[ayaghmour2]

Weekly Record: 3-4
Seasonal Record: 63-60 (4th, 15.5 GB)
Stars of the Week
Leo Mitchell : 30 AB, 11 H, 1 HR, 5 RBI, .367 AVG, .887 OPS
Ray Ford : 30 AB, 10 H, 1 HR, 3 RBI, .333 AVG, .875 OPS
John Lawson : 28 AB, 9 H, 0 HR, 1 RBI, .321 AVG, .851 OPS

Schedule
8-21: Win vs Sailors (2-3): 15 innings
8-22: Loss vs Saints (5-3)
8-23: Win vs Saints (0-2)
8-24: Win vs Kings (1-6)
8-25: Loss vs Kings (2-0): 11 innings
8-26: Loss vs Kings (4-1)
8-27: Loss vs Stars (6-5)

Recap
A middling week for us, as the New York teams did very well in Chicago. I always expect the Kings to beat us, but letting the Stars win the first of two will definitely hurt. And speaking of hurt, we saw our first real injury of the season. The recently claimed Max Plourde didn't even throw an inning for us, but suffered an undisclosed injury that will keep him out for 2-3 months. That really ended any chance he had of earning a spot for next season. I'll bring John Hartz right back up to replace him on the active roster. We will also get the benefit of roster expansion next week, so a few more Blues players will join him shortly.

Milt Fritz tossed a gem against his former team (Montreal), working a 3-hit, 5 strikeout shutout of the Saints. It was his first win of August, but he now has a monthly 1.80 ERA and 0.97 WHIP with 8 walks and 12 strikeouts. Dick Lyons put together another gem, 5 hits, 1 run, 1 walk, and 1 strikeout in a complete game win over Brooklyn. Peter the Heater also faced the Kings, but was tagged with an 11 inning loss. He allowed 2 runs, 7 hits, and 7 walks with 9 strikeouts. Cy Sullivan made two starts, including a 12 inning no decision against the Sailors where he allowed 11 hits, 2 runs, and 2 walks with 4 strikeouts. He was rested enough for a complete game in the finale against the Kings, but he got the loss with 11 hits, 4 runs, 3 walks, and 3 strikeouts. Harry Parker struggled in his two starts, and while he did throw two complete games, he allowed 18 hits, 11 runs, and 2 walks with 7 strikeouts in losses to the Saints and Stars.

We didn't get much support from the offense, but Mike Taylor looked good, 6-for-20 with 3 doubles, a homer, and 3 RBIs. Leo Mitchell was 11-for-30 with a double, homer, and five driven in. Ray Ford was 10-for-30 with a homer, 2 doubles, 3 RBIs, and 4 runs. John Lawson was 9-for-28 with a triple, RBI, and pair of doubles. Grover Lee got his first Cougar hit, a pinch hit RBI double against New York.

Looking Ahead
One more against the Stars, who sit 49-70 and three games ahead of the Saints who now sit in last. Chris Clarke has turned things around on the mound, now 3-6 with a 3.45 ERA (120 ERA+), 1.56 WHIP, 22 walks, and 30 strikeouts. The unlucky Glenn Payne is 3-9, but his 3.15 ERA (131 ERA+), 1.35 WHIP, 49 walks, and 44 strikeouts are much more encouraging. George Phillips ERA is now slightly above 3, at 3.01 (137 ERA+) with a nice 1.35 WHIP, 64 walks, and 54 strikeouts. 23-year-old shortstop Joe Angevine had his contract purchased just a few days ago, and is 3-for-8 with a double, two runs, and an RBI in his first two starts. He currently ranks as the 44th best prospect in baseball, and was actually a target of mine in the Max Wilder trade (went with Karl Wallace instead). Angevine is a potential top-5 shortstop and is a much better option then fellow 23-year-old Floyd Briscoe. Dave Trowbridge is now 40, and still hitting a productive .288/.371/.456 (117 OPS+) with 13 doubles, 7 homers, and 40 RBIs. He's still a productive regular at this stage in his career, but we are likely nearing the end of the best pro career out of Sweet Home, Oregon.

