[ayaghmour2]

Weekly Record: 4-1
Seasonal Record: 57-46 (2nd, 2.5 GB)
Stars of the Week
John Lawson : 18 AB, 8 H, 1 HR, 6 RBI, .444 AVG, 1.199 OPS
Milt Fritz : 2 Wins, 18.0 IP, 11 BB, 5 K, 3.00 ERA
Harry Parker : 1 Win, 9.0 IP, 1 BB, 3 K, 1.00 ERA

Schedule
7-30: Win vs Sailors (5-6)
8-1: Win vs Sailors (1-2)
8-2: Loss vs Cannons (2-0)
8-3: Win vs Cannons (1-5)
8-4: Win vs Cannons (1-2)

Recap
These are the Cougars I've been waiting for! Yes, too many one run wins for my liking, but the pitching was outstanding. Discounting the opener with the Sailors, the staff allowed two or fewer runs in each outing, including a trio of wins where we allowed just a single run. Sure, the Sailors are 5th in runs scored, but pre-sim, the Cannons were tied for the most runs scored with Toronto. Toronto is the only team with a better record then us, after we swept the Sailors and took two out of three against the Cannons, as they are 60-44 and 2.5 games ahead of us. July was a great month for us, as we went 18-9 for the Month and jumped well over .500 to 54-45. No Cougar had a better month then Milt Fritz, who took home the Pitcher of the Month Award in the Continental Association. He made 7 starts, going 6-1 with a 2.39 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 25 walks, and 14 strikeouts in 60.1 innings pitched. He was actually better in June, 4-2 with a 1.82 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 19 walks, and 13 strikeouts. Yes, it is a little annoying he keeps walking more hitters then he strikes out, but the Big Cat now has 70 wins as a Cougar, more then his time with the Gothams, Saints, and Chiefs combined (64). To win more then all other teams combined (84), he'll need 15 more wins as a Cougar, and I can see that happening by the end of the 1941 season.

He was our two start starter this week, and he tossed a pair of complete game victories. That's now four consecutive for Fritz, who is now 14-6, and this week he allowed 14 hits, 6 runs, 11 walks, and 5 strikeouts. He was much better against the Cannons then Sailors, where he allowed 6 hits, 4 walks, and the lone run. He no longer has the CA ERA lead, but his 2.45 ERA (155 ERA+) and 1.28 WHIP are his best marks as a Cougar. The best start of the week came from Jim Lonardo, who allowed just 2 hits, a run, and a walk with 2 strikeouts in a much needed complete game victory. Harry Parker had a similar start, a complete game win with 4 hits, a run, a walk, and 3 strikeouts. Dick Lyons got the lone loss, 4 hits, 2 runs, 3 walks, and a strikeout in 7.2 innings pitched. Joe Brown finished that game, 1.1 innings with 2 strikeouts.

We didn't hit too much, but John Lawson put the team on his back in what could have been Player of the Week worthy. Our Whitney candidate went 8-for-18 with 3 doubles, a homer, and 6 RBIs. His average has dropped a bit, as .400 seems next to impossible to reach now, but his .363/.415/.526 (158 OPS+) batting line is one of the best in all of baseball. Orlin Yates did better then Leon Drake could have ever done, 5-for-13 with a double, 2 runs, and 3 RBIs. Leo Mitchell did alright, 6-for-19 with a triple and 3 runs scored. Ray Ford and Carlos Montes had awful weeks, combining to go just 1-for-34, the hit (and a steal) coming from Montes. We need to start hitting better, but if we're allowing a run a game, this may be enough to keep winning.

A little transactional news, as I added another Jones to my collection. This time it is Freddie's brother Al, a former 5th Rounder by the Kings from 1935. I claimed him off waivers, and while he's been pretty bad as a 26-year-old in B ball, where he'll pitch out of the pen and get a few reps out in left and right field. He may end up a better position player then pitcher, but worst case, he's just roster filler as the brother of what should be our star second basemen. I also decided that instead of calling someone up to replace Drake, I will add the recently acquired Earl to the roster. Hunter and Jones should be back soon, so he'll likely be optioned down once ready, but I expect him to get an at bat or two off the bench. If he doesn't this week, he'll get a start next week, but he'll be the latest 1932 draftee of ours to debut.

