[ayaghmour2]

July 4th, 2020: Max Povse (0-0, 13.50 ERA, 2.25 WHIP) got to face the team that drafted him in the 3rd round and Lucas Sims (3-2, 3.86 ERA, 1.13 WHIP) as we opened up our series in Atlanta. His AAA catcher Luis Torrnes caught him. It was a rough one, as we fell 7-6 after Rio Ruiz walked off Brad Brach with a solo shot.

Povse allowed 4 runs in 5.2 innings and I'd probably need a new starter. He walked 1 and struck out 2. Brian Duensing allowed 2 runs in 0.2 innings, and the homer was the first at bat Brach had in the 9th.

We managed just 7 hits, but had a pair of homers by Garrett Hampson and Anthony Alford. Alford's was a three run shot in the 1st, Hampson's a solo shot in the third. Brian Anderson had a pair of singles, and Torrens tripled home a run before scoring himselg.

July 5th, 2020: I signed an International Free Agent, 16-year-old Dominican Luis Puerta. "Redbeard" signed for just $600,000. He's got 3* potential with blinding speed and can hit from both sides of the plate. He's a singles hitter, but has 87 contact and 81 Avoid K's potential.

I also claimed Ty Blach off waivers to replace Povse. The 29-year-old lefty is 19-30 in 83 games (59 starts) in the big leagues. He's got a 5.11 ERA and 1.26 WHIP, but take out two bad years and he's relatively solid. Point is, he's better then what I have and can be optioned as well.

Zack Wheeler (2-10, 5.36 ERA, 1.55 WHIP) got the start against Patrick Weigel (2-0, 2.60 ERA, 1.10 WHIP) in game two against the division leaders. We shocked the hometown fans with a 3-2 dub.

After allowing 2 in the 1st, Wheeler settled down, finishing 5 innings. He allowed 6 hits, walked 2, and struck out 3. Drew Steckenrider, Trevor Rosenthal, David Phelps, and Kevin Chapman got holds to bring in to the 9th, where Brad Brach got the save.

We had just 6 hits, 2 of them from Anthony Alford. He drove in all three runs, two from a homer and the other from a single. Lewis Brinson doubled and walked.

July 6th, 2020: Signing day was yesterday, so all unsigned players will head on to a college of their choice. Here's the results from my class:

4th Round: SP Clint Hinshaw (Oregon State 2023)
11th Round: CF Ayden Canada (Georgia Tech 2023)
12th Round: 3B Kevin Connolly (Arizona 2023)
15th Round: 2B D.J. Arner (Georgia Tech 2021)
21st Round: CF Juan Molina (Stanford 2023)
22nd Round: SP Asa Lacy (Florida 2023)
24th Round: CF Ben Wenner (Notre Dame 2023)
26th Round: RF Kevin Bennett (Michigan 2023)
28th Round: SP Nolan McLean (Long Beach State 2021)
29th Round: SP Chris Kurek (Christopher Newport 2021)
31st Round: RF Dan Harris (Roger Williams 2021)
32nd Round: Joel LaBonte (Florida State 2021)
34th Round: Ted Debord (Hawaii Pacific 2021)
37th Round: SP Alpha Asante (Jacksonville 2023)

A majority of guys from my first draft will be eligible for Next Year's draft, including Ethan Hankins. He's dropped a ton, and most likely hurt his draft stock a ton. He dropped from a 4.5 to 2. Serves him for being greedy...

Adam Hasley was announced Player of the Week for the Southern League. He hit 11-for-24 with 2 homers, 8 RBI's, and 8 runs scored.

My favorite pitcher Aaron Sanchez is out for the year with radial nerve compression. He was pitching at an elite level, just a 2.89 ERA in his 17 starts.

And we're back up to 22nd in the Power Rankings.

Looking to win the series, Ty Blach (3-5, 4.97 ERA, 1.26 WHIP) made his Marlins debut against the Brazillian stud lefty Luiz Gohara (10-1, 3.21 ERA, 1.21 WHIP). He's came along way from where he was. Too bad we were destroyed 11-5...

Blach was rocked, 10 hits and 6 runs in 3 innings. He walked 1 and struck out 1, but his Marlins tenure may be short. Phelps allowed 3 and Chapman 2 (1 earned) for the remaining runs.

