[ayaghmour2]

Weekly Record: 2-4
Seasonal Record: 34-39 (6th, 16 GB)
Stars of the Week
Ray Ford : 18 AB, 9 H, 0 HR, 2 RBI, .500 AVG, 1.137 OPS
Harry Mead : 10 AB, 6 H, 0 HR, 4 RBI, .600 AVG, 1.383 OPS
Oscar Morse : 1 Win, 9.0 IP, 6 BB, 2 K, 0.00 ERA

Schedule
6-28: Loss vs Wolves (5-3)
6-29: Loss vs Wolves (6-1)
6-30: Win vs Wolves (0-3)
7-1: Win at Foresters (4-0)
7-2: Loss at Foresters (5-9)
7-3: Loss at Foresters (0-7)

Recap
Another crappy week, but at least we get a little break for the All Star game! We do have a double header to start the week, but all Cougars except Dick Lyons and Billy Hunter won't suit up again until the 8th. We definitely need that break, as our only wins this week were shutouts and we've dropped below the Saints and now only lead Baltimore and New York. Baltimore is 4.5 games behind us, but I do not like how things have turned out this season. I had a lot of hope for the team, but after failing to make big move after big move, we're now more of a seller then a championship contender.

Good think we have Dick Lyons, however, who outdueled Dean Astle and finished a dominant second half with a 3-hit, 1 walk, 1 strikeout shutout of the Foresters. Lyons has allowed an earned run in just one of his last four starts now and he's one each of them. He's 9-4 with a 2.87 ERA (142 ERA+), 1.16 WHIP, 18 walks, and 21 strikeouts, and even if I wanted to trade him (which I don't), I doubt I'd even be able to get a bucket of balls for him. One of the guys I will trade, Oscar Morse, also tossed a shutout, one of the 4-hit, 6 walk, 2 strikeout variety against the Wolves. Morse has followed up a strong 1937 with a better 1938, 6-6 with a 3.61 ERA (113 ERA+), 1.38 WHIP, 45 walks, and 24 strikeouts. Harry Parker's first big league start wasn't all that great, 10 hits, 7 runs (4 earned), 2 walks, and 5 strikeouts in a 9-5 loss to Cleveland. I imagine he'll bounce back fine and will get another shot against the Foresters at the end of the week. Clarence Crane hit a rough patch, 11 runs (9 earned) in his last three outings, as his ERA spiked from 2.93 to 5.25. He won't go down yet, but Joe Brown, John Hartz, or Pete Papenfus may be knocking on the door very shortly.

Only two hitters had a good week this week, Ray Ford and the now graduated prospect Harry Mead. Ford was an even 9-for-18 with 2 doubles, 2 RBIs, a run, walk, and steal. Mead played a bit less, but was 6-for-10 with a walk, two doubles, and four driven in. Aart MacDonald earned a trip back down to Milwaukee, 0-for-18 with two walks and a run. Carlos Montes should be healthy next week, but I needed to bring Bill Ashbaugh back. This week Roy Moore and Orlin Yates will split time in center, but I hope Montes will be ready when we return from the All Star break.

We signed a few more of our draftees, including 4th Rounder Sammy Dillon, 1st Rounder Solly Skidmore, and 4th Rounder Ed Wilkinson. Skidmore almost perfectly replaces the now graduated Harry Mead, checking in at 3rd in our system and 28th in the league. Wilkinson and Dillon both check in outside the top 200, at 288 and 339 respectively. Unfortunately, Peter the Heater is no longer the #1 ranked prospect, that would be the Stars' Bill Barrett, but we're up to 2nd in the farm rankings with 222 points. The only other team with 200 or more is the Gothams stacked farm at 267. I am still waiting on six more players to sign, but I doubt any will crack the top 100.

