[ayaghmour2]

Weekly Record: 0-6
Seasonal Record: 47-50 (6th, 7 GB)
Stars of the Week
Ray Ford : 26 AB, 9 H, 1 HR, 7 RBI, .346 AVG, .923 OPS
John Lawson : 27 AB, 10 H, 1 HR, 5 RBI, .370 AVG, .852 OPS
Rich Langton : 23 AB, 8 H, 0 HR, 5 RBI, .348 AVG, .899 OPS

Schedule
8-1: Loss vs Kings (3-2)
8-2: Loss vs Kings (13-8)
8-3: Loss vs Kings (8-3)
6-4: Loss vs Saints (6-3)
8-5: Loss vs Saints (6-4)
8-6: Loss vs Saints (8-6)

Recap
I'm speechless... Lost for words... HOW DO WE GET LET BROOKLYN AND MONTREAL WALK IN AND SEEP US!!!

*Deep Breath*

There is a silver lining... It started with talks about Sam Brown, the Eagles right fielder who I'm a big fan of. We started talks, but they wanted Chubby Hall, and while that was a no go for Brown, it started talks with a bigger deal including Eddie Quinn or Johnnie Jones, that slowly turned into a Hall for Jones trade. I wasn't expecting to make a deal, but after floating a few names to add to Hall. Brown went 12-for-25 with a homer and 7 RBIs, winning Player of the Week in the Fed, and I sent Chubby Hall and Lee Scott to Washington for Jonnie Jones.

I really didn't want to give up Hall, but this was a deal I just could not pass up. I think Hall is going to be a star outfielder, but I feel like I try to trade for Al Wheeler every month or so and with Juan Pomales' bat nearly ready to overtake Rich Langton. Add in that Ray Ford could also move to left if I have to move Lawson to first for Hal Wood, Hall didn't really have the most direct route to the majors. Of course, I've covered Jones in the past, and he's been a prospect I've been following.

It's been a tumultuous career for "The Patron Saint of Groundballs" who was initially selected fourth overall by the Stars in the 1936 draft. Despite being lauded as a future ace by most in the league, his first season he only started in 16 of his 26 appearances followed by 7 of 25 the next season. The Stars had a regime change in the offseason, and Jones was a casualty, sent to the Eagles with two other pitchers for Moxie Pidgeon, Robert Curry, and Mel Hancock Jr., pieces helpful for their pennant chase. The 21-year-old lefty started all 21 of his games this season for AA Atlanta this season, but he was 8-11 with a 5.21 ERA (90 ERA), 1.80 WHIP, 85 walks, and 54 strikeouts. As you might expect, he generates a ton of ground balls, and middle infielders better be ready to turn a double play if he allows a walk or single. An imposing 6'4'', he projects to feature a plus low-to-mid 90s sinker and fastball with a changeup and forkball mixed in. The off-speed pitches aren't ready yet, but the better those become, the more dangerous his stuff will be. He does get plenty of movement on his pitches, and OSA projects him to win Multiple Allen Awards, but I just can't wait until him and "Peter the Heater" sit 1-2 with Harry Parker right behind them. In fact, it was that same 1936 Draft where I drafted Papenfus. Two picks later I got the pitcher I had my eye on, but unfortunately my 21-year-older hasn't faired to well in the majors.

Papenfus has been relegated to a spot starter role with Cy Sullivan, as he is walking way too many hitters to be effective. He's 5-9 with a 5.81 ERA (72 ERA+), 1.73 WHIP, 77 walks and 84 strikeouts in 96 mostly ineffective innings. He does have the second most strikeouts in the league despite the low inning count, and if qualified, his BB/9 would be the worst. His potential is still sky high, but he has not been effective due to his lack of control. Eventually either his stuff is either going to be so good that everyone will strike out or make weak contact, or he masters his control and finally sees more batters with the bases empty.

In an 0-6 week, nearly everyone struggles, and two start starter Harry Parker was really roughed up. He was only charged with a loss once, but allowed 15 hits and 14 runs (11 earned) with a walk and four strikeouts. Dick Lyons faired better, but he still struggled in his two starts. One was a complete game loss, but it was in an unlucky 3-2 loss to the Kings. He allowed 8 hits, 3 runs, and a walk with two strikeouts in a game usually good enough to win. Unfortunately his start against the Saints was much worse, 12 hits, 6 runs (5 earned), 2 walks, and a strikeout in 8.1 innings pitched. Even Jim Lonardo struggled, 12 hits, 6 runs, 2 walks, and 2 strikeouts in 7 innings pitched. We won't go over Milt Fritz's start, or Dutch Leverett's weak, but there were about as many runs as innings.

