[ayaghmour2]

Weekly Record: 4-3
Seasonal Record: 69-66 (4th, 7.5 GB)
Stars of the Week
Leo. Mitchell : 29 AB, 16 H, 0 HR, 8 RBI, .552 AVG, 1.227 OPS
Ray Ford : 30 AB, 12 H, 1 HR, 9 RBI, .400 AVG, 1.038 OPS
John Lawson : 26 AB, 12 H, 0 HR, 4 RBI, .462 AVG, 1.164 OPS

Schedule
9-11: Win vs Sailors (1-8)
9-11: Loss vs Sailors (10-6)
9-13: Win vs Wolves (8-10)
9-14: Loss vs Wolves (7-4)
9-15: Loss vs Wolves (5-1)
9-16: Win vs Foresters (8-9)
9-17: Win vs Foresters (4-13)

Recap
We couldn't go 3-3, so we went 4-3! We split the series with the Sailors, won two against the Foresters, and didn't lose a one run game! Sure, the Wolves took two out of three from us in Chicago, but I was impressed that we won both games against Cleveland. We are still way out of first place, but every win helps at this point. It did move us up to fourth place, but we do have a chance to move up a few more spots. Leo Mitchell had a week to remember, taking home Continental Association Player of the Week. He hit well, going 16-for-29 with 2 doubles, 4 walks, 7 runs, and 8 RBIs. Mitchell has done outstanding in September, slashing .493/.553/.582 with 3 doubles, a homer, 11 RBIs, and 14 runs scored. This moved his season line up to .349/.396/.458 (124 OPS+) in 611 trips to the plate. He still has a little time to reach double digit homers, but Mitchell has recorded 33 doubles, 2 triples, 8 homers, and 73 RBIs with 42 walks and 103 strikeouts. The surge of strikeouts has led him to an insane .414 BABIP, a bit higher then his .383 career mark.

The lineup as a whole did well, and even though he bruised his foot on the 14th, John Lawson had a great week as well. He went 12-for-26 with 2 doubles, a triple, 4 RBIs, and 9 runs scored. He won't miss any additional time since we have an off day today, so he'll be fully healthy for the rest of the week. Freddie Jones also had a big week, 8-for-22 with a double, triple, homer, and six runs scored. Rich Langton went 11-for-30 with a double, triple, 2 homers, 7 RBIs, and 6 runs scored. Ray Ford was 12-for-30 with 3 doubles, a homer, 9 RBIs, and 6 runs scored. The catching duo was back to a good week, 9-for-28 with 2 doubles, a homer, and 10 RBIs. The centerfielders, however, didn't have any luck, 6-for-31 with 3 doubles, 3 RBIs, and 6 runs scored. Billy Hunter was the only hitter without any luck, just 4-for-25 with two runs scored and driven in.

Our starting pitching was beyond awful, and really the only good pitching performance was Rusty Watts relief outing. He came in after Milt Fritz went 3 with 7 hits, 8 runs (6 earned), 2 walks, and a strikeout. Watts then earned the win, six shutout innings with 5 hits, 2 walks, and 4 strikeouts. Fritz's first start was luckily better, 7 hits, a run, and a walk in a complete game win, also effective, but his week was ruined by the poor start against Cleveland. Cy Sullivan had two rough starts, 15 innings combined with 21 hits, 10 runs, 8 walks, and 4 strikeouts. Harry Parker got a win, but was an out away from a complete game. He allowed 9 hits, 8 runs (6 earned), and 2 walks with 6 strikeouts. Even Lonardo really struggled, 15 hits, 7 runs, and a walk in 5.2 innings pitched. Same goes for Lyons, who allowed 7 hits, 5 runs, and 4 walks with just a single strikeout in a complete game loss. Peter the Heater was sabotaged by an Ollie Page error, which led to a Bob Smith grand slam with all four runs unearned. He did pitch two other games, going 4.1 with 3 hits, 3 walks, and 7 strikeouts.

