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ayaghmour2 · 08-05-2022, 08:23 PM

Weekly Record: 4-2
Seasonal Record: 24-15 (2nd, 5 GB)
Stars of the Week
None Generated

Schedule
5-26: Win at Sailors (2-1): 10 innings
5-27: Win at Sailors (6-5)
5-28: Loss at Sailors (3-5)
5-29: Win at Foresters (7-3)
5-30: Win at Foresters (8-3)
5-30: Loss at Foresters (3-4)

Recap
No sweeps this week, but I can't really be too angry at taking two out of three in two road series. There were far too many one run games for my liking, and despite finishing 4-2, we lost a game on the Cannons who have rolled off 13 of 14 since we took two of three from them in Chicago. We do have five huge games against them in Cincinnati this week, giving them an opportunity to curb stomp us after they likely sweep the Stars yet again. I'd be okay if they take three of five from us, as they won't play .750 ball all season, but a rough showing could end the pennant race far earlier then anyone would have anticipated. To make matters worse, Harry Parker still isn't healthy, and having him for the Cannons series would have really helped our chances. Instead, more starts for Ken Matson, who at least did pick up a win this week, tossing a complete game with 7 hits, 3 runs, 4 walks, and 4 strikeouts in Cleveland.

The bats were really working, as Skipper Schneider had a big week after a few where he wasn't hitting too well. The CA WAR leader (2.6) went 10-for-21 with 3 doubles, 3 RBIs, and 2 runs scored. Double play partner Clark Car showcased some power, as despite going just 4-for-15, he had a double, two homers, 2 walks, 2 runs, and 4 RBIs. Bunny Hufford earned himself some more starts, going 4-for-10 with a triple and 3 walks while Orlin Yates was just 3-for-13 with 2 RBIs, 3 runs, and a walk. Both are lefties, but Yates actually has reverse splits, hitting lefties better, so Bunny will get more time against right handed hitters. Our right field platoon worked well, with Cliff Moss going 6-for-13 with 3 runs and Rich Langton going 4-for-13 with a homer, steal, and 3 RBIs. Dick Walker went 6-for-19 with a double, triple, steal, 5 runs, 5 RBIs, and 5 walks. Leo Mitchell went 10-for-27 with 2 walks, a run, and an RBI. Freddie Jones may have heard his name floating in trade rumors, so he put together a strong week, 5-for-18 with 2 doubles, walks, and runs. Harry Mead, however, continues to flounder, just 2-for-17 as he now sports the "snowflake" indicator due to his rough stretch. After hitting .287/.352/.456 (139 OPS+) last year, he's hitting a pitiful .181/.260/.241 (45 OPS+). It's no time to panic, as even with no bat he's still an elite defender, and I'm sure he'll pick things up before the season ends. If we can score runs, we'll keep winning, and with a tough week coming up with a lot of good pitchers, it'll be a true test of our strength.

Dick Lyons continues to defy all logic, making two starts without getting a win. He got a no decision and a loss despite just 5 runs (3 earned), 12 hits, and 5 strikeouts in 16 impressive innings. He dropped his ERA to 2.17 (154 ERA+) and WHIP to 0.93, and he hasn't walked a batter since May 9th. Johnnie Jones picked up a win, but it wasn't one of his betters stopped, as he walked 6 times and allowed 9 hits with 3 strikeouts. Joe Brown and Jim Lonardo both struggled, each allowing 5 runs in 8 innings. Brown allowed 13 hits and struck out 5 while Lonardo struck out just 1 with 11 hits. The pen is pretty rested, with just four innings needed. Curtin got a win and save with 2 hits and 2 walks in his 3 shutout innings. The last inning went to Angel Lopez, who allowed two hits but no runs in his inning. With all the chaos, he'll get to make a start in the double header against the Wolves, and we'd be much better off with a healthy Harry Parker. Our staff will really be tested with the back-to-back double headers, and then another double header to deal with to finish the week.

