[ayaghmour2]

Weekly Record: 3-3
Seasonal Record: 36-36 (5th, 6.5 GB)
Stars of the Week
Rich Langton : 23 AB, 9 H, 0 HR, 5 RBI, .391 AVG, 1.047 OPS
John Lawson : 26 AB, 9 H, 1 HR, 3 RBI, .346 AVG, .969 OPS
Billy Hunter : 22 AB, 8 H, 0 HR, 3 RBI, .364 AVG, .990 OPS

Schedule
7-4: Win at Wolves (8-7): 10 innings
7-5: Loss at Wolves (5-7)
7-6: Win at Wolves (5-1)
7-7: Loss vs Foresters (0-9)
7-8: Loss vs Foresters (7-1)
7-9: Win vs Foresters (4-5): 16 innings

Recap
Sure, it wasn't a sub .500 week, but I am getting tired of winning just three games a week. It was nice we took two of three from the Wolves, but then the Foresters took two of three from us. To make things worse, two of the wins came in extras, so it was just luck. We dropped another half game in the standings, and we really need to start turning things around. I'm not sure why we are underperforming so heavily, but if we don't turn things around soon, we may be waiting another season for a chance at a pennant. I did also make a minor trade, picking up Washington's 4th Rounder next season for Dan Everett. I'm a big fan of Everett, who we acquired from the Foresters, but he had a 40-man spot and I can't really see him surpassing Cy, Pete, or Parker in the future, and he's not better then them now, despite how the first two have been pitching. He ranks 153rd in the league, and he'll enter the Eagles rotation. We also had all the prospects I plan on signing signed, and we added three top 100 prospects. Skipper Schneider ranks 55th, Danny Goff Jr. 80th, and Bunny Hufford 86th. More fill out the top 250, including Lou Eaker (152nd) and Bill Dambreville (242nd). Our system now ranks 9th with 91 points, but we are just seven shy of the 7th ranked system.

Jim Lonardo made two starts in his first week with the Cougars, but he did not get a single decision. We won both of his starts, the first 8.1 innings and the second nine in a 16 inning game. He allowed 22 hits, 11 runs (8 earned), and 8 walks with 7 strikeouts, not the greatest by any means, but you can't throw a gem every game. Well, unless your Dick Lyons, who allowed 9 hits, a run, 2 walks, and 3 strikeouts in 8.1 innings to improve to 7-5. Cy Sullivan was roughed up again, 12 hits, 7 runs, a walk, and a strikeout in 7.1 rough innings. With a double header on Tuesday, he'll keep his starting spot as we'll need a sixth starter, and that will be Pete Papenfus. He looked good in the pen, picking up a win with 4.2 innings, 3hits, 4 walks, and 4 strikeouts in two appearances. Harry Parker also had a tough start, 11 hits, 7 runs (6 earned), 3 walks, and 4 strikeouts in 8 innings pitched. It wasn't as bad as Milt Frtiz, who allowed 7 hits and 7 runs with 6 walks in just 2.2 innings pitched. We did get good pen innings from Allen Purvis, 4.2 scoreless innings with 6 hits and 2 walks. We'll need a much better pitching week this week, as only the ageless wonder Dick Lyons managed to have any success.

We didn't hit much either, but Rich Langton continued to try to turn things around. He was 9-for-23 with 4 doubles, 3 runs, 4 walks, and 5 RBIs. Billy Hunter looked good too, 8-for-22 with 2 triples, 2 runs, 3 RBIs, and 4 walks. John Lawson was 9-for-26 with a double, homer, 3 RBIs, 5 runs, and 6 walks. No one else really did anything, but the generally reliable Leo Mitchell and Freddie Jones really struggled. They combined to go just 10-for-49 with 2 doubles, 2 RBIs, 3 runs, and 7 walks with 14 strikeouts. The catching duo also had a rough week, 4-for-25 with a double, 2 walks, 2 runs, and 2 RBIs. I guess the consolation about the week was that even though we hit and pitched rather poor, we still managed to win half our games.

Looking Ahead
We get another series with Toronto, just this time at home and with three games in two days. At 32-39, the Wolves are in second to last, far different then the second place finish from last year. The pitching has been great, especially Joe Hancock, who we beat and dropped to 9-6. He has a 2.56 ERA (170 ERA+), 1.06 WHIP, 37 walks, and 65 strikeouts in 140.2 innings pitched. They added Art Blake to the rotation recently, but he was much better in the pen then as a starter. Now 2-1, he has a 4.47 ERA (97 ERA+), 1.63 WHIP, 29 walks, and 17 strikeouts, with a 4.82 ERA as a starter and 4 or more runs in each of the last four starts. Offensively, they've been let down by Nick Wallace, who after a breakout last year, is hitting just .306/.347/.415 (93 OPS+) with 12 doubles, 5 homers, and 33 RBIs. Same goes for Larry Vestal, who's hitting a poor .242/.317/.367 (73 OPS+) with7 doubles, 11 triples, a homer, steal, and 25 RBIs. Of course, there is also Fred McCormick, and is .368/.471/.663 (185 OPS+) line is nothing to sneeze at. Add in 23 doubles, 7 triples, 13 homers, 7 steals, 52 walks, and 54 RBIs, and you could be getting a back-to-back Whitney Winner. I refuse to underestimate the Wolves, and expect them to steal at least a game if not two from us.

