[ayaghmour2]

Weekly Record: 5-3
Seasonal Record: 29-20 (2nd, 6.5 GB)
Stars of the Week
Rich Langton : 21 AB, 12 H, 1 HR, 7 RBI, .571 AVG, 1.410 OPS
Leo Mitchell : 31 AB, 13 H, 0 HR, 5 RBI, .419 AVG, .940 OPS
Ray Ford : 23 AB, 10 H, 1 HR, 8 RBI, .435 AVG, 1.067 OPS

Schedule
5-25: Loss vs Stars (12-5)
5-27: Loss at Kings (3-4)
5-28: Win at Kings (4-2)
5-29: Win vs Saints (1-6)
5-30: Win vs Saints (5-11)
5-30: Loss vs Saints (6-5)
5-31: Win vs Kings (3-8)
5-31: Win vs Kings (1-12)

Recap
Well, we made up some ground! Just half a game, but even though we lost to the Stars, we got a little bit closer to them. Harry Parker had no luck against the Stars, and as expected Bill Barrett homered off of him, but we split with the Kings the first time, took two of three from the Saints, and then swept the Kings in the double header. Us and the Stars are the only teams over .500 in the CA, and after a 25-6 month, with half the losses in the most recent week, it seems like they're going to have no trouble winning a pennant. We actually had a really good May ourselves, 20-12, but we still lost a lot of ground. Unless they have an awful week and we have a great one, we won't get close any time soon. There is some help on the way, as Billy Hunter can finally start rehab, as the star second basemen has been out since last August. Before this sim he was the #1 second basemen, now he's #2, but we'll have a little positional dilemma when he gets back. Second base is clearly the weakest position in the FABL, and if you change Hunter to a shortstop, the #3 rated second basemen is Clark Car, and with Car at short, even Freddie Jones ranks 11th. Car is going to still get some time, as Hunter will need to be eased back in slowly, and on rehab I'm going to give Hunter time at third as well. He'll give Lawson the occasional off day, and maybe even perhaps Skipper, but Car will still keep some time in the lineup. With a .308/.370/.462 (137 OPS+) batting line, it's something that can seriously help us, but a healthy Hunter should be even better.

Harry Parker had a really rough week, as the Stars teed off on him through 6.2 innings. He picked up the loss and allowed 12 hits and 8 runs with a walk and 5 strikeouts. Start two was much better, picking up a win against the Stars in a complete game with 12 more hits, 5 runs (3 earned), and a strikeout. The loss ballooned his ERA to 3.16 (109 ERA+), but the 27-year-old is still on track for a 20+ win season with a sub 1 BB/9 and HR/9 with a near 4 K/9. Like Parker, Jim Lonardo split his two starts, losing and beating the Kings. The Kings walked us off first, and what was worse is we took the lead in the 9th just to give it back. Lonardo got all but one out, charged with 9 hits and 4 runs (3 earned), and a Freddie Jones error ended up making the difference. He was arguably worse in the win, 9 more hits with 4 walks and 5 strikeouts in a complete game, but he allowed just one run in Chicago. Lonardo is also on track for a 20+ win season to go with a 2.35 ERA (137 ERA+) and 1.16 WHIP.

