[ayaghmour2]

Weekly Record: 4-3
Seasonal Record: 6-6 (3rd, 3.5 GB)
Stars of the Week
John Lawson : 29 AB, 11 H, 1 HR, 7 RBI, .379 AVG, 1.010 OPS
Leo Mitchell : 24 AB, 10 H, 1 HR, 5 RBI, .417 AVG, 1.125 OPS
Carlos Montes : 30 AB, 10 H, 2 HR, 6 RBI, .333 AVG, .908 OPS

Schedule
4-22: Loss vs Kings (3-2)
4-23: Win vs Kings (2-7)
4-24: Loss vs Kings (4-3)
4-25: Win at Stars (4-2)
4-26: Loss at Stars (5-6): 10 innings
4-27: Win at Saints (14-5)
4-28: Win at Saints (7-2)

Recap
Since we haven't had a six game week yet, we couldn't go 3-3, but if you average the past two weeks, you guessed it, we're 3-3! Even better, we're continuing to lose one run games! All three of our losses were of the ever so painful one run variety! We did win one last sim, so we started out undefeated in one run games, but we quickly corrected that obvious mistake. We also cannot beat the Kings, four losses to them already, which is beyond frustrating considering they only have five wins. Splitting with the Stars and sweeping the Saints was perfect, but it's hard to feel overly happy when you let so many games slip through your fingertips. We also got a little injury scare with Billy Hunter spraining his ankle in our 7-2 win over the Saints. Thankfully, he's just day-to-day for four days, and it be extra safe, I'll let Ollie Page start two games and Freddie Bennett the other, since one of his injury days will be on an off day. Bennett earned at least one start, as he replaced Hunter and was 2-for-3 with an RBI, steal, and a pair of doubles. Hunter has been awful in the field, six errors in his 11 games, but the 25-year-old is hitting a robust .333/.341/.538 (148 OPS+) with 2 doubles, 3 triples, and 5 RBIs.

Last week Mitchell and Lawson were terrible, while this week they were arguably our two most effective position players. Mitchell was 10-for-24 with 2 doubles, 4 walks, a homer, 5 RBIs and 6 steals while Lawson was 11-for-29 with 3 doubles, a homer, 6 runs, and 7 RBIs. Ray Ford had a solid week, 8-for-24 with a double, RBI, and three runs scored. Rich Langton did well in his utility role, 10-for-22 with a double, steal, RBI, and three runs scored. He also had a 5-for-5 game in our loss to the Stars, although all five hits were singles and he only scored once while on base and didn't drive anyone in. Harry Mead managed to match his career home run total this week, launching two out and driving in four while hitting 5-for-12. Carlos Montes ran a little too much, 1-for-5 in steals, but he was 10-for-30 with 2 homers, 6 RBIs, and 7 runs scored. Leon Drake has yet to get it together, just 4-for-23 this week to drop his season line to .167/.186/.167 (1 OPS+). It is still far too early to start worrying, but he really needs to start turning things around shortly.

Since he didn't pitch last week, Milt Fritz made two starts this week, and despite the unearned runs, he looked solid. He won and lost a complete game, allowing 19 hits, 8 runs (4 earned), and 7 walks with 8 strikeouts. Dick Lyons was the other two start starter, and he won both. He went 14.1 with 16 hits, 4 runs, 7 walks, and just one strikeout. His 4.0 BB/9 and 0.9 K/9 in 20.1 innings leaves a lot to be desired, as I can't imagine you can sustain success like that. Lonardo, Parker, and Quinn all went nine, but only Parker picked up a win. He allowed 10 hits, 2 runs, and 2 walks, but rather surprisingly didn't strike out a batter. Quinn can blame his defense for his loss, as without errors we would have won 3-2. Half of his four runs were unearned, and he allowed 9 hits and 3 walks with 5 strikeouts. Lonardo pitched in the extra inning game, and was the only one without a complete game to show for it, and errors cost him as well. He allowed 11 hits, 5 runs (3 earned), and a walk with 3 strikeouts. Peter the Heater ended with the loss, allowing two hits and a run while recording two outs. Yeah, the loss is bad, but he still has no walks! The guy with 92 in 126 innings last season and 117 in 123.1 during his rookie year. He's the only one in the pen who has allowed a run, as the trio of Brown, Bryan, and Purvis have combined for 6.1 scoreless innings.

