[ayaghmour2]

June 27th, 1929
Chicago Cougars (26-40): 4
Toronto Wolves (33-35): 3

W: Dick Lyons (7-6)
L: Willie Couillard (6-6)
SV: Ace McSherry (8)

Our second half starts with a win! Dick Lyons looked excellent with the extra rest, and came one out away from a shutout. He allowed 5 hits, 3 runs (2 earned), and 4 walks. It was concerning he didn't strike out a single Wolf, but I'll take the win. I also enjoyed his 2-for-4 with a run scored. John Dibblee was 3-for-5 with a triple, run scored, and RBI. Art Panko was 2-for-4 with a double and run scored. Bill Ashbaugh was 1-for-3 with a double, two walks, run scored, and RBI. Fred Barrell was 1-for-4 with an RBI in his big league debut.

June 28th, 1929
Chicago Cougars (26-41): 2
Toronto Wolves (34-35): 3

W: Birdie Smith (7-8)
L: Dick Kadlec (2-4)

It was a close one, but a 2 run 1st by the Wolves proved to be the difference. Kadlec allowed 7 hits, 3 runs, and 5 walks with 4 strikeouts in 8 innings pitched. He was also 2-for-3 with a double and RBI. Harry Simmons was 2-for-4. Fred Barrell was 1-for-3 with a triple, walk, and RBI. Dick Fessel was 1-for-3 with a double, walk, and run scored.

June 29th, 1929
Chicago Cougars (26-42): 3
Toronto Wolves (35-35): 4
12 Innings

W: Bert Flores (9-7)
L: Ed Woodward (2-2)

Bert Flores went all 12, but he wasn't even the best pitcher in the game. That would have been Ben Curtin, who's big league debut was amazing. He allowed just 1 earned run (3 total) with 6 hits, 4 walks, and 2 strikeouts in 9.1 innings. It was a great start to what I hope will be a long FABL career for the 23-year-old (he turns 24 in July, not June like I might have mentioned before). Ace McSherry struck out 4 in 1.2 innings while allowing 2 hits. Dick Fessel was 3-for-5 with a run scored and driven in. Luke Nixon was 2-for-4 with a run scored and driven in. Mack Deal was 2-for-6. Fred Barrell was 1-for-4 with a double and RBI.

June 20th, 1929
Chicago Cougars (27-42): 5
Toronto Wolves (35-36): 1

W: Cotton Taylor (5-6)
L: Don Cannaday (8-5)
SV: Ace McSherry (9)

This normally would be a split, but we still have a 5th game in this series tomorrow. Cotton Taylor had his possibly best start of the season, going 7.1 innings with 5 hits, a run, walk, and 5 strikeouts. McSherry picked up his 9th save, 1.2 innings with a hit, 2 walks, and a strikeout. Joe Davis was 3-for-4 with a double, triple, steal, and 3 runs scored. Harry Simmons was 2-for-3 with a walk and run scored. Bill Ashbaugh was 1-for-2 with a steal, double, sac-bunt, and walk. Dick Fessel was 1-for-3 with a steal and sac-fly. Mike Smith was 1-for-4, and hit a solo homer, the first of his big league career.

Awards
I've never had to include this section, but Harry Simmons is your Rookie of the Month in the Continental Association for June! It was a great month for what seems to be like a steal in the Rule-5 Draft, as Simmons hit .394 with a homer and 10 RBI's. For the season, he's hitting an impressive .353/.401/.429 (106 OPS+) with 1 homer, 10 steals, and 27 RBI's while slowly improving at shortstop. I'm probably crazy for thinking he's better then Mack Deal, but it's hard not to like the numbers Simmons is putting up. I usually start Rule-5 picks in the minors the following season, but Simmons may be our Opening Day starter at short next season too.

Looking Ahead
We start July with one more against Toronto (35-36) before four games in three days hosting the Foresters (34-35). We're off Friday and then we'll start a four game set with Baltimore (36-36). Philadelphia (45-23) seems to have the CA locked up as they are 10.5 games ahead of the Stars (36-35) and Saints (36-35). I find it crazy that we are closer to second (8.5) then anyone else is to first. As someone who had no playoff aspirations this season, I think it is very possible that we can complete next year and at least challenge for 2nd, if not 1st. The Sailors are really good, but a few smart trades in the offseason could hurdle us up to the first division.

We finished July 13-13 and this is the month I've started to bring some of my young guys up while Bill Ashbaugh has started to regain form. I have the rest of the season to mix and match guys to find out the best alignment for success. Guys like George Jordan and Vince York may see themselves in Chicago before the month ends and there aren't too many other positions I need to figure out.

I'd still like to move Art Panko before the Trade Deadline, but I can't see us being too active on the trade front. With that being said, I may even shift focus and look to add as the league seems to be filled with sellers not buyers currently. If I can find an appealing shortstop or starting pitcher I may dip into the farm a little. Or even use that to upgrade draft pick capital as I did in the Douglas swap.

Injury Report
Just one injury in the majors as LF John Dibblee is dealing with back tightness. He shouldn't miss more then the rest of the week and I'm not going to DL him. He can pinch hit, but he won't start in left or at first.

Speaking of the minors, AAA Milwaukee got SP Lou Gaffin back, but will now be without RP Michael Ivory with elbow inflammation. Lincoln got SP Ike Wetzel back while San Jose lost RP Mule Daughtry for 11-12 months with a torn flexor tendon.

Transactions
CF Hi Lawson cleared waivers and was outrighted to AAA Milwaukee and CF Don Phillips was waived and DFA'd. RHP Chick Meehan will be recalled from Milwaukee to take the roster spot of Johnny Douglas. He had a 1.57 ERA (263 ERA+) and 1.22 WHIP with 24 strikeouts in 28.2 innings pitched out of the pen. Meehan has some big league experience, a 4.04 ERA (117 ERA+) and 1.47 WHIP with 73 strikeouts in 216.1 innings of relief for us from 1924 to 1928. He'll fill in the pen, with Charlie O'Hare, the former 15th Overall Pick, claiming the final spot in the rotation.