Looking Ahead
Off to start the week before two hosting the Cannons. At 57-78, they are almost twenty games behind the Foresters. They have a few new adds to the roster, including waiver claim starter Walter Murphy. The Orland Park native has made six starts and two relief appearances, going 3-2 with a 4.83 ERA (88 ERA+), 1.54 WHIP, 18 walks, and 19 strikeouts in 54 innings pitched. We'll likely see him, and potentially rookie Paul Richardson. He debuted last year, but the former 15th Round Pick made his first two starts this season, and they couldn't have been any different. The first was against the Stars, where he couldn't get out of the fourth and allowed 9 hits, 10 runs (9 earned), and 3 walks. The second was much better, an 8-hit, 4-walk shutout of the Saints. If not him, we'll get Rusty Petrick, who has really had a rough 1939. After going 12-15 with a 3.64 ERA (108 ERA+), 1.48 WHIP, 159 walks, and 130 strikeouts in 269.1 innings pitched, he won't come anywhere close that inning count this year. In 17 starts and 12 relief outings, he is 5-11 with 3 saves, a 6.41 ERA (66 ERA+), 1.87 WHIP, 89 walks, and 69 strikeouts. Another guy enduring a rough season is Ken Mayhugh, who has hit just .270/.333/.354 (79 OPS+) with 22 doubles, 2 triples, 4 homers, and 66 RBIs. An interesting add to the lineup is former Cougar Pete Asher, but he's barely hitting his weight, at a .205/.239/.295 (38 OPS+) line with two doubles, a triple, and seven driven in. I do think we should win both of these games, and it could help move us up to third place.

The next series will be much tougher, a three game set with the Stars. Us beating the Foresters help them get closer to Cleveland, now just 3.5 games out. The Stars have the CA leader in strikeouts, George Philips, who was 14-13 with a 4.19 ERA (102 ERA+), 1.48 WHIP, 124 walks, and 113 strikeouts in a career high 275 innings pitched. Last season in 30 starts (34 this year), he only managed 211.1 innings pitched, and what first looked like a lack of stamina may have been an ill informed pitch count. And after four complete games last season, he's up to a league high 21. Close to his 113 strikeouts is ace Billy Riley, who is 16-12 with a 3.89 ERA (110 ERA+), 1.39 WHIP, 76 walks, and 108 strikeouts in his breakout season. I'm hoping to see Chuck Cole instead, who has had a tough season in New York. He's just 4-8 with a 5.32 ERA (81 ERA+), 1.61 WHIP, 63 walks, and 58 strikeouts in 16 starts and 8 relief outings. Bill Barrett is back in the lineup, and they missed his .280/.388/.462 (118 OPS+) batting line. He added in 12 doubles, 5 triples, 10 homers, and 52 RBIs with 50 walks and 14 strikeouts. Dave Trowbridge is chugging along strong, slashing .343/.432/.491 (137 OPS+) with 27 doubles, 4 triples, 13 homers, and 91 RBIs with 75 walks and 32 strikeouts. Moxie Pidgeon is approaching 20 homers, but his .303/.355/.445 (105 OPS+) line has continued to drop towards the average. He has 18 doubles, 19 homers, and 85 RBIs in his first season with the Stars. This will be a tough series, but we could either really help the Stars in their pennant chance or help secure another one for Cleveland.

We start the first half of a two game set with the Kings to finish the week. At 62-71, the reigning CA champs have fallen behind the Wolves, ahead of just Baltimore in the standings now. The Kings have added some new faces to the lineup, with former lottery pick Joe Herman batting above the struggling Al Wheeler. Herman turns 24 on the 26th, and has hit an impressive .364/.420/.602 (157 OPS+) with 7 doubles, 3 triples, 5 homers, and 32 RBIs in 131 plate appearances. About half of his appearances have been starts, but he's done everything he can to show he deserves to hold onto the spot. They've also placed Tiny Tim Hopkins at first, but in his 75 trips to the plate he's hit a paltry .250/.301/.309 (55 OPS+) with a double, homer, and six RBIs. Former Cougar prospect Stumpy Beaman hasn't had a great start to his King career, 2-6 with a 5.26 ERA (83 ERA+), 1.95 WHIP, 40 walks, and 17 strikeouts in 10 starts and 3 pen outings. We need to win both games, but even with the tough season, I can't underestimate the Kings.