Looking Ahead
Potentially our biggest week of the season, we're reaching the end of a stretch of 16 games in 13 games. We'll look to get revenge on the Wolves, who took all four of the games in Chicago against us. This time it will be four in Toronto, where they actually play worse on the road. They are just two games behind us for second and 21-16, with veteran starters Joe Hancock (4-2, 2.37, 26) and Bernie Johnson (5-2, 2.08, 12) leading the way. Beyond that, they haven't gotten much from their rotation, as Juan Pomales (0-2, 9.69, 2; 306, 1, 14, 3) has pitched far worse then he's hit, and his replacement Jimmy Gibbs (1-2, 1, 4.15, 7) hasn't looked much better. Chick Wirtz (1-5, 4.94, 14) has regressed hard while Bob Walls (4-2, 4.02, 14) has been a bit lucky with his run support. The bats as a whole have struggled, but Ockie Holliday (.308, 13) has at least been average while Mike Rollison (.322, 2, 16), 1) continues to hit well. This will be a really tough series for us, and since it only gets harder, a split here is a must.

The Cannons have been so dominant against nearly everyone this season, as despite playing us just three times, we've accounted for over 20% of their losses. At 28-9, they have the best record in baseball and are already five games ahead of us. After we hit Rufus Barrell (6-0, 1.02, 32) hard, he managed 22.1 scoreless innings followed by a 2-run complete game win over the Saints. Barrell continues to dominate, and with a five game series, we'll be forced to face him. Their top five is much better then ours, as Vic Carroll (3-1, 2.67, 15) has the highest ERA in their rotation. Butch Smith (5-1, 1.74, 25) has been reborn while Roger Perry (4-2, 2.58, 12) and Jim Anderson (2-3, 2.03, 20) have been surprisingly elite. Six of the eight hitters in their lineup have an OPS+ above 100, including Adam Mullins (.339, 2, 16), Chuck Adams (.306, 7, 28), and Fred Galloway (.289, 1, 10, 1). Even eight Jim Hensley (.259, 2, 23), who is more or less a step below Skipper Schneider, has been extremely productive, and the Cannons depth has more then made up for the losses of talented hitters Charlie McCullough and Mike Taylor. I'm really scared about this upcoming week, and unfortunately I now have to dread the results all weekend long...

Minor League Report
2B Eddie Curtis (AAA Milwaukee Blues): With the trade of Freddie Jones, a spot opens up on the bench, and one of the options to fill that role would be Eddie Curtis. The 25-year-old got in one game last year for us, going 0-for-3, but he hasn't done that again since May 2nd. Curtis is riding a 20 game hit streak, and is 12 for his last 18. As expected, he took home Player of the Week in the Century League, going 18-for-32 with 3 doubles, 3 triples, 4 steals, and 4 RBIs. "Slick Eddie" is now hitting an elite .458/.490/.594 (197 OPS+) with 3 doubles, 5 triples, 7 steals, and 9 RBIs in his first 25 games. A versatile defender, Curtis has spent most of his time at second this year, and has a nice 1.052 efficiency at the keystone. He has experience at third, left, right, and short, and his speed makes him a valuable late inning replacement. The roster spot opened by Jones will go to him or Cuno Myer, who is hitting an also impressive .360/.387/.588 (165 OPS+) and can hit from both sides of the plate and back up veteran Dick Walker. Of course Curtis has more upside with his versatility, but we have a better and more versatile defender in Tip Harrison, as well as a strong glove in Ollie Page.

