[ayaghmour2]

Weekly Record: 7-2
Seasonal Record: 43-38 (3rd, 6.5 GB)
Stars of the Week
Ray Ford : 32 AB, 12 H, 0 HR, 4 RBI, .375 AVG, .819 OPS
Milt Fritz : 2 Wins, 18.0 IP, 4 BB, 3 K, 1.00 ERA
Jim Lonardo : 2 Wins, 18.0 IP, 2 BB, 3 K, 1.00 ERA

Schedule
7-1: Win at Stars (4-1)
7-2: Loss at Stars (0-1)
7-3: Win at Saints (13-5)
7-4: Win at Saints (8-1)
7-4: Win at Saints (11-8)
7-5: Win at Kings (7-1)
7-6: Loss at Kings (4-5)
7-7: Win at Kings (8-6)
7-7: Win at Kings (2-1)

Recap
Well now... Would you look at that! A pretty impressive 7-2 week and all of a sudden the Cougars are five games over .500! We got a one run win, had a few high scoring ones as well, and are back up to third. All Star Game rosters were announced, with a pair of Cougars being selected to the game. Those would be two of the elder statesman of the game, John Lawson and Dick Lyons. Lawson will start the game at third after hitting .373/.428/.531 (164 OPS+) with 28 doubles, 7 homers, and 56 RBIs. This was his 7th selection to the game, and another well deserved nod. I was stunned that Fritz didn't get in while Lyons did, but the 40-year-old was a nice 10-3 with a 3.20 ERA (117 ERA+), 1.18 WHIP, 32 walks, and 19 strikeouts. It was his fourth selection to the game, as time refuses to slowdown the lefty. Fritz was much better, 9-5 with a 2.38 ERA (158 ERA+), 1.28 WHIP, 45 walks, and 33 strikeouts. Unfortunately the game doesn't select many pitchers for the game, but I still think Fritz should have found a way in.

He was outstanding on the mound this week too, a pair of one-run complete game victories. He allowed 13 hits and 4 walks with 3 strikeouts, and had to pitch on three days rest for his second start. Jim Lonardo had a similar week, a pair of one-run complete game victories of his own while allowing 16 hits and 2 walks with 3 strikeouts. Our third two start starter was Harry Parker, and while he didn't have any 1-run victories, he did win both his starts. They weren't great, 17 innings with 22 hits, 11 runs, 2 walks, and 10 strikeouts as his ERA is rising towards 4. Pete Papenfus left his second start with a sore ankle after just a single pitch, but his first start was impressive. He went 8 with 5 hits, 3 walks, 6 strikeouts, and an unearned run. Joe Brown relieved him in the injury start, it was one of his two outings, and combined to go 7.2 innings with 7 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks, and a strikeout. Dick Lyons had a tough final start of the first half, 6.2 innings with 11 hits, 8 runs (7 earned), a walk, and a strikeout. More struggles for Pug Bryan, losing his fourth straight game and allowing 7 hits, 3 runs, 2 walks, and a strikeout in 3 innings. All three runs came off homers, and I have no idea why Pug decided to fall off.

There was a lot of rotation in the lineup this week, but the best of the bunch was likely Rich Langton. He was 5-for-14 with 2 doubles, a homer, 4 runs, and 5 RBIs. Carlos Montes was 8-for-25 with 2 doubles, 2 steals, 4 RBIs, 5 walks, and 6 runs scored. Ray Ford went 12-for-32 with 4 walks, 4 RBIs, and 7 runs scored. Leo Mitchell was 8-for-29 with 2 doubles, a homer, and 5 walks, runs, and RBIs. Orlin Yates was just 4-for-16, but with 3 doubles, 4 walks, and 5 RBIs. Our catchers did really struggle, and combined to go 7-for-37 with 2 doubles, 5 runs, and 3 RBIs. It wasn't the best week with the bats, but definitely a notable improvement as we had one of our best weeks in a while.

We will also get Billy Hunter back next week, barring another injury, as he'll head to Milwaukee to play second for the Blues. When he returns to Chicago, I'll ease him back in, so Ollie Page will continue to get some starts. He's looked good at second, working to a 3.1 zone rating and 1.068 efficiency, but the 30-year-old is hitting just .232/.335/.329 (85 OPS+) with 5 doubles, 2 triples, 2 homers, 3 steals, and 19 RBIs in 185 trips to the plate. That's actually more then last year, where he got into 59 games, but he's started all but four of the 48 he's played in this season. Another Cougar returning is Art Black, who was released by the Cannons to make room for Vic Carroll. Burger Black wasn't all that great in his 12.1 innings, 1-0 with a 6.57 ERA (58 ERA+), 1.95 WHIP, 10 walks, and a strikeout. Walks have always been an issue for the former 5th Rounder I once thought was Art Blake, and in 77.2 big league innings he has 69 walks (8.0). Even when he was dominant in the pen with the Blues the last two seasons, he walked 118 in 241.2 innings (4.4). Since Black is out of options and on a major league deal, I can either release him, place him on the active roster, or waive him. I decided on the latter, although I don't think he will get claimed.

