Brock Holt: Underrated?

[Dojji]

I didn't realize until recently quite what we had in this guy. I was appreciative of the super sub capabilities, and the good-for-a-bench-player bat but I hadn't realized quite the level of athleticism. I had him pegged for warm-body level defense that wouldn't hold up in the most difficult positions but was good enough for replacement level. Instead he's been able to play at a high level at center and put on a clinic last night at shortstop which I didn't realize he could do. He's not exactly Ben Zobrist but he's one of those golden supersubs that's pretty good at everything, the kind everyone desperately wants to stretch out a short bench or start in a pinch.

 

Have we been underestimating this guy as a group or am I alone in being this slow to join the party?

[kapsis21]

BROCK HOLT. cool name. and i love what he does day in and day out. Zobrist had more power but he still wasnt there many games mentally i felt. Holt is the opposite and he has a great mentality.

[Bellhorn04]

One more reason I like WAR so much now - I look at Baseball-Reference and Holt had a 2.1 WAR last year in 106 games. He's definitely a valuable guy when you factor in his low cost. I like the fact that the Sox kept both him and Nava around. We have the makings of an outstanding bench.

[User Name]

Having a guy who can play multiple positions adequately is great. Having a guy who can play multiple positions and hit worth his weight is golden. I just don't think he's a regular. Keep him as a super-sub getting a lot of AB's in the best possible position for him to succeed.

[Spudboy]

I liked what I saw in a very small sample size in 2013 when he came up and played a few games at 3rd. I did not know much about him at that point.

 

Now, I see a player that could probably start at 2nd for many teams. The guy just knows how to flat out hit. He always seems to have good at bats.

 

His ability to adapt to seven positions has been very valuable. He plays with great energy.

 

This team is very fortunate to have him. I hope they don't trade him away in a deal for pitching. He's too valuable.

 

And I certainly agree, this team has a strong bench.

 

My question is how does Farrell find a way to get Craig in the lineup more often?

[User Name]

I liked what I saw in a very small sample size in 2013 when he came up and played a few games at 3rd. I did not know much about him at that point.

 

Now, I see a player that could probably start at 2nd for many teams. The guy just knows how to flat out hit. He always seems to have good at bats.

 

His ability to adapt to seven positions has been very valuable. He plays with great energy.

 

This team is very fortunate to have him. I hope they don't trade him away in a deal for pitching. He's too valuable.

 

And I certainly agree, this team has a strong bench.

 

My question is how does Farrell find a way to get Craig in the lineup more often?

 

Excellent question. He just looks so much better than last year. If that guy is truly healthy and can harness some of the production he had pre-foot injury, he'd be a super-valuable player to this team, either as part of it, or as trade bait.

[GomesBeard]

One more reason I like WAR so much now - I look at Baseball-Reference and Holt had a 2.1 WAR last year in 106 games. He's definitely a valuable guy when you factor in his low cost. I like the fact that the Sox kept both him and Nava around. We have the makings of an outstanding bench.

 

I think that's the key for both of these guys - they are great off the bench.

[Dojji]

It's really important to the success of a team to have guys like that so you're not afraid to rest your regulars in the middle of a stretch run. Overloading your horses just trying to make the postseason puts you in a very bad position once you actually get there.

[Thunder]

I've loved Holt from the start. He plays with the intensity that I like to think I play with. I think he's neither underrated nor overrated.

[Kimmi]

I think depth, on the whole, is underrated. It's often not the all star starters that make the difference, but rather the bench guys that can fill in when needed without having the team miss a beat. In 2013, the bench was huge for the Sox. I've stated many times how much I like the depth on this year's team. IMO, Holt, Nava, and Craig could all be starters on other teams.

[Kimmi]

Excellent question. He just looks so much better than last year. If that guy is truly healthy and can harness some of the production he had pre-foot injury, he'd be a super-valuable player to this team, either as part of it, or as trade bait.

 

Agreed. I think he could be really good if he could get some consisten at bats.

[Dojji]

Personally I think Craig is superfluous if I'm telling the truth. We've already got Napoli and Nava at first base, and Holt and Nava between them have every position but catcher covered. What we really need to be doing with that last bench spot is either addressing a potential defensive need or bringing in an heir apparent at some position or another. For example, replacing Craig with Castillo to let him try to steal right field from Vic, or replacing Craig with JBJ or Marrero to upgrade the defense. A COF/CIF who won't get enough at bats to keep his bat going isn't going to help the team as much as a LIDR or a guy who can compete with a struggling starting player

 

Whatever you want to do with that 25th spot, I don't honestly think the solution is Allen Craig.

 

At this point I'd seriously consider sending a message to Mr. Victorino by starting a Nava-Brock or Nava-Craig platoon in RF for the rest of the week, see if that helps him to focus on doing what it takes to avoid losing his job. Sort of rub his face in you're-replaceable and see if we can improve the old work ethic. Because right now I'd be very hard pressed to tell you we had a starting right fielder and Brock is a very good bet to outperform Vic in RF for the moment.

Edited April 23, 2015 by Dojji

[mvp 78]

Holt is great, but completely overrated by this fanbase.

[User Name]

Holt is great, but completely overrated by this fanbase.

 

Right on the money.

[Bellhorn04]

Holt is great, but completely overrated by this fanbase.

 

Including yourself, obviously.

