[ayaghmour2]

May 25th, 1931
Philadelphia Sailors (23-15): 1
Chicago Cougars (24-15): 0

W: Oscar Morse (6-3)
L: Dick Leudtke (4-3)

We had so many chances to win this game and get the sweep, but we just could not score off Oscar Morse and the Sailors left Chicago with a 1-0 win. Dick Leudtke had a pretty lucky outing, 8.1 innings with 10 hits, an unearned run, 7 walks, and just 2 strikeouts. Slim Bloom was 2-for-4 with a double. Bill Ashbaugh was 2-for-4, but he made the error that led to the only run in the game.

May 26th, 1931
Chicago Cougars (24-17): 4
Cleveland Foresters (16-24): 2

W: Jim Crawford (5-3)
L: Rube McCormick (2-5)
SV: Dick Lyons (4)

Back on the road and the schedule took us to Cleveland for three games with the Foresters. Jim Crawford had another excellent start, 7 innings with 6 hits, 2 runs (1 earned), 2 walks, and a strikeout. Dick Kadlec struck out two in two perfect innings to pick up the save. John Kincaid was 3-for-5 with a double, run scored, and 2 RBI's. Cy Bryant was 2-for-4 with a steal, sac-bunt, and RBI. Slim Bloom was 2-for-4 with a double, run scored, and RBI.

May 27th, 1931
Chicago Cougars (24-18): 2
Cleveland Foresters (17-24): 5

W: George Baker (4-3)
L: Steve Castellini (3-4)

Tied at 2 in the 8th, the Foresters rallied for three, and our offense failed to answer back as the hosts got the series split. Steve Castellini got the loss, 7.2 innings with 10 hits, 5 runs, 2 walks, and 4 strikeouts. Tom Taylor was 3-for-4 with a double and run scored. Vince York was 2-for-4 with a run scored, RBI, and pair of doubles.

May 28th, 1931
Chicago Cougars (25-18): 5
Cleveland Foresters (17-25): 2

W: Dick Lyons (5-3)
L: Allen Purvis (2-5)

The runs still aren't coming around like I want them to, but we flipped the score in the finale and took the series with a 5-2 win. Dick Lyons allowed 10 hits in the complete game victory with 2 hits, a walk, and a strikeout. John Dibble showed he still has it, 2-for-5 with a double, 2 runs, and 2 RBI's. Cy Bryant was 2-for-4 wit a steal and run scored. Harry Simmons was 1-for-3 with a double, walk, and RBI.

May 29th, 1931
Chicago Cougars (26-18): 7
Philadelphia Sailors (26-16): 3

W: Max Wilder (6-4)
L: Cotton Taylor (1-2)

Our travels brought us to Philadelphia for three games in two days. We actually got some runs in this one, and took the opener 7-3 against former Cougar Cotton Taylor. The Sailors claimed him off waivers from the Detroit, who I traded Taylor to in the offseason. It hasn't gone well for Taylor, who's 1-2 with a 7.11 ERA (57 ERA+), 1.67 WHIP, and 11 strikeouts (13 walks) in 31.2 innings. The Sailors also lost star CF David Merchant for 2 weeks with a sore elbow.

Max Wilder made the start for us, 8 innings with 9 hits, 3 runs, 2 walks, and a strikeout. He was also 1-for-4 with a double and run scored. Vince York was 2-for-4 with a double, walk, run, and 2 RBI's. Harry Simmons was 2-for-3 with a double, 2 walks, and 3 RBI's. Tom Taylor was 2-for-5 with a steal and pair of runs scored.

May 30th, 1931
Chicago Cougars (27-18): 3
Philadelphia Sailors (26-17): 1
Game 1

W: Dick Luedtke (5-3)
L: Oscar Morse (6-4)

The first game of a double header saw a rematch of Monday's starting pitching matchup. Leudtke outdueled Morse this time, just 4 hits, a run, 2 walks, and 3 strikeouts in the complete game victory. Jim Kyle was a perfect 3-for-3 with a walk, double, triple, and RBI. John Kincaid was 3-for-5 with a steal and run scored. Bill Ashbaugh was 1-for-3 with a walk and RBI. Harry Simmons was 1-for-4 with a run scored, walk, and steal.

