[ayaghmour2]

Weekly Record: 5-1
Seasonal Record: 64-51 (3rd, 1.5 GB)
Stars of the Week
Leo Mitchell : 24 AB, 13 H, 3 HR, 8 RBI, .542 AVG, 1.455 OPS
John Lawson : 25 AB, 9 H, 0 HR, 5 RBI, .360 AVG, .840 OPS
Skipper Schneider : 19 AB, 8 H, 0 HR, 1 RBI, .421 AVG, .974 OPS

Schedule
8-13: Loss vs Stars (4-2)
8-14: Win vs Stars (3-5)
8-15: Win vs Stars (0-4)
8-16: Win vs Kings (1-6)
8-18: Win vs Kings (2-8)
8-18: Win vs Kings (4-5)

Recap
This is what I'm talking about! We dropped the opener to the Stars, but won the next two and rode that momentum into a sweep of the Kings. If we instead took two of three from the Saints last week, we'd be in first place right now, but instead are in 3rd and a game and a half behind Wolves. Can't really complain about that, another good week and we can be leading the pack. We also had another Player of the Week, this time Leo Mitchell, who went 13-for-24 and slugged 3 homers with 8 driven in. Mitchell has been one of the most consistent Cougar hitters since becoming a fulltime starter in 1937, recording OPS+'s of 133, 139, 134, and currently 136. He's slashing an always impressive .337/.380/.484 with 19 doubles, a triple, 13 homers, and 57 RBIs. Yes, he also struck out five more times and is just seven away from 100, but hey! When you hit .330, who cares if you strike out a ton!

Mitchell had some help from the offense this week too, including a bounce back week from Skipper Schneider. Skipper went 8-for-19 with a double, 3 walks, 3 runs, and an RBI. His double play partner, at least for this week, Ollie Page was 5-for-19 with 2 doubles, a homer, 4 walks, and 4 RBIs. Billy Hunter will be returning this week, so Page will return to a part-time role, but with Hunter's injuries struggles, he'll continue to make starts at second to hopefully keep Billy on the field the rest of the season. John Lawson looked more himself, 9-for-25 with 3 doubles and 5 RBIs. Our right field platoon was impressive, 8-for-25 with 3 doubles, a triple, 4 walks, 6 runs, and 2 RBIs. Reigning Player of the Week Ray Ford didn't quite match his production, but finished 8-for-25 with 3 doubles and 3 RBIs. The only guys that really struggled were Montes and the catching duo, but considering the strength in the rest of the lineup, we were able to make up for it.

Jim Lonardo seems to have regained form, tossing a 5-hit, 3-strikeout shutout in our 4-0 win over the Stars. Harry Parker also stayed hot, 5 hits, a run, and 4 strikeouts in a complete game win. Pete Papenfus put together a strong start, 4 hits, 4 walks, 2 runs, and 8 strikeouts in a complete game win. Milt Fritz also got a complete game win of his own, 10 hits, 3 walks, 3 runs, and a strikeout. Dick Lyons was our two start starter, but he wasn't that great. He won a start and lost a start, going 15.2 innings with 16 hits, 8 runs, 3 walks, and 2 strikeouts. He allowed 4 runs in both of his starts, and was the only pitcher this week to allow more then three. It will be hard to lose games if we keep pitching like this, but are staff has allowed the fewest runs (466) with the best team ERA (3.46) and our rotation has been lights out (3.37). If we could just score some, I think we'd be comfortably in first, but the lineup has the fewest amount of extra base hits while dropping to just 4th in homers.

Looking Ahead
We're off to start the week, but we'll use that day to cross the border to Toronto. We'll look to extend our win streak to seven against the first place Wolves, who are 66-50 and hold just a half game lead over the Cannons, after briefly falling in to second place. No offense has scored more runs then the Wolves, and that's what having Fred McCormick will do for you. Even after the slow start, he's hitting .335/.420/.474 (136 OPS+) with 29 doubles, 6 triples, 7 homers, and 61 RBIs with 6 steals, 70 walks, and 45 strikeouts. Walt Pack is their only double digit home run hitter, but his .251/.308/.403 (86 OPS+) line is still not what most were expecting from the 25-year-old. He does have 17 doubles, 3 triples, 12 homers, and 69 RBIs, and I think the combined .290/.352/.466 (113 OPS+) line between his two seasons is more Pack then he's shown this season. Former Cougar and 1932 draftee Reginald Westfall has returned to the lineup, and he's hitting a productive .303/.376/.436 (114 OPS+) with 6 doubles, 2 triples, 4 homers, 19 walks, and 20 RBIs. Charlie Artuso is still on an over 7 WAR pace, hitting a reliable .300/.360/.440 (110 OPS+) with 36 doubles, 7 triples, 2 homers, and 64 RBIs with an 18.8 zone rating and 1.119 efficiency. Of course, you can't forget about the pitching, but at least we can't see all three of Hancock, Garrison, and Johnson. I'm thinking we'll see Garrison and Johnson, as they should both be rested with the Wolves off day. Garrison actually hasn't pitched since the 13th, but the 22-year-old is 12-11 with a 3.28 ERA (121 ERA+), 1.29 WHIP, 49 walks, and 84 strikeouts. Interesting enough, he did have two recent starts against us that couldn't have gone any different. The first we scored 8 with 12 hits in 8.2 innings during an 8-1 Cougar victory, and then he followed that up with a 4-hit shutout where the Wolves scored just a single run. Johnson has similar, but arguably better numbers, 11-9 with a 3.13 ERA (127 ERA+), 1.16 WHIP, 33 walks, and 48 strikeouts. This will be a tough series in a tough week, and while a split is okay, a sweep on either side could make the difference come Fall.

