[ayaghmour2]

May 16th, 1932
New York Stars (24-9): 4
Chicago Cougars (24-10): 5
11 Innings

W: Claude Purvis (2-0)
L: Tom Fitzgerald (1-2)

What a crazy one! Down 4-0 after 6, we scored 3 in the 7th and one more in the 8th to tie the game. In the 11th, Vince York sent the fans home happy with a walk off single. York was 2-for-6 with a double and the game winning RBI. John Kincaid was 5-for-6 with a double and 2 RBI's. Phil Vaughan was 1-for-4 with a solo homer. Fred Barrell was 3-for-5 with a run scored. Mike Smith was 2-for-4 with a walk. Dick Lyons was 1-for-3 with a run scored and driven in. He also tossed 9 innings with 12 hits, 4 runs, and 3 strikeouts. Claude Purvis got the win, 2 innings with a hit, walk, and strikeout.

May 17th, 1932
New York Stars (25-9): 5
Chicago Cougars (24-11): 3
10 Innings

W: Jack Carr (2-0)
L: Chick Meehan (0-1)

Another extra inning affair, but this time we acme out on the wrong side. We were up 3-2, but they tied it in the ninth and got two more in the 10th to win 5-3. Max Wilder left after 3 innings with an injury. He allowed a hit, run, walk, and 2 strikeouts. He was diagnosed with back spasms. Gus Cain went 4 innings with 4 hit, a run, walk, and 3 strikeouts. Claude Purvis allowed 2 hits, a run, 2 walks, and struck out 1. Chick Meehan got the loss, an inning with 2 hits, 2 runs, and a strikeout. Harry Simmons was 3-for-4 with a double, triple, and 2 runs scored. Tom Taylor was 2-for-4. Slim Bloom was 1-for-2 with a double and RBI.

May 18th, 1932
New York Stars (25-10): 10
Chicago Cougars (25-11): 11

W: Bill Kline (1-1)
L: Tom Fitzgerald (1-3)

What a crazy game to end a crazy series. The Stars were up 6-3 in the 8th. Fed up with losing, we rallied for 8 runs in the 8th to make it 11-6. Even better, the Stars didn't want to lose either, and scored 4 to make it 11-10 before we finally got the last two outs of the ninth and split with the still first place Stars. Vince York was 2-for-4 with a double, walk, run, and 3 RBI's. Bill Ashbaugh was 2-for-4 with a double, walk, RBI, and three runs scored. Tom Taylor was 2-for-5 with a double, 2 runs, and 2 RBI's. Cy Bryant was 1-for-3 with a double, steal, walk, run, and RBI. Phil Vaughan was 2-for-4 with a run and 2 RBI's. Fred Barrell was 2-for-3 with a sac-bunt and run scored. Jim Crawford made the start, allowing 9 hits and 6 runs with 4 walks and 4 strikeouts in 7 innings. Charlie Morrell made his debut, allowing 4 hits and 4 runs with a strikeout in one inning.

May 19th, 1932
Chicago Cougars (26-11): 9
Cleveland Foresters (17-20): 7

W: Dick Leudtke (4-3)
L: Jim Cavender (0-1)
SV: Claude Purvis (8)

Our next stop was Cleveland where we would face the Foresters for a four game set. It wasn't a pretty win, but eight of our nine runs came in the first and ninth innings, and we edged the hosts 9-7. Fred Barrell was 3-for-4 with a walk, run, and 4 RBI's while just a homer shy of the cycle. Vince York was 2-for-4 with a double, walk, 2 runs, and 2 RBI's. Slim Bloom was 2-for-4 with a double and sac-fly. Cy Bryant was 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored. Phil Vaughan was 1-for-3 with a pair of walks and a run scored. Dick Leudtke went 8 with 10 hits, 7 runs, 2 walks, and a strikeout.

May 20th, 1932
Chicago Cougars (26-12): 0
Cleveland Foresters (18-20): 7

W: Ben Turner (4-3)
L: Steve Castellini (0-1)

We just could not hit our former farmhand, and Ben Turner tossed a 6-hit shutout in a 7-0 win. Steve Castellini made his first start of the year, and he really didn't do bad. 6 of the 7 runs were unearned and he allowed just 5 hits and 3 walks with a strikeout. Tom Taylor was 2-for-3 with a double. Jim Kyle was 2-for-3.

As crazy as it sounds, Turner wasn't the only pitcher with a 7-hit shutout. Brooklyn's Lyman Weigel tossed a 5-hit shutout with 5 strikeouts in a win over the Saints and Detroit's Roy Calfee tossed a 3-hut shutout with 5 strikeouts in a win over the Pioneers.

May 21st, 1932
Chicago Cougars (26-13): 3
Cleveland Foresters (19-20): 4

W: Carl Bragg (3-3)
L: Max Wilder (5-3)
SV: Bill Beier (2)

I think this one would have gone different if Max Wilder was healthy for this start. He looked alright, but still allowed 8 hits, 4 runs, and 5 walks with 3 strikeouts in the loss. He was also 1-for-2 with a sac-bunt. Mike Smith was 2-for-4 with a double, run scored, and RBI. Vince York was 2-for-3 with a walk, run, and RBI. Fred Barrell was 1-for-3 with a run and sac-bunt.

