[ayaghmour2]

September 20th, 1932
Philadelphia Sailors (74-75): 6
Chicago Cougars (94-56): 9

W: Tommy Wilcox (6-5)
L: Doc Newell (9-14)

We just keep on winning... We opened the Sailors series with a 9-6 win to extend our win streak to 10. Tommy Wilcox had another rough start, allowing 10 hits with 6 runs, a walk, and strikeout in a complete game victory. Cy Bryant was a perfect 3-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored. Bill Ashbaugh was 1-for-4 with a grand slam. Mike Taylor was 1-for-3 with a walk, solo homer, and two runs scored. Tom Taylor and Arnold Bower were both 1-for-4 with a run scored. John Kincaid was 1-for-5 with a double, run, and 3 RBI's. Russ Combs was 0-for-1, but with a steal, run, sac-fly, and three walks.

September 21st, 1932
Philadelphia Sailors (74-76): 2
Chicago Cougars (95-56): 8

W: Jim Crawford (16-10)
L: Rollie Beal (16-14)

Where was this in July...

Up to 11 straight after an 8-2 win over the Sailors and we still keep our slim playoff chances alive. Jim Crawford was dominant, going all nine with just 4 hits, 2 walks, 2 unearned runs, and 5 strikeouts. He was also 2-for-3 with a sac-bunt and run scored. Tom Taylor was 2-for-4 with a homer, 2 runs, and 3 RBI's. Mike Taylor was 2-for-3 with 2 runs, a walk, and steal. Russ Combs was 2-for-5 with a triple and RBI. Vince York was 2-for-4 with a double, run, and RBI. Cy Bryant was 2-for-4 with an RBI. Bill Ashbaugh was 1-for-3 with a sac-fly and 2 RBI's.

September 22nd, 1932
Philadelphia Sailors (74-77): 6
Chicago Cougars (96-56): 10

W: Max Wilder (15-8)
L: Oscar Morse (12-8)

Well, we sweep the Sailors with a nice 10-6 win. The Stars magic number is currently one, so we're still alive since they didn't play and won't until the 24th where they start a two game series with the Saints. John Kincaid was 3-for-5 with 2 runs and just a homer shy of the cycle. Vince York was 3-for-5 with 2 runs scored and driven in. Mike Taylor was 2-for-5 with 3 RBI's. Cy Bryant was 2-for-2 with 2 walks and a run scored. Arnold Bower was 1-for-3 with a sac-fly and run scored. Starter Max Wilder was 2-for-4 with a run scored and two driven in. He went all nine, but allowed 11 hits, 6 runs (4 earned), and 3 walks with 2 strikeouts.

September 24th, 1932
Cleveland Foresters (79-74): 3
Chicago Cougars (97-56): 4

W: Ace McSherry (1-0)
L: Karl Johnson (13-15)

We just don't want to give up...

We tied the game at one in the eigth, but the Foresters got two on McSherry (who should not have been in with Leudtke only at 111 pitches...) to take a 3-1 lead. We rallied for three including a walk-off single courtesy of Cy Bryant to keep our playoff hopes alive as the Stars lost their opener to the Saints.

Leudtke was robbed of his 20th win, going 8 innings with just 2 hits, a run, 2 walks and 3 strikeouts before being inexplicably pulled from the game. McSherry allowed 2 runs, a hit, and a walk with a strikeout in the ninth. Vince York was 3-for-4 with a run scored and driven in. Russ Combs was 2-for-4 with a steal and RBI. Bill Ashbaugh was 1-for-3 with a walk and run scored. Cy Bryant was 1-for-3 with a sac-bunt and the game winning RBI.

September 25th, 1932
Cleveland Foresters (80-74): 13
Chicago Cougars (97-57): 2

W: Heinie Bretz (4-5)
L: Tommy Wilcox (6-6)

All good things must come to an end...

Granted, this game didn't matter, as the Stars won to clinch the postseason, but leave it to Tommy Wilcox to pitch absolutely awful to end the season. I'm almost positive I scheduled Dick Lyons to pitch, but for some reason it was Wilcox who allowed 10 hits, 8 runs (7 earned), a walk and a strikeout in just 4 innings. Dick Kadlec was roughed in 3.2 innings with 8 hits, 5 runs, 3 walks, and 2 strikeouts. Russ Combs was 2-for-4 with a triple, steal, and run scored. John Kincaid was 1-for-3 with an RBI. Bob McCarty had a pinch hit RBI double in the 9th.

Stars of the Week
Cy Bryant : 15 AB, 9 H, 0 HR, 2 RBI, .600 AVG, 1.267 OPS
Vince York : 20 AB, 9 H, 0 HR, 4 RBI, .450 AVG, .950 OPS
Russ Combs : 19 AB, 7 H, 0 HR, 3 RBI, .368 AVG, 1.014 OPS

Weekly Summary
I. Hate. Tommy. Wilcox.

Obviously, hindsight is 20/20, but I can't help but think that I cost myself a pennant with the trade. Sure, Mike Taylor lit the world on fire by hitting .343/.414/.563 (145 OPS+) with 10 homers and 44 RBI's after the trade and Fred Barrell slumped to a .291/.339/.394 (86 OPS+) line with 2 homers and 31 RBI's, but the difference between Wilcox and Barrell is extreme:

Tommy Wilcox: 6-6, 91.1 IP, 6.70 ERA (66 ERA+), 1.53 WHIP, 18 BB, 28 K
Tom Barrell: 8-3, 125.2 IP, 2.58 ERA (168 ERA+), 1.02 WHIP, 24 BB, 68 K

This one stings....

Look, Tommy Wilcox is an elite pitcher and there was a reason that he was taken #1 overall, but this 13 start stretch was just insane. My scout still thinks he's got the talent to anchor the rotation with even more untapped potential, but it was just a disaster to watch him pitch. I probably should've benched him down the stretch in favor of Castellini, but I just thought that eventually he would figure things out. I have absolutely no intention of moving on from him and I'm ready for him to completely breakout next season, but it just really stings that we ended up fighting all the way back just to fall short.

In better news, congrats to Dick Leudtke who led the CA in wins (19), ERA (2.79), ERA+ (160), WHIP (1.15), and BABIP (.257). I'm not to sure how he managed to do it, but he put together a really solid season. I think he defintely over performed this season, and he'll fall closer to his career 3.63 ERA and 1.27 WHIP, but I do have to credit our defense some too. We ranked 1st in zone rating at +51.4, with Ashbaugh (+9.0), Kincaid (+7.0), Bryant (+17.5), and Tom Taylor (+25.3) all puting up extremely impressive marks. Ashbaugh finished second for first basemen, Lawson tallied 4.6 more then the next best, Bryant 6.3 more, and Taylor nearly 20 more. In fact, Taylor's combined +26.1 in right and center was 5.1 better then the next best fielder in all of baseball.

In one more minor piece of news, I claimed former Cougar Luke Nixon off waivers from the Foresters. He was part of the Wilder and Combs deal. He's the only player of the four sent that played in the majors, but the other three are all waiting in AAA. Pat Schuring is on the 40 and all three guys we gave up rank in Cleveland's top 20. Nixon has one option year left.