May 30th, 1931
Chicago Cougars (27-19): 1
Philadelphia Sailors (27-17): 2
Game 2

W: Russ Reel (2-2)
L: Jim Crawford (5-4)

Game two saw even less scoring, and we held a 1-0 lead headed to the 9th. Bobby Bond singled off Jim Crawford, and the Sailors tied it at one to force extras. 2 innings later, Bond was up again, and hit a deep fly to center. It was caught, but Jack Cleaves scored and the Sailors walked off 2-1 winners. Crawford pitched 11.2 innings, allowing 5 hits, 2 runs, and 2 walks with 5 strikeouts. He was also 2-for-3 with 2 sac-bunts. His now 2.62 ERA is actually the best in all of baseball. Vince York was all the offense, 3-for-5 with a solo homer and two doubles. Harry Simmons was 2-for-4 with a double and walk.

May 31st, 1931
Philadelphia Sailors (27-18): 0
Chicago Cougars (28-19): 5

W: Steve Castellni (4-4)
L: Herb Lowman (5-3)

Real interesting scheduling quirk: we're in Chicago after a double header for just one game.The Sailors offense was exhausted and somehow we managed five runs to take three of four for the Sailors. Steve Castellini made an interesting start. He faced 31 batters and didn't walk or strike out a single batter. He allowed 8 hits in 8 shutout innings. Vince York was 3-for-4 with a triple, run scored, and driven in. Jim Kyle was 3-for-4 with an RBI. Cy Bryant was 2-for-3 with a steal, walk, and run scored. Tom Taylor was 1-for-4 with a two run homer.

Stars of the Week
Vince York : 30 AB, 12 H, 1 HR, 5 RBI, .400 AVG, 1.204 OPS
Tom Taylor : 30 AB, 9 H, 1 HR, 2 RBI, .300 AVG, .797 OPS
John Kincaid : 32 AB, 10 H, 0 HR, 2 RBI, .313 AVG, .715 OPS

Weekly Summary
We had a busy week with 8 games in seven days in four different cities, and we came out with five wins. We're now tied for second with the Sailors and just one game behind the Cannons (28-17). We're starting to string wins together, and we finished May an impressive 18-12. We've allowed the least amount of runs and scored the second most, but the first place Cannons have scored 30 more then us already. I got to say though, if Combs and Barrell were healthy, I have to believe we'd still have the most runs scored.

Speaking of Combs, he's hurt for just 1 day, so I'll miss out on a whole week of his play because I won't be able to start a rehab assignment. It's not the biggest worry, since Silm Bloom was replacing him well, but I want Combs in the lineup as soon as possible and I wanted him to shake the rust off in minor league games first. Bloom has hit well, batting .283/.391/.442 (112 OPS+) with 2 steals, 2 homers, and 19 RBI's in 133 trips to the plate. He hasn't done too great defensively at short, so I'm going to move him to second and let Simmons play short.

We've got a really helpful day off to start the week, and will get to stay home as the Kings (21-25) come to town on a day off of their own. This is the start of 15 straight home games. After the Kings, we get the last place Saints (16-29). We'll have two sub .500 opponents and we should be able to pick up these wins at home. With it being a four game series with Brooklyn, we will no matter what get both Fritz and Wilcox, which will be tough matchups for our hitters. I'd love to see a spark from the offense now that we are back home. With Combs and Barrell almost back healthy, the lineup will get a nice boost shortly.

Injury Report
RP Elmer Wood (AAA Milwaukee Blues): Bone spurn (4-5 weeks)
RP Bill Hartfield (A Lincoln Legislators): Returned from the DL

Minor League Report

SP George DeForest (B San Jose Cougars): Our top pitching prospect who is healthy, DeForest has started the season in San Jose as I look to keep his innings down. It's served him well, as on the 25th of May DeForest tossed a no-hitter against the Fresno Falcons. San Jose won 4-1, as DeForest allowed an unearned run and 2 walks with 9 strikeouts in the no-hitter. While this start was amazing, it has been a really solid season for the 22-year-old. He's 4-3 with a 3.14 ERA (137 ERA+), 1.10 WHIP, and 79 strikeouts in 63 innings with the Cougars. DeForest as the future to be a #2 in the rotation, and ranks as the 64th best prospect in all of baseball.