Looking Ahead
We finish the first half with a double header in Toronto. We'll look to give Joe Hancock his third loss of the year (we gave him his second!), as he's an impressive 14-2 with a 2.84 ERA (148 ERA+), 1.23 WHIP, 38 walks, and 71 strikeouts in 133 innings pitched. We're also likely to see Bernie Johnson, who allowed 8 hits, a run, and a walk with 3 strikeouts in a complete game win over us on the 29th. Fred McCormick boosted his batting line to .393/.488/.649 (192 OPS+) with 27 doubles, 4 triples, 9 homers, and 48 RBIs, making me really wish I gave met the Pioneers offer for him. Larry Vestal is starting to turn things around, using a 5-hit ball game to increase his season line to .293/.377/.438 (110 OPS+) with 7 doubles, 11 triples, 2 homers, 3 steals, and 51 RBIs. Former 4th Overall Pick Charlie Artuso is hitting just .214/.271/.329 (54 OPS+), but his +9.9 zone rating and 1.140 efficiency at short is even better then George Dawson and Harry Barrell. The Wolves are scary, and they should take these two games quite easily.

We'll then head on home, where we get a few days of rest before starting a three game set with the Foresters on Friday. They've moved 33-year-old Rube McCormick to the rotation, and after a rough first start, he tossed a 3-hit, 3 strikeout shutout as they beat us 7-0 to finish last week. It is his first big league action since 1932, so it's only fitting he'd toss a shutout against our extremely inept offense. Of course, he's the easiest of their other three, with Astle, Gonzales, and Martino all having great years. Astle will represent the Foresters at the All-Star game, and he's 8-8 with a 2.92 ERA (145 ERA+), 1.27 WHIP, 41 walks, and 38 strikeouts in 135.2 impressive innings. George Dawson is having a really tough season at the plate, batting just .240/.319/.338 (70 OPS+), so hopefully the Foresters will be more then happy to send him to Chicago. His defense is still elite, and he's also added 11 doubles, 5 homers, 6 steals, and 23 RBIs.

Minor League Report
RHP Pete Papenfus (AAA Milwaukee Blues): I don't necessarily want to trade Dave Rankin, but if I do (there is an offer out), I think I'll have to go with the Century League Pitcher of the Month. After a rough start to the season and a walk-filled Spring, Peter the Heater was a perfect 6-0 with a 2.56 ERA and 42 strikeouts in 45.2 innings pitched. He has now made 12 starts spanning 74.2 innings, going 8-2 with a 3.38 ERA (140 ERA+), 1.46 WHIP, 48 walks, and 72 strikeouts. I may have to accept Papenfus will never get over his walk issues, but I'm really pulling for him to master his control a bit more. Marv raves about his "high-octane fastball" and says he'll "have some of the best stuff in the league." Simply put, this kid should be an ace, and perhaps he should be pitching in the big leagues. I don't care what OSA says about Bill Barrett, he's no Peter the Heater, and their is no pitcher more valuable then Milwaukee's ace. He's going to challenge for multiple Allen Awards, strikeout more batters then anyone else in the league, and potentially set records when it is all said and done. Regardless of a Rankin (or Morse) trade, I can't imagine Pete will still be in Milwaukee come August, and I'm hoping him and Harry Parker can make up a devastating 1-2 punch next season as the Cougars win a pennant in their brand new stadium. Ahh, something to dream about!

LF Chubby Hall (B San Jose Cougars): Ranked only behind Papenfus in our system, Chubby Hall has built off an outstanding 1937 with somehow a better 1938. Hall was an even 10-for-20 this week with 3 homers and 5 driven in to take home Player of the Week in the California-Oregon-Washington league. The 21-year-old from New York is now hitting a robust .314/.384/.535 (144 OPS+) with 12 doubles, 12 homers, and 44 RBIs, while finally walking (28) more then he's striking out (19). As you'd expect from someone called Chubby, he's not much of a defender, but he profiles as a well above average player regardless. He projects to hit for a very high average with an even higher on base percentage, as he's a very disciplined hitter who won't chase. Add in a quick stroke that sends the ball flying in the air, he could be a 20+ home run hitter as well. Of course, he's got a lot of developing to do, but Hall ranks as the 24th best prospect in baseball and appears ready to take on tougher competition out in Lincoln.