[ayaghmour2]

August 18th, 1930
New York Stars (61-60): 10
Chicago Cougars (63-55): 15

W: Tommy Russel (9-10)
L: Skinny Foster (5-12)
SV: Chick Meehan (3)

Runs were far too easy to come by in this one, but luckily we got more of them and would look to take the series after a 15-10 win. John Dibblee lead the charge, going 4-for-5 with a double, 2 runs, and 2 RBI's. John Kincaid was 3-for-4 with a sac-bunt, double, 2 runs, and 2 RBI's. Russ Combs was 3-for-5 with a walk, run, and 2 RBI's. Bill Ashbaugh was 2-for-4 with a walk, triple, homer, 2 runs, and 4 RBI's. Vince York was 2-for-4 with a triple, walk, 3 runs, and 2 RBI's. Harry Simmons was 2-for-5 with a sac-bunt and 2 runs scored. Slick Hostetter was 1-for-4 with a walk, run scored, and RBI. Tommy Russel went 7.2 innings with 15 hits, 10 runs (6 earned), a walk, and 2 strikeouts. Chick Meehan got a save, 1.1 innings with 2 hits and a strikeout.

August 19th, 1930
New York Stars (61-61): 3
Chicago Cougars (64-55): 5

W: Dick Leudtke (6-1)
L: Moxie Nelson (11-7)

The finale had a lot less fireworks, but we went in and did our job to take the finale 5-3. Dick Leudtke had a solid start, going all 9 with 11 hits, 3 runs, 2 walks, and 6 strikeouts. Fred Barrell was 2-for-4 with a double, run scored, and 2 RBI's. John Kincaid was 2-for-4 with 2 runs scored. Harry Simmons was 2-for-3 with a walk. Bill Ashbaugh was 1-for-4 with a run scored and 2 RBI's. Vince York was 1-for-3 with a walk and run scored. Bob McCarty was 1-for-4 with a double and RBI.

August 21st, 1930
Montreal Saints (68-53): 4
Chicago Cougars (64-56): 3

W: Rich Fisher (10-4)
L: Dick Lyons (11-11)

We got a day off before hosting the second place Saints for four. It was a close one, but the visiting Saints took the opener 4-3. Dick Lyons pitched fine in 6.1 innings with 6 hits, 4 runs (1 earned), a walk, and 3 strikeouts. Vince York was 2-for-4 with 2 runs scored. Russ Combs was 2-for-5 with a solo homer. Fred Barrell was 3-for-4. Bill Ashbaugh was 1-for-4 with a double and RBI. George Jordan was 1-for-4 with a steal and RBI.

August 22nd, 1930
Montreal Saints (69-53): 6
Chicago Cougars (64-57): 3

W: Dave Paynter (9-9)
L: Dick Kadlec (6-11)
SV: Gil Kern (6)

The game was tied until the 8th, when the Saints took a 4-3 lead and then added 2 more insurance runs in the 9th. Jim Crawford had a great start, 7.1 innings with 8 hits, 3 runs, and 3 strikeouts. Dick Kadlec went 1.2 innings with 5 hits and 3 runs. John Dibblee was 2-for-4 with a walk and run scored. Vince York was 2-for-4 with a walk and RBI. John Kincaid was 2-for-5 with an RBI. Harry Simmons was 1-for-4 with a steal and run scored. Fred Barrell was 1-for-4 with a sac-bunt and RBI.

August 23rd, 1930
Montreal Saints (70-53): 8
Chicago Cougars (64-58): 4

W: Charlie Stedman (14-8)
L: Max Wilder (9-9)

The Saints continued to have their way with us, as they set up the sweep with an 8-4 win. Max Wilder was roughed up again, 6.1 innings with 11 hits, 8 runs (6 earned), 2 walks, and 5 strikeouts. Chick Meehan tossed 2.2 innings with 2 hits and 2 strikeouts. Vince York was 3-for-4 with a triple and walk. Russ Combs was 2-for-4 with a triple, run scored, and sac-fly. Harry Simmons was 2-for-4 with a walk and RBI. George Jordan was 1-for-4 with an RBI.

August 24th, 1930
Montreal Saints (71-53): 8
Chicago Cougars (64-59): 6

W: Walker Moore (13-9)
L: Dick Kadlec (6-12)

We tied the game at 4 in the 8th, before they rallied for 4 in the top of the 9th. We tried a comeback, but managed just 2 runs as they swept us in our own park in a four game set...

Man...

George Jordan was 3-for-5 with a triple, run scored, and three driven in. Mack Deal was 3-for-5 with a double and run scored. John Dibblee was 2-for-5 with a double and 2 runs scored. Fred Barrell was 2-for-4 with a walk and run scored. Bill Ashbaugh was 2-for-4 with a walk and run scored. Dick Leudtke made the start, 8 innings with 11 hits, 4 runs (3 earned), 3 walks, and 3 strikeouts. Dick Kadlec allowed the 4 runs in the 9th off 3 hits and a walk with a strikeout.

