[ayaghmour2]

May 20th, 1929
Philadelphia Sailors (21-11): 18
Chicago Cougars (10-23): 4

W: Rollie Beal (2-3)
L: Vince DaCosta (1-5)

We almost didn't have to show up to this one. Sailors Superstar Tom Taylor had his way all game, going 4-for-5 with a walk, 4 runs, 4 RBI's, and his 14th homer on the season. DaCosta was shelled, 5 innings that contained 13 hits, 10 runs (8 earned), 2 walks, and just 1 strikeout. Clyde Lincoln was even worse, 8 runs and 7 hits in just 2.2 innings. He matched DaCosta's strikeout and walk totals as well. Bill Ashbaugh was 1-for-3 with a solo homer. Mack Deal was 1-for-4 with a steal, run scored, and RBI. Art Panko was 1-for-4 with a steal and run scored.

May 21st, 1929
Philadelphia Sailors (21-12): 4
Chicago Cougars (11-23): 6

W: Dick Lyons (3-3)
L: William Jones (4-2)

We avoided the sweep with a 6-4 win lead by Dick Lyons. He pitched the whole game, allowing 9 hits, 4 runs (3 earned), and 2 walks. Barney Green started his campaign to stay in the majors, going 3-for-4 with a double and 4 RBI's. Art Panko was 2-for-3 with a triple, run scored, and two driven in. Bill Ashbaugh was 1-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored.

We got the next day off, but would use it to travel up to Toronto for a three game set with the Wolves.

May 23rd, 1929
Chicago Cougars (11-24): 2
Toronto Wolves (20-17): 3

W: Bert Flores (4-5)
L: Cotton Taylor (1-4)

We might have left the bats in Chicago too, as Bert Flores kept us under control all game. Cotton Taylor gave a valiant effort on the mound, working for 7 innings with 6 hits, 3 runs (2 earned), 5 walks, and 3 strikeouts. John Dibblee was 3-for-4 with a double, steal, run scored, and driven in. Barney Green was 2-for-3 with a walk.

May 24th, 1929
Chicago Cougars (12-24): 3
Toronto Wolves (20-18): 2

W: Babe Wilder (1-3)
L: Don Cannaday (4-3)

We flipped the score on the Wolves and somehow won a game without Dick Lyons pitching. The offense wasn't very effective, but Babe Wilder made it easier on them. He allowed just 2 unearned runs and 6 hits in a complete game. He walked and struck out just one batter in his first win on the season. Bob McCarty was 2-for-4 with a double, run scored, and two driven in. Dick Fessel was 2-for-3 with an RBI. Mack Deal was 1-for-4 with a steal and run scored.

May 25th, 1929
Chicago Cougars (13-24): 11
Toronto Wolves (20-19): 6

W: Johnny Douglas (3-2)
L: Willie Couillard (5-1)
SV: Ace McSherry (3)

WE WON OUR FIRST SERIES OF THE SEASON! We scored 6 runs in the last two innings of the game to leave Canada with out first series win of the season. Johnny Douglas might be the luckiest 3 win pitcher in the league, as he allowed 13 hits and 6 runs (5 earned) in 7 innings. He struck out and walked two. Ace McSherry took home the save, allowing a hit and a walk with three strikeouts in 2 innings to finish the game. Veteran John Dibblee brought us another vintage performance, 4-for-5 with a triple, run scored, and 3 RBI's. Bob McCarty was 3-for-5 with 2 doubles, walk, 3 runs, and an RBI. Dick Fessel was 3-for-5 with 2 runs and an RBI. Mack Deal was 2-for-5 with a double, run scored, and RBI. Barney Green was 2-for-5 with a run scored and RBI. Douglas was 1-for-3 with 2 runs, a sac-bunt, and RBI.