Our next guest would be Baltimore, who sit a half game ahead of the Stars with one extra win. The Cannons have also brought up one of their top prospects, outfielder Bob Griffith, but he's hitting just .189/.302/.351 (74 OPS+) with 2 doubles, triples, and RBIs in 43 trips to the plate. Ken Mayhugh is having a bit above average first season with the Cannons, batting .304/.366/.401 (105 OPS+) with 18 doubles, 8 homers, and 59 RBIs. He was projected to be the teams top hitter, but that falls on Whit Williams, who is hitting a nice .301/.382/.423 (115 OPS+) with 21 doubles, 6 triples, 5 homers, 9 steals, and 49 RBIs. They've also brought up youngster Rufus Barrell II, but the 21-year-old future ace is just 1-6 with a 6.00 ERA (68 ERA+), 1.39 WHIP, 16 walks, and 37 strikeouts in 57 innings pitched. Rusty Petrick has started to breakout, as despite being 9-11, he's got a real good 3.59 ERA (114 ERA+) and 1.47 WHIP with 128 walks and 101 strikeouts. Ace Gus Goulding is on track for 316 innings, currently 12-13 with a 3.80 ERA (108 ERA+), 1.28 WHIP, 71 walks, and 92 strikeouts.

We're then off on the second, and we'll use that day to head to Cleveland for a quick two game stop with the Foresters. They've dropped to 61-61, but it's not been because of Dave Rankin. Our former inning eater is 5-4 with a 3.61 ERA (117 ERA+), 1.58 WHIP, 27 walks, and 30 strikeouts in 82.1 innings pitched. Fellow deadline acquisition Jim Hawkins hasn't been nearly as effective, 1-4 with a 4.68 ERA (90 ERA+), 1.54 WHIP, 22 walks, and 14 strikeouts in his 42.1 innings pitched. Dan Fowler is now up to 20 homers, as he's maintained a .243/.367/.418 (103 OPS+) triple slash with 81 walks and 75 RBIs. Roy Bradley has put together a strong second season in Cleveland, hitting .322/.350/.484 (113 OPS+) with 36 doubles, 10 triples, 6 homers, 8 steals, and 56 RBIs. Rookie Eli Harkless has started to slump, and will miss this week with biceps tendinitis, while his batting line has dropped to .302/.372/.385 (96 OPS+).

Minor League Report
RHP Bill Seabolt (A Lincoln Legislators): It's been seven starts since a promotion up to A ball, and Bill Seabolt has been absolutely lights out. The 1935 6th Round selection is a perfect 6-0 with a 1.92 ERA (205 ERA+), 1.10 WHIP, 19 walks, and 21 strikeouts in 51.2 innings pitched. He'll turn 24 in September, but Seabolt is still a little underdeveloped for his age. At his peak he should feature a good change and decent curve, but his other three offerings (fastball, cutter, splitter) aren't anything to right home about. He could start in the big leagues, but to be a good starter, he'll need to find a reliable third pitch. I think that'll be his fastball or cutter, both hovering in the 89-91 range, but my scout thinks he'll end up with an "eccentric profile - very low HR, very high walks," and that he has the talent to start. With how well he's pitching, he's sure to turn some heads, but he ranks just 42nd in our system and 471st in all of baseball.

3B Harry Peterson (A Lincoln Legislators): Another guy who really isn't one of our top prospects, Harry Peterson has put together a tremendous season. Acquired back in 1935 for Howard Moss, the 22-year-old is batting .346/.392/.448 (131 OPS+) with 20 doubles, 8 triples, 2 homers, and 59 RBIs with 8 times as many walks (32) as strikeouts (4). He did get 50 games with the Legislators last season, but he hit just .239/.275/.307 (55 OPS+) and did not look up to the task. A rather light hitter, Peterson projects to hit a bit over .300 in the FABL, but not with many homers or even doubles. He does make good contact, and despite nods from my scout and OSA for his defense, didn't look all that great at the hot corner this year. But, Peterson is a classic prankster, the kind of guy you want in the clubhouse to break your out of slumps, and he has his teammates support. Of qualified Cougar hitters, he has the highest batting average (a point above Dick Voss) in the system, and one of the strongest pure contact tools. I'm not expecting too much from Peterson, but lofty expectations would paint a picture similar to John Kincaid, just without the speed.