Is Matt Holliday overrated?

Question

I know he's a frontrunner for the National League MVP, but it seems apparent to me that he's a beneficiary of playing in Coors Field.

His career splits show a .364 average at home, versus .273 on the road. And in 2007, his slugging percentage was almost 250 points higher at home than on the road. Not that he was a bad player on the road (.301 BA), but not a superstar, either. To me, he's benefitting from the same effects that made ordinary players like Dante Bichette, Vinny Castilla and Jeff Cirillo into stars.

Would Holliday produce at anything close to this pace on another team? If you think he would, why do you think that?

Bdough - I was thinking of Cirillo's 2000 season, when he hit .403 at Coors and .239 on the road! He also drove in 115 runs, 27 more than any other season.

Answer 1

Even only 'good' players can have MVP type seasons, as always, it depends on how you rate him. Only then he could be judged as being over or under rated.

If someone thinks of him as the #1 outfielder in baseball, I would say that he's overrated.

I think when some fans were talking about Alex Rodriguez having a 'record breaking' season, they were over rating him. What record was he actually close to? (not BA, RBIs, R, HRs for sure)

Castilla and Cirillo certainly proved that stats in Colorado couldn't be carried over and I know Vinny Castilla must have been kicking himself, in hindsight, for leaving.

I think he will do well as the 07 NL MVP, but I don't have any delusions about him being the best player around, even if he wins MVP.

In a similar line of thought, if someone in Boston breaks the record for doubles in a season (67 I believe, Earl Webb), should we discount that because it's so much easier to hit doubles there?

Answer 2

I disagree. This has been a career year for Holliday. I think most hitters are gonna tend to hit better at home. Certainly, he probably benefited from a spacious stadium with the amount of hits and RBIs he had at home, 123 and 82, respectively versus 93 hits and 55 RBIs on the road. He jumped from 19 HR's in 2005 to 34 in 2006. That can't be all because of Coors Field. Then his power numbers increased again this year.

I personally thought Rollins should get the MVP because I like guys that hit, run and field at great levels. But Holliday had a really great offensive season.

If Matt Holliday wants to play on the Cardinals, I'd definitely take him...they could have used a bat like that. And I think his numbers would be at least similar, maybe he hits 30 HRs and gets 100 RBIs instead of what he has now but that's not too bad.

Answer 3

I think he is a solid player having one great year. I would say that for this season he is not overrated because he did produce when he had to. That being said, unlike others I am not ready to fit him for a bust at Cooperstown either. I think his numbers for other teams would be decent but not MVP type numbers. Then there is the other side, how many guys out there put up great numbers at home but not on the road? Luis Gonzalez used to put up great numbers at Bank One but was not so great outside of Arizona...he was always talked about like he was a great player as well. Some players like Beltran put up horrid numbers at home but fabulous numbers on the road. I guess it depends on the player but Holliday is getting some help from Coors, although there are other players that play there and do not do any better, you montioned Cirrillo but he had better numbers his first go round with the Brew Crew than he ever had at Coors.

Answer 4

Since most baseball players do hit for a better average at home, the fact he is playing in Coors Field does come into play, but he still should not be considered overrated! Anytime a ballplayer, especially one his age, comes through a season the way he has it is generally because he has done the job and excelled. Holliday, should indeed win the NL MVP award because his presence helped get his team where they are today....in the World Series!

Answer 5

I think he would still produce well, he's been a consistent hitter and that says a lot......improved every year, in fact.
He'd be a 25-30 homer, 90-100 RBI, hit for average guy in another park. Close to those numbers.
These things can be affected by the surrounding hitters in a line-up, also, and not merely the ballpark.

Answer 6

i was just thinking about that, i would believe he is both overrated and underrated, hear me out.

Some people call him the mvp, some call him a nobody, his stats show a very good player, but if he did that in the american league it would be amazing. Personally i think he is great, but not as good as a player like even this may sound strange, but even someone like Michael Young, EVERY YEAR he performs in the AMERICAN league, tons tougher than national. So that concludes my opinion, gr8 question

Answer 7

I thought he was overrated, until I watched him thios postseason, and now realize he is a great young player. I believe however, that he will finish 2nd in the NL MVP vote to Jimmy Rollins.

Answer 8

i've seen holliday hit one of the palm trees in one of the dodger stadium bullpens which i think was over 500ft so no i dont think he is overrated if anything hes underrated concidering that he wasnt even an allstar nobody even knew who he was before they saw he was on a contending team

Answer 9

I relate him to another rockie, Todd Helton in his prime. Good player indeed, but how good would he be away from Colorado?

Answer 10

yes i do. you are correct