Steve Holm!

by EliminateMe on May 6, 2008 11:10 AM PDT

Over in the Baron's Grizzly thread, hometownboy linked to this Chronicle profile of our backup catcher. As the article mentions, Holm really wasn't on my radar, so it's nice to find out a little about him.

In the few ABs I've seen from him, I've been pleasantly surprised by his approach. He looks pretty comfortable up there and seems to know what he's doing. He's not likely to sustain his .835 OPS over the season, but he has looked like he's prepared to face major league pitching.

Holm was an infielder in college, then converted to catcher in the minors. That helps explain his slow movement through the system. It also means he has some experience playing 3B, 1B, and even a few games at 2B, which is nice flexibility in case of emergency.

Sabean had this to say about him:

Early in spring training, for whatever reason, he seemed really confident. The coaches took notice, the pitching staff liked throwing to him and one thing led to another.

And Bochy weighs in:

He spends a lot of time preparing for the game and following the game plan well. He's more of a cerebral-type catcher. He's not just winging it back there.

Is that an implied contrast to Notgardo and/or GRod?

My favorite quote, though, is Holm's own about the difference between the minors and the majors:

Your pitchers can do a lot more. It makes it a little more fun to call a game because they can accomplish what you want them to do.

That reinforces Bochy's comment above, about Holm having a plan, but I also like the attitude, that he's having fun back there.

Poll

Where do you think Holm's ceiling is?

0 recs | Comment 39 comments

Read Related

Story-email Email | Print |

Comments

My vote...

...I picked the “interim starter” option, though I freely admit that’s based more on wishful thinking than on steely eyed analysis.

Any steely eyed analysts care to offer their perspectives?

P.S.: in keeping with Giangst’s request, here’s the B-R page for Steve Holm.

All-Father Watch: 1.56 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 16 Ks in 17 1/3 IP

by EliminateMe on May 6, 2008 11:44 AM PDT 0 recs

And..

For his minor league stats as well Teh Cube.

He did seem to have good seaons in San Jose in 2004 and 2006, although the latter year was as a 26 year old. He had a nice year in Conneticut as well as a 27 year old.

The Basil Fawlty Moderating Strategy:
"We could run a nice blog here if we didn't have all these members getting in the way."

by WalrusMan on May 6, 2008 12:28 PM PDT up 0 recs

B-R has minor league stats too...

...for instance, here are Steve Holm’s.

All-Father Watch: 1.56 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 16 Ks in 17 1/3 IP

by EliminateMe on May 6, 2008 12:32 PM PDT up 0 recs

I am aware..

But for general stats I still go to The Cube. If I’m looking for something in particular usually it’s to baseball reference.

The Basil Fawlty Moderating Strategy:
"We could run a nice blog here if we didn't have all these members getting in the way."

by WalrusMan on May 6, 2008 9:54 PM PDT up 0 recs

I voted for "Future Hall of Famer"

because someone had to.

I was THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME (for 3 days in 1995).

by Mike Benjamin Hit King on May 6, 2008 11:49 AM PDT 0 recs

Perhaps his bat will replace Benjamin's?

" Their still Shitty" - Major Leagues the movie.
I am a Giants fan. Thus I enjoy my pain. Currently enjoying it more then usual.

by daveinexile on May 6, 2008 12:07 PM PDT up 0 recs

"Stand-in for Bengie Molina...?"

Adopted father of the AnVil / GIANTSPACE™ returns!

by SoFa King Mike on May 6, 2008 2:09 PM PDT up 0 recs

BEATRIS!

Proud pappa of....STEVE HOLM!!

by UnleashTheGore on May 6, 2008 4:22 PM PDT up 0 recs

Now, see...

...I just assumed that vote came from his adopted pop. UTG, though, seems to be much too levelheaded about his kid.

All-Father Watch: 1.56 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 16 Ks in 17 1/3 IP

by EliminateMe on May 6, 2008 12:49 PM PDT up 0 recs

I voted Future Hall of Famer…. as broadcaster or something

FIRE BRIAN SABEAN

by zenbitz on May 6, 2008 2:30 PM PDT up 0 recs

YEAH!.....STEVE HOLM!

Wild and unsubstantiated prediction: Molina will go to the DL for an extended period of time this year and my boy will take over in the meantime. He will fill in decently, but not enough to wow anyone.

Proud pappa of....STEVE HOLM!!

by UnleashTheGore on May 6, 2008 12:06 PM PDT 0 recs

I have been impressed with him at the plate. He seems to have a decent eye and a good looking swing.

Brett Pill - Lord of the double.

by malarky on May 6, 2008 12:12 PM PDT 0 recs

The Mystery of Holm

He looks like a bizzaro cross between Geoff Jenkins and Tyler Walker.

Bay City Ball

by xanthan on May 6, 2008 12:20 PM PDT 0 recs

Equals what?

EQUALS WHAT? I MUST KNOW!!!

The Basil Fawlty Moderating Strategy:
"We could run a nice blog here if we didn't have all these members getting in the way."

by WalrusMan on May 6, 2008 12:29 PM PDT up 0 recs

Good Lord

this may be the worst head shot ever. Would you hire that guy?

by tyrannoman on May 6, 2008 2:30 PM PDT up 0 recs

Whoops

It was supposed to be a picture of Holm, I should have saved it on my own webspace.