Stars of the Week
Vince York : 24 AB, 11 H, 0 HR, 3 RBI, .458 AVG, 1.077 OPS
Russ Combs : 28 AB, 9 H, 1 HR, 6 RBI, .321 AVG, .833 OPS
Fred Barrell : 20 AB, 9 H, 0 HR, 3 RBI, .450 AVG, .976 OPS

Looking Ahead
The week started out great after we beat the Stars twice to win that four game set, but we let Montreal walk all over us in our own ballpark. They've closed the gap on the Sailors and find themselves just 3.5 games out of first as an exciting pennant race should shape up as we approach the final month.

Speaking of the final month, rosters will expand Monday and I will bring up reinforcements gradually through the month. Since we are out of the playoff hunt, I will give some youngsters extra at bats, but most of the guys on the 40 I view as future pieces are either pitchers or already on the active roster. I will likely go to a 6 or 7 man rotation to give some of the younger guys starts, but I'm going to keep all the starters in AAA until their season ends. On the offensive side, I will give Slim Bloom at bats and try to work Joe Davis in. I do plan on making a few 40 man moves, including purchasing Clyde Hinzman's contract.despite a pedestrian season in AAA. He's Rule-5 eligible and there's no reason not to give him a few September at bats.

Before September, however, we'll host the first place Sailors (73-48) for a quick two game set. We can continue to help the Saints with a sweep, but after how we looked against them I'm not sure that's even possible. Luckily, we finish off August with the last place Wolves (40-54) who have already been eliminated from the playoffs and more or less clinched the #2 spot in the draft. If we finish these six games 3-3, we'll have our third over .500 season of the year. 2-4 and we finish August .500. Either way, much better then July was.

Injury Report
SP Karl Clasby (AAA Milwaukee Blues): Mild abdominal strain (4 days)
LF Mike Smith (AAA Milwaukee Blues): Sprained ankle (4-5 weeks)
2B Tom Spitzer (C La Crosse Lions): Knee contusion (4 days)

Minor League Report

SP Ben Turner (AA Mobile Commodores): It's been a rough season for our #8 prospect Ben Turner, who's 7-12 with a 5.04 ERA (91 ERA+), 1.69 WHIP, and 45 strikeouts in 157 innings, but that doesn't mean we lost faith on him. Turner still projects as a middle of the rotation arm with pinpoint control and a dependable arsenal. He doesn't generate a lot of ground outs like most sinker ballers do, but he can use it to get hitters to role over. He also has a nice curve, slider, and change up which he locates really well. This has been his season with his most walks per nine (2.7) since his first pro season, but it's still a very respectable number. We did have hopes for Turner to reach AAA this season, which is unlikely, but I really want to see him there next year.

CF Joe Johnson (A Lincoln Legislators): Our #1 prospect and 2nd Round pick this year, Joe Johnson struggled to get on track this season and then dealt with a sprained ankle that cost him 3 weeks. At the plate, he hit just .263/.337/.403 (98 OPS+), but with 6 homers, 16 steals, and 66 RBI's before a promotion to Mobile today. But while the bat didn't impress, Johnson was outstanding defensively. Despite never recording a zone rating better the +2 in college, he recorded a +12.7 and 1.026 efficiency in 796 innings out in center field. Johnson has a ton of tools and projects to be a standout defender and .380 hitter. He's a "dynamic center fielder with exciting tools in the batters box" and there's a reason he's rated the 15th best prospect in all of baseball.

Amateur Report

3B Johnny Turner (George Fox Reds): One of the highest upside prospects in the college circuit, Turner finished his college career .367/.427/.515 (141 OPS+) with 14 homers and 144 RBI's. He saw his power surge as a senior and hit 8 homers with a 1.034 OPS. He's an above average defender with a great feel for the strike zone. He has plenty of bat speed and can hit a decent amount of homers. I don't think he's going to go #1 overall, but he should be a decent choice for a first round pick.

SP Alan Oliver (Birmingham HS Bulldogs): In what has to be one of the weakest high school classes I've seen, Alan Oliver is probably the best pitcher. And he only pitched this season. He had an excellent year, going 7-2 with a 1.45 ERA (267 ERA+), 0.84 WHIP, and 73 strikeouts in 74.2 innings pitched. He's watched his velocity jump from 83-85 to 87-89 this season, part of the reason why this is the first year he's played. Oliver can throw five pitches, a fastball, change, splitter, forkball, and knuckle curve. He won't walk too many batters, gets his share of strikeouts, and almost never allows any hits. I think it'd be risky to take him in the first round, but I don't know if I'd be able to pass him up if he's still around in the third or fourth even if there are safer and better options available.