Minor League Report
1B Marv Smith (AA Mobile Commodores): It's been a nice month for Smith, who has gotten a hit in each of his September games so far, leading to a nice 20 game hit streak. A natural outfielder, Smith has played almost exclusively first base this season, as we have a ton of corner outfield options and very few at first. Most of his hits have been singles, but he's boosted his season line from .254/.354/.381 to .316/.412/.437 (124 OPS+) up in 54 games in AA. 25 in November, Smith has added 6 doubles, 2 triples, 5 homers, 6 steals, and 32 RBIs with 35 walks to 12 strikeouts. He's actually been better up in Mobile then Lincoln, showing a patient approach to the plate and he's adept at drawing walks. He also has a knack for making contact, likely hitting for a high average his entire career. The lefty hitter has a chance to develop into a capable pinch hitter, and with a little more pop, he could develop into much more. After 10 homers last season, he's up to 16 this season, but I'm not sure if this will last in the big leagues. He does hit a lot of flyballs, which will work well in our park, and OSA thinks he could force his way into a lineup.

SS Skipper Schneider (AA Mobile Commodores): Not only did Leo Mitchell take home Player of the Week, and former Cougar Ivan Cameron took home the honor in the Fed, but our first rounder took it in the Dixie League! Mobile may be out of the postseason, but it wasn't because of Skipper. He hit an even .500 with 5 runs and 7 RBIs to boost his season line to .352/.382/.476 (125 OPS+). He hasn't hit a homer yet, but he's added 12 doubles, 3 triples, 3 steals, and 23 RBIs in his first 159 pro plate appearances. He's also been stupendous at short, already a 16.6 zone rating and 1.146 efficiency. He doesn't turn 19 until October, and could potentially debut next season as a teen. The hard worker has shown the talent to be a defensive marvel in the field with a quick bat at the plate. Sometimes he has struggles with off-speed stuff, but that's something he'll adjust to with more reps. Ranked 39th in the league and 3rd in our system, he just passed Hal Wood, and is our most developed infield prospect. Hal Wood may spend a little time at short before Skipper, but I think he'll be our long-term shortstop, eventually pushing Billy Hunter to third once John Lawson is ready to call it quits. Of course, Lawson has showed no signs of slowing down, so Skipper may have to wait a few seasons before turning into a full time regular.

RHP Ray McNeill (A Lincoln Legislators): It was another good outing in Lincoln for Ray McNeill, who tossed a 6-hit, 5-strikeout shutout of the Cedar Rapids Chiefs, as the Legislators silenced them 10-0. It was his 10th start of the season here, and he went 5-3 with a 3.22 ERA (167 ERA+), 1.39 WHIP, 9 walks, and 32 strikeouts. Thanks to an untimely torn labrum of Art Saunders, who of course I jinxed last report, McNeill will return to Mobile. Our former 7th Rounder hasn't had much success with the Commodores, 2-5 with a 5.34 ERA (86 ERA+), 1.38 WHIP, 14 walks, and 25 strikeouts in 55.2 innings pitched. Unless he throws a few more shutouts in the last week of the minor league season, his stint in Mobile will be his first below average season in terms of ERA+, and his first stint with an ERA above 4. McNeill does have a reliable six pitch arsenal, and even though none of the pitches are that great, he can locate them really well. His best pitch may be his mid 80s fastball, but he reminds me a bit of a Dave Rankin type pitcher, a lot of pitches, but none of them that are all that great. OSA is a big fan, thinking he can turn into a back end rotation arm, but I'm not yet convinced. He did have a little injury this season, but McNeill has stayed healthy and he could turn into a reliable arm for a team that needs a stable presence.