We had four other pitchers start a single game, with Joe Brown impressive in our 6-1 win over the Saints. He allowed just 1 run in a complete game with 9 hits and 3 strikeouts. Since I complained about his starts, he's now 3-1 in 35 innings with 29 hits, 4 runs, 4 walks, and 14 strikeouts. This equates to a 1.03 ERA and 0.94 WHIP, and if it wasn't for an awful first start, he'd have run away with the Pitcher of the Month in May. Donnie Jones tiptoed his way out of trouble in his start, 5 hits, 2 runs, and 8 walks with just a single strikeout in a complete game win over the Kings. He ended up being named Rookie of the Month for May, going 3-2 with a 3.00 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 13 walks, and 20 strikeouts. For the season Jones is now 4-4 with a 2.94 ERA (117 ERA+), 1.13 WHIP, 23 walks, and 31 strikeouts in 8 starts. He's looked good for a 22-year-old, and he's taken great strides already this season. Dick Lyons went just seven, but picked up a win to improve to 3-2. He allowed 6 hits, 3 runs, and 3 walks with a single strikeout. Milt Fritz had some struggles in start two, 9 hits, 6 runs (3 earned), 5 walks, and a strikeout. We lost the game 6-5, so the Ray Ford error in the 8th cost us the game. Another unlucky arm was Hooks Camp, who allowed 4 unearned runs in 2.1 innings against the Stars. He allowed 2 hits and 4 walks, but this time it was a Lawson error to cost us runs. He was better in his other outing, a hit, 2 walks, and 2 strikeouts in 2 shutout games against Brooklyn. I can't see Harry Parker having another blow up, and I might have to hide him when the Stars come to town, but no complaints with the overall pitching results. We're now second in runs allowed, of course second to the Stars, just like we are for runs scored.

Huge offensive week from Rich Langton, who just like every Cougar, can't get a Player of the Week. A 5-for-5 against the Saints was followed with a 4-4, and he hit .571/.600/.810 with 2 doubles, a homer, 2 steals, 4 runs, 3 walks, and 7 RBIs in 25 trips to the plate. The 30-year-old is doing the best to match his outstanding rookie numbers, slashing .363/.413/.487 (157 OPS+) with 8 doubles, 2 homers, and 17 RBIs. He wasn't the only Cougar with an outstanding week, as Ray Ford was outstanding as well. The struggling slugger went 10-for-23 with a double, homer, 7 runs, and 8 RBIs. Harry Mead continued his strong season, 9-for-24 with 6 doubles and 7 RBIs to increase his season line to .293/.352/.460 (131 OPS+) with 10 doubles, 5 homers, and 23 RBIs with an elite 14-to-2 walk-to-strikeout ratio. Cliff Moss turned things around a bit, 5-for-16 with a double, homer, and 5 RBIs. Dick Walker looked good, 6-for-15 with a steal, 3 RBIs, 3 walks, and 5 runs scored. Freddie Jones hit well, even if he didn't field well, 6-for-17 with 4 runs and 5 RBIs. All these guys are part time players, or at least get off days weekly, who made the most of the time they were given.

Leo Mitchell continues to be the best hitter in the game, going 13-for-31 with 3 doubles, 5 RBIs, and 7 runs scored. Lew Seals' power surge took his home run lead, but he's still second there and his .358 batting average is over 10 points better then the second place Reginald Westfall. Mitchell is hitting an elite .358/.388/.545 (166 OPS+) with 9 doubles, a triple, 8 homers, and 28 RBIs despite his 28 walks and 113 strikeout pace. Another guy on the leaderboards is Skipper Schneider, who went 9-for-28 with a double, homer, and 6 RBIs. Skipper now ranks as the #1 shortstop in the league and his 2.7 WAR is tied for second with former Cougar Chink Stickels. We also have Carlos Montes, who's third in the batting race with a .340 average. This is after a rough week where he went just 7-for-31, although he scored 9 runs, walked 5 times, and stole a base. Clark Car cooled off, just 4-for-17 this week, but he stole two more bases and now ranks 3rd with 5 steals. Our offense is as good as it gets, and they really caught fire this week.