SP Mel Leonard (C La Cross Lions): Another one of our top prospects, recent 2nd Round selection Mel Leonard tossed a 4-hit shutout in his last start with La Crosse. He walked 5 and struck out 8 in the complete game victory. Our 4th best prospect and 73rd best in the league, Leonard has had an excellent first season. He''s 4-4 with a 2.17 ERA (171 ERA+), 1.12 WHIP, 60 strikeouts. Leonard has huge potential and could be a front line pitcher. Leonard gets a lot of strikeouts and has a nice three pitch arsenal. His fastball sits in the high 80s and he doesn't allow too many home runs. He's got a lot of potential, but he's got a lot of developing left. This is a good thing, as there's no room for a starter currently, but we probably will need someone 3-4 years down the road.

CF Ken Allen (A Lincoln Legislators): He'sunder the radar in our organization for two reasons. He's in the same draft class as top prospect Joe Johnson and he plays the same position as Joe Johnson. The 23-year-old Allen is stuck in Lincoln while Johnson is in Mobile, but he's making the most of it. The 4th Rounder took home Player of the Week, going 12-for-27 with 3 homers and 11 RBI's. Allen is an excellent hitter, with great pitch recognition and the potential to contest for batting titles. He's got outstanding range out in center and great speed on the bases. It'll be hard for Allen to start in center with us, but he's got the talent to be a great big leaguer.

Amateur Report

SP Sam Rogers (Cumberland Express): Sam Rogers had one of the best seasons for freshman in 1929. He was 8-2 with a 2.33 ERA (198 ERA+), 1.08 WHIP, and 127 strikeouts in 104.1 innings pitched. His junior year was one to forget, as he was 5-3 with a 4.15 ERA (106 ERA+), 1.40 WHIP, and 40 strikeouts in 69.1 innings pitched. It ended strong, however, as the likely last start in his college career was a 6-hit shutout of North Carolina Tech. Rogers did have skill, a 91-93 MPH fastball with a devastating sinker that generates a ton of groundballs. The only problem is he doesn't have good secondary stuff. He fooled a lot of hitters when he first came up, but now that he's pitched longer it's been easier to hit him. He's got to work on making the splitter or screwball his third pitch if he wants to have a shot starting in the FABL.

SP Sam Sullivan (Brunswick Knights): For some reason, Sam Sullivan did not make a single start for Brunswick last season. He didn't even throw a single pitch. This year, he had a league best 1.28 ERA (329 ERA+) with a 0.85 WHIP and 137 strikeouts in 119.2 innings pitched. It was an amazing season for Sullivan, who was worth a full 6.2 WAR in the equivalent of half a regular season. The key to Sullivan's success is a dominant downward sinker that sits in the mid the high 80s. He gets batters to swing right over it and they either make week contact or miss. He's got a ton of secondary pitches, including a curve, slider, change, and forkball. Sullivan is probably one of the best pitching prospects in the game, and he should be the early favorite for a first round selection in the 1932 draft. There are a lot of talented college pitchers, but Sullivan may be the best.

RF Joey Binette (Decatur HS Demons): No high schooler hit more home runs then Joey Binette's 18, which is even less then the 23 he hit last season. Binette had a third strong season with a .282/.345/.673 (178 OPS+) line. For his high school career, he had a .285/.355/.654 (181 OPS+) batting line with 46 homers and 131 RBI's in 524 trips to the plate. He doesn't profile as much of a defender in right, but that shouldn't take away too much from his value. He's got a ton of power and a lot of strength in his steal. I think he should go pretty early in this draft, but I'm avoiding him because I'm not a fan of his defense.