Who’s on first for the Red Sox?

Jul 31, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox second baseman Brock Holt (26) bats during the eighth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

Brock Holt plays just about anywhere and first base is certainly a possibility once Dustin Pedroia returns from the disabled list.

Holt has played 119.1 innings at first base for the Red Sox. His fielding with such a short sample can best be described as average. He will make the plays and knowing Holt you should not get any mental mistakes, so the glove would not be a deal breaker.

Holt is a reasonably gifted hitter who is willing to chip in with those pesky intangibles such as moving a runner over and giving a tough at bat. Holt, a left-handed hitter, is also one who has hit .277 in his career against left-handed pitching – slightly better than he hits right-handers. A number that does stand out is six and that represents career home runs from a position that is normally reserved for those with clout.

Holt is now sinking and that may be symptomatic of a player who simply gets burned out as the season progresses. In 2014, Holt hit .219 in the second half and in 2015 history appears to be repeating itself as Holt recently ended a 0-16 stretch.

Examining the power issue and the wear issue the Red Sox just may be better off keeping Holt’s versatility job description in place.

Jul 7, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox third baseman Travis Shaw (47) hits a single during the fourth inning against the Miami Marlins at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

A great start does not necessarily mean a great career as demonstrated a few seasons back by Jackie Bradley, and Travis Shaw has certainly had a great start.

The 25-year-old combination third baseman and first baseman has a very smooth left-handed swing. In Pawtucket Shaw may have found himself with a .318 June that saw the third slot in the order become his home.

First baseman have a tendency to be tall and Shaw, at 6′ 4″, certainly provides that target. Scouting reports list an above average arm and a capable, but not spectacular. Shaw can play first, so the defensive part of the equation is firmly in place, but you gotta hit.

Between Portland and Pawtucket in 2014 Shaw hit 21 home runs and had 78 RBI and managed 57 walks and 99 strikeouts between the two teams. For Shaw’s five-year minor league career he has hit .261 with some good, but not spectacular power numbers.

Will Shaw be one of those rare exception s that hit better in MLB than the minors? Right now he has the opportunity.

May 5, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox left fielder Allen Craig (5) at bat during the fourth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

What do you do with an onerous contract and poor performance? You send the offender – in this case Allen Craig – to the minors. The Red Sox slash line is .130/.235/.192 with two home runs and four RBI and placed of waivers, no one wanted that contract.

Examining the fielding metrics show a player whose defense is average with no exceptional positives or negatives. Craig has also played no games at first base at Pawtucket this season where his main duty has been right field.

Pawtucket numbers give one an idea of why no one has chanced picking up Craig’s contract. A slash of .272/.377/.340 and a mere three home runs and 19 RBI in 302 plate appearances do not instill a return to Craig’s past glories.

With his contract expect Craig to be at spring training with a first baseman’s mitt and a hope at resurrecting an All-Star career.

Aug 7, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz (34) hits a two run home run in the third inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

You play 2129 innings at first base with some reasonable defense that will get attention as a possible option and that player is David Ortiz.

Can Papi grind out another 30+ home run season? Appears Ortiz may do just that. At this point Ortiz is leading the power outage Red Sox in that capacity with 22. And first is traditionally a place for power guys with limited defensive skills and Ortiz is far from another Dick Stuart.

The Ortiz I have seen has some good instincts – just don’t expect any great range – but do expect the ability to pick up errant tosses and to make smart decisions. To me Ortiz is a fairly decent defender.

You would not expect Ortiz to be on first on a daily basis and I suspect it would be duty that would be in the five games a week range if the notoriously temperamental Ortiz was amicable to the move. Such a move would also free-up the DH slot on those very five days. That segues into the next option.

Jul 30, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox left fielder Hanley Ramirez (L), right fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. (C), and right fielder Rusney Castillo (38) celebrate after defeating the Chicago White Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports

What do you do to hide Hanley Ramirez defensively?

The only guarantee is to place Ramirez at DH and let his right-handed bat do what it does best – power with runs batted in.

The experiment of Ramirez to left has not worked out as planned. Howard Hughes had more success with the Spruce Goose. I took a glance at the fielding metrics and there are several adjectives floating around that I will ignore.

Ramirez has never played first base. Now what kind of adventure would that be? I would speculate the disaster just would not happen – no baseball Y2K. Ramirez has devoted his baseball existence to the infield until 2015 and the switch would certainly be less traumatic for all than what has happened in left.

Any switch of Hanley would improve the outfield and if it was done in combination with Ortiz and Ramirez doing duty at both first and DH the pain may be certainly less than when a ball is hit into left.

Aug 7, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Boston Red Sox third baseman Pablo Sandoval (48) gets set to bat in the first inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Pablo Sandoval has played first base at various times in his career with a reasonable defensive return. No Gold Glove appears to be hiding away in-case such a switch is made, but what has developed at third this season has given new meaning to the word “disappointment.”

The bat has not performed as expected and eventually Sandoval deep-sixed batting right-handed. Line drives have not been tattooing the famed Green Monster and to make a very bad situation virtually intolerable – especially for pitchers – the defense at third has been porous.

A switch first is a potential problem solver for the defense at the other corner, but that also opens up what to do at third?

Chances are the Red Sox will remain with Sandoval at third base with the hope that somehow the portly Panda gets into reasonable shape.

Aug 8, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Texas Rangers left fielder Ryan Strausborger (center) is congratulated by teammate first baseman Mike Napoli (25) as third baseman Adrian Beltre (29) waits on deck after Strausborger scored a run in the fourth inning against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports

Why not?

A second time around may have a return similar to 2013 when medical issues forced a revision in contract and resulted in an incentive loaded deal. Do it again, since the raining free agent maket appears rather thin with any notables having options that will undoubtedly be exercised.

There will be limited takers for Napoli based on his age and the returns registered in 2015, so the path will be clear to make an offer and have a (hopefully) triumphal return to Boston.

Napoli knows the city and actually loves Boston and the energy of the fans and the pleasures of playing at Fenway. The defense is very good and occasional excellent and Nap is about a solid a teammate as you will find. Now how about Jonny Gomes as a reserve outfielder?

Sources: Baseball-reference
Sox Prospects

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