[ayaghmour2]

Weekly Record: 4-4
Seasonal Record: 49-43 (4th, 5 GB)
Stars of the Week
Leo Mitchell : 27 AB, 12 H, 3 HR, 5 RBI, .444 AVG, 1.331 OPS
John Lawson : 36 AB, 12 H, 0 HR, 4 RBI, .333 AVG, .768 OPS
Skipper Schneider : 24 AB, 9 H, 0 HR, 5 RBI, .375 AVG, .900 OPS

Schedule
7-15: Loss at Sailors (6-7): 10 innings
7-16: Loss at Sailors (3-8)
7-17: Loss at Cannons (4-8)
7-18: Loss at Cannons (3-8)
7-19: Win at Cannons (8-7): 11 innings
7-20: Win at Wolves (7-5)
7-21: Win at Wolves (5-0)
7-21: Win at Wolves (8-1)

Recap
Well, this was a week... We let the Sailors sweep us, and then the Cannons took two of three. In fact, three of those four losses we allowed 8 runs, and in the other, it was 7 and a very fun one run loss. When it seemed like the week was lost, we managed to win four in a row, including all three against the first place Wolves. Even with the less then stellar week, we managed to cut the deficit by one, despite dropping a spot in the standings. I'm glad we finally have an off day, and we're finally able to return home. We haven't been terrible on the road, 27-25 so far, but we're 22-18 at home and teams tend to play better at their home stadium.

No one had a better week then Leo Mitchell, who took home this week's Player of the Week in the Continental Association. He went 12-for-27 with a double, 3 homer, 5 RBIs, and 6 runs scored. He had another 5-hit game, a 5-for-6 in our 8-7 win over the Cannons, his second 5-hit game in a month and a half. Yes, he struck out 6 times, but he also walked 4 and boosted his season line to .313/.365/.456 (126 OPS+). Still on pace for well over 100 strikeouts, already 79 in 82 games, but he has 15 doubles, 10 homers, and 45 RBIs in 342 trips to the plate. Billy Hunter had a nice return to the lineup, 7-for-21 with 2 doubles, a triple, a homer, 3 runs, and 5 RBIs. He did make an error at second, but did well on the other 22 chances and I imagine he'll only improve as he gets more comfortable there. Orlin Yates, who has started to steal some of Leon Drake's time, went 10-for-23 with 5 runs and an RBI. The 28-year-old, who was one of two players with Milt Fritz to come from the Gothams in the Tom Taylor deal, is hitting an impressive .301/.395/.412 (123 OPS+) with 3 doubles, 3 triples, 2 homers, 2 steals, and 13 RBIs in 159 PAs. Another guy with some of Drake's at bats was Rich Langton, who was a nice 4-for-9 with 2 doubles, 3 runs, and 4 RBIs. Skipper Schneider had a nice week, 9-for-24 with a double, triple, run, and 5 RBIs. Ray Ford was 8-for-31 with a double, triple, homer, 6 walks, 6 RBIs, and 8 runs scored. John Lawson wasn't great, by his standards at least, 12-for-36 with 3 doubles, 4 RBIs, and 7 runs scored. Ollie Page looked good in a return to a limited role, 3-for-9 with 3 RBIs. Even Aart MacDonald got into the fun, 4-for-13 with 2 walks, 2 RBIs, and 3 runs scored. The only guys who really struggled were our catching duo, with Mead and Taylor going 4-for-32, but at least Taylor homered twice and drove in six. There was also Leon Drake, who was a pitiful 2-for-17, dropping his season line to .196/.257/.333 (62 OPS+). Drake's downfall has made next to little sense, and considering we gave up a top 100 prospect, a former top 50 prospect, and a 4th Rounder that could have been Eddie Kincaid, it's already looking like a major misstep.

The pitching was terrible, but Milt Fritz did what he does best, at least for one of his starts. In our 5-0 win, he tossed yet another shutout, just 3 hits, a walk, and 3 strikeouts. Of course, against the Sailors he really struggled, allowing 11 hits, 6 runs, 3 walks, and a strikeout in 6.1 innings pitched. Dick Lyons had a rare rough start, 5.2 innings with 9 hits, 3 runs, 4 walks, and a strikeout. Jim Lonardo continued his age appropriate season, 7 innings with 8 hits, 7 runs (6 earned), 2 walks, and a strikeout. Harry Parker looked bad in both his starts, but he got a win and no decision. He went 17 innings with 15 hits, 11 runs (10 earned), 5 walks, and 10 strikeouts. Peter the Heater had a good start and bad start, going 6.2 innings against the Cannons with 11 hits, 7 runs, 8 walks, and 4 strikeouts. He bounced back in Toronto, picking up a complete game win with 6 hits, a run, 2 walks, and 4 strikeouts. Papenfus is sort of looking like a good big league pitcher in his 10 starts and 7 relief outings. He's 4-6 with 2 saves, a 3.61 ERA (105 ERA+), 1.46 WHIP, 48 walks, and 67 strikeouts. His BB/9 is a career low at 5.2, but so is his 7.3 K/9. Still, things are starting to look up for the 22-year-old, and every start makes me more and more excited for his future. Allen Purvis struggled out of the pen, but he did pick up a win in his three starts. He had a loss too, allowing 9 hits, 6 runs, and 3 strikeouts in 3.1 innings pitched. We generally pitch well, but this week was really tough, rising our ERA to 3.64 as a team, and we're now 4th in runs allowed.

