[ayaghmour2]

June 23rd, 1930
New York Stars (30-37): 10
Chicago Cougars (36-31): 9
11 Innings

W: Phil English (2-3)
L: Chick Meehan (5-3)
SV: Boyd Harper (2)

We took a 7-5 lead into the 9th, and for some reason, Jim Crawford was still on the mound. He allowed 3 runs, but we managed to tie in the bottom half to force extras. Each team scored one in the 10th, but the Stars got one more in the 11th to take the opener 10-9. Crawford's 150 pitch debut (not at all what I imagined) went 8.2 innings with 11 hits, 8 runs, 5 walks, and 5 strikeouts. Chick Meehan went 2 innings with 2 hits, 2 runs, 3 walks, and 2 strikeouts. Harry Simmons was 3-for-5 with a double, sac-bunt, steal, run scored, and 2 RBI's. Bill Ashbaugh was 3-for-5 with a double, walk, 2 runs, and an RBI. John Kincaid was 3-for-7 with 2 doubles and 2 runs scored. Fred Barrell was 3-for-5 with a walk and 2 runs scored. Art Panko was 2-for-3 with a walk, run scored, and RBI.

June 24th, 1930
New York Stars (30-38): 4
Chicago Cougars (37-31): 5

W: Len Moore (3-2)
L: Skinny Foster (3-10)

We were down 4-0 headed to the 8th, but managed to tie the game up with a big 4 run 8th. Vince York ultimately was the hero, ending the game with a walk-off single in the 9th. He was 1-for-4 with a walk and the game winning RBI. Russ Combs was 3-for-4 with a double, walk, run scored, and RBI. Harry Simmons was 2-for-4 with a walk and run scored. Bob McCarty was 2-for-3 with a sac-bunt and run scored. Dick Fessel had a pinch-hit RBI single and scored. Dick Lyons made the start, 8 innings with 7 hits, 4 runs, 4 walks, and 2 strikeouts. Len Moore got the win, pitching a scoreless ninth with a hit and strikeout.

June 25th, 1930
New York Stars (30-39): 8
Chicago Cougars (38-31): 9

W: Tommy Russel (6-6)
L: Dick Richards (1-3)

This was not a close game for most of it, as the Stars rallied for 2 in the 8th and 4 more in the 9th before Tommy Russell completed his necessary complete game. He allowed 14 hits, 8 runs (6 earned), and 5 walks with just 1 strikeout. Every Cougar hitter had 2 hits in the game and each hitter scored a run or drove in a run, with most doing both. George Johnson was 2-for-4 with a triple and run scored. John Kincaid was 2-for-5 with a triple and run scored. Mack Deal was 2-for-4 with a double, run scored, and RBI. Harry Simmons was 2-for-4 with 2 steals, a run, and 2 RBI's. Ross Combs was 2-for-5 with a steal, run scored, and RBI. Bill Ashbaugh was 2-for-4 with a steal and 2 runs scored. Vince York was 2-for-5 with a run scored and two driven in. Fred Barrell was 2-for-4 with an RBI.

June 26th, 1930
Brooklyn Kings (33-35): 3
Chicago Cougars (39-31): 13

W: Dick Kadlec (6-5)
L: Jim Langley (8-7)

The Brooklyn Kings were next, in town for four, and we decided that winning one run games was a little overrated and put up 13 in a 13-3 win. I think Jim Langley has nightmares of the Cougars, as he allowed 7 more runs in this one (although he got through 6) before Dick Lyons doppelganger Del Lyons allowed 6 in 1.2 innings. Bill Ashbaugh's home run drought ended, going 2-for-5 with the homer, 2 runs, and 3 RBI's. Vince York was 4-for-5 with a triple, 2 runs, and 2 RBI's. George Jordan was 3-for-5 with a double and 2 RBI's. Art Panko was 2-for-4 with a triple, 2 runs, and an RBI. Russ Combs was 2-for-5 with 2 RBI's. Started Dick Kadlec was a perfect 3-for-3 with 2 doubles, a sac-bunt, and run scored. He also pitched a complete game, with 7 hits, 3 runs, 4 walks, and 3 strikeouts.