It gets tougher, as we could get another battle for first place with the Cincinnati Cannons. Depending on how the series goes against the Wolves (we're 9-9 against them), the Cannons may be the only team we have a losing record against (8-9). We get three in Cincy, and may get to see the newest member of their rotation, Jim Anderson. "Jersey Jim" made a relief outing and three starts, 2-1 with a 1.69 ERA (304 ERA+), 1.14 WHIP, 9 walks, and 9 strikeouts. As good as he's been, it's better facing him then any of the other four, who all have sub 4 ERAs. "Deuce" has been the best of the group, 14-6 with a 3.09 ERA (127 ERA+), 1.05 WHIP, 27 walks, and 108 strikeouts in his coming out season. Same goes for Butch Smith, who is 14-9 with a 3.16 ERA (124 ERA+), 1.20 WHIP, 56 walks, and 93 strikeouts. It's tough to score against the Cannons, 2nd fewest runs allowed, and they also have tied for the second most runs scored as well. Somehow Moxie Pidgeon hasn't homered in August, so expect five in our series, but he's still hitting .332/.375/.536 (142 OPS+) with 20 doubles, a triple, 17 homers, and 81 RBIs. I'm really pushing for him to reach 20 homers, but I'd prefer it not to be at our expense. Their Mike Taylor is having a nice season, hitting .307/.340/.481 (118 OPS+) in the three spot, chipping in with 12 doubles, 14 triples, 3 homers, and 40 RBIs. Switch hitter Denny Andrews has continued to impress despite a low average, hitting .266/.403/.452 (129 OPS+) with 13 doubles, 2 triples, 6 homers, and 32 RBIs. He's also walked (43) more then twice as much as he strikes out (20), and his early production is probably what they were expecting from Ken Mayhugh. We're going to have our work cut out for us in this one and while I like our chances, I wouldn't be surprised if we disappoint.

We then finish the week with the first of three in Philly against the Sailors. They're having a decent season, 62-54, and four games out of first. Merritt Thomas suffered a strained forearm in his last start, and he may miss our series. He has spent most his time out of the pen, 1-2 with 8 saves, a 2.89 ERA (138 ERA+), 1.29 WHIP, 16 walks, and 23 strikeouts. That could mean Doc Newell gets a few more starts, as he's just 4-9 with a 4.52 ERA (88 ERA+), 1.52 WHIP, 44 walks, and 47 strikeouts in 16 starts and 3 relief appearances. Dick Walker homered in his most recent game against the Cannons, becoming the first Sailor to reach double digits. He's hitting .254/.367/.443 (113 OPS+) with 21 doubles, 13 triples, 10 homers, 56 RBIs, and 73 walks. Joe Watson is close, 9 homers to go with his .300/.338/.466 (110 OPS+) line, 20 doubles, 12 triples, and 60 RBIs. I hope we won't have to see Walt Wells, who's won his last five starts, ranks 2nd in ERA (2.63), and 1st in wins (18), but even without him on the mound, we will have to be at our best to keep on winning.

Minor League Report
RHP Tommy Davis (C Lincoln Legislators): It was an abrupt end to the season for last year's 4th Rounder, as a torn labrum ended his season after just two starts. That caused him to fall in the prospect rankings, but this season he has shown no signs of lasting damage. His most recent start really exemplifies his return to form, allowing just 3 hits and a walk with 8 strikeouts in a 7-0 shutout against the Waterloo Chiefs. That was his 6th straight win as he improved to 11-6 with a 3.58 ERA (127 ERA+), 1.25 WHIP, 41 walks, and 155 strikeouts. The strikeout numbers are huge, an impressive 9.3 K/9 as the 6'3'' righty as flashed dominant stuff. He already has a consistent low 90s sinker that could fool some big league hitters, and he leans on it both for strikeouts and groundouts. His curve could be a plus pitch, but if Davis wants to start big league games, he'll have to improve his change. His command is solid and he does a good job keeping the ball in the park, while erasing runners with a consistent stream of groundballs. His prospect shine has dimmed a bit, but Davis does have a connection with a pair of Jones in the organization. No, not Johnnie and Donnie, but Davis, along with Freddie and the recently acquired Al Jones all graduated from Central Ohio. Bill Seabolt, our 6th Rounder in 1935, is also a Central Ohio graduate giving us four in total. There aren't many Central Ohio grads around, 6th active, and Al and Freddie are the only two Aviators to debut.

RF Edmund Mann (B San Jose Cougars): Edmund Mann has to be the hottest hitter in the world right now! Yeah, Hank Barnett won back-to-back Player of the Weeks, but did he go 14-for-22 this week and have a 5-hit game to finish off last week? Mann did! He actually moved to more of a utility role with the return of Danny Goff Jr. and Connie Wright. That didn't stop his production, and Mann has hit .414/.477/.621 in 63 August Plate Appearances. It could quite easily be a flash in the pan for Mann, but perhaps the 19-year-old has started to turn the corner. His season line is still just .273/.342/.386 (87 OPS+), but with about a month less in the minor league season, he can finish off strong.