May 22nd, 1932
Chicago Cougars (27-13): 3
Cleveland Foresters (19-21): 2

W: Jim Crawford (7-1)
L: Ed Wood (1-3)

We managed to leave with a split and finished a treacherous stretch of 33 consecutive games with a 3-2 win. Crawford looked like himself again, going all nine with 3 hits, 2 runs, 3 walks, and 7 strikeouts. Fred Barrell and Cy Bryant were both 2-for-4 with an RBI. Vince York was 2-for-4 with a run scored. Tom Taylor was 1-for-4 with a double, run, and RBI. Bill Ashbaugh was 1-for-3 with a walk.

Stars of the Week
Fred Barrell : 23 AB, 12 H, 0 HR, 7 RBI, .522 AVG, 1.237 OPS
Vince York : 26 AB, 10 H, 0 HR, 7 RBI, .385 AVG, .948 OPS
Tom Taylor : 26 AB, 8 H, 0 HR, 4 RBI, .308 AVG, .756 OPS

Weekly Summary
19-14.

That was our record on our stretch of 33 consecutive games. It's not great by any means, but only one team in the CA other then New York (Philly, 20) has more wins this year then that. We're now a game behind those Stars (27-13) and now we get a pair of off days around a two game series in Toronto (15-24) with the last place Wolves. We then head home to finish the month, starting with two against Cleveland and two with Philadelphia.

Harry Simmons did okay filling it at short, but for the next few weeks while Combs heals up we'll at least have a natural shortstop in Arnold Bower filling in. He's not going to add much offensively, but his work with the glove should help. Slim Bloom is on his way to AAA where I'm hoping he can learn to be a competent shortstop like he was in the minors.

One quick thing: Vince York is now tied for second in batting average in the Continental Association. His batting average is up almost a full 100 points since I pointed out he was struggling, and now he's hitting .342/.389/.430 (108 OPS+) with 1 homer, 3 steals, and 30 RBI's. Only Stars superstar and former Cougar farmhand John Lawson has a higher average and he's really managed to turn things around. The power isn't there, as his slugging percentage is way down, but I have faith he'll turn things around in that department. He's really making up for Russ Combs' absence and we're up to #1 in runs, average, OBP, OPS, WAR, wOBA, steals, and base running while tied for second in homers.

Transactions
Optioned 2B Slim Bloom to AAA and added SS Arnold Bower to the active roster.

Injury Report
RP Hap Goodwin (AAA Milwaukee Blues): Activated from the DL
RP Pete Sposito (AAA Milwaukee Blues): Activated from the DL
SP Tommy Russel (AAA Milwaukee Blues): Shoulder inflammation (8 weeks)
RP Fred Carter (AAA Milwaukee Blues): Biceps tendinitis (2 weeks)
2B John Quick (AA Mobile Commodores): Sprained elbow (5 days)
1B Sam Reeves (AA Mobile Commodores): Activated from the DL
C Herman Rachford (AA Mobile Commodores): Activated from the DL
LF Dave Ward (A Lincoln Legislators): Back tightness (1-2 weeks)
2B Bob Crocker (B San Jose Cougars): Activated from the DL
SP Ike Quinn (C La Crosse Lions): Activated from the DL

Minor League Report

SP Ace McSherry (AAA Milwaukee Blues): I have not seen a pitching staff as good as Milwaukee, with three starters with an ERA below 1.40. Ace McSherry is hovering just above 1, 4-0 with a 1.01 ERA (454 ERA+), 0.76 WHIP, and 26 strikeouts in 35.2 innings pitched. McSherry has been absolutely dominant and it's really hard keeping him here when he obviously could be effective in the majors somewhere else. I might have to bring him up, but we have too many pitchers already. Between him, Murphy, and Barrell I have three big league starters stuck in AAA.

CF Roy Moore (C La Crosse Lions): It hasn't been the greatest start to the season for Roy Moore, but the 19-year-old had a nice 5-hit game in a 9-6 win over Moline. He's hitting just .262/.304/.297 (60 OPS+) with 6 steals and 8 RBI's in his first 185 plate appearances of professional ball. It's been a rough adjustment period, but hopefully this will start turning things around.

Amateur Report

SP Rufus Barrell II (Macon HS Musketeers): The Barrell name brings a lot to baseball. Not only are Dan, Fred, and Bobby all big leaguers, Tom and Harry were both #1 overall selections and will be shortly. There's still one more Rufus, and the 14-year-old southpaw is making sound waves at Macon HS. He's 6-3 with a 2.23 ERA (213 ERA+), 0.80 WHIP, and 103 strikeouts with just 4 walks in 76.2 innings pitched. He's got a ton of talent, with a mid 90s fastball already. He throws four quality pitches including a devastating slider that same side hitters have no luck with. He's got elite control and is shaping up to be the third Barrell taken #1 overall.

3B Phil McKenna (Coastal California Dolphins): After an average freshman year, Phil McKenna has absolutely crushed the ball this year. Hitting 16 homers and driving in 62 RBI's, he's a big reason why the Dolphins our in first place with just four games left in the season. His .350/.433/.694 (168 OPS+) batting line is extremely impressive as well and he's walked just as much as he's striked out. He's got a really smooth swing and great plate discipline with a ton of power to go with it. He's not much of a defender, but he more then makes up for it with his bat.

RF Joe Ellicott (Indiana A&M Reapers): One of the more consistent college players out there, Joe Ellicott is about to finish his three year college career with Indiana A&M. He's hitting .387/.468/.694 (185 OPS+) with 10 homers and 42 RBI's. His career line is actually better, hitting .384/.479/.695 (202 OPS+) with 32 homers and 113 RBI's in 645 trips to the plate. He's an excellent defender out in right with a really good arm. He's got plus contact ability and is showing impressive enough power that should develop him into a top notch outfielder.