[ayaghmour2]

Weekly Record: 5-3
Seasonal Record: 39-29 (3rd, 4.5 GB)
Stars of the Week
Hank Barnett : 28 AB, 10 H, 2 HR, 6 RBI, .357 AVG, 1.048 OPS
Leo Mitchell : 32 AB, 13 H, 0 HR, 4 RBI, .406 AVG, .879 OPS
Dick Lyons : 2 Wins, 15.2 IP, 4 BB, 4 K, 0.00 ERA

Schedule
6-21: Win vs Saints (0-8)
6-22: Loss vs Saints (6-4)
6-23: Win vs Saints (0-3)
6-24: Win vs Saints (2-5)
6-25: Loss at Stars (4-10)
6-26: Win at Stars (6-0)
6-27: Win at Stars (7-4)
6-27: Loss at Stars (1-4)

Recap
Not a bad week, as we took three of four against the Saints in Chicago, but it was a little disappointing to split the series with the Stars in New York. It's always nice when you can shutout teams three times in a week, but it would be nice to win the games when the other teams score too. With Art White joining the rotation next week, I envision of few more shutouts in our future, but we'll need to keep our deficit on the right side of five. We do have a lot of transactional issues to deal with, as we'll be without Rich Langton for over a month with a strained oblique. Team Trainer Billy Gladwin is expecting a seven week recover time before a rehab assignment, and the loss of Langton's bat will hurt, as he was slashing an impressive .293/.386/.459 (143 OPS+) with 10 doubles, 3 triples, 2 homers, 3 steals, and 24 RBIs with twice as many walks (20) as strikeouts (8). Lucky for us we have a quality replacement, as lefty Cliff Moss will just play every day instead of mostly against righties. Moss is hitting a bit worse, but still an impressive .313/.386/.408 (129 OPS+) with 5 doubles, 3 triples, and 21 RBIs.

If my slack notifications worked yesterday, his roster spot would have gone to White, but instead Oscar Panduro will get a one week chance for his big league debut. Panduro hasn't started many minor league games since 1940, which is sort of the midpoint in his career. Each stint before, he had an above average OPS+ or better, but since his high is 91 in 74 games with Milwaukee back in 1940. His value is more in his versatility, hard work, and his overall positive vibes in the clubhouse. Even if it wasn't for White joining, his roster time would be limited, as Billy Hunter is healthy and ready to begin a rehab assignment. Hunter hasn't played a game since May 3rd, and he'll get a few weeks in Milwaukee before his return to Chicago. I want to give him a lot more reps in center, as I plan to use him as a super utility guy when healthy. He can spell Clark Car against lefties at second, give Barnett or Skipper, and of course, take time away from our very uninspiring center field duo of Don Homer and Orlin Yates. Bunny Hufford will temporary shift over to a corner while Hunter gets most of the time in the center of the outfield. He wasn't bad out in center in Chicago, so I'm hoping by time he finishes his rehab he can offer plus defense at multiple positions.

Dick Lyons continues to defy all odds an pitch at an elite level. This week was no exception, as he tossed a pair of scoreless outings. He got a no decision on his 43rd birthday, but as a 43-year-old he's only allowed a single run. He won both of his starts this week, tossing 8 and 7.2 shutout innings against the Saints and Stars. He allowed just 9 hits and 4 walks with 4 strikeouts to improve to 5-3 with a miniscule 2.00 ERA (171 ERA+) and 0.98 WHIP in 94.1 innings pitched. There are only three pitchers in all of baseball with a lower ERA or ERA+, his WHIP is a tenth higher then league leader Rufus Barrell, and his 1.1 BB/9 is 0.3 points better then any qualified FABL hurler. Lyons has shown how beneficial it is to throw slowly, but accurately, as the lefty has never even grazed the 90s while throwing over 3,600 big league innings with no ailment more serious then a cold. Lyons is somehow on a remarkable 5 WAR pace and somehow now ranked the 12th best pitcher in the FABL. He won't win a second Allen Award, I'm sure that'll go to Barrell, but if he finishes his season with anywhere near these ERA and WHIP numbers, I am 100% giving him my first place vote.

We did have an actual shutout this week, coming from a pitcher who really need a good outing. Jim Lonardo was brilliant, tossing a 4-hit, 2-strikeout shutout against the Saints. His start against the Stars wasn't as good, picking up a loss with 8 innings, 10 hits, and 3 walks, but Lonardo managed to bring his ERA+ back above 100. At 39 he is starting to lose some of what made him great, but I'm hoping Dick Lyons can share some of his patented anti-aging formula to get a little more out of the veteran righty. On the opposite end of the age spectrum, rookie Johnnie Jones continues to stay hot, and while he didn't toss a third straight shutout, he allowed just 9 hits, 2 runs, and 3 walks with 5 strikeouts to improve to an impressive 8-2. Harry Parker didn't stay hot, getting a loss and a win, with 21 hits, 10 runs (9 earned), 3 walks, and 6 strikeouts in an 8 inning loss and 9 inning win. Joe Brown was hit very hard, charged with 13 hits, 9 runs, and 2 walks with a strikeout in just 6.1 innings pitched. All four pen members got innings, combining to go 5 innings with 5 hits, a run, and 4 strikeouts. The pitching continues to keep us into games, and it's only going to get better with a true ace. Sure, Harry Parker is as reliable as it gets, but since Peter the Heater enlisted we haven't had a truly elite arm to carry the rest of the staff.

