[ayaghmour2]

Weekly Record: 3-4
Seasonal Record: 73-61 (3nd, 1 GB)
Stars of the Week
Leo Mitchell : 28 AB, 8 H, 1 HR, 5 RBI, .286 AVG, .739 OPS
Jim Lonardo : 1 Win, 9.0 IP, 1 BB, 1 K, 0.00 ERA
Joe Brown : 1 Win, 9.0 IP, 2 BB, 6 K, 1.00 ERA

Schedule
9-2: Loss at Kings (0-5)
9-2: Loss at Kings (1-4)
9-4: Loss at Stars (0-2)
9-6: Win at Stars (7-3)
9-7: Win at Saints (4-3)
9-8: Loss at Saints (1-4)
9-8: Win at Saints (6-2)

Recap
This week really feels like a missed opportunity. We went just 3-4, but managed to pickup two and a half games against the struggling Wolves. They suffered a six game losing streak, and now hold just a one game lead over us. What sucks is if we just had a winning week, we'd be tied for first, 5-2 would have given us a game lead, and a 7-0 would have been a nice three game cushion. Still, we're right in the think of things, but back down to third while the Cannons are a half game ahead of us. The worst part was the Kings series, as we let them sweep the double header. I can't wait to return, as the road hasn't treated us very well.

Dick Lyons had a two start week, picking up a win and a loss. He went 6 in the loss with 4 runs (1 earned), 2 walks, and 2 strikeouts. Errors cost him a complete game shutout, as all three of his runs were unearned. He allowed 7 hits, a walk, and 3 strikeouts to improve to 17-8. Harry Parker made two starts, and loss two to move his loss streak to four. Both were 8 innings with 4 runs, the first saw 11 hits, a walk, and 6 strikeouts with 10 hits and 4 walks in the other. Jim Lonardo also have errors cost him a shutout, giving up 7 hits, 3 unearned runs, and a walk with a strikeout. Joe Brown pitched well in his first start of the season, going all nine with 12 hits, an earned run, an unearned run, 2 walks, and 6 strikeouts to improve to 3-4 on the season. Peter the Heater pitched well enough to win, but got a loss with 8 innings, 3 hits, 2 runs, 4 walks, and 7 strikeouts. We pitched like a team who won a lot of games, but luck was not quite on our side.

Of course, we didn't hit much, with the only regulars this week having an above average offensive week being Leo Mitchell and Freddie Jones. Jones had a nice return to the lineup, going 4-for-12 with an RBI, 2 runs, and 3 walks. Mitchell wasn't even that great, but his 8-for-28 was much better then the rest of the bunch. He also homered, drove in 5, and of course, struck out four times. Skipper had a really rough week, going just 2-for-19 with a double, run, and RBI. John Lawson hurt his batting title chances, going just 4-for-28 with a double, run, walk, and 2 RBIs. We're going to really need them to turn things around if we want to take over the division, but considering Ford, Montes, and the catchers all struggled too, there was a lot more we needed to go right.

Looking Ahead
Our road trip ends with the finale against the Saints, and we cannot afford to lose this game. They are just 57-76 and 16.5 games outside of first. It's looking like we'll see the struggling Jake DeYoung who is 12-15 with a 4.69 ERA (84 ERA+), 1.40 WHIP, 35 walks, and 92 strikeouts. Homers have always been an issue for DeYoung, just like for Harry Parker, as the 27-year-old has allowed 27 in 30 starts, despite the Parc Cartier being one of the toughest places to hit home runs at. Of course, you can't tell that to Red Bond, who has 26 with 91 RBIs and his .343/.399/.550 (149 OPS+) batting line. Montreal has repeatedly said that Bond is untouchable, but he could be an interesting trade target in the offseason if they decide to change their mind. The Saints aren't great now, but if their young pitchers stay healthy/recover, they can be a real force to be reckoned with.

