[ayaghmour2]

September 9th, 1930
Chicago Cougars (73-64): 6
Brooklyn Kings (66-71): 3

W: Dick Leudtke (8-2)
L: Bill Dengler (3-2)

Our New York trip started in Brooklyn, and we kept them in check to take the opener 6-3. Dick Leudtke had a nice start, going all 9 with 7 hits, 3 runs, 2 walks, and 2 strikeouts. Vince York was 3-for-5 with a double, RBI, and two runs scored. Russ Combs was 2-for-5 with a steal and run scored. Fred Barrell was 1-for-3 with a homer, walk, 2 runs, and 3 RBI's. Art Panko was 1-for-4 with a double and RBI. Harry Simmons was 1-for-4 with a run scored and driven in.

September 10th, 1930
Chicago Cougars (73-65): 4
Brooklyn Kings (67-71): 6
10 Innings

W: Bill Kutz (5-3)
L: Chick Meehan (7-5)

The Kings scored 2 in the 7th to tie it and neither team could break through in nine, so we headed to extras, again... In the 10th, rookie slugger Bill Scott launched homer #31 and the Kings walked off 6-4 winners. Dick Lyons made the start, but he only went 5 innings. He allowed 8 hits, 2 runs (1 earned), a walk, and 2 strikeouts. Dick Kadlec tossed 3 innings with a hit, 2 runs, 4 walks, and a strikeout. Chick Meehan didn't get an out, allowing 2 hits and 2 homers. John Kincaid was 3-for-4 with 2 doubles, a walk, run scored, and 2 RBI's. George Sanders was 2-for-5 with a double. Vince York was 2-for-5 with an RBI. Art Panko was 2-for-5. Bob McCarty was 1-for-3 with a walk.

September 11th, 1930
Chicago Cougars (74-65): 8
Brooklyn Kings (67-72): 2

W: Bill Kutz (11-9)
L: Chick Meehan (17-12)

We took an early lead, and cruised to an 8-2 victory to take the finale. Max Wilder went the distance, allowing 9 hits, 2 runs, and 5 walks with 6 strikeouts. John Kincaid was 3-for-4 with a sac-bunt, steal, run scored, and RBI. Harry Simmons was 3-for-5 with 2 runs and an RBI. Art Panko was 3-for-5 with 2 doubles and an RBI. Bob McCarty was 2-for-5 with a triple, run scored, and RBI. Bill Ashbaugh was 1-for-4 with a triple, run scored, and 2 RBI's. Vince York was 1-for-4 with a run scored, walk, and RBI. Russ Combs was 1-for-3 with a walk, RBI, and two runs scored.

September 12th, 1930
Chicago Cougars (75-65): 11
New York Stars (72-69): 7
10 Innings

W: Dick Kadlec (7-13)
L: Earl Slater (2-3)

We entered New York for a four game series, today's game, a double header tomorrow followed by an off day, and then a final fourth game. We took a 7-4 lead into the 8th, and then they scored 2 in the bottom half and 1 more in the 9th to force extras. After losing an extra inning affair in Brooklyn, we did not want to follow that fate, and put up 4 in the top of the 10th and kept the Stars quiet in the bottom half to take the finale. Bill Ashbaugh was 4-for-5 with a double, walk, 3 runs, and 3 RBI's. Vince York was 2-for-4 with 2 runs, 2 walks, and an RBI. Fred Barrell was 2-for-6 with 2 RBI's. Art Panko was 2-for-5 with an RBI. Harry Simmons was 1-for-4 with a sac-fly, sac-bunt, run scored, and 2 RBI's. Today's starter, Gus Cain, hit better then he pitched, going 3-for-4 with 2 runs and 2 doubles. On the mound, he went 7 innings with 6 hits, 6 runs, 4 walks, and 3 strikeouts. Dick Kadlec picked up the win, 2 innings with a hit, run, and 2 strikeouts.

