[ayaghmour2]

Weekly Record: 4-3
Seasonal Record: 47-44 (t-3rd, 6.5 GB)
Stars of the Week
Carlos Montes : 22 AB, 7 H, 4 HR, 9 RBI, .318 AVG, 1.239 OPS
Jim Lonardo : 2 Wins, 18.0 IP, 2 BB, 8 K, 1.00 ERA
Billy Hunter : 25 AB, 8 H, 0 HR, 6 RBI, .320 AVG, .873 OPS

Schedule
7-24: Loss at Kings (5-6): 11 innings
7-25: Win at Kings (7-1)
7-26: Loss at Cannons (1-3)
7-27: Win at Cannons (4-3): 12 innings
7-28: Win at Cannons (6-0)
7-29: Loss at Saints (4-8)
7-30: Win at Saints (10-5)

Recap
We lost a game to each team this week, and a game in the standings, but we are a slightly more over .500 then we were the week before. We finished our road trip 9-7, a bit better then usual, as our road record is now closer to even at 25-27. The Stars have started to separate from the pack, sweeping the Foresters to increase their divisional lead to three and a half games. The deadline approaches as well, but I'm not sure we're going to see any more action in Chicago. I had a few trade talks yesterday, but no luck putting anything together.

Someone who had a lot of luck was Carlos Montes, who almost doubled his home run total this week. Montes was 7-for-22 with a steal, 4 homers, and 9 RBIs. He still isn't having a great season, but his .250/.303/.440 (95 OPS+) batting line is a bit more respectable. Add in 15 doubles, 3 triples, 9 homers, 5 steals, and a 9.8 zone rating out in center, and you have a pretty reliable center fielder. He didn't have a lot of support in the lineup, but Billy Hunter had himself a nice week as well. He was 8-for-25 with 3 doubles, 4 runs, 6 RBIs, and 5 walks. Rich Langton was 9-for-30 with 2 doubles, a solo homer, and 4 runs scored. Freddie Jones had a solo homer as well, but was just 8-for-28 with 4 doubles, 4 walks, and 6 runs scored. Unfortunately, All Star Leo Mitchell had a dreadful week, 6-for-31 with a double and four runs scored and driven in. Would have loved to hit a lot better this week, but something tells me a little home cooking will do the trick.

Only one pitcher in the Continental Association has three shutouts, and that's because of Harry Parker's outing against the Cannons. Just one strike out and five hits as Parker improved to 9-6 with a 3.25 ERA (129 ERA+) and 1.21 WHIP. His walks are a bit up and his strikeouts over a point down, but the trend has continued, unless you homer off him, you are not going to score off him. Jim Lonardo pitched two impressive complete game wins, allowing only one earned run in each outing. The second did have four unearned runs, but he combined to allow 17 hits and 2 walks with 8 strikeouts. He's been great post-trade, 4-1 with a 2.95 ERA (142 ERA+), 1.33 WHIP, 15 walks, and 21 strikeouts in 61 strong innings pitched. Milt Fritz was not as lucky, tagged with 10 hits and 8 runs (7 earned) with 2 walks and a strikeout in 5 shaky innings. Dick Lyons was alright, just 7 innings but with 9 hits, 3 runs, a walk, and 3 strikeouts. Pete Papenfus tight roped out of trouble, 9 hits, 3 runs (2 earned), 8 walks, and 8 strikeouts in an 8 inning loss. Cy Sullivan got the no decision in the extra inning win, 9 innings with 10 hits, 5 runs (4 earned), 6 walks, and 3 strikeouts. The pen only allowed one run, charged to Purvis, in 9.1 innings pitched. They allowed 8 hits and 4 walks with a single strikeout. We have six games next week sandwiched between off days, and I will work with a four man rotation. Lyons and Parker will pitch on four days rest, so Cy and Pete will stay in the pen.