June 27th, 1930
Brooklyn Kings (33-36): 2
Chicago Cougars (40-31): 16

W: Max Wilder (6-4)
L: Mickey Beavers (2-5)

Game two was even better, and we picked up win 40 on the season with a 16-2 blowout victory. John Kincaid exploded for 5 hits, going a perfect 5-for-5 with a walk, 2 runs, and 2 RBI's. The ageless John Dibblee was 4-for-5 with a double, 3 runs, and 3 RBI's. Fred Barrell was 3-for-5 with a home run, double, and 4 RBI's. Vince York was 3-for-6 with a homer, 2 runs, and 2 RBI's. Bill Ashbaugh was 3-for-4 with a triple, 2 runs, and an RBI. Mack Deal was 1-for-4 with a run scored, walk, and RBI. Max Wilder was 1-for-4 with a sac-bunt and 2 runs scored. He also pitched a complete game, allowing 8 hits and 2 runs with 3 strikeouts.

June 28th, 1930
Brooklyn Kings (33-37): 1
Chicago Cougars (41-31): 5

W: Jim Crawford (1-0)
L: Tommy Wilcox (8-7)

We extended our win streak to 5 and pushed our record to 10 over .500 with a 5-1 victory. Jim Crawford was excellent in the victory, tossing a complete game with just 6 hits, 1 run, 2 walks, and a strikeout. He was also 1-for-3 with a sac-bunt. John Kincaid was 3-for-4 with a triple and 2 runs scored. George Jordan was 2-for-3 with a solo homer and walk. Vince York was 2-for-4 with a run scored and driven in. Bill Ashbaugh was 1-for-4 with a three run homer.

June 29th, 1930
Brooklyn Kings (34-37): 12
Chicago Cougars (41-32): 1

W: Jim Crawford (1-0)
L: Tommy Wilcox (8-7)

The Kings took out all their anger in the finale, preventing the sweep and ending our win streak with a 12-1 blowout win. Dick Lyons allowed 13 hits and 7 runs with 2 walks in 8.1 innings. Bill McLean allowed 4 more hits and 5 more runs with 2 walks in 0.2 innings. Vince York was 3-for-3 with a walk and RBI. Russ Combs was 2-for-4 with a run scored. Mack Deal was 2-for-4. Harry Simmons was 1-for-4 with a double.

Stars of the Week
Vince York : 33 AB, 16 H, 1 HR, 10 RBI, .485 AVG, 1.181 OPS
John Kincaid : 30 AB, 15 H, 0 HR, 3 RBI, .500 AVG, 1.216 OPS
Bill Ashbaugh : 30 AB, 12 H, 2 HR, 10 RBI, .400 AVG, 1.119 OPS

Weekly Summary
It was an excellent week as we sandwiched a five game winning streak with losses on Monday and Sunday. The offense exploded in the Kings series and the pitching was excellent until the finale. The Stars series was a little too close for comfort, and we probably should've won all three by more then just a one run. Luckily, we only dropped the opener and managed to not shoot ourselves in the foot too much.

This week also reminded me how gifted a player John Dibblee is and makes me wish I got to have him in his prime. Now 42, he's still hitting .363/.417/.466 (113 OPS+) with 2 homers and 31 RBI's. He's approaching 4,000 career hits, up to 3,815, and he still hasn't really shown any signs of slowing down. The "Top Cat" likely won't reach Powell Slocum's all-time record of 4,144, but he should be the second FABL hitter to reach 4.000. I'll keep playing him as long as he wants to keep going. He's just 35 at bats away from Slcoum's at bat record. He's the all time run scored leader with 1,896 and total base leader with 5,632. For his career, he owns a .346/.426/.511 (171 OPS+) career batting line with 540 doubles, 511 triples, 85 homers, 1,468 RBI's, and 751 stolen bases which works out to a 171.4 WAR. He was also an excellent center fielder in his prime, with a career zone rating of +200. He's an awful defender now, even in left, but what can you expect from a 42-year-old?