We did manage 10 hits, with Hampson recording 3, scoring twice, and driving in 1. Lewis Brinson hit a two run homer in the first, but that was the only extra base hit. Brian Anderson and Victor Caratini had errors. The 6th on the year for each. On the way to St. Louis!

Rhys Hoskins went 5-for-5 as the Phillies beat Pennsylvania foe Pittsburgh 11-6.

Focusing on the St. Louis team who was 44-41 on the year, we'd see Jack Flaherty (4-6, 5.22 ERA), Ryan Helsley (1-5, 5.84 ERA), and Michael Wacha (7-3, 5.23 ERA). We had a good chance to improve our 36-49 record, but then again, we don't win much...

July 7th, 2020: Tampa Bay lost Rick Porcello to the year with a ruptured finger tendon. He was hurt on rehab assingment, before every pitching a regular season game with Tampa.

The Padres traded LF Augustin Ruiz to the Pirates for C Yan Gomes and cash. Just a mionr prospect for veteran trade we'll see a lot of in July.

Our best chance to win was today, with Jordan Montgomery (3-5, 3.67 ERA, 1.16 WHIP) taking on Jack Flaherty (4-6, 5.22 ERA, 1.40 WHIP). And with help from some late scoring, I was right, and the opener was ours by a score of 5-3.

Montgomery was alright, 3 in 5 off 5 hits and a walk. He did strike out 6. The pen was strong, with Nick Rumbelow securing the win, now 5-0. Brach got save 16. He looks like an appealing trade piece with his contract up at the year's end.

Lewis Brinson had three singles and three steals that lead to 2 runs scored. Anthony Alford doubled and drove in two, while Khris Davis hoemred and drove in 2. Davis is also an appealing trade candidate, 14 homers in 45 games.

July 8th, 2020: Well, at least we won the first game, as Yonny Chirinos (0-0, 11.57 ERA, 2.29 WHIP) faced off with Ryan Helsey (1-5, 5.84 ERA, 1.60 WHIP). Should I have been more faithful? A 5 run 6th was enough for the 8-2 win.

Chirinos was, gulp. Brilliant? 2 hits and 2 strike outs in 6.1 shutout innings. Did something happen to him? Shiotani and Rosenthal allowed the runs, 1 a piece, although Shiotani did pitch 1.2 innings and the run came in the 2nd inning.

We had 10 hits, including a pair of doubles from Alford and Nicky Delmonico. The latter singled as well, and drove in 2. Brian Anderson hit his 8th homer and droce in a pair, while scoring twice and walking as well. Marcus Semien had two hits and a steal, while Hampson had a pair of hits, walks, and runs. We would look to pick up the road sweep tomorrow.

July 9th, 2020: Brach dropped out of the top 5 for relief pitchers, and for the first time in my career, not a single Marlins was ranked in the fan vote.

Baltimore will be without young star Austin Hays after he broke a bone in his elbow. Colorado also lost closer Bryan Shaw, who had 12 saves and a 2.87 ERA this year.

Well, we got the sweep. No, we didn't win, but the game got rained out and it will be replayed September 28th as a 1 game series between a home series with Philly and Detroit. At least that means no double header, and technically a sweep.

Jahami Jones reached 20 games with his hitstreak as his Angels lost 7-6 to the Red Sox. The 22-year-old looks like a second Mike Trout. A faster, less powerful Mike Trout, but still a 5 star young stud. There is a reason the Angels are 53-36 and in first... Another reason is 2B Connor Jusuts, not at that level of course, but someone I should've and could've traded for multiple times.

I got trade fever and traded Marcus Semien to the Mets for Chris Sale. Well, I could have, but then I would've had to eat $31 million for a few years. Dang...

I tried cashing out on Khris Davis, but I couldn't find exactly what I wanted. There is interest, don't get me wrong, but I wanted to wait a bit more. I did have a trade involving someone else, but it's not as big, but still gives a decent return.

Anyways, we got to head home early and return for three against the Braves. We'd see Patrick Weigel (2-1, 2.88 ERA) again, Luiz Gohara (10-1, 3.44 ERA) again, and then staff ace Sean Newcomb (7-4, 3.50 ERA). He's the oldest in the young staff, just 27 years of age. The Braves are going to be annoying to eventually lap past.