A little transactional news, as we unfortunately lost Oscar King on waivers to the Keystones. I love his glove, but I think Bennett's is better and I have to side with the Cougar draftee. Dutch Leverett and Lou Kelly wouldn't accept outright assignments, so both were released. This might be the end for the 38-year-old Kelly, who's likely to end his career with 2,009 hits, 274 homers, and 1,188 RBIs in 1,684 FABL career games.

Looking Ahead
Off to start the week before three in Cleveland with the struggling Foresters. At 5-8, they are tied with the Sailors for last place in the early goings. We'll look to take advantage of their slow start, although they aren't all that far from third. Dave Rankin is off to a good start, but bad luck has found him 1-2 despite a 3.24 ERA (120 ERA+), 1.00 WHIP, 2 walks, and 8 strikeouts. Last year's ERA champ Lou Martino has been roughed up in his two starts, 17 hits and 10 earned run in just 13.2 innings pitched. The reigning hit leader, however, is off to his usual start, as Mel Carroll is hitting .382/.386/.436 (125 OPS+) with 3 doubles and 5 RBIs. Brooks Meeks is looking to shake off his two year slump, hitting an impressive .333/.375/.489 (135 OPS+) with 4 doubles and a solo homer. Cleveland's offense has been effective, but it hasn't translated to scoring many runs, as they rank 7th in that category while top 4 in average, OBP, WAR, and hits. I do think we are the better team, but I wouldn't expect the Foresters to finish the season in the cellar, and since they are at home, it could make for a tough series.

We then get the other last place team, the Sailors, but just two games in Philly instead of three. The Sailors haven't pitched very well, with top two starters Dutch Sheldon and Doc Newell off to rough starts. Sheldon is already 0-3 with a 5.48 ERA (71 ERA+), 1.87 WHIP, 15 walks, and 16 strikeouts. Doc is 0-2, but with a worse 7.45 ERA (52 ERA+), 1.97 WHIP, 7 walks, and 6 strikeouts in his three starts. Herb Flynn, however, has been very effective, winning both his starts while working to a 1.50 ERA (258 ERA+) and 1.22 WHIP with 3 walks and 5 strikeouts. I don't think we'll face him, or but we'll likely see Walt Wells, who is 2-1 with a 3.51 ERA (110 ERA+), 1.17 WHIP, 6 walks, and 8 strikeouts. The offense is scoring a lot of runs, but aside from their middle infield, the individual results haven't been that great. 8-hitter Rip Lee is off to an outstanding start, slashing .320/.382/.460 (130 OPS+) with 3 doubles, 2 triples, and 8 RBIs. Double play partner Bob Smith is hitting a strong .318/.348/.477 (124 OPS+) with 2 doubles, a triple, homer, and 4 RBIs, while yet to strike out in almost 50 PAs. In fact, he's only struck out 15 times in 1,410 career FABL plate appearances, just 6 more then Leo Mitchell this season. Unfortunately for the Sailors, Joe Watson is ice cold, hitting just .265/.315/.347 (81 OPS+), a far cry from his .352/.418/.536 (146 OPS+) line last season and his .321/.402/.495 (143 OPS+) the year before. They'll need him and Dick Walker to start heating up if they want to compete this season, as Walker is hitting just .350/.377/.318 (92 OPS+), albeit with 3 doubles, a homer, 7 RBIs, and a pair of steals. I like our chances in this series, as the Sailors pitching hasn't been great, while we've allowed the second fewest amount of runs in our league. Anything less then a sweep would be disappointing, but I'll be okay if we split.