Turning to someone almost two decades younger then him, Jim Crawford's first week went a lot better then it looks. Obviously, his second start was excellent, but I can't believe manager Dick Pozza made him throw 150 pitches after never reaching 130 in the minors and most starts in the 100-110 range. We would have won that game had he brought Len Moore in to start the 9th instead of keeping Crawford on the mound. Even if he was awful both starts, I'd at least give him four, but I won't hold his debut against him. Even with that outing, he has a 4.58 ERA (105 ERA+), 1.36 WHIP, 6 strikeouts, and 7 walks in 17.2 innings.

Another starter, Dick Kadlec, finished an excellent June, a perfect 4-0 with a 3.73 ERA (129 ERA+), 1.56 WHIP, and 16 strikeouts in 41 innings. After an awful April, his May was much better and he looked excellent in June. With the other Dick, Dick Lyons' struggles, Kadlec has been a dependable #5 who may move his way up in the rotation.

Vince York is on the attack for the batting title as his .394 average is second to just Brooklyn's Doug Lightbody's .396 tally. He's riding a 24 game hit streak as well, the best active hit streak in the FABL. Right behind him is Harry Simmons who's hitting an impressive .387. In part to those two, we now lead the CA in batting average (.324), on base percentage (.373), runs scored (452), hits (868), strikeouts (210), stolen bases (52), and base-running (+19.4). Our middle of the road pitching is all that's keeping us from being a serious contender, but I'm not sure one or two starters can make up 7.5 games. Although if Dick Lyons was pitching like himself, who knows how much closer we'd be.

Our homestand finished with three against the Montreal Saints (36-37) before a travel day to Philly. The Sailors (47-23) host us for three in two days before four in Cleveland (37-36). I'd love to add an established starter (checked in on one yesterday), but there really isn't much available. I think I'll have to rely on my young guys unless someone decides to sell closer to the July deadline.

Injury Report
SS George Sanders (Chicago Cougars): Returned from rehab assignment
SS Slim Bloom (AAA Milwaukee Blues): Returned from the DL
SP Art Black (AA Mobile Commodores): Returned from the DL
SS Larry Burns (B San Jose Cougars): Returned from the DL
RP Mule Daughtry (B San Jose Cougars): Returned from the DL
RP Cy Plummer (B San Jose Cougars): Returned from the DL
LF Juan Valquez (B San Jose Cougars): Back spasms (4 days)
LF Dave Ward (B San Jose Cougars): Sore back (2 days)

Transactions
1B Bill Miller was optioned to AAA Milwaukee. He was hitting just .211/.273/.316 (42 OPS+) off the bench with 2 RBI's.

I'll finish this up later with minor league report, amateur report, and stats

Minor League Report

RF Howard Moss (A Lincoln Legislators): Howard Moss did not imagine himself in Class A to start the season. The former 4th Round selection was hitting just .293/.372/.354 (89 OPS+) in 99 at bats before losing a starting spot once Tom Thomas came back form the DL. He's responded well since the demotion, hitting .293/.445/.576 (170 OPS+) with 7 homers and 19 RBI's in 119 trips to the plate. It's been a huge increase in production for Moss, and he was named Heartland player of the week. He hit .417 with 2 homers and 6 RBI's. He's unfortunately stuck here as I want to give him more at bats, but it will be hard to keep him down here.

SP George DeForest (A Lincoln Legislators): Currently the #67 prospect in all of baseball, George DeForest is having an excellent season in an excellent Legislators rotation. DeForest is 6-4 with a 2.30 ERA (185 ERA+), 1.16 WHIP, and 88 strikeouts in 94 innings pitched. He's one of four Lincoln starters with ERA's below 3.50. The other three being Tom Barrell (2.73, 155 ERA+), Gordie Thompson (3.38, 126 ERA+), and Johnny Walker (2.76, 154 ERA+). DeForest is the most experienced of the bunch as the others were selected in either of the last two drafts. This is his third professional season and he's the most polished of the gifted bunch. He throws a 91-93 MPH fastball with a curve, change, and knuckle curve. He does experience some command issues, but his stuff is downright nasty and he'll strike out a ton of hitters.