[ayaghmour2]

Weekly Record: 1-6
Seasonal Record: 27-32 (6th, 12.5 GB)
Stars of the Week
Bill Ashbaugh : 17 AB, 8 H, 1 HR, 5 RBI, .471 AVG, 1.218 OPS
Jake Moore : 8 AB, 6 H, 0 HR, 2 RBI, .750 AVG, 1.778 OPS
Tom Taylor : 27 AB, 9 H, 1 HR, 5 RBI, .333 AVG, .898 OPS

Weekly Schedule
6-11: Loss at Stars (8-9)
6-12: Loss at Stars (2-7)
6-13: Loss at Stars (0-4)
6-14: Win at Stars (12-6)
6-15: Loss at Kings (6-11)
6-16: Loss at Kings (3-11)

Summary
This was an awful week... Not only did we lose all but one game, but Tommy Wilcox left his start in the second inning with a strained forearm. He's fine, will need a few days to get healthy, but wow what a bad omen to start it off with.

Not sure how the Stars completely dismantled us, but we looked really bad this week. Getting shutout by Chicago kid Les Zoller hurt and to only win won from a four game set with one of the two teams in the CA with a worst record then us really stings. I'm ready to punt the season, which means it's time to decide if any of the veterans should be shipped out. That could mean John Kincaid, Tom Taylor, Doc Love, Lou Kelly, or Mike Taylor could be on their way out. I'm not sure I want to move anyone, but we really need help on the pitching side.

Looking Ahead
After finishing the final two against the Kings in Brooklyn it's off to Baltimore for four with the last place Cannons. They're 23-36 on the season, but with how we played last week, they might have their way with us like the Stars did. They've seen former 13th Round Pick Pinky Conlan blossom into an ace this season. He's 4-2 with a 3.22 ERA (144 ERA+), 1.32 WHIP, 27 walks, and 21 strikeouts in 64.1 innings pitched. Dutch Leverett has remained consistent, but even if we have to face both we will also see two pitchers with ERA's above 5.70. Abel Man has cooled off after his start, hitting just .291 with 6 homers and 41 RBI's after having 5 homers a few weeks in. We finish the week in Montreal, starting a four game series on Sunday.

Batters
Obviously not much goes right when you finish 1-5, but Joe Masters finally did something. He only played in half the games, but he was 4-for-12 with a homer and 4 RBI's. The other side of the platoon, Jake Moore, was 6-for-8 with 2 doubles and RBI's. Besides that, really just Bill Ashbaugh was productive on the week. Ashbaugh slashed .471/.571/.647 with a homer and 5 RBI's. Doc Love and Tom Taylor both added a homer and drove in five. It was also Lou Kelly's first "down" week, going just 6-for-23, slightly better then .250.

Pitchers
Well, all good things must come to an end. The three start stretch of three earned runs came to an end after Johnny Walker allowed 3 homers (8 total runs), 8 hits, and 3 walks in just 3.2 innings against the Kings in his last start (at least for now) in the majors. Dick Lyons and Wayne Robinson both allowed 7 in 6 and a third while Dick Leudtke allowed 6 runs and 15 hits in the only win.

Minor League Report
CF Chink Stickels (AA Mobile Commodores): It was a tough start to the season down in AA for Chink Stickels, but the 23-year-old used a 21-game hit streak to really heat himself up. He's now hitting .269/.321/.468 (102 OPS+) with 3 homers, 7 steals, and 42 RBI's. These are really impressive numbers for a kid who has 89 games played in A ball and 6 (back in 1933) in AAA. Acquired in the Independent League draft, Stickels boasts blazing speed that translates to outstanding range out in center. He can stretch a single into a double and beat out a return throw or slow roller, but he also has a nice eye and the strength to potentially hit 10-15 homers a year. He was taken back in the 5th Round of the 1932 Draft (I actually really liked him back then too) and has all the tools to be a productive center fielder in the FABL.

LF Henry Cox (A Lincoln Legislators): Despite being just 19, Henry Cox has had no trouble with Class A pitching. Not only is he hitting .287/.369/.627 (138 OPS+), but he's already hit 21 homers and drove in 59 runs in 51 games. And it's not like the Heartland League is some super crazy hitter friendly league, only one other hitter, Phil Whitehead (13), has more then 10. I've been touting Cox's power since the draft, as he hit 11 his senior year of high school. He was one of my top targets despite playing a corner position and I was able to grab him in the fifth round. Power isn't his only game, as he has a good eye and will draw his share of walks. He's eventually going to develop into a decent defender too, and I'm really excited to see what Cox will develop into.

Amateur Report
3B Mack Sutton: After going completely under the radar as a junior, the Arkansas Artillerymen hit a amateur best 14 homers and drove in 38 runs in just 25 games. He also hit .448/.547/1.000 and managed to draw 20 walks and swipe five bases. Sutton has immense power potential and an excellent eye at the plate, and OSA announced him as one of the top 10 players available this Winter. He's committed to Lawrence State and is commanding a $16,000 bonus, but I'd imagine he'll be a first round selection and he won't even consider going to college. The early mock draft has him going second.

SP George Garrison: As a junior, George Garrison was dominant, 11-0 with a 0.94 ERA, 0.77 WHIP, 14 walks, and 153 strikeouts in 115.1 innings pitched. He didn't match that this year, but still was an impressive 8-1 with a 1.24 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 14 walks, and 112 strikeouts in 94.1 innings (he made three less starts). Garrison is a lanky 6'2'' righty who generates a ton of groundballs and hits any spot he wants. He's got top of the rotation potential and throws in the upper 80s with his cutter and the fastball hits 90. He has four offspeed pitches, but my guess is he only works in two of them. Garrison currently ranks as the #2 pitcher available according to OSA.

SS Stu Johnson: He turned 21 yesterday, but the junior Stu Johnson hit .281/.380/.421 with 6 homers, 27 steals, and 42 RBI's in a really impressive season for Campion. The Seattle native built on a strong Junior year where he hit .265/.365/.394 with 5 homers, 36 RBI's, and 29 steals in one of the top college leagues. Johnson has a good sense of the strike zone and will draw a lot of walks. It makes up for his lower contact tool, but he does have really nice power for a shortstop. The bat isn't the only plus, as he's skilled with the glove and has the talent to stick at the position.

SP Jack Hale: "The El Dorado Kid" Jack Hale did struggle a bit with the toughest competition at Miami State as a sophomore. He was 7-5 with a 3.77 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 20 walks, and 64 strikeouts in 98 innings. These are still strong numbers for a sophomore, but they don't really scream top pick. This year, however, he really turned things around. In 103.2 innings, he was 8-4 with a 2.86 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 17 walks, and 62 strikeouts. He doesn't throw too hard right now, just 83-85, but if he's this good now, I can't wait to see how well he is going to do by adding a little speed on his fastball. It's one of his five pitches, and he mixes all five pitches well.