[ayaghmour2]

September 2nd, 1929
Toronto Wolves (54-72): 3
Chicago Cougars (51-78): 4
Game 1

W: Ace McSherry (1-5)
L: Bert Flores (13-15)

Gus Cain got the start in the opener and looked excellent, 8.1 innings with 7 hits, 3 runs (2 earned), and 5 strikeouts. Ace McSherry walked and struck out a batter and got his first big league win. Bob McCarty was 2-for-4 with a steal, walk, triple, and two runs scored. John Dibblee was 2-for-4 with a double, sac bunt, and RBI.Bill Ashbaugh and Luke Nixon were both 2-for-4 with an RBI.

September 2nd, 1929
Toronto Wolves (54-73): 8
Chicago Cougars (52-78): 9
Game 2

W: Ace McSherry (2-5)
L: Don Cannaday (9-13)

They scored five in the last three while we scored 6 and walked off 9-8 winners after a pinch hitting Fred Barrell singled home Joe Davis to end it. Interesting enough, Ace McSherry got the win again, making him likely the first FABL player to receive the win in both games of a double header. He allowed 2 hits in 1.1 innings after Joe Foley was roughed up in 7.2 innings. He allowed 11 hits, 8 runs, and 5 walks. Slick Hostetter went 3-for-4 with a run scored and RBI. Vince York was 3-for-5 in his big league debut. George Jordan was 2-for-4 with 2 walks, a run scored, and driven in. Dick Fessel was 2-for-5 with a double and run scored. Johnny Johnson was 1-for-3 with a double in his debut. Mack Deal was 1-for-4 with a walk, run scored, and two driven in.

September 4th, 1929
Chicago Cougars (52-79): 3
Toronto Wolves (55-73): 4

W: Willie Couillard (11-12)
L: Dick Kadlec (4-12)

After the off day we still faced the Wolves, but this time in Toronto. They got the best of us in another one run game after scoring 2 in the 8th before allowing 1 in the 9th. This game was not without scare, as star 2B Bill Ashbaugh left the game after doubling in the fourth. Fortunately, he's healthy, but if I was playing this game out I would have panicked once he left the game. His replacement, George Sanders was 2-for-2 with a double.Joe Davis was 2-for-4 with a steal, run scored, and RBI. George Jordan was 1-for-4 with a steal and run scored. Mike Smith had a pinch hit double and run scored during our 9th inning comeback. On the mound, Dick Kadlec allowed 4 runs in 8 innings with 6 hits, 4 walks, and 3 strikeouts.

September 5th, 1929
Chicago Cougars (52-80): 5
Toronto Wolves (56-73): 13

W: Willie Couillard (12-15)
L: Ben Curtin (1-3)

No more one run games as the Wolves blew us out in this one. It was an awful return to the majors for Ben Curtin, who allowed 11 runs (5 earned) off 9 hits and 6 walks with just 1 strikeout in 2.2 innings. Andy Chastain pitched 5.1 innings, allowing 4 hits and 2 runs with a strikeout. John Dibblee was 3-for-5 with two doubles, a run scored, and two driven in. Harry Simmons was 2-for-3 with 2 runs and a solo homer. Vince York was 1-for-3 with a walk and run scored. Bill Ashbaugh was 1-for-3 with a walk, and didn't leave this game with an injury.

September 6th, 1929
Chicago Cougars (52-81): 3
Toronto Wolves (57-73): 5

W: Bert Flores (14-15)
L: Dick Lyons (14-12)

The Wolves swept the Toronto side of the series to send us back to the states deflated. Dick Lyons allowed 5 runs (2 earned) with 9 hits and 3 walks in 7 innings. Luke Nixon was 1-for-4 with a double, run, and steal. Tony Stewart was 1-for-3 with a double and run scored in his season debut. Harry Simmons was 1-for-4 with a double and RBI. Art Panko was 1-for-4 with an RBI. Bob McCarty was 1-for-4 with a double.

September 7th, 1929
Baltimore Cannons (74-58): 7
Chicago Cougars (52-82): 0

W: Ben White (1-0)
L: Charley O'Hare (7-8)

I'd say we left the bats in Toronto, but that would have required us scoring runs against them... The Cannons shut us out as we opened a three game home series. It was a dream debut for former 2nd Rounder Ben White, who tossed a 6-hit shutout for Baltimore. Charley O'Hare 8 innings weren't terrible, as 5 of his 7 runs were unearned and a lot of his 10 hits and 4 walks came after three Luke Nixon errors (and one of his own). It was my fault for the Nixon errors, as I played him at second to keep his bat in the lineup. He's a solid defender at first (+3.9 ZR, +27.0 career) but he some how managed a -2.2 ZR in just 9 innings. Vince York was 2-for-2 with a double. Mike Smith and O'Hare were both 1-for-2.

