[ayaghmour2]

Weekly Record: 4-2
Seasonal Record: 61-30 (1st, 4 GA)
Stars of the Week
John Lawson : 23 AB, 6 H, 3 HR, 9 RBI, .261 AVG, 1.003 OPS
Pete Papenfus : 2 Wins, 18.0 IP, 5 BB, 12 K, 2.00 ERA
Leo Mitchell : 24 AB, 9 H, 0 HR, 3 RBI, .375 AVG, .840 OPS

Schedule
7-14: Loss vs Cannons (9-5)
7-15: Win vs Cannons (3-7)
7-16: Win vs Wolves (2-6)
7-18: Loss vs Wolves (5-2)
7-19: Win vs Sailors (1-3)
7-20: Win vs Sailors (1-6)

Recap
Another four win week for the Cougars, as we surpassed the 60 win mark while also expanding our lead over the Stars to four. We continued our nice run of games, now 11-6 in July and 32-13 since the start of June, as we look to separate from the rest of the league. We have been a little lucky this season, 7-1 in extra inning games and 17-6 in one run games, but considering the past few seasons we've been well under .500 in those, it looks like things are finally evening out a bit. Our Pythagorean record is just 57-34, although that would still be good enough for a one game lead. Still, it's far too early to celebrate. New York is still playing over .600 ball, and the Kings have refused to go away. They are now just 6.5 games out of first and own a .600 winning percentage. There is still a lot of time left in the season, and as we approach the deadline, someone behind us can try to make a push to knock us out of first.

Pete Papenfus continues to dominate the league, picking up two more complete game victories. The first came against the Cannons, where he allowed 5 hits, 3 runs, and 3 walks with 8 strikeouts. The second was against the Sailors, where he was charged with just 4 hits, 1 run, and 2 walks with 4 strikeouts. His 14 wins are the most in the CA, as are his 146 strikeouts, and the only pitcher with a lower ERA then his 2.88 (138 ERA+) is the Stars' Chuck Cole, but he ruptured a tendon in his finger, likely ending his season with 140.2 innings pitched, not enough to qualify for the ERA crown. I think Papenfus is a lock for the Allen Award, but a triple crown would be a huge accomplishment for the talented 23-year-old. Our other talented youngster, Harry Parker, added another complete game win, improving to 12-6 with a 6 hits, 2 run, 1 walk and 4 strikeout victory. Milt Fritz flirted with a shutout, just 3 hits, 2 walks, and an unearned run with a strikeout in a complete game win. Vets Dick Lyons and Jim Lonardo had rough starts, with Lyons allowing 10 hits and 5 runs with 2 strikeouts in 8, while Lonardo was shelled for 11 hits, 8 runs, and 3 walks with just a single strikeout in 5.2 innings. Lonardo has not looked the same since returning form injury, and the 37-year-old as allowed 5 or more runs in each of his last three starts. He's our only starter with an ERA north of 4, now 7-7 with a 4.36 ERA (91 ERA+), 1.44 WHIP, 22 walks, and 37 strikeouts. I expect him to shake it off, but lucky for us, we have enough depth in the rotation that we can survive his inconsistency.

The bats were booming this week, with most of our hitters putting together really solid numbers. Harry Mead had a huge week, 4-for-13 with a homer, 4 RBIs, and 5 walks as his season line climbs closer to average. John Lawson was just 6-for-23, but the power was huge, adding a double, three homers, and nine RBIs. Lawson now has 17 homers and 75 RBIs, second to just Bill Barrett who will not be caught for either lead. Leo Mitchell continues to chug along, 9-for-24 with a double, steal, and 3 more RBIs. Rich Langton looked good in his four starts, 6-for-15 with a double, steal, and two runs, RBIs, and walks. Carlos Montes was just 6-for-24, but with a pair of steals and triples. Montes is now tied with Mike Taylor (not ours, the Cannons one) for the CA steal lead at 15, and after going 16-for-32 last season, he's been caught just twice. Freddie Jones looked much better in limited time, 3-for-7 with 4 runs, 2 walks, 2 RBIs, and his first homer of the season. Fred Vargas continues to be a hard out, and was 2-for-3 with a double, RBI, 2 runs, and 3 walks. It's hard to take time away from Langton, but with how great Vargas has been in limited action, I'm going to have to find a way to put him in the lineup.

Looking Ahead
We'll look to finish the sweep of the Sailors, who we have dropped to 38-51, and have now began to shop Joe Watson and Jim Beard. Despite being a corner outfielder, Watson should be an enticing option for teams, as his .327/.371/.503 (125 OPS+) line is strong, and the 32-year-old has hit 22 doubles, 9 triples, and 5 homers with 48 RBIs. Beard has had a rough season, hitting just .278/.345/.348 (81 OPS+) this season, but he is a career .303/.367/.398 (103 OPS+) hitter with nice speed and a good glove. Another interesting candidate to be moved would be Doc Newell, who is 6-8 with a 4.26 ERA (97 ERA+), 1.42 WHIP, 39 walks, and 41 strikeouts. He hasn't been the same pitcher he used to be, and since 1938 he's had ERA+ of 98, 95, and 90, but he's a durable innings eater who won 20 games in 1937 and has thrown three no-hitters, including a perfect game back in 1935. We're scheduled to face the struggling Herb Flynn, who is just 6-10 with a 4.63 ERA (89 ERA+), 1.57 WHIP, 46 walks, and 27 strikeouts, who I think we should be able to put up a lot of runs on. This is the last game of what has been a rather long homestand, with our last road game on the 29th of June where we've won 12 of 18. We also finish the week with the Sailors, but those three games will be in Philly.