Looking Ahead
Off to start the week, and then we get to head to Philadelphia for a two game set with the Sailors. At 22-27, they dropped down to 6th and now sit 13.5 games out of first. Most of the offense has cooled off, but Marion Boismenu has continued to be an above average hitter. The Canadian first basemen is hitting .325/.369/.455 (126 OPS+) with 11 doubles, 4 triples, 2 homers, 2 steals, and 14 RBIs. He needs some help, as gloveman Oscar King (.285, 16, 1) is the only other above average hitter and they only have a third with an OPS+ above 90. Woody Stone (.258, 2, 25) has really fallen off and Bob Smith's (.216, 15, 2) production has completely plummeted. Our staff should have no issues with the lineup, but their staff could cause problems. We should be able to avoid Chuck Murphy (4-5, 2.73, 21) and Karl Wallace (5-3, 2.22, 17), while Herb Flynn (4-3, 5.55, 15) and Doc Newell (4-6, 5.21, 23) have been very easy to hit. I'm hoping Al Duster (3.38, 5) will get some chances to start soon, but these two games are must wins for us.

Off again before four games in three days with the Cannons. Cincinnati is still in last, but had a much better week to improve to 20-31.Theya re 16.5 games out of first and just two behind the also struggling Wolves. Vic Carroll returned from a partially torn UCL just to leave with a sore back, but made a second start that didn't last just two outs. His second start against the Sailors was what you'd expect from a #1 pick, 8 hits, 2 runs, and 2 walks with 3 strikeouts in a complete game win. They'll want more from that, as Rufus Barrell (8-2, 2.14, 67) needs some help in the rotation as the struggling Butch Smith (1-8, 4.16, 29) and Roger Perry (2-2, 4.78, 21) were moved to the pen. They're hoping veteran waiver claim Jake Smith (1-1, 0.79, 1) can regain his 1936-1939 form with the Wolves and Pioneers. They've also made some changes in the lineup, with another waiver claim Terry Cox (.211, 3, 30, 3) and the homegrown Bill Lewis (.222, 1) starting to get some starts. They're hoping the mixup can spark the offense, as Fred Galloway (.306, 1, 20) and Adam Mullins (.311, 1, 17) need all the help they can get. We're the better team, and should show everyone in Cincinnati why, and if we play as we should, a 6-0 week wouldn't be that surprising. The way I feel right now is that this is a two team league, with us and the Stars likely beating up on the rest of the pack. We've gave them far too much of a lead, and without a third team, potentially the Saints (24-25), stealing wins, we may have to focus on 1943 where Bill Barrett may not be a Star anymore.

Minor League Report
SS Eddie Curtis (AAA Milwaukee Blues): The 28th was a huge day for 24-year-old Eddie Curtis, as the Memphis native was 5-for-6 to raise his season line to .391/.422/.457. At the end of the week, it was down a bit to .366/.397/.427 (123 OPS+), a still extremely impressive line for the middle infielder. He hasn't walked too much and doesn't have many extra base hits, but he does have 4 triples and a pair of doubles with 4 steals and 18 RBIs. Curtis has scored 25 times and has walked (9) more then he's struck out (4). His defense hasn't been great at short, but for now he'll spend most of his time there. I might start moving him around the field a bit, as short may not be his final spot, but Ossie Grogan won't leave second and once Ollie Page is healthy again, I want him getting reps at third. Curtis may not be the most talented player, but he's an extremely hard worker who could help fill out a bench.

RHP Ken Matson (AA Mobile Commodores): He's been featured a few times already, but the 24-year-old was now named the best starter in the Dixie League. Matson finished the month 4-0 with a 1.93 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, 10 walks, and 24 strikeouts in 5 strong starts. He only made one start in April, so for the season he's 4-1 with a 2.12 ERA (219 ERA+), 0.96 WHIP, 13 walks, and 31 strikeouts. His command is solid, he gets a lot of strikeouts, and he's done a great job keeping runs off the board. There is no need for a new arm in Milwaukee, but he's definitely ready for the promotion, and he may be able to pitch in the big leagues this year. All six of their starters there have an ERA+ above 100 and it's not worth sending one of them down when we don't have suitable arms to replace him in AA. We still have a few weeks before the draft, but as long as we aren't hammered by enlistments, Matson will not remain in Mobile much longer.