[ayaghmour2]

Weekly Record: 3-3
Seasonal Record: 67-44 (2nd, 4 GB)
Stars of the Week
Hank Barnett : 24 AB, 8 H, 2 HR, 5 RBI, .333 AVG, .985 OPS
Clark Car : 23 AB, 10 H, 0 HR, 1 RBI, .435 AVG, .958 OPS
Joe Brown : 1 Win, 9.0 IP, 0 BB, 6 K, 0.00 ERA

Schedule
8-11: Loss vs Foresters (3-1)
8-12: Win vs Foresters (0-6)
8-13: Loss vs Foresters (8-7)
8-14: Win vs Foresters (1-2)
8-15: Loss vs Wolves (3-2)
8-15: Win vs Wolves (0-4)

Recap
Not at all what we wanted... Despite playing at home, we split with both the Foresters and Wolves, and since the Cannons had a great week, our deficit doubled to four games. We do play them this week, which can help cut the deficit, but we have to stop losing winnable games. I also don't like the way we won the games, as they were either shutouts or one-run games. We allowed just a single run in our three wins, but gave up 14 in the three losses. We've got a bit more then a month left in the season, a nd we're in need of a hot streak to stay in the pennant race. Rich Langton is now healthy, but since he hasn't played in nearly two months, he'll head to Milwaukee for rehab along with Frank Crawford. Langton only got in 40 games, but he was hitting an impressive .293/.386/.459 (144 OPS+) with 10 doubles, 3 triples, 2 homers, 3 steals, and 24 RBIs with twice as many walks (20) as strikeouts (8). I can see Don Homer already sweating, knowing his days on the roster are coming to a close.

Discounting Art White's start in Cleveland, we actually pitched really well this week. Not sure why White struggled so much, allowing 9 hits and 8 runs with 4 walks and a strikeout in 6.1 innings pitched. We got much better outings from Johnnie Jones, who lost to the Foresters and shutout the Wolves. Against Cleveland we couldn't score for him, as he allowed just 3 runs, 9 hits, and 3 walks with 2 strikeouts in a complete game. He then tossed a 6-hit shutout with a single strikeout in our 4-0 win over the Wolves. Jones hasn't had a great run of late, but he's still 14-5 with a 2.56 ERA (134 ERA+), 1.23 WHIP, 78 walks, and 75 strikeouts. We got a better outing from Joe Brown, who tossed a 3-hit shutout with 6 strikeouts. Brown is red hot, and has now thrown three consecutive shutouts and eight of his last nine starts have seen just one earned run or fewer. Our vets pitched well too, as Jim Lonardo had a much needed complete game win. Lonardo allowed 7 hits, a run, and a walk with 2 strikeouts. Dick Lyons didn't get the win, but went 8 strong with 6 hits, 3 runs (2 earned), and 2 walks. Discounting the White start, our other five each allowed 3 or fewer runs, which generally leads to more then just three wins on the week.

The bats let us down, but our center field duo was surprisingly effective. Orlin Yates has started to catch fire, going 5-for-13 with a triple, homer, walk, steal, and 2 RBIs. Yates has been elite in August, slashing .375/.423/.708 (224 OPS+) in August to raise his season line to .247/.320/.326 (87 OPS+) with 9 doubles, 3 triples, 2 homers, 6 steals, and 30 RBIs. Dan Fowler picked up his first hits in a Cougar uniform, 5-for-10 with a double, walk, 3 runs, and 2 RBIs. Hank Barnett at an impressive week, 8-for-24 with a double, 2 homers, 4 runs, and 5 RBIs. Clark Car tried to match that production, 10-for-23 with a double, 3 runs, 2 walks, and an RBI. We'll need more from Dick Walker, Billy Hunter, and Leo Mitchell, who struggled to do much of anything. The trio went just 11-for-63, although Hunter did hit his first FABL homer since 1941. We have one of our toughest weeks coming up, and based on how this one went, I'm not really too optimistic.

Looking Ahead
It's time to get real! This crazy week starts with two against the Wolves, who are closer to us (3 GB) then we are to the Cannons. Toronto is 63-46, and we'll have to deal with their two best starting pitchers. We'll start with Jimmy Gibbs (9-6, 1, 2.85, 35) before dealing with the always tough Joe Hancock (12-8, 2.84, 85) to finish off the four game set. It's gong to be hard to win either of these games, let alone both, and this is the "easy" part of the week. I don't expect much scoring here, as Chink Stickels (.211, 1, 35, 8), Charlie Artuso (.231, 2, 37, 3), and Ockie Holliday (.281, 2, 40) haven't hit much lately. Even Juan Pomales (.291, 2, 33, 10; 3-4, 1, 4.72, 13) has started to slow down, same with Mike Rollinson (.295, 2, 43, 2) and even Walt Pack (.277, 15, 59). Our bats will need to start heating up if we want to take this series, as we'll need the momentum when the Cannons come to town.

