[ayaghmour2]

Weekly Record: 5-2
Seasonal Record: 78-69 (4th, 8.5 GB)
Stars of the Week
Rich Langton : 30 AB, 11 H, 2 HR, 7 RBI, .367 AVG, 1.140 OPS
John Lawson : 28 AB, 9 H, 1 HR, 7 RBI, .321 AVG, .887 OPS
Carlos Montes : 29 AB, 9 H, 1 HR, 5 RBI, .310 AVG, .838 OPS

Schedule
9-20: Win vs Kings (11-12)
9-21: Win vs Saints (5-6)
9-22: Win vs Saints (2-4)
9-23: Loss vs Saints (3-2): 10 innings
9-24: Loss at Wolves (1-3)
9-25: Win at Wolves (3-2)
9-26: Win at Wolves (4-3)

Recap
While we were technically eliminated from the playoffs today, there was a lot of good going on! And, we only lost one to the Wolves instead of the usual two! There was also a ton of one run games and walkoffs, and in fact, all seven games were decided by two or less runs. The craziest game was easiest the one against the Kings, a back-and-forth seven homer slugfest where we scored seven runs in the last three innings, capped off by a Johnnie Williamson walkoff double. That set the stage for the Bert Wilson walk-off sac-fly the next day against the Saints. Now, at 78-69, we cannot finish below .500 and are in striking distance we of 80 wins for the first time in four seasons. We will be a man down, as Ducky Jordan will miss the rest of the year with a sore elbow suffered in his second FABL game. It was DTD, so he did play two more, but was just 1-for-9 with a pair of walks, runs, and RBI's. So instead of a 35-man roster, it'll just be 34 with Jordan leaving and Cy coming up. I could fill the last spot with Billy Hunter, who could return in three days, but it's not worth the risk there.

Our corner outfield trio may contributed to a ton of the offense, with Love, Langton, and Mitchell all having outstanding weeks. Langton almost made more PA's then the other duo, and was 11-for-30 with a double, two triples, two homers, 7 RBI's, and 8 runs scored. I think he read my report yesterday, and he's now boosted his season line to an almost average .265/.325/.421 (96 OPS+) with 13 doubles, 9 triples, 12 homers, and 54 RBI's. He also took home Player of the Week, the last one we'll get all season. Doc Love was 6-for-18 with 2 doubles, a triple, homer, and 4 RBI's. Mitchell was 9-for-22 with a double, walk, and four runs scored. John Lawson is holding onto a four point lead in the batting race after a 9-for-28 week with a double, homer, and seven RBI's. His 25 homers and 104 RBI's are a distant second to Al Wheeler, but despite this being the lowest average of his career (.326) he could win his fourth batting title. Carlos Montes and Ray Ford both homered and combined to go 16-for-51 with 8 RBI's, 7 runs scored, and 4 walks. Montes also tripled and stole a pair of bases. We also had a handful of debuts other then Ducky, with both Bobby Mills and Aart MacDonald making five appearances. Aart was just 1-for-6, but Mills was a much more productive 3-for-8 with a walk and run scored. Harry Mead made a pair of starts as well, 1-for-7 with a double and walk.

Dave Rankin and Oscar Morse both made two starts, and Rankin found away to win them both! Now 16-19, he tossed a complete game and an out away from a complete game, combining for 16 hits, 8 runs (7 earned), and 5 walks and strikeouts. Oscar Morse won one and picked up a no decision, 14.2 innings with 16 hits, 9 runs (7 earned), 4 walks, and a strikeout. I spent a lot of time debating whether Morse or Lyons would pick the opener, and it definitely worked, since we won both of Morse's starts and Lyons shook off the poor Cannons start with a gem against the Saints. He allowed 8 hits, 2 runs, and a walk with a strikeout to pick up his 14th win. Milt Fritz was the unlucky loser in the 3-1 game to the Wolves, 8 decent innings with 7 hits, 3 runs (2 earned), 3 walks, and an impressive 7 strikeouts. It was just his second start this season with more then four, and both came against Toronto (6 on May 1st). Pug tossed another great start, although it came in the other loss, 7 innings with 3 hits, 2 runs, a walk, and 4 strikeouts. I'm hoping to do a nice long season review, and I know a big portion of it will be separating the first five Pug starts from the rest, because even with that awful stretch, his 3.52 ERA is second in the rotation and corresponding with a 120 ERA+. Unless he gets absolutely hammered in his last start or two, it should be a really successful season for the rookie.

