FanPost

The Case for Keeping Dan Vogelbach

If there's one thing besides a LOOGY that I hope the Cubs acquire before the deadline, it's someone that can hit for power from the left side of the plate. When deploying a lineup with Miguel Montero as the catcher, the Cubs only have one left handed batter coming off the bench in the form of Chris Coghlan. Coghlan has been better with the Cubs than he was with the A's, but even then, his level of production has been mediocre. I understand the whole "he was in a bad situation on the A's" argument, but Coghlan had a horrendous line of .146/.215/.272 with only 5 home runs. In addition to his hitting struggles, Coghlan was worth -1.7 WAR, proving to be a liability both with the bat and the glove. Coghlan could certainly turn it around with the Cubs, but that's just wishful thinking at this point.

Among potential replacements, I would be ecstatic if the Cubs were to acquire one of Carlos Beltran, Josh Reddick, or Jay Bruce. Any of these three would immediately become the best hitter on our bench, while platooning with the current outfield group. Unfortunately, I think all three of these players will require more than what Theo and Jed will offer, while possibly being too expensive in terms of payroll to acquire. If the Cubs don't acquire a left-handed power bat at the deadline, we'll be fine; we have one waiting in AAA in the form of Dan Vogelbach.

If we're being realistic, the Cubs probably won't be able to trade Dan Vogelbach for Mike Trout. While Vogelbach has never been praised for his fielding or base running abilities, these traits wouldn't be exposed as a pinch hitter. When Vogelbach was drafted in 2011, the hope was that he could turn into a 30+ HR producing first baseman. While Vogelbach has never eclipsed more than 17 HRs in a season while in the minors, he is on pace to hit 27 this season. As Vogelbach's power has increased at the highest minor league level, so have most of the other facets of his game. His OBP (.419) and ISO (.245) are the highest they have ever been in his career, and his OPS of .968 is good for fourth in the Pacific Coast League. In addition to these gaudy numbers, Vogelbach has walked almost as much as he has struck out, with a .79 SO/BB ratio. Two takeaways from Voeglbach's breakout season: he is beginning to become the power hitter many of us thought he could be, and he knows how to get on base. Both of these attributes, paired with the fact that Vogelbach hits from the left side, make him an ideal pinch hitter.

I understand that Vogelbach probably won't have a regular starting position on the Cubs for the foreseeable future, as Anthony Rizzo is entrenched at first. However, using Vogelbach as a pinch hitter once the rosters expand in September could be a great situation for him, as he would almost be guaranteed one at bat per day, while also giving Rizzo days off heading into the post season. Vogelbach's trade value on the BCB site seems to vary between users, but Vogelbach is a very solid prospect, particularly for an American League team.Showcasing Vogelbach's skills in Spetember and October could increase his value heading into the offseason, paving a way for a Vogelbach-Trout swap.

Once rosters are trimmed down for the playoffs, I wouldn't be shocked to see Vogelbach on the roster. In the same way the Cubs used Quintin Berry as a pinch runner last year in the playoffs, the Cubs could use Vogelbach as a pinch hitter in this coming postseason, potentially yielding great dividends.

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