LF Bill Rich (AA Mobile Commodores): It was a tremendous week for Bill Rich, who actually started off not too well this season. Before this week, Rich was hitting .291/.348/.408, which was about average in the Dixie League this year. After a Player of the Week performance were the former regional pick was 13-for-28, he's now hitting .328/.385/.443 (117 OPS+) with 6 doubles, 3 homers, and 22 RBIs. While still a good mark, it's far from what he did last season at 23, where he slashed a borderline elite .349/.403/.504 (140 OPS+) with 20 doubles, 2 triples, 5 homers, and 43 RBIs in about double the plate appearances. The main difference between the two seasons are the extra base hits, as the Illinois native hasn't doubled nearly as often as he did last year. There are some good signs, as he's striking out less and hitting a few more homers, but I thought this would be a big season for Rich. Currently ranked just outside the top 300 on the prospect list, Rich is getting closer to the big leagues, and he could see a promotion to AAA if I need to recall either Huck Hanes or Chick Browning to Chicago. He has a good eye and should be able to hit for a high average, but without much value in the outfield, he's going to need to bring the extra base hits back. A lack of power will keep him from an everyday role, but he's already a capable 4th outfielder.

SS Dick Hamilton (B San Jose Cougars): Another guy who was off to a really slow start, Dick Hamilton finally got things going this week. Name the C-O-W League Player of the Week, the former 4th Rounder went 12-for-26 with 2 homers and 7 RBIs. That raised the 22-year-old season line to .260/.345/.396 (105 OPS+) after he was hitting below the Mendoza line as recently as the 24th. An undersized middle infielder, Hamilton likely won't have many more two homer games, as he now has 3 on the season after 6 in 70 games last year. He is struggling a bit at short this year, but I think it's just the small sample size, as he was great in almost 500 innings at short last year. One of our more exciting prospects, he's bounced between 100 and 200 frequently, currently checking in at 175th and 14th in our system. I think he has the tools to be a starting infielder in the big leagues, likely starting at second against lefties until Clark Car ages out of the position. He has good speed and bat to ball skills, and he should be able to manage similar walk and strikeout totals. The only shortstop blocking his way right now is Jim Dickinson, but he's up in AA and I can't see Hamilton getting that far this year. Dickinson is about 20 spots ahead of him in the prospect rankings, and I expect the two of them will inevitably be in competition for roster spots. Hamilton's bat is better with Dickinson the better defender, so they could conceivably co-exist in Chicago. Neither will threaten Skipper for playing time, but either one could shift to second or third, and both have the range to be a very useful utility man until a starting lineup spot comes up.