Looking Ahead
Four more games left on the schedule, and our next series could actually really shake up the standings. It's been a rough month for the Foresters, who now find themselves 80-67 and now six and a half out of first. Dean Astle has found himself in a downward spiral, now 19-14 with a 3.79 ERA (115 ERA+), 1.32 WHIP, 66 walks, and 90 strikeouts in 268 innings pitched. September has been awful for the former Cougar draftee, 2-4 with a 9.08 ERA, 2.02 WHIP, 11 walks, and 8 strikeouts. Sergio Gonzales, however, has continued his great season, 19-4 with a 3.00 ERA (145 ERA+), 1.26 WHIP, 67 walks, and 118 strikeouts. The offense has really cooled down, with a majority of the lineup seeing their OPS+ dip in the final month. Dan Fowler has reached 20 homers again, and is five RBI's away from 100, as his line has dropped to .274/.359/.445 (104 OPS+), much lower then his career .285/.381/.472 (122 OPS+) line. Cleveland is still technically in the playoff hunt, they look to be on the outside looking in again this year.

We then finish the season with three against the Wolves in Toronto. At 70-78, they seem destined for another sub .500 finish. It's been a tough season for the 27-year-old Chuck Cole, who is an unlucky 9-20 with a 4.21 ERA (104 ERA+), 1.53 WHIP, 127 walks, and 103 strikeouts. Cole is taking the DaCosta route, leading the league in wins with 21 last year before trying his hardest to lead the league in losses this year. The Wolves currently hold the third best farm system with five top 30 prospects. One of those is the #29 rated Charlie Artuso, who's been up the past month and starting at shortstop. He's hit just .237/.295/.299 (53 OPS+) in his 97 at bats, but the glove is outstanding and his bat will eventually follow that up. I was hoping to see former Cougar draftee Reginald Westfall up, but they left him in Buffalo. He hit .291/.380/.449 (135 OPS+) with 3 homers and 22 RBI's in 184 PA's there.

Minor League Report
RHP Pete Papenfus (AA Mobile Commodores): I generally use a strict six man rotation in at every level but AAA, but since Peter the Heater may end up being the best pitcher in the save file, I thought he could handle just four days rest instead of six. I was not disappointed, as the #2 prospect in all of baseball threw his fifth consecutive complete game victory to end his season. Papenfus may be just 19, but his 10 starts in Mobile were even better then the 15 in Lincoln. He had a matching 6-4 record with a 2.78 ERA (114 ERA+), 1.26 WHIP, 38 walks, and 44 strikeouts in just six fewer innings. All of Papenfus' starts in Mobile went at least eight innings and he was only relieved from one outing. That start he was extremely overmatched, 10 hits and 8 runs (7 earned) in 8 and a third, but take that start out and he has a sparkly 2.28 ERA. Taken 6th Overall in the last winter draft, Pete has flown through the system and ranks as our 4th most developed pitching prospect despite the clear lack of experience. Both my scout and OSA believe he'll be an ace and I'd wager he may have the highest upside of any pitcher in any organization. We could very well see him debut next season at 20, especially if we're deep in a pennant race and need an arm to give us some separation.

LHP Danny Hern (B San Jose Cougars): A 14th Round selection in 1935, southpaw Danny Hern is starting to get some prospect love. Currently, Hern ranks 33rd in our system and 383rd overall, recently entering around 480 a few sims ago. He's spent most of his time in San Jose, going 8-5 with a 3.77 ERA (106 ERA+), 1.31 WHIP, 43 walks, and 71 strikeouts in 133.2 innings pitched. This was his first season as a full time starter, with last year getting just 5 starts in 24 appearances with the Lions down in C Ball. With the flooding of new arms to the system, since Hern wasn't one of the more highly touted ones, he was pushed up a level (even had some time in Lincoln), and took advantage of his newfound starting spot. During the season he upped his fastball to 85-87 as well, making his go to change a better option. I'm not too sold on him myself, but he saw a huge jump in his strikeout numbers which could be signs of better things to come.