Looking Ahead
We have a nice little reprieve, a two game series at home with the Foresters with off days on either side. 30-year-old Dean Astle has had a really rough season, 7-10 with a 4.80 ERA (82 ERA+), 1.57 WHIP, 50 walks, and 49 strikeouts. He's a big reason why they are just 31-59 and 22 games out of first, a spot Foresters fans haven't been used to for a while. That means it is back to dominating on a struggling team for Dave Rankin, just 7-10, but with a 3.02 ERA (130 ERA+), 1.32 WHIP, 46 walks, and 37 strikeouts. The offense has been worse, scoring the fewest amount of runs, despite having one of the CA's most valuable players in Mel Carrol. He would've been the starting third basemen in the All Star game if it wasn't for the wonderful John Lawson, as Carrol is hitting .354/.400/.469 (130 OPS+) with 12 doubles, a triple, 9 homers, and 48 RBIs. He hasn't had much help, just the guy above and below him in Bill Moore and Lou Balk. Moore is hitting .295/.374/.452 (118 OPS+) with 26 doubles, 2 triples, 7 homers, and 42 RBIs with a nice 40-to-8 walk-to-strikeout ratio. Balk has matched Carrol's 9 homers and drove in 35, while hitting .300/.330/.508 (119 OPS+) with 20 doubles and 11 triples. He's one of the few that can compete with Leo Mitchell for strikeouts, 73 in 351 trips to the plate. These are must win games, as I know we are by far the better team, but we have to take them seriously.

We then welcome in the Wolves, and hope for more of of the same in our four games in three days. They still lead the CA, 54-38 and a game above the Cannons, and if we can keep beating them, this would be a huge week for us. Their top three continues to impress, but we beat Johnson and Garrison, as well as southpaw Chick Wirtz. He's a consistent starter, as his ERA+ in all six of his seasons in Toronto has been 94, 95, 96, or 98. This year it's 95, as Wirtz is 4-7 with a 4.15 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 38 walks, and 30 strikeouts. No matter what we'll see him or Bob Walls, but I'd love to see both. Walls is 9-5, but with a 4.35 ERA (90 ERA+), 1.40 WHIP, 39 walks, and 23 strikeouts. Right now it is projected we'll see them, and no Joe Hancock, which would be perfect. Their offense is solid too, with rookie and first time All-Star Tom Frederick putting together a very impressive season with the bat. The 24-year-old is hitting .309/.367/.467 (120 OPS+) with 22 doubles, 12 triples, and 33 RBIs. He's been excellent at second (5.9, 1.077), but a bit of a liability in center (-1.9, .985). Still, having him capable of filling both positions, as well as pretty much anywhere but short and catcher, makes him one of the most valuable youngsters in the game. He's the only guy in their lineup without a homer, but in their vast stadium, just Fred McCormick (5) and Walt Pack (10) have more then three. That hasn't limited their potential to score, first in the league in runs scored, as they also lead in wOBA, OPS, and OBP. This will be another tough series, but I like our chances at home, and we may have caught the Wolves at the right time.

Minor League Report
LHP Johnny Ruby (AAA Milwaukee Blues): He wasn't great in Mobile, but I needed to move someone up, and he was one of the few Mobile arms who was ready to make the jump. His first start was awful, 8 runs (6 earned) in 6 innings, but start three was one to remember. The sidewinding lefty allowed just 2 hits with 5 walks and 5 strikeouts in a nice 2-0 win over St. Paul. He's now 1-2 with a 3.68 ERA (110 ERA+), 1.59 WHIP, 18 walks, and 8 strikeouts after going just 2-7 with Mobile. His 4.57 ERA (103 ERA+), 1.57 WHIP, 54 walks, and 44 strikeouts paint a bit better of a picture, but his walks have been concerning. That's a 5.9 BB/9 in 82.2 innings, and last year he had a 4.4 in 24 starts split between Lincoln and Mobile. His stuff should be more then good enough to make up for it, as he features a sweeping curve and great slider in his six pitch mix. The only thing keeping him from being a reliable starter is his control, although I'm not sure he'll ever be able to develop it enough.

