OAKLAND – Stephen Vogt’s thoughts drifted back to the A’s last playoff season in 2014 Wednesday night when he played the final couple of innings of a 5-1 loss to the Astros in left field.
Back in the day, Vogt was part of a three-man catching rotation with Derek Norris and John Jaso, and just to get his bat into the lineup, manager Bob Melvin would put Vogt in left or right field upon occasion.
In the seventh inning Wednesday, Vogt pinch-hit for left fielder Rajai Davis. With Oakland down to a two-man bench with Matt Chapman unavailable, Melvin’s first choice was to go back in time.