May 25th, 1929
Cleveland Foresters (20-17): 9
Chicago Cougars (13-25): 6

W: Jm Wilson (6-1)
L: Vince DaCosta (1-6)

Another poor start for Vince DaCosta as he allowed 9 runs on 14 hits in 7.2 innings. He walked and struck out 3. He's pitched himself out of the rotation (more on that later) as we have better options available in AAA and he won't end up with any trade value (at least as a starter). At the plate, Barney Green (who was hitting himself out of a job) went 2-for-4 with a double, homer, and 3 RBI's. Bill Ashbaugh was 2-for-4 with a homer, 2 runs scored, and 2 driven in. If it wasn't for Green's homer today, he'd be tied for the team lead and he's played in 12 of our 38 games this season. Art Panko and Bob McCarty were 1-for-4 with a run scored.

Stars of the Week
Barney Green : 23 AB, 10 H, 1 HR, 8 RBI, .435 AVG, 1.132 OPS
Bob McCarty : 24 AB, 9 H, 0 HR, 3 RBI, .375 AVG, 1.069 OPS
John Dibblee : 22 AB, 8 H, 0 HR, 5 RBI, .364 AVG, .917 OPS

Looking Ahead
Despite hosting the Foresters (20-17) on Sunday, we'll travel with them to Cleveland for two more. We then head to Philadelphia (24-13) for three games in two days with the Sailors. We return home after the Thursday double headers to begin a four game series with the Saints (22-16) who find themselves 2.5 games behind the Sailors for first in the Continental Association.

The debut of Fred Barrell will wait at least one more week as he went just 2-for-22 with 2 walks and 2 RBI's in six games. Barney Green, on the other hand, reached base every game, hit a homer, and drove in 8 runs. Barrell's OPS+ is just 94, which makes me think he still isn't quite big league ready.

There has been interest in Johnny Douglas as we officially started testing the waters on his market. I'm hoping Babe Wilder (1-3, 3.94 ERA (116 ERA+) can continue his start to the season and hopefully show he deserves to pitch for a contender. Art Panko (.309/.368/.403, 19 RBI) hasn't had an above average offensive season, but if he performs consistently who could fetch a moderate return. I have guys in AAA I want to bring up, so I'm okay with moving the 30-year-old veteran.

Injury Report
The rehab assignment for Joe Foley did not go as planned, and he'll head back on the DL with elbow tendinitis. He's expected to miss 2 to 3 more weeks. Charlie O'Hare, who we used out of the pen to start the season, will be worked out of the rotation in Milwaukee. I'm changing the pitching staff a little and depending on how some of the younger guys pitch, O'Hare may be needed to eat innings. We were also fortunate to stay healthy in the minors.

Transactions
I designated RHP Clyde Lincoln for assignment. We claimed him off waivers from Montreal in April, but despite his 3-1 record, he's been absolutely awful. He has a 7.89 ERA (58 ERA+) and 1.66 WHIP with 8 walks and 9 strikeouts in 21.2 innings. At just 26, he may get claimed, but I have more then enough young guys that I like significantly better. One of those, Dick Kadlec, was called up to replace him. He made his FABL debut last season, and was great in 6 starts with the Blues to start the season. He was 4-2 with a 2.92 ERA (140 ERA+), 1.28 WHIP, and 29 strikeouts in 52.1 innings. Kadlec will replace DaCosta in the rotation, pushing the former starter to a long relief role. Kadlec is currently ranked as the 56th best prospect in baseball. I'm hoping he's done with AAA baseball forever, and he can solidify the rotation behind Dick Lyons.

Minor League Report

SP Art Black (A Lincoln Legislators): Despite starting every game except one in his high school career, most thought that with his two pitches he'd end up in the bullpen for sure. He did solid in that roll last season, as his 2.82 ERA (172 ERA+) in 54.1 innings with San Jose was excellent and even at 18 he was a league average pitcher (100 ERA+) with Lincoln. He's been anything but average this season with the Legislators, and he's looked brilliant in 6 starts. He's 2-2, but with a 2.65 ERA (197 ERA+) and 1.15 WHIP in 40 innings as a starter. He's averaging less then 7 innings a start, so he may still have to build up the stamina to start, but he's gotten through 6 full in each game so far. A 5th Round Pick in 1927, Black ranks 23rd on our prospect list.