Cincinnati is the first in the FABL to reach 70 wins, and they've done it with just 39 losses. It is next to impossible to score on their rotation, and with four games, we'll have to deal with most of their top guys. We can't miss two of Butch Smith (16-6, 1.94, 77), Rufus Barrell II (14-6, 2.07, 113), and Vic Carroll (10-4, 2.38, 74) and Chris Clarke (9-10, 3.10, 52) has gone 3-2 with a 2.63 ERA (133 ERA+), 1.14 WHIP, 14 walks, and 20 strikeouts in 8 starts as a Cannon. The weak link is Roger Perry (8-6, 4.08, 1.40), and we're set to face him, but the crafty veteran is no stranger to strong outings. Offensively they're almost as good as us, and depending on how aggressive the Cannons want to be with Fred Galloway (.268, 2, 25, 2), he could lead their very deep lineup again. Sam Brown (.329, 3, 59, 3), Billy Dalton (.295, 10, 44), Chuck Adams (.265, 13, 59), and Adam Mullins (.327, 2, 39) are all excellent hitters, and they've now added Jack Cleaves (.279, 1, 22) to lengthen it even more. This is a make-or-break series for us, although not the Cannons, as even if we sweep them they could still hold first place over us. We need these wins desperately, as I'm not ready to punt to 1944. Injuries have sabotaged us and we were hit really hard with enlistments, but I still feel like our roster is the best. I want the race to go down to the wire, but after this week it may not be possible.

Just one more game in the week, and it will be hosting the Sailors for the first of a three game series. We are off to start next week, which will give us some much needed rest. The Sailors will be another tough test, as they are 59-55, but double digits out of first. The Sailors did subtract a bit, sending Paul Richardson (8-7, 2.85, 50) to Boston for a pick and the #100 prospect Frankie Gonnella. That's not the only reason their staff is weaker, as Doc Newell (11-6, 2.47, 59) is dealing with elbow tendinitis. This leaves just Karl Wallace (10-12, 3.07, 62) as a reliable option in their rotation, as it's hard to count on the always injured Ray McCarthy (3-5, 3.54, 16). We should be able to put runs up on them, and I think we'll be able to quite the lineup. There are a lot of threats, the biggest Joseph Mills, who has somehow managed to hit .311/.386/.478 (138 OPS+) with 29 doubles, 4 triples, 4 homers, and 50 RBIs. He walks (36) more then he strikes out (24), is on a 5 WAR pace, and owns an elite 159 WRC+. He has some help with Marion Boismenu (.320, 4, 36, 4), Harvey Brown (.291, 1, 49, 9), and Woody Stone (.295, 2, 46), but better staffs have done well keeping them in check. These home games are crucial, as our last three weeks of the season are spent on the road, and we can't afford any .500 or worse weeks as the season winds down.

Minor League Report
LF Huck Hanes (AAA Milwaukee Blues): With the injuries to Cliff Moss and Rich Langton, I did debate calling up Huck Hanes, but instead he stayed put in Milwaukee. He hasn't had the greatest season, but the 24-year-old put up his best week of the season, going 14-for-31 with 5 RBIs. This was good enough for Player of the Week, and his season line is now a bit below average .268/.330/.377 (96 OPS+) with 14 doubles, 4 triples, 7 homers, and 43 RBIs. A 4th Round selection in 1941, Hanes hit a bit better last season with the Blues, batting .303/.349/.371 (106 OPS+) with 11 doubles, 2 homers, and 31 RBIs. A bat first righty, Hanes isn't much of a defender, and even after 11 decent games in center, he didn't develop a position rating there. He's not quite big league ready, but Hanes does have a really strong bat, a potential .300 hitter with decent pop. He has great bat speed and hits the ball hard, but unless he can do it with more consistency, he may just be a pinch hitter. At times he ranked high in our prospect rankings, but he's now absent from the top 500. He's got some work to do before establishing himself as a future piece now, but I still have faith that we can get something out of him.

SS Dick Hamilton (B San Jose Cougars): It was a big game for Dick Hamilton against the Spokane Lumberjacks, but unfortunately for the Cougars, he had more then half their hits in a 3-2 14 inning loss. Hamilton went 5-for-7 with a double, and he was responsible for both of San Jose's runs, driving in and scoring one. Last year's 4th Rounder was ice cold in July, but he's been outstanding in 11 games this month. Hamilton has hit .396/.455/.604 (205 OPS+) with 3 doubles, 2 triples, a homer, steal, and 9 RBIs. This upped the almost 23-year-old's season line to .256/.364/.390 (117 OPS+) with 12 doubles, 3 triples, 9 homers, 4 steals, and 49 RBIs while worth a decent 2.8 wins above replacement in 90 games down in San Jose. He hasn't looked great at short, still above average, but not quite the top notch defense I'd hope for, so we've given him some time at first, second, and third as well. The Maryland State alum has shown some power this season, and he's improving his pitch selection. His discipline is his best offensive tool, as I don't see him every hitting for a high average. He has shown a knack for extra base hits, but he's struck out in 2/3rds of his games this season. He has the tools to start, but he's still very raw and will likely need more seasoning then most college bats.