[cp176]

Personally I think Craig is superfluous if I'm telling the truth. We've already got Napoli and Nava at first base, and Holt and Nava between them have every position but catcher covered. What we really need to be doing with that last bench spot is either addressing a potential defensive need or bringing in an heir apparent at some position or another. For example, replacing Craig with Castillo to let him try to steal right field from Vic, or replacing Craig with JBJ or Marrero to upgrade the defense. A COF/CIF who won't get enough at bats to keep his bat going isn't going to help the team as much as a LIDR or a guy who can compete with a struggling starting player

 

Whatever you want to do with that 25th spot, I don't honestly think the solution is Allen Craig.

 

At this point I'd seriously consider sending a message to Mr. Victorino by starting a Nava-Brock or Nava-Craig platoon in RF for the rest of the week, see if that helps him to focus on doing what it takes to avoid losing his job. Sort of rub his face in you're-replaceable and see if we can improve the old work ethic. Because right now I'd be very hard pressed to tell you we had a starting right fielder and Brock is a very good bet to outperform Vic in RF for the moment.

 

 

Castillo??? Has he started any rehab yet? Don't think he is seeing much game time these days. Brentz or JBJ maybe.

[Spudboy]

Castillo??? Has he started any rehab yet? Don't think he is seeing much game time these days. Brentz or JBJ maybe.

 

Castillo is hitting off a tee. So yes, he is rehabbing.

[seabeachfred]

Disagree totally. Holt is a solid player who is underrated badly by a lot of people on this board who have blinders on. He can't play regularly, I keep hearing, but if that is so then we have many who can't either if we go by what they're hitting for the young season and what they've been hitting lately. Take a good look at those averages. Did anyone think Middlebrooks would be out gunning the Fat Panda at this point? Papi is hitting 205, Victorino somewhere in the 160's, Bogey has hit the skids of late, Pedey is trying to pull every f***ing pitch that comes his way, Ramirez blows hot and cold and Napoli may finally be making a move to help the team, I said maybe. I have NEVER underrated Holt. I was among his biggest fans last year and if given a full chance could be a solid all around player for us. Yes, that is my opinion. He has what scouts and coaches called intangibles that may not show up on some God damn spread sheet but it shows up on the field----heart, guts and balls, and when he plays the team does better. Right now we seem to have some real dead weight on the mound, in the field and in the dugout. This is when we must start doing those things that helps put together three and four game winning streaks, though with Buchholz going tonight I don't want to hold my breath. Any of you still bummed out from what happened last night? A good night's rest didn't help.

[Kimmi]

Holt is sporting a .480 BABIP and a 32% line drive rate. Ridiculous.

[cp176]

Castillo is hitting off a tee. So yes, he is rehabbing.

 

batting or golfing?

[jad]

Holt is great, but completely overrated by this fanbase.

 

I don't understand. If he's great, then how can he be over-rated? As for his not being an everyday player, does consistently outhitting all his teammates when he is used everyday count? (or are there those 'intangibles' which prove one simply MUST play the overpaid Victorino's and Gomes's of the world).

[User Name]

I don't understand. If he's great, then how can he be over-rated? As for his not being an everyday player, does consistently outhitting all his teammates when he is used everyday count? (or are there those 'intangibles' which prove one simply MUST play the overpaid Victorino's and Gomes's of the world).

 

You can be great and overrated at the same time.

 

He's great, because he's a really good bench player who can play multiple positions, but overrated because a bunch of members of this fanbase think he's starter material, when he really isn't. He's the kind of guy who'll thrive if put in the position to succeed, but will tumble down to earth if overexposed, as his career arc shows.

[BOSOX11]

The more I see him, the more I like him.

[mvp 78]

You can be great and overrated at the same time.

 

He's great, because he's a really good bench player who can play multiple positions, but overrated because a bunch of members of this fanbase think he's starter material, when he really isn't. He's the kind of guy who'll thrive if put in the position to succeed, but will tumble down to earth if overexposed, as his career arc shows.

Yup, that's what I was thinking. He is a good player for sure, but I'd rather have Xander, Pedroia and Panda start instead.

[Dojji]

Yeah no one wants Holt to start over established star level or star potential players. It's more a question of in a vacuum, say one of those guys goes down, do you trust Holt to be better than replacement level wherever he needs to be and the answer is heck yes.

 

When people are saying he could start at second base they're not saying he's better than Dustin Pedroia, they're saying he's better than, say, Omar Infante.

[jacksonianmarch]

Holt is perfect for what he is. Last yr, he was effective early until they figured him out and he was dreadful the last half of the year. He isn't a guy to give 500ABs to. He's a guy who will have significant effectiveness with say 250-300ABs. Over the course of a full season, he will wear down and he will be beaten by big league pitching. He probably could play better than some regulars out there, but that doesn't say much. I am sure Holt will outhit Gregorius, but it doesn't mean he'd be the better player or SS over the long term.

[Palodios]

The Ben Zobrist-lite comparison seems about right. Zobrist's career line is .264/.354/.429/.783 and I would imagine Holt might come a bit under that, closer to .700-.750 from less power but better hitting. Defense will be a bit inferior as well, but still good at many positions.

[jad]

Yeah, that Brock Holt is just not ready for the majors. That .400 average and that 3 run homer just now--that's just bench player stuff.

[User Name]

Yeah, that Brock Holt is just not ready for the majors. That .400 average and that 3 run homer just now--that's just bench player stuff.

 

Perfect example of how fans overrate Holt. He's a bench player, just a really really really good one. The type of guy a WS champion team always has, and good numbers on a SSS don't change that.

[Northern Star]

Perfect example of how fans overrate Holt. He's a bench player, just a really really really good one. The type of guy a WS champion team always has, and good numbers on a SSS don't change that.

 

No one's disputing he's a bench player. Right now he's red hot. Craig isn't.