08-05-2022, 08:23 PM	#863
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,033	Week 6: May 24th-May 30th Weekly Record: 4-2 Seasonal Record: 24-15 (2nd, 5 GB) Stars of the Week None Generated Schedule 5-26: Win at Sailors (2-1): 10 innings 5-27: Win at Sailors (6-5) 5-28: Loss at Sailors (3-5) 5-29: Win at Foresters (7-3) 5-30: Win at Foresters (8-3) 5-30: Loss at Foresters (3-4) Recap No sweeps this week, but I can't really be too angry at taking two out of three in two road series. There were far too many one run games for my liking, and despite finishing 4-2, we lost a game on the Cannons who have rolled off 13 of 14 since we took two of three from them in Chicago. We do have five huge games against them in Cincinnati this week, giving them an opportunity to curb stomp us after they likely sweep the Stars yet again. I'd be okay if they take three of five from us, as they won't play .750 ball all season, but a rough showing could end the pennant race far earlier then anyone would have anticipated. To make matters worse, Harry Parker still isn't healthy, and having him for the Cannons series would have really helped our chances. Instead, more starts for Ken Matson, who at least did pick up a win this week, tossing a complete game with 7 hits, 3 runs, 4 walks, and 4 strikeouts in Cleveland. The bats were really working, as Skipper Schneider had a big week after a few where he wasn't hitting too well. The CA WAR leader (2.6) went 10-for-21 with 3 doubles, 3 RBIs, and 2 runs scored. Double play partner Clark Car showcased some power, as despite going just 4-for-15, he had a double, two homers, 2 walks, 2 runs, and 4 RBIs. Bunny Hufford earned himself some more starts, going 4-for-10 with a triple and 3 walks while Orlin Yates was just 3-for-13 with 2 RBIs, 3 runs, and a walk. Both are lefties, but Yates actually has reverse splits, hitting lefties better, so Bunny will get more time against right handed hitters. Our right field platoon worked well, with Cliff Moss going 6-for-13 with 3 runs and Rich Langton going 4-for-13 with a homer, steal, and 3 RBIs. Dick Walker went 6-for-19 with a double, triple, steal, 5 runs, 5 RBIs, and 5 walks. Leo Mitchell went 10-for-27 with 2 walks, a run, and an RBI. Freddie Jones may have heard his name floating in trade rumors, so he put together a strong week, 5-for-18 with 2 doubles, walks, and runs. Harry Mead, however, continues to flounder, just 2-for-17 as he now sports the "snowflake" indicator due to his rough stretch. After hitting .287/.352/.456 (139 OPS+) last year, he's hitting a pitiful .181/.260/.241 (45 OPS+). It's no time to panic, as even with no bat he's still an elite defender, and I'm sure he'll pick things up before the season ends. If we can score runs, we'll keep winning, and with a tough week coming up with a lot of good pitchers, it'll be a true test of our strength. Dick Lyons continues to defy all logic, making two starts without getting a win. He got a no decision and a loss despite just 5 runs (3 earned), 12 hits, and 5 strikeouts in 16 impressive innings. He dropped his ERA to 2.17 (154 ERA+) and WHIP to 0.93, and he hasn't walked a batter since May 9th. Johnnie Jones picked up a win, but it wasn't one of his betters stopped, as he walked 6 times and allowed 9 hits with 3 strikeouts. Joe Brown and Jim Lonardo both struggled, each allowing 5 runs in 8 innings. Brown allowed 13 hits and struck out 5 while Lonardo struck out just 1 with 11 hits. The pen is pretty rested, with just four innings needed. Curtin got a win and save with 2 hits and 2 walks in his 3 shutout innings. The last inning went to Angel Lopez, who allowed two hits but no runs in his inning. With all the chaos, he'll get to make a start in the double header against the Wolves, and we'd be much better off with a healthy Harry Parker. Our staff will really be tested with the back-to-back double headers, and then another double header to deal with to finish the week. Looking Ahead Potentially our biggest week of the season, we're reaching the end of a stretch of 16 games in 13 games. We'll look to get revenge on the Wolves, who took all four of the games in Chicago against us. This time it will be four in Toronto, where they actually play worse on the road. They are just two games behind us for second and 21-16, with veteran starters Joe Hancock (4-2, 2.37, 26) and Bernie Johnson (5-2, 2.08, 12) leading the way. Beyond that, they haven't gotten much from their rotation, as Juan Pomales (0-2, 9.69, 2; 306, 1, 14, 3) has pitched far worse then he's hit, and his replacement Jimmy Gibbs (1-2, 1, 4.15, 7) hasn't looked much better. Chick Wirtz (1-5, 4.94, 14) has regressed hard while Bob Walls (4-2, 4.02, 14) has been a bit lucky with his run support. The bats as a whole have struggled, but Ockie Holliday (.308, 13) has at least been average while Mike Rollison (.322, 2, 16), 1) continues to hit well. This will be a really tough series for us, and since it only gets harder, a split here is a must. The Cannons have been so dominant against nearly everyone this season, as despite playing us just three times, we've accounted for over 20% of their losses. At 28-9, they have the best record in baseball and are already five games ahead