CF Gene Ross (B San Jose Cougars): He's finally showing the potential we saw in him when we took him in the 3rd Round in 1926, and CF Gene Ross has torn the cover off the ball this season. He's hitting .377/.416/.518 (138 OPS+) with 3 homers and 28 RBI's in 125 trips to the plate. He has a rare power-speed combo out in center, although his 2-for-13 in steals has me a little worried. Before this season, he hit 33 homers and stole 17 bases in about a season and a half with the Cougars. A promotion to Lincoln seems likely in the near future.

CF Pete Slater (C LaCrosse Lions): Another solid outfield prospect, the 22-year-old Slater was our 8th Round Pick in the 1927 draft. He's likely ready for San Jose, but with Ross above him he was sent down to La Crosse to start the season. He's been impressive, hitting .352/.517/.620 (233 OPS+) with 5 homers, 11 steals, and 29 RBI's in 148 plate appearances. He's an outstanding defender in center and he earned himself a call up to San Jose, where he'll play right with Ross entrenched in center. The plan for him is still to play center, but it's nice having him work on his defensive versatility now.

Amateur Report

CF Gail Gifford (Portland HS Lumberjacks): One of the few remaining teams in High School playing, the Portland HS leadoff hitter Gail Gifford hit for the cycle in a 5-0 win over St. Louis. Even without a home run this season (16 total in the previous two) his .355/.437/.523 (174 OPS+) batting line is extremely impressive and his +7.5 ZR in center just adds to the appeal in the speedy 17-year-old. He should be back Portland next season and Gifford (174) can surpass the all time Lumberjacks hit leader John Bishop (201). And while he likely won't be able to match the 10 homers he hit as a freshman, Gifford should have a solid professional career.

SP Tom Blalock (Chicago Poly Panthers): I already covered him earlier, but the junior from Chicago Poly finished the regular season with a 3-hit, 11 strikeout shutout of Indiana A&M. One of the competitors for the #1 Overall Selection, Blalock finished the year 8-1 with a 1.52 ERA (307 ERA+), 0.77 WHIP, and 113 strikeouts in 88.2 innings with the Panthers. His season isn't over, and Blalock lead the Panthers to just their second playoff appearance all time. He's hoping to lead the Panthers to their first ever AIAA championship.

2B Freddie Jones (Central Ohio Aviators): His team tied with the Panthers for first in the Midwest, and the freshman was a huge reason for it. He had an insane .506/.642/.683 (252 OPS+) batting line with 5 homers and 38 RBI's. He's only the second college player to every bat over .500, with the first being former #1 Overall Pick Elmer Lambert who hit .531 as a freshman in 1915. Jones has excellent range in the field with a great eye and obviously elite contact skills. Even at a non premium position, Jones will easily be considered for the first pick in 1931, even if he doesn't ever hit like this again.

SP Luke Ellison (Cleveland HS Barons): They're barley alive in the postseason, but the Barons got a clutch pitching performance against Cincinnati HS in the opening round of the playoffs. He tossed a 4-hit shutout and struck out 9 in a 5-0 win. The senior went 8-2 with a 2.70 ERA (123 ERA+), 1.35 WHIP, and 51 strikeouts in 66.2 innings. The southpaw doesn't throw too hard, sitting in the 83-85 MPH range and likely won't be an early selection in the upcoming draft. His Junior year was the best, as he went 5-0 with a 2.26 ERA (199 ERA+), 1.19 WHIP, and 64 strikeouts in 71.2 innings.

RF Elmer Nolde (Coastal California Dolphins): The slugging lefty finished his Junior season the best way he could, as Player of the Week. He went 7-for-16 with 4 homers and 9 RBI's. His .380/.490/.819 (232 OPS+) line was even better then his .347/.423/.593 (190 OPS+) line as a Sophomore. The 21 homers and 49 RBI's also trumped the 8 and 31 respectively from the season before. Nolde is a rare two year starter, as he didn't get into a single game as a Freshman. This shouldn't hold his draft stock back, however, and Nolde will be taken in the first half of December's draft.