September 13th, 1930
Chicago Cougars (76-65): 12
New York Stars (72-70): 7
Game 1

W: Tommy Russel (13-10)
L: Mutt Pharr (10-5)

We had a double header today, and the bats were out for game one. Other then a 6 run 7th (all unearned), we dominated the entire game, taking the first game 12-7. Tommy Russel pitched the whole game, allowing 13 hits and just one earned run with a strikeout. 6 of the hits and all 6 unearned runs came in the 7th. He was also 2-for-3 with a run scored and 2 sac-bunts. Harry Simmons was 4-for-5 with a double, triple, 2 runs scored, and an RBI. Fred Barrell was 3-for-5 with a run scored and 2 RBI's. Bill Ashbaugh was 2-for-4 with a double, homer, walk, 3 runs, and 5 RBI's. Art Panko was 1-for-3 with a double and RBI.

September 14th, 1930
Chicago Cougars (76-67): 2
New York Stars (73-70): 3
Game 2
10 Innings

W: Jack Carr (9-8)
L: Jim Crawford (6-4)

There weren't nearly as many runs as game one, and of course, this one also made it's way to extra innings. We decided we love extra inning games, but even more, love getting walked off! This time, with Crawford still pitching in the 10th, former Cougar John Lawson (who became a stud right after I traded him...) ended the game with an RBI single. Crawford went 9.1 innings with 10 hits, 3 runs, 3 walks, and just 1 strikeout. Cal Blackshear was 1-for-2 with a triple and run scored. Jim Kyle was 1-for-4 with an RBI. Slim Bloom was 1-for-4 with an RBI.

Stars of the Week
Harry Simmons : 23 AB, 10 H, 0 HR, 5 RBI, .435 AVG, 1.136 OPS
Bill Ashbaugh : 23 AB, 8 H, 1 HR, 10 RBI, .348 AVG, 1.075 OPS
Vince York : 23 AB, 10 H, 0 HR, 5 RBI, .435 AVG, 1.022 OPS

Weekly Summary
This week would have been perfect if we didn't let teams walk us off... 4-2 is still nice, but now our last four losses have been of the walkoff variety. And each time, it's been a different pitcher. The playoff race got interesting, as the Sailors (80-60) rough stretch have brought the Saints (81-62) and Cannons (81-64) within two games of us. We're five out and not technically eliminated, but there is still technically a chance.

Vince York's average has dropped, but him and Harry Simmons are tied for third with a .369 average. Bill Ashbaugh jumped up to third in the CA in RBI's with 120. Ashbaugh has also now increased his OPS+ to 125 and he's now just 4 homers away from 20. It's a long shot, but he can definitely has a sliver of a chance to reach 20 homers for the third straight year.

After finishing the final game with the Stars, we'll head to Montreal for three with the Saints who looks to overtake the Sailors followed by four with the Cannons, also looking to overtake the Sailors. This will be a really tough week for us, and we have just four games after those two series. If somehow we win all seven (plus the one with the Stars), perhaps there is an outside chance to make the playoffs. But, I don't believe that is even a remote chance and I'm just hoping we can hit 80 wins. It's cool seeing the last place Gothams go worst to first in the FA, but I can't imagine we'll find the same fate. Either way, I'm super excited for the offseason so I can make final moves to hopefully turn us into a championship team.

Injury Report
RP Ray Leonard (A Lincoln Legislators): Back spasms (one week)

Transactions
I made my final callups, recalling SP Cotton Taylor from AAA and purchased the contract of C Jim Stevens from AAA. I also sent Ace McSherry to AAA to begin rehab.

Minor League Report

SP Cotton Taylor: He spent most of his time last year in our rotation, but he didn't do too well. He was 7-10 with a 5.34 ERA (87 ERA+), 1.83 WHIP, and 52 strikeouts in 140 innings. He was also 7-10 with the Blues, but with a much better 3.41 ERA (124 ERA+), 1.34 WHIP, and 147 strikeouts in 163.2 innings. He's 27 (almost 28) and in his last option year, so he's going to have to make the most of his limited opportunities. There's talent there, he has a deep four pitch arsenal, but he isn't too exciting other then that. He'll be one of the guys I'll be considering moving in the offseason as I work at trimming and tinkering the roster.

C Jim Stevens: The 25-year-old was acquired from Cleveland last July for fellow catcher Barney Green. A former 23rd Round Pick, Stevens spent his whole season in AAA, hitting an impressive .246/.344/.491 (122 OPS+) with 29 homers and 80 RBI's. Stevens has a ton of power and is a decent defender, and I think he's going to be a perfect backup to Fred Barrell. I'll give him a few starts as the season ends, and then give him a chance to compete with Hostetter and Kyle for the backup spot next spring.