very similar players. Angels got Skaggs, who was the #12 overall prospect pre-2013 (not rookie eligible in 2014). He's a 22 year old who has posted a 4.30 ERA this year, which is very solid for a 22 year old particularly in the AL West this year.

 

His value could also be as side piece in a blockbuster deal, not in a straight up deal. Amaro loves him, he could be the extra piece in a deal for Hamels, just as an example.

 

Marlins love him, too.

I think your estimation is extremely light on his trade value. Extremely light.

Edited August 5, 2014 by SoxFanForsyth

[Palodios]

I think your estimation is extremely light on his trade value. Extremely light.

 

If Ben could have gotten Skags for Middlebrooks, he would have done it. Trumbo is more valuable because he's stuck in the major leagues, stayed healthy, and actually put up the 35 HR numbers in a given year. WMB has shown flashes but it seems like the longer he sticks, the more quickly he gets exposed. His splits are much deeper as well.

[SoxFanForsyth]

If Ben could have gotten Skags for Middlebrooks, he would have done it. Trumbo is more valuable because he's stuck in the major leagues, stayed healthy, and actually put up the 35 HR numbers in a given year. WMB has shown flashes but it seems like the longer he sticks, the more quickly he gets exposed. His splits are much deeper as well.

 

I'm not saying he's going to bring back a top 15 prospect. But it's going to be a hell of a lot better than some middle reliever or meddling prospect.

 

Think about it. The best RH bat on the market right now is Marlon Byrd.

 

Middlebrooks would have excellent trade value at a time when RH power is as rare as it gets.

[a700hitter]

I'm not saying he's going to bring back a top 15 prospect. But it's going to be a hell of a lot better than some middle reliever or meddling prospect.

 

Think about it. The best RH bat on the market right now is Marlon Byrd.

 

Middlebrooks would have excellent trade value at a time when RH power is as rare as it gets.

But Marlon Byrd is giving big league production this season and he did so last year too. Middlebrooks blew up. He will fetch nothing until he shows an ability to stay healthy and produce at some level in the bigs.

[seabeachfred]

How will they know about WMB, though, unless they lay him significant minutes for the rest of the year? If they platoon him that won't answer the question.... Not sure what his contract status is (I'm sure he has a couple of years of arbitration coming up) but they need to make a decision one way or the other this off-season. Either play him and see if he can 1) stay healthy and 2) contribute or dump him and let Holt have the job, even though he doesn't really fit the offensive profile of a 3Bman...

 

You got that right Gomes. Middlebrooks needs to be in that lineup and kept in that lineup to see what he can do for the next two months. It does no good to keep jerking him in and out of the lineup. If he plays steady he may show the power we all know he had, and, besides, Farrell has bored the hell out of his with his stubborn insistence that Bradley plays no matter what.....and what have w e gotten from him. s***!!!!!!! Keep Jackie on the pine; we all have seen enough of him to know he is not going to ever hits well enough in the Big Leagues to hold down a position.....Middlebrooks might....IF he is allowed to keep playing and he can stay healthy for a change.

[SoxFanForsyth]

But Marlon Byrd is giving big league production this season and he did so last year too. Middlebrooks blew up. He will fetch nothing until he shows an ability to stay healthy and produce at some level in the bigs.

 

You also have WMB for 5 years at league min/arbitration.

[Behindenemylines]

You also have WMB for 5 years at league min/arbitration.

 

I'd like to see him stick at 3B, but he can't seem to stay on the field. What good is power if it is never in the lineup. WMB left the game last night and they are calling it day to day. We thought Ellsbury was injury prone, but this guy can't catch a break.