Harry Mead did have a comeback week, 5-for-11 with 3 doubles, 3 runs, a walk, and his first big league home run. It only took 109 games, but in the 4th inning on the 3rd, he took the Kings' Jack Goff deep to give us a 3-0 lead we eventually blew. Carlos Montes stayed hot, 5-for-20 with a double, triple, homer, 3 RBIs, 4 runs, and 4 walks. John Lawson kept his average up, 10-for-27 with a homer and 5 RBIs. Ray Ford was 9-for-26 with 3 doubles, a homer, and 7 RBIs. Leo Mitchell was 9-for-26 with a double, triple, 3 RBIs, and 4 runs scored. Unfortunately Freddie Jones, Billy Hunter, and Mike Taylor were so bad, that we left a ton of runners on base. Taylor didn't get a single hit and even though three of Jones' 5 hits were doubles, they hit well under .200 combined. We stay home this week too, but we need a much better showing.

I sort of accidentally claimed Sam Orr off waivers from the Wolves. It was on purpose at first, I expected to trade Johnny McDowell, but when Boston brought Charlie Barry back home instead, I forgot that I had the Orr claim until I saw him DFA'd. With the Hall trade, an outfield spot opened up in Mobile, so I sent Aart MacDonald back to AAA and sent John Johnson back down to AA. Orr was a player I followed in the 1929 draft, and he was selected 5th Overall by the Wolves. He debuted in 1931 with a solid .319/.359/.410 (106 OPS+) batting line and added 34 doubles, 10 triples, a homer, 18 steals, and 66 RBIs. It looked like the Wolves had a long term solution, but now 24, 1932 was the only other above average season for Orr. His career .276/.321/.381 (87 OPS+) career line fell short of what it could have been, and at 31, he's now strictly a bench player. He's likely to spend the rest of the season on our bench, but he may be a 40-man casualty in the offseason.

Looking Ahead
At least we get a day off to recover, but we blew a huge opportunity. The Stars also struggles, so if we won four games instead of none, we'd still be in third and in striking distance of first. Instead, we just have next year to think about, as I don't think we can make it back. Still, with six games and an off day after, I'll try to run with the top four, giving two starts to Jim Lonardo and Dick Lyons. The Stars are still in first, tied with the Foresters at 53-42 and three games ahead of the Kings and Sailors. They had a rough 1-6 week, so that means they're primed to bounce back and sweep us just like Brooklyn and Montreal. They brought William Jones in to stabilize their rotation, and he's looked good in his four starts. He was 1-2, but with a 3.82 ERA (112 ERA+), 1.37 WHIP, 7 walks, and 8 strikeouts in 30.2 innings pitched. He'll make a solid 1-2 with Billy Riley, who is 13-9 with a 3.59 ERA (119 ERA+), 1.44 WHIP, 60 walks, and 81 strikeouts in 180.1 impressive innings. They'll be without Bill Barrett for a while, so Hank Jones is starting to get time in the lineup. He's been effective, slashing .344/.396/.522 (136 OPS+) with 8 doubles, a triple, 2 homers, and 18 RBIs. Unfortunately for them, Ray Cochran has really started to slump, hitting just .220/.336/.418 in 113 July plate appearances. I really want to win this series, but after the showing we put last week, I expect three more losses.

Baltimore is next in town, and unfortunately for Howie Pike, he will never pitch again for them. He partially tore his UCL on July 1st, ending his career. He was in the midst of his best season, 3-3 with a 4.66 ERA (91 ERA+), 1.32 WHIP, 11 walks, and 11 strikeouts in 48.1 innings pitched split between the rotation and pen. He wasn't a major pitcher for them, with really only Gus Goulding have a good season. He's just 7-13, but his 3.69 ERA (114 ERA+), 1.36 WHIP, 58 walks, and 68 strikeouts in 183 reliable innings. Joe Rainbow returned to the big leagues, and the former Cougar prospect is hitting .291/.330/.456 (104 OPS+) with 8 doubles, 3 homers, and 16 RBIs across 110 plate appearances. We really need these wins, so anything less then a sweep would be tough to deal with, as we can't drop any more games.