[ayaghmour2]

Weekly Record: 4-2
Seasonal Record: 53-45 (4th, 3 GB)
Stars of the Week
Carlos Montes : 22 AB, 9 H, 1 HR, 6 RBI, .409 AVG, 1.162 OPS
Leo Mitchell : 20 AB, 9 H, 0 HR, 3 RBI, .450 AVG, 1.026 OPS
Dick Lyons : 2 Wins, 18.0 IP, 1 BB, 4 K, 1.50 ERA

Schedule
7-23: Win vs Foresters (2-5)
7-24: Win vs Foresters (3-4): 12 innings
7-26: Win vs Wolves (1-5)
7-27: Loss vs Wolves (1-0)
7-28: Win vs Wolves (1-4)
7-28: Loss vs Wolves (11-10)

Recap
The week started great, a sweep of the Foresters, but then we sort of floundered in the Wolves series. Sure, they only scored three total runs in the first three games, but then we managed to give up 11 in the finale as they edged us by a single run. It feels like we should have won all four of those games, but just like that, we're in pouncing distance of first. Still in fourth, but we're just three behind the Wolves in the congested Continental Association. The top six teams are separated by just five and a half games, and with no obvious sellers, it may be a wait and see in the final months to see which roster can push their way above. The Fed is similar, their top five is all within five and a half, and this has been one of the quietest FABL deadlines since the start of the human era. We will, however, be without Billy Hunter again, as a sore elbow will cost him at least two more weeks. He has started to hit a little better, batting .289/.333/.415 (105 OPS+) with 6 doubles, 4 triples, a homer, an 18 RBIs. Ollie Page will return to the lineup while Bobby Mills will make the trip back up to Chicago. Mills is hitting a strong .390/.479/.551 (171 OPS+) with 10 doubles, 4 homers, and 29 RBIs in Milwaukee, and will be a valuable option on the bench.

The pitching was almost entirely good, but Pete Papenfus blew up against the Wolves. I wish Clyde Meyer pulled him earlier, as half of his ten runs in the Wolves loss came in the 9th. He went 8.1 with 8 hits, 6 walks, and just 2 strikeouts as his ERA ballooned to 4.27 (89 ERA+). Right after I just talked about him turning the corner! Good thing Lonardo made a step in the right direction, 8 innings with 5 hits, 3 runs (1 earned), and 4 strikeouts in a no decision. Dick Lyons had a tremendous week, picking up win 194 and 195, tossing a pair of complete games. He allowed 14 hits, 3 runs, a walk and 4 strikeouts to improve to 13-4 on the season with a 2.88 ERA (133 ERA+) and 1.16 WHIP. Harry Parker was very unlucky, as he finally had a good start, but got a loss. He allowed 8 hits, a run, and a walk with 6 strikeouts in a complete game. Milt Fritz had a similar start, just 1 run and 4 hits, walks, and strikeouts in a complete game victory. Joe Brown got the loss in the Papenfus start, but also had a scoreless outing. He allowed 2 hits, a run, and 2 strikeouts in 2.2 innings pitched.

We didn't really hit the best, but Carlos Montes had an outstanding week. He went 9-for-22 with 2 triples, a homer, steal, 5 runs, and 6 RBIs. Leo Mitchell stayed hot 9-for-20 with 2 doubles, 5 runs, 3 RBIs, and a steal. John Lawson went just 5-for-22, but he homered, walked 5 times, scored 4 times, and drove in 2. Ray Ford was 7-for-24 with a double, 3 runs, and 5 RBIs. Part-timers Rich Langton and Ollie Page did good, combining to go 4-for-18 with a steal, 2 doubles, and 3 RBIs. The catching duo continued to disappoint, 2-for-23 with 2 runs and 2 walks, although all the twos were from Mead. I'd like to see more offense, and not have in concentrated in one game where we lose, but hey! Almost in first!