of us. After we hit Rufus Barrell (6-0, 1.02, 32) hard, he managed 22.1 scoreless innings followed by a 2-run complete game win over the Saints. Barrell continues to dominate, and with a five game series, we'll be forced to face him. Their top five is much better then ours, as Vic Carroll (3-1, 2.67, 15) has the highest ERA in their rotation. Butch Smith (5-1, 1.74, 25) has been reborn while Roger Perry (4-2, 2.58, 12) and Jim Anderson (2-3, 2.03, 20) have been surprisingly elite. Six of the eight hitters in their lineup have an OPS+ above 100, including Adam Mullins (.339, 2, 16), Chuck Adams (.306, 7, 28), and Fred Galloway (.289, 1, 10, 1). Even eight Jim Hensley (.259, 2, 23), who is more or less a step below Skipper Schneider, has been extremely productive, and the Cannons depth has more then made up for the losses of talented hitters Charlie McCullough and Mike Taylor. I'm really scared about this upcoming week, and unfortunately I now have to dread the results all weekend long... Minor League Report 2B Eddie Curtis (AAA Milwaukee Blues): With the trade of Freddie Jones, a spot opens up on the bench, and one of the options to fill that role would be Eddie Curtis. The 25-year-old got in one game last year for us, going 0-for-3, but he hasn't done that again since May 2nd. Curtis is riding a 20 game hit streak, and is 12 for his last 18. As expected, he took home Player of the Week in the Century League, going 18-for-32 with 3 doubles, 3 triples, 4 steals, and 4 RBIs. "Slick Eddie" is now hitting an elite .458/.490/.594 (197 OPS+) with 3 doubles, 5 triples, 7 steals, and 9 RBIs in his first 25 games. A versatile defender, Curtis has spent most of his time at second this year, and has a nice 1.052 efficiency at the keystone. He has experience at third, left, right, and short, and his speed makes him a valuable late inning replacement. The roster spot opened by Jones will go to him or Cuno Myer, who is hitting an also impressive .360/.387/.588 (165 OPS+) and can hit from both sides of the plate and back up veteran Dick Walker. Of course Curtis has more upside with his versatility, but we have a better and more versatile defender in Tip Harrison, as well as a strong glove in Ollie Page. LF Bill Rich (AA Mobile Commodores): It was a tremendous week for Bill Rich, who actually started off not too well this season. Before this week, Rich was hitting .291/.348/.408, which was about average in the Dixie League this year. After a Player of the Week performance were the former regional pick was 13-for-28, he's now hitting .328/.385/.443 (117 OPS+) with 6 doubles, 3 homers, and 22 RBIs. While still a good mark, it's far from what he did last season at 23, where he slashed a borderline elite .349/.403/.504 (140 OPS+) with 20 doubles, 2 triples, 5 homers, and 43 RBIs in about double the plate appearances. The main difference between the two seasons are the extra base hits, as the Illinois native hasn't doubled nearly as often as he did last year. There are some good signs, as he's striking out less and hitting a few more homers, but I thought this would be a big season for Rich. Currently ranked just outside the top 300 on the prospect list, Rich is getting closer to the big leagues, and he could see a promotion to AAA if I need to recall either Huck Hanes or Chick Browning to Chicago. He has a good eye and should be able to hit for a high average, but without much value in the outfield, he's going to need to bring the extra base hits back. A lack of power will keep him from an everyday role, but he's already a capable 4th outfielder. SS Dick Hamilton (B San Jose Cougars): Another guy who was off to a really slow start, Dick Hamilton finally got things going this week. Name the C-O-W League Player of the Week, the former 4th Rounder went 12-for-26 with 2 homers and 7 RBIs. That raised the 22-year-old season line to .260/.345/.396 (105 OPS+) after he was hitting below the Mendoza line as recently as the 24th. An undersized middle infielder, Hamilton likely won't have many more two homer games, as he now has 3 on the season after 6 in 70 games last year. He is struggling a bit at short this year, but I think it's just the small sample size, as he was great in almost 500 innings at short last year. One of our more exciting prospects, he's bounced between 100 and 200 frequently, currently checking in at 175th and 14th in our system. I think he has the tools to be a starting infielder in the big leagues, likely starting at second against lefties until Clark Car ages out of the position. He has good speed and bat to ball skills, and he should be able to manage similar walk and strikeout totals. The only shortstop blocking his way right now is Jim Dickinson, but he's up in AA and I can't see Hamilton getting that far this year. Dickinson is about 20 spots ahead of him in the prospect rankings, and I expect the two of them will inevitably be in competition for roster spots. Hamilton's bat is better with Dickinson the better defender, so they could conceivably co-exist in Chicago. Neither will threaten Skipper for playing time, but either one could shift to second or third, and both have the range to be a very useful utility man until a starting lineup spot comes up.