We then finish the week with the first of three in Toronto against the Wolves. Toronto is looking to show last season was a fluke and not the 1938 season when they finished second, as OSA's favorite for the CA pennant is 10-3 and leading the league in runs. You would think it's because of Fred McCormick and Walt Pack, but both are off to rough starts. McCormick has been about a league average hitter, but that is not up to par for the leagues best hitter. His .265/.379/.347 (101 OPS+) line leaves a lot to be desired, and he has just 1 RBI with 4 doubles and not a single homer. Pack has been dreadful, hitting a pitiful .150/.190/.250 (20 OPS+) with a double, homer, and 6 RBIs. With those two struggling, corner outfielders Larry Vestal and Reginald Westfall have carried the load. No FABL hitter has a higher average then Vestal, who is slashing an astronomical .451/.472/.745 (229 OPS+) with 4 doubles, 4 triples, a homer, and 8 RBIs. Westfall isn't matching that by any means, but the former Cougar draftee is hitting a respectable .342/.444/.342 (119 OPS+) with 7 walks and 5 RBIs. The pitching has been good, 2.22 ERAs for #1 and #2 Joe Hancock and Bernie Johnson, but the former top 3 pitcher (now 6th) George Garrison has functioned poorly in his three starts. The former 3rd Overall selection is 1-2 with a 6.00 ERA (64 ERA+), 1.61 WHIP, 6 walks, and 11 strikeouts. We may also get to see former Cougar Hal Wood, who has made 3 starts at second and third and 2 at short in his debut season. He's hit well, .310/.400/.448 (132 OPS+) with 4 doubles and 5 RBIs in his first 35 big league plate appearances. I know this is going to be a very tough series in Toronto, and I fully expect us to lose the opener just so we finish the week 3-3!

Minor League Report
LHP Walker Pearce (AAA Milwaukee Blues): He didn't have a great Spring, so he was optioned to Milwaukee, but I'm not sure he would have beat out Pug or Purvis even with a good Spring. I view him as a left handed pen option who can eat innings, sort of like how Cal Knight was used last year, but for now, he'll continue to start games. And if he throws more like his most recent, I may just have to work him into the rotation. Pearce was untouchable in a 6-0 shutout win over Columbus, allowing just 5 hits and a walk with a pair of punch-outs to even his record at 1-1. Pearce was a full-time starter in Milwaukee last season as well, and he was pretty great, finishing 14-8 with a 4.01 ERA (125 ERA+), 1.33 WHIP, 51 walks, and 74 strikeouts. I expect a similar season this year for the 25-year-old, who had a round about way returning to our system. Originally a 2nd Rounder in the extremely deep 1932 draft class that has already produced 18 FABL players. Pearce will likely be 19th or 20th, depending on if Dick Earl reclaims a 40-man spot for the Stars, as I plan on giving him innings this September. A top 100 prospect after draft day, bone chips in his elbow tried to derail his career, and we used him in the giant Dave Rankin and Joe Masters trade back in 1934 that really didn't work out for either team. Unfortunately for him, the Chiefs had a regime change, and the new and now current GM cut Pearce in January, before bouncing around the independent league carousel, signing seven times in five months before he returned to our organization at the end of May. He was then selected in the Rule-5 draft before the 1937 season, but shoulder inflammation in the Spring set him back, eventually being returned to us before the season started. Despite all the setbacks, Pearce has finally found a long term home, and while he's no longer the middle rotation arm I once thought he'd be, he can still throw hard and generate groundouts. His 93-95 sinker is a very reliable pitch, but his slider and change aren't that great. Weinstock thinks he can still fill the back of a rotation, but unless we have a terrible injury crisis, I can't see him being a long term option in our rotation, with the top-4 of the future looking like Papenfus-Jones-Jones-Parker.

RHP Bill Seabolt (AA Mobile Commodores): Our first shutout of the season! In his first and so far only start of the season, 25-year-old New Yorker Bill Seabolt did what most teams have done to the 1-10 New Orleans Showboats, and kept them off the board. He allowed 4 hits and 4 walks with a strikeout, and despite struggling in Lincoln last season, looked to show he belongs in AA. Seabolt made 18 starts last season, and was 7-4 with a 5.39 ERA (99 ERA+), 1.55 WHIP, 52 walks, and 76 strikeouts through 120.1 innings pitched. It was the first season he failed to start 20 games in our system, but Seabolt has just recently cracked our top 30 prospect list. He currently holds the 30 spot and 376th overall, but his age will make it harder for him to break through to Chicago. Still, he is an interesting arm, with a still raw five pitch arsenal. He has a really good changeup, but the rest of the pitches are average at best, and his control occasionally deserts him. He profiles as a AAAA type pitcher, but I can see someone taking a gamble on the former 6th Rounder if I he has a good season with the Commodores and is left unprotected for the Rule-5 Draft.