Looking Ahead
Off to start the week, but we'll use that day to head home to prep for our homestand. We'll face one of the three teams we're tied for third with, the Kings, who have caught fire and jumped up to 46-43. Jack Goff has been stellar in his six starts, 4-1 with a 2.34 ERA (185 ERA+), 1.32 WHIP, 24 walks, and 13 strikeouts. Bob Cummings has continued to look good, 10-5 with a 3.04 ERA (142 ERA+), 1.23 WHIP, 36 walks, and 50 strikeouts in 106.2 innings pitched. Stumpy Beaman has generated 11 grounders in each of his three starts, going 2-0 with a 2.59 ERA (167 ERA+), 1.73 WHIP, 18 walks, and 5 strikeouts. Walks have hurt the former Cougar early on, but since we are likely not to face him, I can continue to root for him. We'll miss Harry Barrell, who will spend a month on the DL with an intercostal strain. He was hitting an adjusted league average .307/.364/.420 with 21 doubles, 4 triples, 3 homers, and 29 RBIs with his general elite shortstop play. They will get Rats McGonigle back, but the loss of Barrell will hurt more. Brooklyn has great pitching, but the offense hasn't looked like a regular Kings offense, ranked 6th in runs scored, average, OBP, slugging, OPS, WAR, and wOBA, so if we can generate some runs, likely via the longball, I like our chances to win this series.

Our next guess will be the Saints, who at 46-44, are half a game behind the clump of third place teams. I'm hoping we'll do better then the split in Montreal, and two of three wins is a must. I tried nabbing star right fielder Red Bond from them, but no luck. Across from him is Bert Lass, who has had a decent .329/.377/.431 (105 OPS+) with 16 doubles, 4 homers, and 37 RBIs in 322 trips to the plate. We hit Bud Robbins hard, who is now 5-7 with a 5.90 ERA (74 ERA+), 1.82 WHIP, 43 walks, and 28 strikeouts in 79.1 innings pitched. Their pen is anchored by a pitcher who came with Robbins in the Reyes trade, "Cougar" Lou Ellertson, who is 1-5 with 12 saves, a 3.04 ERA (143 ERA+), 1.76 WHIP, 35 walks, and 24 strikeouts in 56.1 effective innings. Of course, we also have to deal with Adam Mullins, who is hitting .334/.432/.468 (129 OPS+) with 24 doubles, 5 homers, and 66 RBIs in another great season at the plate. Montreal has done a great job sticking around, but I'm hoping we can push them down enough to separate from the pack.

Minor League Report
LF Bobby Mills (AAA Milwaukee Blues): It was a great week for Bobby Mills, who was 14-for-31 with 4 homers, 8 runs, and 15 RBIs. This was Player of the Week worthy, and improved his season line to .379/.455/.670 (179 OPS+) with 27 doubles, 2 triples, 15 homers, and 73 RBIs. He wasn't nearly as successful in Chicago, going just 6-for-25 with a homer and 5 RBIs. Our 6th Rounder from 1932, Mills has always been known for his bat, and other then a 48 game stint in La Crosse at 19, each minor league trip has seen him post an above average OPS+, even a few well above 150 like he has this season. Mills has shown a plus contact tool and does an excellent job working the count, which should lead to a lot of walks and very few strikeouts. He has no speed and very little defensive value, but despite what he has shown so far, he should be an excellent off the bench bat. I think he's best suited for first base, but we have a lot of more exciting options there, not just Ray Ford, but potentially Leo Mitchell or a vet like Lawson or Jones when their defense becomes too hard to bare. If he was just passable in a corner, he probably would be a big league regular, but his defense has held him back and will continue to limit his value.

RHP Willie Gonzalez Jr. (B San Jose Cougars): A torn rotator cuff cost Willie Gonzalez Jr. a full 10 months, but I liked enough of what I saw before to pick him up from the Gothams. Pre injury he was throwing 90-92, and after work in the offseason and some more last month, the 20-year-old is sitting in the 92-94 range. He started the season in La Crosse, 10 starts where he was very effective, finishing 3-2 with a 3.88 ERA (154 ERA+), 1.21 WHIP, 17 walks, and 32 strikeouts in 60.1 innings pitched. That was good enough to earn a callup, and his four starts couldn't have gone much better. He did walk his share, 10 in 21.2 innings pitched, but he is 2-1 with a sparkly 1.25 ERA (392 ERA+) and 1.20 WHIP with 13 strikeouts. A skinny righty from Milwaukee, he hasn't gotten out of the sixth in San Jose, but he was able to throw complete games down in La Crosse. He leads with a fastball and cutter, but his curve and change should develop into reliable offerings as well. His stuff should be a bit above average, but his control can desert him at times, leading to walks and the occasional home run. I'm thinking serviceable spot starter, but if his curveball turns into the plus pitch OSA is expecting, he could spend a few seasons in a big league rotation. His dad made 11 starts for us and 15 in total, but I'll take the over for junior. He has a long way to go, and ranks just inside the top 500, but if he can stay healthy, we might have a decent arm in four or so seasons.