September 8th, 1929
Baltimore Cannons (75-58): 8
Chicago Cougars (52-83): 1

W: Ken Carpenter (21-9)
L: Gus Cain (0-1)

We at least put a run on the board, but the Cannons set up the sweep with an 8-1 victory. This time Gus Cain was the victim of poorly timed errors, as 5 of his 6 runs were unearned. He went 5.1 innings with 6 walks and 5 strikeouts in what really turned out to be a decent first week in the majors. Joe Foley allowed 2 runs in 1.2 innings with 2 hits, 2 walks, and a strikeout before leaving with an injury. Bill Ashbaugh was 2-for-4 with a double and our only RBI. Bob McCarty was 1-for-4 with the run scored. George Jordan was 2-for-4. Johnny Johnson had a pinch hit double in the 9th.

Stars of the Week
Ace McSherry : 2 Wins, 2.0 IP, 1 BB, 2 K, 0.00 ERA
Mike Smith : 6 AB, 5 H, 0 HR, 2 RBI, .833 AVG, 2.167 OPS
Vince York : 11 AB, 6 H, 0 HR, 1 RBI, .545 AVG, 1.220 OPS

Looking Ahead
We have one more against the Cannons (75-58) before an off day. We'd remain home and play three against the second place Stars (75-56) before another meaningless off day. We'd then host Brooklyn (58-74) for four games in three days. The off day would be better suited after the Kings series, but we do have 7 off days after the 19th.

Injury Report
Joe Foley will hit the DL with a sore back. He'll likely be back after the minimum although I'm not sure we are going to miss him. AAA RP Claude Purvis and B 2B Bobby Rose will return from the DL.

Transactions
I recalled SP Cotton Taylor from AAA Milwaukee where he was 3-2 with a 4.15 ERA (101 ERA+) in 8 starts with a 1.62 WHIP, 35 strikeouts, and 28 walks. In 18 FABL starts, he was 6-8 with a 4.98 ERA (93 ERA+), 63 walks, and 48 strikeouts. I don't envision any additional call-ups until after the minor league season ends, however, I am leaning towards purchasing the contracts of SP Milt Nelson and 2B? (he can play literally anywhere) Hank Mitchell. Both are eligible for the Rule-5 draft. Nelson was picked up from Brooklyn in the ill fated Buzz Ham deal and Mitchell was a 2nd Round Pick in the 1925 draft.

Minor League Report

CF Gene Ross (B San Jose Cougars): It was a great week for the 20-year-old, as Gene Ross hit .483 with 2 homers, 4 RBI's, and 9 runs scored for the Cougars. The former 3rd Round Pick is a favorite of my scout who thinks he can be an above average big league starter. He's a little guy, just 5'6'', but he's an excellent defender in center and has the athleticism to stick out there. For the season, he's hitting .313/.355/.455 (103 OPS+) with 12 homers, 8 steals, and 69 RBI's. Lincoln is likely his starting point for next season, but with a lot of outfield depth in the system he may have a hard time finding consistent playing time.

SP Johnny Walker (C La Crosse Lions): The Class C season ended with a brilliant outing by Johnny Walker, who tossed a 3-hit shutout with 2 walks and 11 strikeouts in a 8-0 win over Burlington. The 3rd Round picks season will end with that, as he finished the season 13-3 with a 2.14 ERA (155 ERA+), 1.09 WHIP, and 148 strikeouts in 159.2 innings. If it wasn't for his poor showing in San Jose (where he was 2-4 with a 7.58 ERA (61 ERA+), 1.88 WHIP, and 19 strikeouts in 46.1 innings) I'd have given him the promotion. Instead, he'll end with just over 200 innings pitched for the year, more then his entire high school career. He doesn't rank in our top 30 prospect list (although I'm convinced OSA doesn't rank pitching prospects well), but the high powered strikeout machine appears to me as one of the best pitchers we have in our system. He's mastered Class C batters, and at 20 next year he's ready to start his rise up the ladder.