We hit the road for three with the Sailors, who are two and a half games behind the Stars. Doc Newell has had a really rough season for the Sailors, 8-5 with a 4.70 ERA (93 ERA+), 1.39 WHIP, 46 walks, and 32 strikeouts in 128.1 innings pitched. Walt Wells has been even worse, 5-6 with a 5.40 ERA (81 ERA+), 1.58 WHIP, 42 walks, and 29 strikeouts. These are two generally reliable arms and it is only a matter of time before they start to turn things around. Early season acquisition Dutch Sheldon has made up for it, as has Herb Flynn. Sheldon is 5-5 with a 3.46 ERA (126 ERA+), 1.46 WHIP, 54 walks, and 46 strikeouts in 101.1 effective innings while Flynn is 5-6 with a 3.68 ERA (119 ERA+), 1.39 WHIP, 45 walks, and 30 strikeouts in 93 of his own. We'll miss Flynn, but are likely to see Sheldon. At the plate, Bob Smith has been outstanding, boasting a 30-to-2 walk-to-strikeout ratio with a .343/.435/.506 (138 OPS+) batting line. Add in 8 doubles, 3 triples, 5 homers, and 46 RBIs, and you have a really strong season. Joe Watson has arguably been better, slashing .352/.420/.546 (143 OPS+) with 15 doubles, 10 triples, 6 homers, and 47 RBIs. This will be a tough road series, and I really hope we can turn things around.

We finish the week with two in Cleveland before the All Star break. 41-30 and a game behind New York, Rube McCormick has looked good in his three starts since joining the rotation. He's 1-0 with a 2.08 ERA (210 ERA+), 1.29 WHIP, 8 walks, and 4 strikeouts, but it's not enough to make up for the struggling Astle and Rankin. We're lucky they both have ERAs above 5, or Cleveland might be running away with things. Lou Martino, however, has been really good, 4-1 with a 2.24 ERA (195 ERA+), 1.41 WHIP, 35 walks, and 19 strikeouts, but in just 80.1 innings pitched. At the plate, Bill Moore is challenging for a batting title, slashing a robust .377/.444/.569 (155 OPS+) with 14 doubles, 3 homers, and 32 RBIs with 17 walks and 3 strikeouts. Mel Carrol has looked good in his first full year with Cleveland, owning a .383/.422/.537 (141 OPS+) line with 20 doubles, 8 homers, and 48 RBIs. Keeping those two bats in line will be tough, and guys like Roy Bradley, Ken Vance, and Dan Fowler are all hitting fine, just not quite at their usual levels. The craziest thing, however, is George Dawson, who owns just a 1.2 zone rating and 1.016 efficiency, way lower then his 1.094 career mark. To make matters worse, he's hitting just .286/.333/.352 (74 OPS+) with 11 doubles, 3 triples, a homer, 8 steals, and 30 RBIs. A very shocking season indeed, but perhaps that makes Dawson a little easier to trade for if I decide to go that route.

Minor League Report
3B Jocko Pollard (A Lincoln Legislators): A pair of minor injuries have kept Pollard off the field a bit this season, but when he's been on it, there really haven't been many better. Defensively, he's a terrible third basemen, but that bat! In just 177 trips to the plate, Pollard has 15 homers and 52 RBIs with a dazzling .358/.407/.704 (171 OPS+) batting line. He does strike out (39) far more then he walks (12), but the power is really exciting. He hit 25 out of the park in San Jose last season, 10 or more each season since 1936, and is on track to reach 30 if he can stay healthy. Along with the power, he has a smooth swing with quick hands, and his contact skills seem to be above average. My scout likes his eye and pitch recognition skills, and I think he should be a decent defender at first base even if he can't really field third. Pollard does rank in our top 30 prospect list, checking in at 26 and 291st in the league, and I think he has the tools to be a decent big league starter. I can't see him surpassing Ray Ford any time soon, but having a big bat with power off the bench can be very helpful.

C Solly Skidmore (C La Crosse Lions): He has a positional rating at catcher! Recently turned 19, Solly Skidmore ranks just outside the top 20 prospect list, second in our system and 23rd overall. Skidmore is the main catcher down in La Crosse, and he's been very effective with the bat. Solly is hitting .325/.389/.519 (113 OPS+) with 12 doubles, 11 homers, and 47 RBIs. I don't want to rush the youngster, and I expect him to spend the rest of the season with the Lions, especially because a pair of our somewhat decent backstop prospects (Charlie Hawkins and Walter Loera) are hanging out in San Jose, and I'm not quite ready to cut their playing time yet. There is also a two catcher system in Lincoln, and I don't want to take any at bats from Steve Mountain in Mobile. Of course, no one in our system has the upside behind the plate that Skidmore does, including Mead and Taylor. I'm not quite sold on his defense, but I'm hoping with his bat he can be at least average. He has great discipline, generates excellent bat speed, and he squares up the ball consistently. He's an advanced hitter for his age, and the strong 6'2'' teenager is gifted with top notch athleticism. Good catchers are hard to come by, and Skidmore has the potential to be one of the best in the game. It just may take him a few years to reach that level, but I know it will be worth the wait.