The offense was a little inconsistent, but we got big weeks from a few guys who hit a little bit of a rough patch. Hank Barnett might have been pressing a bit to get his 2,000th hit, and he finally showcased some of the power we all know he has, going 10-for-28 with a double, 2 homers, 5 runs, 5 walks, and 6 RBIs. Clark Car defrosted as well, 9-for-26 with 2 homers, 3 RBIs, 3 walks, and 7 runs scored. Dick Walker showed some pop too, 8-for-31 with a double, 2 homers, 5 walks, 5 RBIs, 7 runs, and a steal. Potential batting title winner Leo Mitchell cut the deficit on Adam Mullins, going 13-for-32 with a double, 4 runs, and 4 RBIs. Skipper went 10-for-32 with 2 doubles, a triple, 3 runs, and 4 RBIs. Orlin Yates had an "elite" week by his standards, 5-for-18 with an RBI and 4 walks. Sure, two of the walks were intentional, but him getting on base period is a huge win. Of course, it can't all be good, as he's dealing with back tightness now, leaving a few starts this week to Don Homer. Losing Rich Langton will hurt a bit as he has been one of our more reliable hitters, and with all the double headers, an extra bat can really help..

Looking Ahead
We get two off days before our next series, three in Chicago with the Foresters. Cleveland has a 3.5 game lead on the second pick of the draft, just 22-42 and nearly 20 games behind the first place Cannons. As Cleveland watches Brooklyn tear down (they traded Harry Barrell now too!), they might want to get on the fun, potentially shopping breakout 27-year-old Cal Howe. On a team with very little bright spots, Howe has shone through, slashing .335/.388/.494 (142 OPS+) with 27 doubles, 5 triples, a homer, 8 steals, and 19 RBIs with a great 23-to-8 walk-to-strikeout ratio. He's scored 41 runs while starting all 64 games for the Foresters in the leadoff spot. Behind him, there's not much marketable, but they could get something from veteran catcher Mickey Patterson (.347, 1, 16), slugger Dan Fowler (.225, 4, 17), the disciplined Bob Mullins (.292, 1, 22, 1), "ace" Ben Turner (7-6, 4.13, 32), and stopper Don Attaway (4-2, 3, 1.26, 8). None of these guys would bring back a top prospect, but they could add a few young guys who deserve a shot at the big leagues. These are must win games, but I know we'll find away to mess up this series...

Our next series is far tougher, and it would be nice to have had White for this. That would be three games in two days with the Wolves on the weekend. Toronto is two games above us and two and a half behind the Cannons, with a strong 40-26 record on the season. We'll get to see Chink Stickels (.186, 1, 18, 3) for the first time as a Wolf, pushing Juan Pomales (.295, 1, 23, 8; 2-3, 4.74, 9) to a corner. Their lineup needs a boost, as they haven't gotten much production from guys who aren't Walt Pack (.271, 9, 33) and Mike Rollinson (.310, 2, 27, 2), so a likely rebound from Chink will be a huge boost. The pitching has been solid, getting ace level production from Joe Hancock (8-4, 2.69, 47) and Bernie Johnson (7-2, 2.30, 17). An interesting new member of the rotation is Jimmy Gibbs, who has looked good in split time between the rotation and the pen. The 27-year-old rookie has done well, 6-2 with a 2.98 ERA (119 ERA+), 1.38 WHIP, 24 walks, and 18 strikeouts in 57.1 innings pitched. Considering we've won just one game against them so far, I expect a lot of pain and suffering, and with Cincy right around the corner, a series lost here would be tough for our momentum.

Minor League Report
CF Don Lee (A Lincoln Legislators): It was a huge week for the former 2nd Rounder, as Don Lee took home his third minor league Player of the Week. The 21-year-old center fielder went 13-for-29 with 2 homers and 8 RBIs. Lee has been one of the most impressive hitters in our system, recording an OPS+ of 130 or higher in every one of his minor league stints, and each one has been 150 PAs or higher. He's taken things to another level this season for the Legislators, hitting an elite .330/.452/.569 (157 OPS+) with 14 doubles, a triple, 12 homers, 22 steals, and 42 RBIs with twice the walks (48) then strike outs (20) while worth a whopping 3.1 WAR in just 57 games. Lee has developed into a team leader as well, as his value comes both on and off the field. The on field stuff is exciting, as he has an excellent eye, elite bat speed and barrel control, and top notch speed. Sometimes he shows a ton of power, other times he doesn't, as he had just a single homer in San Jose and Lincoln last year, but had 20 in 1941 and is on track for almost 30 this year. His defense isn't great, but he's been average out in center the past two seasons as he's started to get comfortable out on the grass. Lee has shown great improvement since we drafted him, and he now ranks 6th in our system and 91st in the league. I'm ready to push him up a level, as Lee will man center up in Mobile. This will be the first big test, but I'm confident he'll be more then up to the task. It will be interesting to see if he can debut before Carlos Montes returns from WAR, but even if he doesn't, we'll have an interesting situation out in center.