[ayaghmour2]

Weekly Record: 2-4
Seasonal Record: 31-24 (2nd, 7.5 GB)
Stars of the Week
Carlos Montes : 23 AB, 9 H, 1 HR, 7 RBI, .391 AVG, 1.009 OPS
Harry Mead : 17 AB, 5 H, 1 HR, 4 RBI, .294 AVG, 1.017 OPS
Leo Mitchell : 24 AB, 8 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, .333 AVG, .750 OPS

Schedule
6-2: Win at Sailors (6-2)
6-3: Loss at Sailors (2-8)
6-5: Loss at Cannons (3-4)
6-6: Loss at Cannons (3-4)
6-7: Win at Cannons (6-1)
6-7: Loss at Cannons (3-4): 10 innings

Recap
Well, this week could have not gone much worse! I was extremely confident in a winning week, with the slight chance of a perfect week, but it could not have been further from that. We split with the Sailors, and then allowed the Cannons to take three out of four from us. To make matters worse, all three losses to the Cannons were 4-3 losses, which could have been wins if a few things went different. We dropped a game on the Stars, now 7.5 out of first, and we're starting to let them run away with things. To make matters worse, Billy Hunter is already injured again, spraining his knee and returning to the IL for a few more weeks. Both Car (122 OPS+) and Jones (126 OPS+) have hit really well this season, so we can at least continue to stay afloat, but Hunter is one of the most talented hitters in the league, and his bat would be very helpful for us.

It's hard to blame the pitching for our struggles this week, but both Joe Brown and Jim Lonardo did not have great starts. Brown's was really rough, 11 hits, 8 runs (6 earned), and 4 walks with 6 strikeouts in 6.2 innings pitched. Lonardo was tagged with 8 hits, 4 runs, 2 walks, and 2 strikeouts while being walked off with one out in the 9th. Our best starter was the vet Dick Lyons, who picked up the only win in Cincy, going 8 with 4 hits, a run, walk, and 2 strikeouts before a Milt Fritz 1-2-3 inning to finish off the Cannons. An error gave Harry Parker a loss, 8 innings with 7 hits, 4 runs (3 earned), a walk, and 4 strikeouts. He allowed two more homers in this start, now three consecutive starts with two homers allowed. Our two start starter this week was Donnie Jones, who beat the Sailors and then lost the extra inning affair against the Cannons. In the win Jones went all nine with 7 hits, 2 runs, 3 walks, and 7 strikeouts. In the loss he was walked off with one gone in the 10th after allowing 11 hits, 4 runs, and 3 walks with just a single strike out. Losing close games always hurts, and this one was no different.

The offense really struggled this week, but we got another great week from Freddie Jones, who is probably the only guy happy about Billy Hunter getting hurt. The veteran went 5-for-12 with 3 doubles, 2 walks, and 3 runs scored to up his season split to .308/.387/.404 (126 OPS+). Harry Mead tied his season high with homer #6, going 5-for-17 with a triple, 4 runs, and 4 RBIs as he's really started to catch fire. Carlos Montes continues to hit, going 9-for-23 with 2 doubles, a homer, and 7 RBIs. Leo Mitchell had a bit of a down week by his new lofty standards, but was still productive, going 8-for-24 with 2 doubles and a walk. Ray Ford was just 3-for-12, but homered and drove in two. Still, a lot of guys left runners on, with Cliff Moss, Clark Car, John Lawson, and Dick Walker combining to go 9-for-58 with a Moss double and Lawson solo homer. Lawson has struggled all season, and Moss and Walker haven't looked great, but with Car, he's been so good it was a matter of time before a week like this. We'll need more consistent hitting next week, as we definitely cost ourselves a few games by not producing with any regularity.

Looking Ahead
Our rough road trip continues with three in Toronto against the Wolves. At 26-30, they're now in 6th and just two games out of second while three out of last. 3 through 8 are really tight, and the Saints are just 3.5 games behind us. The Wolves are coming off a nice 5-2 week while we've started to slump, which will make things more difficult for us. Both of us have an off day, and with Joe Hancock (7-6, 2.43, 45) and George Garrison (7-4, 2.69, 50) pitching in their double header, we may miss both. Bob Walls (3-7, 3.52, 6) and Chick Wirtz (2-3, 3.82, 12) are solid, but nowhere near as talented as their co-aces. I think we'll also see Juan Pomales (5-6, 4.13, 16; .272, 8, 3), but the two way star hasn't had much success on either side this year. It would be cool for him and Donnie Jones square off, as they were traded for each other, but Jones pitched in our double header and will not pitch in the Toronto series. The offense hasn't been great for the Wolves, but they've got Larry Vestal (.235, 2, 5) back, although he's nursing a minor injury that shouldn't cost him an IL trip. Mike Rollison (.310, 2, 22) has cooled a bit while Reginald Westfall (.320, 3, 32) continues to hit very well. Tom Frederick (.284, 1, 17, 3) has really picked things up, but they are looking for more from their slugger Walt Pack (.258, 2, 22) if they want to return to the upper division. I trust our staff, and the lineup against non-Hancock/Garrison pitchers, but after a rough week, it's hard to be too optimistic.