Looking Ahead
We have a single home game with the Saints, before an off day followed by two in Montreal. The Saints are 40-61 on the season, and hold a record better then just the Foresters. They moved Frank Davis to the Chiefs, making room for 24-year-old Hank Grant. A former 14th Rounder, the current #50 prospect in the FABL debuted last week and went 7-for-16 with 3 runs scored. Their offense needs all the help they can get, as Red Bond is not enough by himself. Sure, he's hitting .334/.386/.552 (146 OPS+) with 19 doubles, 2 triples, 21 homers, and 59 RBIs, but it hasn't translated into wins for them. Adam Mullins helps a bit, but his .302/.388/.427 (116 OPS+) line is almost identical to last year's mark, which was the lowest of his career. The team leader turns 28 towards the end of the month, and has 10 times the walks (50) then strikeouts with 25 doubles, 5 triples, 3 homers, and 43 RBIs. No other Saint has a 110 OPS+ or higher, but Bert Lass, Vic Crawford, and Spud Bent all rank in the 100-109 range. On the mound, Karl Wallace now has equal starts (11) and relief outings, now 7-3 with a 3.76 ERA (105 ERA+), 1.32 WHIP, 22 walks, and 28 strike outs. The rest of the rotation has really struggled, with the 1-2 of Ed Baker and Jake DeYoung both 9-11 with ERAs of 4.82 and 4.87. We should be able to get a lot of runs off the Saints, and if we pitch like we did this week, should have no trouble in this series.

We stay on the road with three games in Brooklyn with the Kings before another off day. The Kings are in 6th, but closer to first (5.5 GB) then seventh (13 GA). At 54-49, they are back above .500, after their first sub .500 season last year since 1933. Art White has continued to dominate, 12-6 with a 2.93 ERA (134 ERA+), 1.21 WHIP, 52 walks, and 51 strikeouts in 23 outstanding starts. Tom Barrell's 23 have been far less outstanding, just 7-12 with a 5.28 ERA (74 ERA+), 1.51 WHIP, 57 walks, and 71 strikeouts. The Kings have recently added brother of Cougar farmhand Danny Goff Jr. Jack Goff to the rotation, and "Black Jack" is 2-3 with a 3.93 ERA (100 ERA+), 1.30 WHIP, 17 walks, and 26 strikeouts in 7 starts and 7 pen outings. Al Wheeler is leading the team with 12 homers, but his .263/.337/.416 (99 OPS+) line is just average, while being completely overshadowed by potential star Joe Herman. Herman will finish the year 25, and is hitting .347/.379/.573 (150 OPS+) with 17 doubles, 2 triples, 11 homers, and 47 RBIs. They have three other hitters with 9 homers, Walt Layton, Rats McGonigle, and Tim Hopkins, but Layton is hitting a poor .216/.251/.325 (52 OPS+) with 5 doubles, 4 triples, 8 steals, and 29 RBIs. The Kings do rank 6th in runs scored and runs allowed, so on paper, we should have the advantage in this one.

Minor League Report
LF Oscar Panduro (AAA Milwaukee Blues): It was a month to remember for the 26-year-old, as Chicagoan Oscar Panduro took home Century League Player of the Month. He hit a cool .452 with 2 homers, 13 runs, and 28 RBIs. This boosted his season line to .379/.415/.580 (160 OPS+) with 13 doubles, 8 triples, 5 homers, 5 steals, and 42 RBIs. Panduro is doing everything he can to show that he belongs on a big league roster, and it's going to be tough for me to not call him up in September for a nice little cup of coffee. The hardworking corner bat is a very popular clubhouse figure who has never had an issue hitting, but his glove leaves a lot to be desired. The Bluegrass State alum projects to hit well above .300 and he has an impressive baseball IQ. Tom thinks he could be a decent defender in left, I'm not as optimistic, but he could end up a decent bench bat regardless. He's far from a star, but I always have a soft spot for Chicagoans and it's going to be hard for me to keep him in Milwaukee.