Between the two Sailors series we have two in Cleveland before an off day on Thursday. The Foresters are 34-57 and 27 games out of first place, and have officially placed Mel Carrol, George Dawson, Bill Moore, Lou Balk, and Dean Astle on the block. Dan Fowler and Dave Rankin weren't specifically listed, but I imagine they too would be available. Dawson was once a player I would trade anything for, but he's really struggled the past two seasons. This season the bat and glove both disappeared, with the formerly elite shortstop sporting just a 0.5 zone rating and .976 efficiency, with a pitcher-like .202/.227/.250 (24 OPS+) line at the plate. Before 1940, his rookie season was the only year he had an OPS+ below 90, and he started his career with six seasons with a double digit zone rating, including two seasons above 35. He's a leader in the clubhouse and just 30, so perhaps a change of scenery could help, as he his angry about losing his job to Jake Creel. I was going to suggest Dean Astle could be moved as well, but before I posted, he was sent to Boston with Bill Moore. Astle could also use a change of scenery, as the former Cougar draftee is 6-10 with a 4.36 ERA (94 ERA+), 1.53 WHIP, 50 walks, and 40 strikeouts. Moore is on pace for another season with 9 or more homers and a 110 or higher OPS+, slashing .293/.375/.57 (115 OPS+) with 25 doubles, 9 homers, and 49 RBIs in his sixth big league season. The 29-year-old first basemen joined the Foresters from the Dynamos in the 1936 offseason in a package for Leon Drake and Max Morris. Cleveland will in return receive a first, two outfield prospects, and a replacement first basemen in Ed Lockwood. He's struggled in limited time for the Minutemen this season, but is a career .333/.380/.427 (113 OPS+) hitter. He's just a throw in, as one of the outfielders, Pete Sigmund, is a top 50 prospect, and they will also add a late first for the
Winter draft.
And while the present outlook isn't great, the future sure is, as they gave #1 Overall Pick Hiram Steinberg $20,000 to join the system. Currently ranked as the #2 prospect in baseball, I think "The Undertaker" will develop into the best pitcher in baseball. Sure, Peter the Heater is the most dominant, but Steinberg has a lot more talent. He doesn't have any sort of control issues, and his stuff is impressive. He's very raw, and has a lot of developing to do, but I can see Steinberg re-writing records just like he did in High School. We should be able to pick up two more wins, but the Foresters took one in Chicago and anything is possible in baseball.

Minor League Report
LHP Johnnie Jones (AAA Milwaukee Blues): Johnnie Jones had a great start to his season, but before his most recent start, he lost five consecutive starts with 5 or more runs allowed, including 11 runs (10 earned) in 6 innings in his last start against St. Paul. He then completed a full 180 against Minneapolis, allowing just 3 hits and 4 walks in a 3-strikeout shutout as the Blues waltzed to a 9-0 victory. This improved him to 6-8 with a 4.03 ERA (95 ERA+), 1.51 WHIP, 63 walks, and 58 strikeouts in 114 innings. He's done a great job pitching deep into games, effortless throwing over 125 pitches in eight of his fifteen starts. Johnnie still ranks as our #2 prospect, but with the new draftees, he's dropped to 17th in the league. He still projects to be a #1 starter, and he recently boosted his average sinker velocity to 93-95. That's his best pitch, and has helped earn him his nickname, but he also has a really nice forkball. His change and slider are both plus pitches, and Johnnie has superb stuff. Still at 23 I wish his other tools were further developed, as his control isn't great. He makes up for it with excellent movement on his pitches, but he can't dominate hitters like Peter the Heater does. If Johnnie hits his ceiling, we'll have another ace on our hands, but despite being older then Donnie, he's far less developed. That won't stop him from debuting his September, but I don't think he'll be a full time starter for a season or two.

RHP John Little (AA Mobile Commodores): Make it four in a row, as John Little has one each of his last four starts with complete game wins. This one was a remarkable outing, as despite no strikeouts, he allowed just 2 walks and 4 hits in a 2-0 win over the Memphis Excelsior. Little has now won his last five starts, improving to 10-4 in 15 starts. The former 5th Rounder as worked to a nice 3.86 ERA (115 ERA+) with a 1.49 WHIP, 38 walks, and 35 strikeouts through 123.2 innings pitched. He had very similar numbers last season in Lincoln, with a 3.48 ERA (115 ERA+), 1.34 WHIP, 33 walks, and 46 strikeouts, but in five fewer starts he has just 30 less innings. He's shown he can pitch deep into games, and soak up multiple innings when needed. I just cleaned out a lot of pitchers in the upper levels, thinning out his competition for a 40-man spot once the season ends. He'll be Rule-5 eligible, so I will have to decide if I'm willing to take a risk and leave him unprotected. I'll be looking to have him finish his season in Milwaukee, but for now he'll continue starting games for the Commodores.

RHP Roscoe Brown (B San Jose Cougars): I was a little concerned Roscoe Brown would have some struggles in San Jose, but he has quickly alleviated those. It's just three starts, but he's allowed just three runs, with all coming in his first start. Brown bested Everett this week, tossing a 4-hit shutout as the Cougars hung on to win 2-0. He's now 2-0 with a 1.21 ERA (353 ERA+) and 0.76 WHIP with a walk and four strikeouts through 22.1 innings pitched. The 19-year-old now ranks 22nd in our system and 280th overall, and seems to be much more developed then most pitchers his age. His stuff is still very raw, and that has shown in his drop in strikeouts, but he does a good job generating week contact with his sinker and he's able to locate his fastball well. His curve has a lot of work, but projects to be a very devastating offering. OSA and Tom Weinstock both view him as a spot starter/long reliever, but pitching depth is crucial right now as we patiently wait for the eventual draft to raid FABL teams.