[ayaghmour2]

Weekly Record: 2-2
Seasonal Record: 55-32 (1st, 1 GA)
Stars of the Week
Dick Lyons : 2 Wins, 8.1 IP, 1 BB, 1 K, 0.00 ERA
Skipper Schneider : 17 AB, 8 H, 0 HR, 4 RBI, .471 AVG, 1.088 OPS
Dick Walker : 14 AB, 4 H, 0 HR, 5 RBI, .286 AVG, 1.164 OPS

Schedule
7-15: Loss at Kings (2-4)
7-16: Win at Kings (7-3)
7-17: Loss at Kings (0-4)
7-18: Win at Kings (3-0)

Recap
2-2 against a subpar team is a little disappointing, especially when you just rolled off 11 of 12 against teams above .500, but we were on the road and 13-1 in June before the series started. We also held our one game lead over the Cannons, and the Wolves dropped to 3.5 games out, so all in all a decent enough showing. Mel Haynes did his best to show us we shouldn't have let him go (and let's be honest, I really didn't want to), tossing 8 shutout with 3 hits, 2 walks, and 2 strikeouts, with one of those two punchouts of the guy we traded for him, Hank Barnett, who didn't get his hit until Haynes left after eight. More importantly, the All Star game was last sim, but it felt more like the Cougars and Cannons vs. the Fed. Our eight All Stars were instrumental in the 7-3 win, with Dick Lyons (which is why it shows two wins) getting the win, and Johnnie Jones the final three outs. Neither were that great, with Lyons' scoreless frame seeing a walk and hit while Jones allowed 2 hits, a run, and a walk with a punchout in the ninth. The real star was Dick Walker, who went 1-for-2 with 2 walks, 2 RBIs, and a triple. Skipper was 1-for-3 with a double, walk, and 2 RBIs, although he did make an error. Walker, Skipper, and Car turned a Cougar-only double play, but Car was 0-for-3. Hank Barnett was 1-for-3, Leo Mitchell pinch ran and then later drove in a run with a single, and Cliff Moss was 0-for-1, but scored in the third. The game was filled with former Cougars, including the surprise breakout star Johnny McDowell (0-3), Sam Orr (1-4), Luis Sandoval (IP, 2 H, 3 R, ER), and Jim Crawford (2 IP, H).

Looking at the actual Cougar games, All Star Dick Lyons continues to dazzle, going 7.1 scoreless innings with 6 hits and a strikeout to lower his ERA to 1.99. Lyons and Rufus Barrell (1.77) are the only pitchers with a sub 2 ERA. The game counted his All Star win as a weekly win, so he took home his first Player of the Week! Totally undeserved, but Lyons becomes the oldest player to ever win his first FABL Player of the Week at 43 years and 33 days. He's been a pitcher of the month and year, but never the week! We got good innings from Joe Brown too, going 7.2 with 10 hits, 4 runs (1 earned), and 5 strikeouts. Jim Lonardo wasn't so good, charged with 9 hits, 4 runs, and 2 walks while recording one fewer out. Art White stayed hot, picking up his third complete game win as a Cougar. The veteran lefty did allow 12 hits and 3 runs (2 earned) with a walk and 2 strikeouts. Ben Curtin was the only other arm to throw, appearing in 3 games. He threw 2.2 innings, picked up a save, and got a walk and strikeout. No start for Johnnie Jones this week as I want to keep his innings down, but after two off days to start the week, he'll pitch one of the double header games in Cleveland on Wednesday.

The offense really struggled, but surprisingly our center field duo performed well. Orlin Yates was 3-for-7 with a walk, 2 runs, 2 steals and an RBI while Don Homer was 2-for-6 with a walk and run. Both will see playing time dwindle, as Billy Hunter is on his way back to Chicago. He hit really well in Milwaukee on rehab, slashing .346/.407/.500 (149 OPS+) with 5 doubles, 2 triples, a homer, and 16 RBIs. The one downside was he was 0-for-5 on steals. He wasn't great out in center, but he's getting used to the outfield grass and his bat should be a huge upgrade over Yates and Homer. He'll replace Oscar Panduro on the active roster, and will likely get a few games a week at second and center. He won't quite be an every day player, as that usually causes him to get hurt, but he should be an extremely useful utility man. We got a big week from Skipper, going 7-for-14 with a double, 2 runs, 2 walks, and 2 RBIs. Dick Walker was just 2-for-11 after the All Star game, but both hits were triples and he picked up three more walks. Mead, Car, Barnett, and Mitchell didn't hit much at all, but with how poor the offense performed, we were actually a bit lucky to pick up two wins.