1B Bobby Mills (AAA Milwaukee Blues): He didn't deserve a demotion, but I needed to make room for Hunter and he was really the only choice. He didn't take it personally, and capped off a Player of the Week with a 5-for-5 in a 9-7 win over St. Paul. He finished the week 11-for-20 with 2 homers, 9 RBIs, and 6 runs scored. Mills hit an impressive .294/.333/.510 (130 OPS+) in 51 at bats with us, but his .382/.472/.558 (171 OPS+) line in Milwaukee is outstanding. Add in 9 doubles, 4 homers, and 23 RBIs with a 20-to-1 walk-to-strikeout ratio, it's really hard to perform any better then he has. Mills has turned into an outstanding hitter, and if he had any sort of defensive skills, he'd be starting for an FABL team. He's on his last option year, and I can't see myself waiving him like I did with Johnny Waters, so expect the former 6th Rounder to steal someone's roster spot next year.

1B Bill Dambreville (AA Mobile Commodores): Good week for our first basemen this week! Former first basemen Leo Mitchell won a Player of the Week, current first basemen Bobby Mills won a Player of the Week, and our top first base prospect Bill Dambreville joined the fun with one of his own! This is just week two for Dambreville in Mobile, after hitting .329/.410/.502 (151 OPS+) with 18 doubles, 3 triples, 6 homers, and 45 RBIs in 283 trips to the plate. His Mobile line is even better, .467/.547/.667 (207 OPS+) with 3 doubles, 2 homers, and 7 RBIs after the 14-for-26 week. I was hesitant when I first selected him in the 5th Round, as I'm not a fan of taking corner players in the early rounds, but I have nothing but good things to say about him now. He has a very smooth swing which should lead to him hitting for a very high average, while his eye is well above average. He doesn't quite have the power I like for corner bats, but he's got 8 homers already and will likely reach double digits by the end of the season. His only obstacle right now is Ray Ford, but at just 22, Ford has 7 years over him. He doesn't have the upside of Ford, yet, but he's climbing up our prospect ladder, now 12th in the system and 174th overall. Tom think's we can pencil him in for the lion's share of first base starts, but until Ford slows down, he may have to wait in the minors.

RHP Willie Gonzalez Jr. (A Lincoln Legislators): I needed to promote someone from San Jose, and while I wasn't sure if Willie was ready, Willie took things into his own hands. It took just four starts, but Gonzalez Jr. tossed a wonderful 5-hit, 2-walk, and 7-strikeout shutout as the Legislators disposed of the Cedar Rapids Chiefs 6-0. That improved him to 2-1 on the season with a 2.73 ERA (143 ERA+), 1.00 WHIP, 8 walks, and 20 strikeouts. This was after an outstanding 10 start run in San Jose where Junior was 7-1 with a 2.75 ERA (169 ERA+), 1.12 WHIP, 15 walks, and 27 strikeouts. The former Gotham farmhand hasn't gotten much prospect love, ranked 43rd in the system and 453rd overall, but it's hard to ignore the impressive stats. Plus, he has a nice 96-98 fastball and cutter, both above average pitches, as well as a biting curve. The change isn't great, but if the other three pitches continue to develop as they have, he won't really need it. His command isn't always great, and he's occasionally susceptible to the longball, but he has dropped his BB/9 to 2.3, and his K/9 is above 5 in Lincoln. He's got a lot of upside, but unless he gets a few talent bumps, it may be hard for him to secure regular innings in an FABL rotation.

LHP Ed Wilkinson (A Lincoln Legislators): Lincoln has been filled with shutouts this season, with two this week. The second came from former 4th Rounder Ed Wilkinson, who allowed 7 hits and a walk with 3 strikeouts in his complete game shutout. A complete game machine, Wilkinson is 7-8 in 15 starts with a 3.04 ERA (124 ERA+), 1.26 WHIP, 28 walks, and 49 strikeouts. He's looking to earn a promotion to Mobile, and currently ranks 28th in the system and 332nd overall. He sports a nice five pitch repertoire, led with a lower 90s fastball. His other four pitches are just average, but his stuff is pretty polished and he has the pitches to start in the big leagues. He should have an average amount of walks and strikeouts, but he may end up giving up his share of homers, but he's done an excellent job pitching deep into games. He has eight nine inning starts and just three of less then eight innings, and he could end up developing into a very reliable inning eater. Tom thinks he'll be a back of the rotation arm, OSA a spot starter, but those are both more then I'm expecting.