Bay City Ball

by xanthan on May 6, 2008 2:43 PM PDT up 0 recs

Wrong!

Steve Holm = Adam Savage

SAVE_US.RAY
Nattowear: now featuring new crap!

by Natto on May 6, 2008 12:38 PM PDT up 0 recs

I can say this myth is

PLAUSIBLE

Adopted father of the AnVil / GIANTSPACE™ returns!

by SoFa King Mike on May 6, 2008 12:40 PM PDT up 0 recs

So, I voted interim catcher.

I don’t think he would be all that bad as a catcher. On a team with Molina, yes he is the lesser of the two, but I feel that he connects with his pitchers more and also works a better game. Instead of Molina calling hundreds of fastballs in a row and his pitchers having to shake him off to get to an offspeed, Holm might figure out what the pitcher wants to throw and how much and work that in.

The Basil Fawlty Moderating Strategy:
"We could run a nice blog here if we didn't have all these members getting in the way."

by WalrusMan on May 6, 2008 12:30 PM PDT 0 recs

I voted for backup

But i’m in between that and starter. His hitting has been alright, but his defense has been marginally better than Notgardo/Grod. Prove me wrong, Holm! Prove me wrong!

SAVE_US.RAY
Nattowear: now featuring new crap!

by Natto on May 6, 2008 12:38 PM PDT 0 recs

IGMAIAWTC

2008 Giants: A steaming pile of scrap!

by Goofus on May 6, 2008 12:45 PM PDT up 0 recs

Gotta Disagree

His defense is light years better than Notgardo’s. Alfonzo’s d makes me think ot Pete Happy squatting back there for an inning.

by tyrannoman on May 6, 2008 12:55 PM PDT up 0 recs

I voted multi season starter.

Because I wanted to. I like Steve Holm.

Tentatively adopting Dan Ortmeier. And Boom Goes the Dynamite.

by Andy from DC on May 6, 2008 12:57 PM PDT 0 recs

I voted for multi season starter.

because the question was about ceilings. He is already a back up decent back up for a month… so minor leagues as his ceiling is out. He’s only one more strained Quad from being the interim starter. With GRod disappeared and Notgardo suspended old Holmsy has a real shot at interim starter for the Giants over the next couple of years.

He could have a Torrealba like career as a starter for a couple of years. Doesn’t seem sooo far fetched.

I’m getting so I’m not ultra-surprised whenever Holm gets a hit.

Adopted papa of a bouncing new waiver wire 27 year old. Castillo hits doubles.

by kennv on May 6, 2008 1:06 PM PDT 0 recs

Did GRod disappear or is he out w/ post concussion syndrome?

by allfrank on May 6, 2008 3:12 PM PDT up 0 recs

The latter

But who knows how long until he comes back from that…

All-Father Watch: 1.56 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 16 Ks in 17 1/3 IP

by EliminateMe on May 6, 2008 3:13 PM PDT up 0 recs

same thing.

Adopted papa of a bouncing new waiver wire 27 year old. Castillo hits doubles.

by kennv on May 7, 2008 6:24 AM PDT up 0 recs

I’m getting so I’m not ultra-surprised whenever [Giants player] gets a hit.

2008 in a nutshell.

by Evan on May 7, 2008 8:20 AM PDT up 0 recs

I voted multi season starter

I’m pretty sure “multi” includes the number two. He could easily finish the year as our starter (hey, we could trade Bengie for something useful!), and continue to start until Sandoval or Witter or ~~Williams~~ LaTorre eventually takes over.

Your 2011 SF Giants: the 2008 Augusta Greenjackets!

by Lyle on May 6, 2008 1:33 PM PDT 0 recs

I chose future All-Star

You just have to make a single All-Star game in the future to currently be a future All-Star. So basically he just has to have one decent 1/2 season in the majors for any team in the next ten or so years. I don’t think this is outside the realm of possibility and is the most positive of the potential scenarios listed.

Well, multi-season starter is the most positive, now that I think of it.

by positiveuphemism on May 6, 2008 2:29 PM PDT 0 recs

Depends...

...I was thinking along the lines of Kirt Manwaring or Molina for a multi-year starter. Though a Marc Hill or Brent Mayne would also fall in that category. Future All-Star would range from the Benito Santiagos of the world to the Bob Brenlys. I think on average the future all-stars would be a better group.

All-Father Watch: 1.56 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 16 Ks in 17 1/3 IP

by EliminateMe on May 6, 2008 2:40 PM PDT up 0 recs

Perenial All-Stars

There are many 1 time All-Stars that were nothing more than that.

by positiveuphemism on May 6, 2008 2:48 PM PDT up 0 recs

Santiago = perennial (5 time)
Brenly = one time

I’m having a hard time coming up with any All-Star catchers who weren’t also multi-year starters.

All-Father Watch: 1.56 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 16 Ks in 17 1/3 IP

by EliminateMe on May 6, 2008 3:09 PM PDT up 0 recs

If my math is right, his .280/.370/.410 line in the Eastern League translates to…

...carry the two…

.350/.480/.720 in the majors. So, yeah, I think he’s a future Hall of Famer. That, or I’m giving the Eastern League a bit too much credit as a pitcher’s league.

by Grant on May 6, 2008 2:59 PM PDT 0 recs