Should Brock Holt Replace Mike Napoli at First Base?

As the Boston Red Sox come home after a 10 game road trip, it’s starting to feel more like the “tell-time” part of the year: the time in which the Baseball World gets to see what each teams strengths and weaknesses are and overall where the teams fall.

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The Red Sox are currently 2 games under .500 and sit in third place in a division that is stuffed to the brim with mediocrity: the AL East. Although there is time for the team to turn things around, there’s one player who has just not been able to find his swing all year: Mike Napoli.

There have been many position players that have been slumping, but none feel more of a detriment to the team than Napoli. He’s the everyday first basemen and is supposed to be a power bat in the middle to bottom part of the lineup.

He’s done O.K. with the fielding aspect. But the hitting?

Atrocious.

All of Napoli’s hitting numbers are down. His batting average is a dismal .162. His OBP (on-base percentage) is .269 and his slugging percentage is a .282. Not to mention his dreadful OPS that sits at .511: one of the worst in the MLB for players who have as many at bats as he does (117). He also only has 3 home runs with 11 RBIs.

This is the everyday first basemen who has created a gaping hole in the struggling Red Sox lineup. If your a pitcher and you see Napoli up next, you must think: “Alright, as long as I don’t throw a meatball over the heart of the plate, I should be good”.

But, Napoli is a team-leader in one category: strikeouts.

May 10, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN;Boston Red Sox Mike Napoli (12) hits a three run homer in the first inning against Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Peter Llewellyn-USA TODAY Sports

He currently has 30 strikeouts and yes, some of the game’s best hitters have always struck out a lot. But unfortunately for Napoli, he is not considered one of the game’s best hitters so therefore, it looks like he’s just generating wind that’ll blow into the Boston Harbor.

It’s May 18th and since Napoli has struggled for the entire season, this may seem about the right time to start benching him, despite the fact that he continuously tells the media that he’s gaining confidence and is getting better and better everyday.

“I’m confident. There’s no panic. I’m here every day working hard, trying to fight through it.”-Mike Napoli

So who replaces him?

The immediate thought goes to two players: Daniel Nava and Allen Craig. Unfortunately, they both currently hold the two worst batting averages on the team. In fact, Craig was so bad that he was sent down to Pawtucket to fix his swing and it seems as though Nava may be right behind him. That could possibly be two straight years in which Nava gets sent down.

So who replaces him?

Well, the big candidate would then be super utility man Brock Holt, who has been arguably the Red Sox’ most consistent hitter throughout the entire year.

Apr 24, 2015; Baltimore, MD, USA; Boston Red Sox shortstop Brock Holt (26) reacts as he crosses the plate after hitting three-run home run during the eighth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Boston Red Sox defeated Baltimore Orioles 7-5. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

He is currently batting an impressive .307 to go along with a .381 OBP and a .821 OPS: all three stats are team highs.

Although your average first basemen is usually big and a power hitter, the right guy for the job, at least temporarily, seems to be Holt.

He doesn’t start, but has given the Red Sox every reason to pencil him into the starting lineup. Also, with a struggling Red Sox lineup, he could be the generator that jump starts the offense, just like he’s done in the past.

He deserves the starting role and this could be where he becomes apart of the Red Sox’ future.

So the real question is this: if Holt were to grab the everyday first basemen role, what would the outcome be and what would happen to Napoli?