We finally return home for what could be a huge series for first place. We get two with the Cannons, who have started to reheat and are 74-61 and just a win behind the Wolves. They are off to start the week, but I expect to see their 3 and 4 in Rufus Barrell and Butch Smith. They might be the two best, and the 23-year-old Barrell has broken out this season. Deuce is 16-8 with a 3.37 ERA (115 ERA+), 1.10 WHIP, 37 walks, and 126 strikeouts. Smith has started to slow down a bit, but he's still 15-10 with a 3.45 ERA (113 ERA+), 1.24 WHIP, 66 walks, and 104 strikeouts. It will be tough to score runs on these two, and we'll have our work cut out with the lineup as well. Moxie Pidgeon is a homer away from 20, and hitting .339/.385/.541 (146 OPS+) with 23 doubles, a triple, and 92 RBIs. They've called up former 3rd Rounder and the current 54th rated prospect Don Cress to Cincinnati, and started him at first base. The 23-year-old has made just 42 trips to the plate, but has a nice .316/.381/.447 (122 OPS+) line with 3 doubles, a triple, and 5 RBIs. He's behind Moxie and above Fred Galloway, who's line has dropped to .279/.375/.402 (109 OPS+) with 24 doubles, 17 triples, 2 homers, and 65 RBIs with an elite 84-to-10 walk-to-strikeout ratio. This series will have huge playoff implications, as a sweep on either side could spell doom for the losers.

We stay in Chicago after to welcome the Sailors in for three. They haven't gone away either, now 73-63 and just 2 games out of first. Walt Wells has done all he can to earn his first career Allen Award, 19-9 with a 2.69 ERA (147 ERA+), 1.28 WHIP, 88 walks, and 73 strikeouts. With Milt Fritz out for the year, Flynn should have the inside track for the ERA crown and most wins in the CA. I'm hoping we miss him, but it's shaping up like he'll play in one of the three meetings. The Sailors have a great defense, which has really helped Chuck Murphy and his flyball tendencies. Murphy is 13-9 with a 3.54 ERA (112 ERA+), 1.33 WHIP, 56 walks, and 43 strikeouts in just his second 200 inning season. At the plate Joe Watson has reached double digits for homer, hitting .286/.331/.446 (103 OPS+) with 20 doubles, 14 triples, 10 homers, and 71 RBIs. Woody Stone has done a great job behind the plate, and is hitting a strong .314/.348/.459 (111 OPS+) with 34 doubles, 2 triples, 7 homers, and 63 RBIs. Bob Smith may strike out double digit times this season, with 9 and just 30 walks, both which could end up career worsts. He is hitting well, .298/.339/.468 (111 OPS+) and he has added 33 doubles, 9 triples, 9 homers, 8 steals, and 61 RBIs. I expect another hard fought series here, and this five game stretch could determine the fate of our season.

We then finish the week with a double header hosting the Foresters. Cleveland is the only CA team eliminated from the playoffs, and are just 48-87 and hoping to to keep their loss total under 100. They have never lost more then 98 games (1926) and have had 80 or more wins since the 1932 season. Dean Astle is currently hurt and Dave Rankin has really struggled lately. He's now 10-16 with a 3.96 ERA (100 ERA+), 1.43 WHIP, 75 walks, and 60 strikeouts. They do hit a lot of homers, which can hurt us in Chicago, and even Brooks Meeks has cracked double digits. The 31-year-old has hit just .230/.277/.385 (73 OPS+) with 19 doubles, 7 triples, 10 homers, and 55 RBIs. For some reason they have taken Lou Balk out of the lineup, despite him hitting .293/.321/.485 (109 OPS+) with 31 doubles, 12 triples, 12 homers, and 48 RBIs. His replacement is Cal Howe, who went just 3-for-18 with a double and 2 RBIs in his first week with the Foresters. Former 1st Rounder and top prospect Eli Harkless has replaced the struggling Roy Bradley, but Harkless'.278/.345/.391 (94 OPS+) is just 1 percent better then Bradley's. In 316 trips to the plate he has 9 doubles, 7 triples, 3 homers, and 34 RBIs while Bradley has 25, 6, 3 and 39 in 372. These are absolute must win games, as the Foresters have nothing to play for, but at least their fans can look forward to the offseason where their season of futility gifts them the Undertaker Hiram Steinberg.