Looking Ahead
As mentioned, we have two off days to start the week, which could have been far better served somewhere else during the season. That's followed by a three games in two days against the Foresters. Very little has gone right for Cleveland this season, as they are just 28-56 and 25.5 games behind us. The next closest team to them (Montreal) is 6.5 games clear, and with a cellar dweller you would generally expect their All Star to be a pity one. That couldn't be further from the case, as Cal Howe was the easy choice for starting right fielder in the CA. Howe just turned 28, and is hitting an impressive .317/.375/.454 (128 OPS+) with 32 doubles, 5 triples, a homer, 9 steals, and 26 RBIs. Normally this would be a very enticing trade piece, but with how bad they are elsewhere, keeping Howe on the roster could be the best move. It would be better to move a breakout 32-year-old catcher like Mickey Patterson (.336, 1, 18), slugging outfielder Dan Fowler (.243, 7, 29) who has been pretty good at the plate, or team captain Ben Turner (8-9, 4.09, 42). Howe isn't young, but him, Bill Carr (.293, 1, 32), and Bob Mullins (.280, 2, 26, 3) aren't so old that there is a great sense of urgency to move them. We should be able to score a ton of runs in Cleveland, and anything less then a sweep could be costly in what should be a very exciting three team race to the finish.

Our road trip continues with the Sailors, where we'll play four games in three days. We finish this week with a double header and get the finale on Monday up in Philly, and we'll look to extend our 10 game lead over them. The Sailors have done well this season, a respectable 45-42 and they've gotten decent production from a lot of their players. On the mound, Paul Richardson (5-5, 2.65, 39), Doc Newell (11-6, 2.53, 55), and Karl Wallace (8-8, 3.37, 51) are an effective 1-2-3, and if Ray McCarthy (2-3, 2.48, 10) can finally stay healthy, they have a really deep rotation. The lineup is more stars and scrubs, headlined by All Stars Marion Boismenu (.323, 3, 28, 4), Joseph Mills (.324, 3, 34), and Woody Stone (.291, 1, 31). Harvey Brown (.298, 1, 41, 6) and Bob Smith (.286, 22, 6) have done alright, but Jim Beard (.233, 2, 36, 2) and waiver claims Ed B. White (.262, 2, 6) and Hal Roberts (.167, 2, 10, 3) aren't starting quality players for a contender. This will be a tough series, even with us taking four of five in Chicago, as the Sailors are a tough team who do really well at home.

Minor League Report
CF Leo Davis (A Lincoln Legislators): Most players struggle a bit after a promotion, but don't tell that to Leo Davis! The 24-year-old outfielder has been red hot since a promotion to Lincoln, upping his .272/.367/.405 (119 OPS+) line at San Jose to .395/.441/.547 (150 OPS+). Davis had an outstanding week, taking home the weekly award in the Heartland League, going 13-for-30 with 2 homers, 5 RBIs, 6 runs, 2 doubles, and 2 steals. In 18 games for the Legislators, Davis has already tallied 4 doubles, 3 homers, 8 steals, and 13 RBIs, worth 1.3 WAR before recording his 100th PA. The speedy outfielder stole 19 bases in San Jose, and even hit 11 doubles and 5 homers before the promotion. He's also looked really good in center up in A ball, already up to a 4.2 zone rating with a very impressive 1.093 efficiency. His blinding speed is easily his most impressive tool, but he also makes a lot of contact and will frequently find himself sprinting to second or third when he puts the ball in play. This gives him a very high floor, as we're stuck using guys like Orlin Yates who have good speed and defensive skills despite a lack of bat. Davis looks like he'll hit much better in the big leagues, as he's done well at most stops so far. His age may work against him as he was on the older side when drafted, and he's already eligible for the Rule-5 draft. I'm not sure I want to protect him, but a strong end to the season may force my hand.

1B Norm Anderson (A Lincoln Legislators): Despite just one career start before this season, Norm Anderson has done nothing but impress. He started the season in San Jose despite just 46 at bats in C ball, and after putting up a 191 WRC+ in 28 games, he's mashing up in A ball. The 20-year-old first basemen is hitting an impressive .393/.458/.560 (157 OPS+) with 3 doubles, 3 homers, and 22 RBIs through 96 trips to the plate. An imposing 6'3'' lefty who lasted until the 22nd Round of the 1941 draft, all it seems Norm Anderson does is hit the ball hard. He doesn't have much pop and he won't wow you with the bat, but it's hard to ignore the results. It's really came out of nowhere, as his .393 average right now is just 7 points lower then his average as a senior at Enmaus. I've made the decision to force him to start at first, and since our only two other first base prospects are the outspoken 23-year-old Adolph Jacobson and 19-year-old Billy Bigger and his .248 average in La Crosse, there really is nothing standing in Anderson's way. Yes, the 36-year-old Dick Walker never gets injured and could potentially pull a Dave Trowbridge, and the 32-year-old Ray Ford is in the Air Force and will step right back into the lineup when he returns, but neither of them can pay forever. I know the chances of Anderson becoming a big league player is very low, but if you can hit like this, there's no reason to keep you on the bench.