A few of our draft picks have signed, and while we are still waiting on Mel Haynes, we do have a new member of the top 100 list. That would be June's first pick, lefty Duke Bybee, who checks in at 7th in our system and 72nd Overall. That gives us 8 top 100 prospects, but we've now dropped from 3rd to 5th. Part is due to Joe Quade of the Keystones, now 10th and right behind Donnie Jones, and former Cougar draftee Tucker Ness, who ranks 49th for the Pioneers. I'm hoping Mel Haynes ranks above Bybee once he signs, but we do have a few more guys in the top 500. Fellow 4th Rounder Jimmie James ranks 9th and 126th, 2nd Rounder Don Lee 12th and 161st, and 8th Rounder Roscoe Brown 23rd and 265th. Cy Howard and Fred Thaxton are still ranked, but now 25th and 290th and 46th and 464th respectively. Thaxton may end up falling out, as there are still a decent amount of unsigned draftees around the league that should warrant a top 500 spot. We are still waiting on Haynes, 3rd Rounder Bill Rich, 5th Rounder Harry Stewart, and 9th Rounder Charlie Kelsey, but I expect all four to sign tomorrow.

Looking Ahead
Our next game is on Thursday against Cleveland, with an off day on both sides of it. The second of two is on Saturday, as we start the second half of the season with the last place 28-52 Foresters. It's been a tough season in Cleveland, who is now without a GM, which may mean that guys like Dave Rankin will stay in Ohio. Rankin is 7-8 with a 2.98 ERA (131 ERA+), 1.32 WHIP, 41 walks, and 37 strikeouts. He didn't get an All Star selection, which would have been his second, but that hasn't stopped him from pitching well. Dean Astle, however, has started to struggle, now 7-9 with a 4.58 ERA (85 ERA+), 1.54 WHIP, 43 walks, and 43 strikeouts. They did have an All Star, third basemen Mel Carrol, who has hit an impressive .362/.409/.472 (134 OPS+) with 12 doubles, 8 homers, and 42 RBIs. He'll be joined by Lou Balk, who hit .293/.321/.498 (115 OPS+) with 17 doubles, 10 triples, 9 homers, and 32 RBIs. He may be one of the few to strike out more then Leo Mitchell, with 70 to just 13 walks. This is exactly what we need to get started off the right foot, but anything less then a sweep would be a bit disappointing.

We then finish the week with the first of three in Philly. The Sailors are now 43-40 and tied for fourth. They're led by Walt Wells, who is having a great season atop their rotation. The now 2-Time All Star is 11-5 with a 2.81 ERA (139 ERA+), 1.20 WHIP, 45 walks, and 50 strikeouts in his 18 starts. Chuck Murphy has 4 less starts, but is an impressive 8-3 with a 2.76 ERA (142 ERA+), 1.22 WHIP, 26 walks, and 21 strikeouts. The defense has been the best in the league, really helping the top two, but vets Doc Newell and Herb Flynn have had their struggles. At the plate, Dick Walker is coming back a bit, slashing .253/.363/.420 (108 OPS+) with 17 doubles, 8 triples, 5 homers, 13 steals, and 33 RBIs. He's one of three average or better hitters, but both Joe Watson (100) and Rip Lee (102) haven't been much above average. Bob Smith has really cooled down, seeing his season line fall to .301/.336/.416 (99 OPS+) with 16 doubles, 5 triples, 2 homers, 4 steals, and 23 RBIs. We've done well against the Sailors this year, but the best part of this week is that even if we go 0-3, we're still over .500!

Minor League Report
LF Oscar Panduro (AAA Milwaukee Blues): He's fighting for his playing time right now, but a Player of the Week award definitely helps his cause. The 26-year-old from Chicago finished the week 11-for-23 with a homer and 9 RBIs to improve his season line to .363/.404/.596 (159 OPS+). Panduro has 20 extra base hits, 10 doubles, 6 triples, and 4 homers with 23 RBIs, 9 walks, and not a single strikeout in 36 games with the Blues. He started the year in Mobile, and walked 5 times without striking out in 25 games there, despite 19 strikeouts in 90 games last season with the Commodores. The lack of strikeouts is nice, but the former 10th Rounder will need to do more then that to keep getting regular playing time or get his contract purchased. His defense has slipped a bit too, as he used to be able to handle center and a few infield spots, but now only has positional ratings and left, right, and first. This hurts his versatility and usefulness off the bench, but Panduro puts in long hours and is brilliant both on and off the field. His teammates love him too, and he's the perfect influence even if he's not much of a leader. Still, Panduro has always been good with the bat, never posting a below average OPS+ at any stint in the minors. He'll need a lock to break his way if he wants to be an FABL regular, but with a little luck, he could pick up a September callup. It will be tough for him to maintain a 40-man spot, but for a 10th Round Pick, even just one FABL game would be a dream come true.

LF Harry Harris (C La Crosse Lions): It was a crazy, 17-inning affair between La Crosse and Burlington, where the Lions overtook the Bears 6-5. Harry Harris was instrumental in the win, going 5-for-8 with a double, RBI, and a pair of runs scored. The switch hitting corner player hasn't had the best season, hitting just .305/.361/.407 (91 OPS+), but I hope this big game can help him start turn things around. He added 20 doubles, a triple, steal, homer, and 41 RBIs, and the former 7th Rounder has been a bit below average out in left. With all the new draftees joining the system, he's probably going to move around the field a bit. Harris won't have to worry about losing at bats, however, and he still ranks 22nd in our system and 257th overall. He has a real nice contact tool that should allow him to hit for a high average, and he will likely end up with an above average eye to go with it. He makes the most of his tools, even if they are a bit limited, as he doesn't have much power or speed. He's not the hardest worker out there, getting his work done, but not quite going above and beyond, and I'm hoping we can change that part about him. Harris has a lot of upside, more then most in our system, but he's a very raw prospect who we will have to be patient with. I can't see him getting a promotion to San Jose this season, and may have to wait until 1941 or 1942 to begin his ascent up the ladder.