Minor League Report

SP Mickey Williams (AA Mobile Commodores): It hasn't been a great season for the former 5th Round Pick, but things could be on the upswing for the southpaw. He now has 4 straight starts of 8 or more innings with 3 or less earned runs and capped it off with a 6-hit shutout of the Birmingham Ironmen. The 24-year-old did well with Mobile last year, going 13-7 with a 3.60 ERA (116 ERA+), 1.48 WHIP, and 52 strikeouts in 210 innings. In 105.1 this year, however, he's just 5-7 with a 4.96 ERA (87 ERA+), 1.65 WHIP, and 24 strikeouts. What's hurt him was his rapid increase in walk rate spiking from 3.5 to 4.9. Walks have always been a problem for him, but he has a solid fastball that leads his four pitch arsenal. It might be pushing it to expect Williams to be anything more then a spot starter, as the lefty has an uphill battle to regain favor.

LF Earl Johnson (AA Mobile Commodores): What a June it was for the 22-year-old as he took home Player of the Month in the Dixie League. Hitting .362 with a homer and 20 RBI's, Johnson took home the award and rose his batting line to .340/.401/.541 (146 OPS+) on the season. A 12th Round Pick in 1925, he's far too good to stay in Mobile, but there's not enough paying time for him. He's an awful defender, so I decided that I'd let him try to learn first base in AAA so his bat can stay in the lineup.

SP Ed Stevens (A Lincoln Legislators): Best way to respond to a promotion? How about a complete game shutout! That's how Ed Stevens decided to do things as he returned to Lincoln. He allowed just 8 hits with 2 walks and 3 strikeouts en route to a 6-0 win. A 3rd Rounder in 1927, Stevens was in AA last season, but we added a lot of depth in the upper levels and Stevens probably wasn't ready for AA despite his quality numbers. He definitely has the skills to start and he has average stuff and control.

CF Sam Reeves (B San Jose Cougars): A 14th Round Pick in 1925, Sam Reeves has really only seen Class B action, with just 1 game with A Lincoln. It's been a good year for Reeves as he's watched himself find playing time this year. He's made his most career starts with 62, and is hitting .325/.384/.458 (114 OPS+) with 18 steals and 37 RBI's. He's fresh off a player of the week award where he hit .517 with 6 runs and RBI's as well as his first homer of the season. My scout may be crazy when he says Reeves will "flourish as a left fielder" despite not even sniffing our top 30 prospect list (which has changed quite a lot since the season started). I have been working him out in left where he is likely best suited for and he's done fine so far. Like Williams, he has to face an uphill battle for a roster spot.

Amateur Report
With the season over, I'll cover teams in my posts instead of players performing well. I'll start with the Illinois teams, with Chicago Poly getting the headlines first. After finishing 33-17 they won their division for just the second time in their history.

SP Tom Blalock: He doesn't have the hype around him that Chick Stout and Tom Barrell may, but he was none the less impressive this season. Finishing 8-2 with a 2.01 ERA (229 ERA+), 0.84 WHIP, and 119 strikeouts it was a strong Junior campaign for the 20-year-old. He finished his college career 25-6 with a 2.20 ERA (231 ERA+), 0.95 WHIP, and 363 strikeouts in 291 innings. His 1.37 ERA last season was the best in a single season for any Panther pitcher, and he ranks #1 in school ERA (2.20), wins (25), WAR (11.9), strikeouts (363), K/9 (11.2), WHIP (0.95), K/BB (5.8), and win percentage (.806) with numerous single season showings where he ranks in the top 5. He throws in the low 90s, but will rack up a ton of strikeouts and is likely to league the league at one point and I'd be shocked if he's available after the first round.

SS Steve Clarke: His best season was his freshman year, but he never matched his .409/.478/.623 (183 OPS+) line or really came close to it. He finished his career a .339/.406/.513 (144 OPS+) hitter with 19 steals, 21 homers, and 134 RBI's in 150 games. He's got decent power and is an elite defender. He posted a +8.1 ZR this season as he got better defensively each season. My scout absolutely loves him, but I can't see him being taken in the first couple of rounds.

LF Jim Behnke: Consistency was key for Jim Behnke who put up OPS+ of 150, 140, and 154 in his three years with the Panthers. He finished his career with an impressive .316/.409/.533 (149 OPS+) line with 18 homers, 31 steals, and 86 RBI's. He's fast and is a decent defender who can line up at all three positions in the outfield. My scout really isn't a fan, but his numbers are very impressive and I think he's a solid prospect. I think Behnke will end up a Cougar, but there is a long way to go before the draft.

RF Earl Fisher: He's draft eligible, but only started (and played) in two seasons. His .345/.417/.585 (157 OPS+) line with 11 homers and 43 RBI's this season is really the only reason he is going to be selected in the draft. The power is there for sure, but I probably wouldn't have scouted him if it wasn't for his college. With that being said, Fisher does have a ton of potential and can be a nice middle round pickup for a team looking for power in the corner outfield.

SP Ernie Scott: It was a strong Sophomore season for Scott who went 8-2 with a 2.88 ERA (160 ERA+), 0.96 WHIP, and 82 strikeouts in 78 innings. Scott throws five pitches including a wicked fastball, but my starter doesn't think he's going to end up a starter. My only guess is that the rest of the pitches aren't too great, but it could be that he doesn't have much stamina. He only throws in the mid 80s, but he's still 19 and will have one more season to push his draft stock.