Looking Ahead
Off to start the week, but then we have a weird two game set with the Sailors. It's one game, off, and then the final game, and with a sweep we could hop right over them. At 54-45, they are two and a half out of first, and had no issues with us last time we played. Walt Wells continues to push for an Allen Award, tossing a 4-hit shutout of the Kings in a 1-0 win on the 27th. He's now 14-6 with a 2.49 ERA (159 ERA+), 1.19 WHIP, 60 walks, and 59 strikeouts. Chuck Murphy is in the midst of his best season at 31, 10-4 with a 2.88 ERA (138 ERA+), 1.27 WHIP, 35 walks, and 24 strikeouts. Doc Newell has been removed from the rotation in favor of Merritt Thomas, who's made 17 relief outings and now 2 starts. He's 1-2 with 8 saves, a 2.82 ERA (141 ERA+), 1.28 WHIP, 14 walks, and 19 strikeouts. Herb Flynn has had a tough run, allowing 5 or more starts in three of his last four starts, and dropped to 10-9 with a 4.75 ERA (84 ERA+), 1.41 WHIP, 51 walks, and 27 strikeouts. Dick Walker is back to his old self, now hitting .266/.375/.458 (119 OPS+) with 20 doubles, 10 triples, 9 homers, 51 RBIs, 14 steals, and 61 walks. The rest of the offense hasn't been that great, but Illinois native Woody Stone is having a decent year with the bat. He's hitting .301/.341/.425 (101 OPS+) with 20 doubles, 2 triples, 4 homers, and 41 RBIs, but broke his streak of back-to--back All Star selections. We need to at least split, but a sweep here would do wonders for our playoff chances.

We'll stay home to welcome the Cannons for three games. They've been rumored to be shopping vets William Jones and Moxie Pidgeon despite being just a game back of the Wolves. I really hope they keep Moxie, even though moving him to a Fed team would make our lives much easier, as he is just 3 homers away from a 20 homer season with his 5th team. He deserves to be in the Whitney consideration, slashing .344/.389/.571 (156 OPS+) with 17 doubles, a triple, 17 homers, and 74 RBIs. Jones has been solid, though not nearly as impressive, 8-9 with a 3.69 ERA (106 ERA+), 1.33 WHIP, 47 walks, and 48 strikeouts. Rufus Barrell no longer has an ERA below 3, it's now exactly 3.00 (130 ERA+), as he's 12-5 with a 1.02 WHIP, 22 walks, and 90 strikeouts. Butch Smith continues his breakout, 13-6 with a 2.87 ERA (136 ERA+), 1.23 WHIP, 51 walks, and 76 strikeouts. The offense has started to cool a bit, but they still are tied for the most runs scored in the CA. Fred Galloway is now down to .300/.387/.445 (124 OPS+) with 20 doubles, 14 triples, 2 homers, 2 steals, and 55 RBIs. We didn't do so well last time against the Cannons, but they've hit a little rough patch that we have to take advantage of.

Minor League Report
1B Hod Seagroves (A Lincoln Legislators): What a week for the Chicagoan! Hod hit an even 10-for-20 with a homer and 6 RBIs as he took home the Heartland League Player of the Week. A natural second basemen, with shortstops Eddie Curtis and Steve Jones taking up the middle infield spots, Seagroves has spent all his time at first while most his time with San Jose was spent at the keystone. He was an excellent defender there, putting up a 5.6 zone rating and 1.075 efficiency, and I think the lanky 22-year-old is more then capable of ending up at second. He may end up better at the plate, so he could end up at first, and Tom thinks he's "an advanced hitter for his age." He has a ton of bat speed as well, and I'm hoping he'll end up hitting for more power. That could really help, as he should do a decent job of judging balls and strikes. I think he could end up an above average starter at second, but at least for now, he doesn't really have the pop for first. He's moved up our top prospect list, right behind Bill Dambreville for 13th in our system. He's in the top 200, checking in at 182, and if he keeps hitting like he did this week, his stay in Lincoln may not be that long.

LHP Ed Wilkinson (A Lincoln Legislators): Back-to-back! I won't spend too much time rehashing what I wrote yesterday, but another shutout for Ed Wilkinson! This time it was against the Peoria Chiefs, as the Legislators won 5-0. He allowed 8 hits and 5 walks with 4 strikeouts to improve to an even 8-8 in 16 starts across 133.1 innings pitched. It dropped his ERA to 2.83 ERA (136 ERA+) with 33 walks, 53 strikeouts, and a 1.27 WHIP. Wilkinson checks right outside our top 30 at 31, and 341st in the league. Up to Mobile for him now, and I hope he can keep up his impressive run of starts.

RHP Roscoe Brown (C La Crosse Lions): Sure, it's just three starts, but it's hard to ask for a better to your career then Roscoe's Brown. Our 8th Rounder this year, he instantly joined the top prospect lists and checks in at 22nd and 270th respectively. I was a little bit shocked, but the early returns seem to back that up. He's tossed three consecutive complete games and won all three. He has a nice 1.67 ERA (277 ERA+), 1.00 WHIP, 4 walks, and 16 strikeouts. He's also throwing a little harder, up to 91-93 with his fastball and sinker, and his third offering is a nice curve. All three pitches should be average or better, and he does a good job mixing the three together. His command isn't the greatest, but he has excellent raw stuff and I'm hoping he can keep the walks down like he has so far. It's very early, but the 18-year-old has a lot of upside and I'm hoping we can nurture him as he rises up our system.