Our week and road trip then finishes in Cleveland with four games in three days against the Foresters. Now 23-31, they are between our most recent and next opponents in the standings. Cleveland suffered a major loss, with the always injured Earle Robinson (3-3, 2.91, 12) out for two or three months with elbow inflammation. He was their most productive starter, as Dave Rankin (2-4, 3.32, 14) allowed 8 runs in each of his last two starts, totaling just 8 innings with 15 hits and 8 walks. Rookie Dick Lamb (6-6, 3.07, 10) has flashed some signs of a top level starter, and while Jack Thornhill (0-3, 2.86, 7) has a nice ERA in three starts, he's walked 17 batters in 22 innings and owns a 1.86 WHIP. Our experienced offense should be able to put runs up against them, but even if we don't, chances are they won't do much scoring. No team has scored less runs then the Foresters, who have just two hitters with an OPS+ above 100. One is veteran Brooks Meeks, who hasn't had one since 1937, his last of three consecutive 27 double seasons. This year he has 7 and is hitting a productive .292/.354/.422 (112 OPS+) with 2 triples, 3 homers, 2 steals, and 16 RBIs. Second base is a really weak position in the league, and we actually have two top five second basemen with Billy Hunter (2nd) and Clark Car (5th), so Meeks could be a hot target. Hank Stratton (.306, 2, 19) has hit a bit, but they'll need more from Leon Blackridge (.240, 1, 13, 2), Eli Harkless (.276, 2, 15, 6), and Dan Fowler (.211, 2, 13, 2). The Foresters gave us trouble early on, but they're ice cold and we need to take advantage.

Minor League Report
LF Bill Rich (A Lincoln Legislators): Despite drastic struggles at Lincoln last season, Bill Rich has been nothing short of stupendous with the Legislators this year. This week in particular, Rich was impossible to pitch to, going 11-for-25 with 2 homers and 9 RBIs. The former regional pick is now hitting .343/.387/.506 (149 OPS+) with 11 doubles, 6 homers, and 42 RBIs after hitting just .246/.301/.373 (87 OPS+) in about 100 more PAs last year. It's clear the Illinois native is seeing things much better this year, making hard contact with regularity while starting to get more comfortable out in left. He's also cut his strikeouts a bit, but with less walks, as Rich has been putting the ball in play more frequently. He's already doubled (11) more this year then last (9) and he's been one of our top run producers. Despite all these improvements, he's dropped in the prospect rankings, and OSA thinks he may be a second division starter at best. We have a full outfield in Mobile, but I'll make room for him there once our new draftees join. Rich is a good presence in the clubhouse, and is "clutch" so to say, and even if he doesn't do much in the majors, he seems to be a very useful minor league depth/quad-A type player which has value of its own.

2B Bob Griffen (C La Crosse Lions): If it wasn't for military callups, chances are Bob Griffen would not get a single start this year. But, with a lot of players unavailable, we needed a guy to replace Nick Bryan (who just became healthy) at second, and the 19-year-old has stepped in. A 16th Round Pick in 1940, Griffen has hit really well in La Crosse, and it was all on display in our 33-5 demolition of the Marshalltown Maples. Griffen drove in 9 in a 5-for-6 effort with 4 runs, 2 doubles, a triple, and a walk. Griffin is just 7 PAs shy of 100 for the season, and he's slashed .364/.452/.532 (138 OPS+) with 8 doubles, a homer, and 22 RBIs. He's almost tripled his PA count (39) from his first two seasons, and while not a top prospect of ours, Tom thinks he can at least compete for a bench role. He's not the greatest defender at second, which may mean he'll need time at first, but his future may lie as a career pinch hitter. He makes consistent contact and is very strong, plus his pitch recognition is improving and should be a plus tool. He may lose some time with the new draftees joining, but Griffen won't have to worry about losing a roster spot.

1B Lew Lord (C La Crosse Lions): A day after Griffen's five hit game, Lew Lord decided to get in on the fun. This time we won 21-7, and Lord was a perfect 5-for-5 with 4 doubles, 2 runs, 6 RBIs, and a base on balls. Lord ended up taking home Player of the Week, hitting .625/.688/.1.042 with 10 doubles, 7 walks, and 11 RBIs. Lord now has 23 doubles in 44 games, on pace for 72. His season line sits at .292/.452/.476 (125 OPS+) with 2 homers and 37 RBIs. A natural catcher, Lord has gotten a lot of time at first, and will now be on his way up to San Jose. With Bryan coming back, I'm moving Griffen to first, and we need an infielder up to replace the now injured Billy Hunter. An 8th Rounder back in 1940, Lord actually hit a stronger .288/.404/.471 (133 OPS+) in 312 PAs last season with the Lions, and the 23-year-old has shown that he has no issues with the bat. He's looked good at first, which is pretty helpful, as his defense behind the plate isn't the best. Despite his success so far, scouts don't really think he'll hit for a high average, but they like his discipline. Lord doesn't really have the power for a first basemen, but if he continues to hit like he does, we can make do with it.