Coghlan - is he part of the future?

[Radar3454]

SSS I know but what little I have watched this year I have been impressed with him. His numbers over the past couple months are great although power is low for corner OF. How is his defense? Can he play CF at all?

[Hairyducked Idiot]

His defense is meh.

 

He's fine as a backup outfielder, but remember at this time last year Schierholtz and Sweeney were having solid years in that role.

[Guest]

Coghlan is having a good season with the bat. His defensive ceiling is 'below average LF', which means overall he's a platoon guy or a bench bat on a strong team. I wonder if he might be a good trade candidate this offseason. Offense is so scarce that someone may be willing to gamble a bit that he can continue to be a + with the bat these next 2 cost controlled years. Personally, I prefer Sweeney over him because of the defense and positional flexibility, but if Coghlan is a guy that's a placeholder until Bryant/Baez come up next year that's not terrible either.

[OleMissCub]

Coghlan's defensive woes are interesting because he was a damn good third baseman in college.

[Bryants Disco Ball]

He might be worth $5 million per on a three-year contract.

[RynoRules]

He might be worth $5 million per on a three-year contract.

 

No wink or green font?

 

EDIT: I think the take-away from watching Sweeney this season has been that guys like Coghlan should be dealt quickly or kept on one-year deals as 4th or 5th OF'ers.

[PackLandVA]

He's fine as a backup outfielder, but remember at this time last year Schierholtz and Sweeney were having solid years in that role.

 

This was my first thought/comparison.

[wekim81]

he's really hitting, but he takes some really bad routes in the outfield. But for right now with this squad, he should be playing everyday...and 2 of the 3 of Ruggiano/Sweeney/Coghlan should be our backup OF next year.

 

(Assuming our starting OF is Alcantara, Soler, and a FA Signing). If we don't sign a good OF in FA, then there's room for everyone.

[PackLandVA]

What FA outfielder (that's not old but still decent) is available? There's really thin pickins in the outfield crop.

[DiamondMind]

He's been pretty damn good this year.

[davell]

This is a crapshoot. He'll be on the team next year, but he's just as likely to play like Nate has this year as he is to play this well again.

 

For that matter, bringing Nate back on a minor league deal next year could pay off well if he's not dealt this month and wants to stick around.

 

There's no consistency, I'd rather have Coghlan for his versatility but I think Nate could easily outplay him next year.

[JennieGarthAlgar]

What FA outfielder (that's not old but still decent) is available? There's really thin pickins in the outfield crop.

 

Castillo or bust

[Sammy Sofa]

One of the few bright spots. It's been fun to watch even though it won't last.

[sneakypower]

what a weird comment; if Coghlan gets termed a bright spot, there's been like 10-11 bright spots, even ignoring guys who've been dealt away

[Sammy Sofa]

I said "few." I can count 7 and then I got bored.

[rawaction]

I like Coghlan. And while I did have high hopes for Sweeney, who is a much better defender than Coghlan, I'd have no problem with Coghlan playing a super utility role. He's played 2B, 3B and CF as recently as last year. He's going to be below average anywhere (and further below the more he goes up the defensive spectrum), but he does have the best track record offensively and is the youngest of the Sweeney, Ruggiano, Schierholz group.

 

I think he can be a part of the future, unlike those other guys, but hopefully his future is as a bat off the bench, who can give you some on base ability near the top of the lineup.

[OleMissCub]

Should J.A. Happ have won ROY over Coghlan? Looks like McCutchen was better that year too.

 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_2009.shtml#NLroy

[Clem Fandango]

Probably. Seemed like it was one of the last hurrahs of super meatbally given awards. "This guy had the highest batting average, therefore he is the best rookie" even though, if you want to break it down by rWAR, Happ was better. Actually Garret Jones was the best position player on that list for the year in rWAR. McCutchen was the best over on FG. And pitching wise on FG, Randy Wells was the best. McCutchen had 3.3 fWAR, Wells had 3.1. Happ had 1.5 (Hanson 2.5) while Coghlan had 2.5 (Jones [and Seth Smith] 2.7)

[TruffleShuffle]

Probably. Seemed like it was one of the last hurrahs of super meatbally given awards. "This guy had the highest batting average, therefore he is the best rookie" even though, if you want to break it down by rWAR, Happ was better. Actually Garret Jones was the best position player on that list for the year in rWAR. McCutchen was the best over on FG. And pitching wise on FG, Randy Wells was the best. McCutchen had 3.3 fWAR, Wells had 3.1. Happ had 1.5 (Hanson 2.5) while Coghlan had 2.5 (Jones [and Seth Smith] 2.7)

 

to be fair, he did have a 3.0 oWAR that year. just a lot of that was cancelled out by his adam dunn-esque dWAR.

[JonJayCutler]

This year's Donnie Murphy. Probably best not to concern ourselves with such devilry.

 

In all seriousness he'd be fine off the bench, nothing more.

[Little Slide Rooter]

His defense is meh.

 

He's fine as a backup outfielder, but remember at this time last year Schierholtz and Sweeney were having solid years in that role.

 

According to BBR, his oWAR is 1.4; His dWAR is -1.3. I may not be much for analysis, but that sounds like several counties south of meh.

[Sammy Sofa]

"Baseball" is just one word.

[Guest]

"Baseball" is just one word.

yeah, but I couldn't talk the National Speakers Bureau out of nsb.com. :)

[Rob]

"Baseball" is just one word.

yeah, but I couldn't talk the National Speakers Bureau out of nsb.com. :)

 

Maybe try again after Javy renders them speechless.

[Cubs Fan Dan]

By the way... Coghlan sucks again!