[ayaghmour2]

Weekly Record: 2-6
Seasonal Record: 53-31 (1st, 6 GA)
Stars of the Week
Dick Walker : 31 AB, 12 H, 0 HR, 3 RBI, .387 AVG, .956 OPS
Cliff Moss : 25 AB, 9 H, 0 HR, 2 RBI, .360 AVG, .928 OPS
Leo Mitchell : 31 AB, 8 H, 1 HR, 6 RBI, .258 AVG, .738 OPS

Schedule
7-4: Loss at Foresters (2-5)
7-4: Loss at Foresters (1-2)
7-5: Win at Foresters (7-5)
7-6: Win at Foresters (5-3)
7-7: Loss at Sailors (3-6)
7-8: Loss at Sailors (1-2)
7-9: Loss at Sailors (0-3)
7-9: Loss at Sailors (5-10)

Recap
Oh man... Thank God for the All Star break! After a near perfect first two plus months of baseball, the Chicago Cougars have lost their fight. We have lost 13 of our last 16 games, with nearly half of our losses coming since June 25th. Despite all of this, we still have a 6 game lead over the Wolves and a 7 game lead over the Sailors, but we have to turn things around ASAP. There is some good news, as nearly all our draft picks have signed. 1st Rounder Bert Rogers (73rd) and 4th Rounder George Sutterfield (88th) both rank in the top 100, followed by 4th Rounder Mike Thorpe (180th), 7th Rounder Buddy Brumbaugh (261st), 3rd Rounder Harry Austin (338th), and 5th Rounder Lonnie Sis (454th). We also got a ton of representation at the All-Star game, as expected, with yet again seven Cougars heading to the Midsummer Classic. Harry Parker (2nd), Ben Curtin (2nd), Harry Mead (2nd), Hank Barnett (7th), and Leo Mitchell (5th) all won their respective votes while Art White (4th) and Skipper Schneider (4th) made the game as reserves. Plenty of former Cougars joined them, including shocks like Jonah Brown (1st) and Dan Everett (1st), Del Burns (1st), Johnny McDowell (2nd), Hal Wood (1st), and Chink Stickels (2nd).

Art White and Mike Murphy have gone full speed ahead into a brick wall, and while I didn't expect them to keep up their excellent pace, I would have preferred for them not to falter at the same time. Art might have picked up one of the two wins, but it wasn't a good start and his second was quite honestly pathetic. In the win, he did go the distance, so that's cool, but it came with 11 hits, 5 runs (4 earned), and not a single walk or strikeout. The loss saw a walk, but in just 3.2 innings as the Sailors put on 12 hits and 7 runs (6 earned) on the veteran lefty. Since White's first loss of the season, his ERA has shot up from 1.89 to 2.89 (118 ERA+), and he's now 11-4 with a 1.26 WHIP, 38 walks, and 21 strikeouts. Murphy, on the other hand, made just one start, allowing 10 hits and 6 runs with a walk in 5.2 innings pitched. Since becoming 5-1 on June 16th, his ERA has skyrocketed to 3.31 (103 ERA+) and he's lost each of his last three decisions. I'm not quite ready to panic, but we have too much of a lead to stand pat if things start to unravel. The last thing I want is to pull a Mets, and let the Wolves, Sailors, or Cannons fill the role of the Braves.

Harry Parker lost both of his starts, and the unlucky All Star game starter has only received a single run of support in his last three starts. He lost to the Foresters, again, 2-1, with just 5 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks, and 4 strikeouts in 8 innings. We then got shutout by the Sailors, as Parker allowed 8 hits, 3 runs, a walk, and 3 strikeouts. The 29-year-old headliner for the Allen leads the league at the midway point in both ERA (1.96) and strikeouts (68), but his 9 wins are two short of his teammate Art White. Parker also leads the league in WAR (4.3), K/BB (2.5), WHIP (0.97), FIP (2.31), ERA+ (174), rWAR (4.8), BABIP (.237), and opponent average (.210). The greatest sign has been his ability to complete games, as he hasn't need relief in any of his last five starts. I still think the best thing is he allowed his 2nd homer of the season in his 17th start. This is the same guy who allowed 30 or more homers in a pair of 30 start seasons, and in his four 200+ inning seasons his previous low was just 23. Not every player is in the top 20 pitchers, as some teams keep their military guys in the minors, but Parker currently ranks 5th and is behind just Ed Bowman for active pitchers. I can't wait until he's the #4 in our rotation, behind Pete Papenfus, Donnie Jones, and Duke Bybee, so I really want him to when the Allen this year as he probably won't get many more chances.

The rest of the pitching wasn't terrible, but of course in a six loss week, there isn't much overall success. Rusty Petrick's string of victories ended, but it was the offense fault, not his, even if he was walked off with two outs in the ninth. Petrick allowed just 4 hits, 2 runs, and 3 walks with 7 strikeouts. He's allowed three or less runs in each of his last three starts, and his 5.6 K/9 is best in the CA, with his 65 strikeouts trailing only Parker. There are also no walls in Dick Lyons' way, as he continues to march along. The 44-year-old went 6 innings in Cleveland with 5 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks, and a strikeout. The ageless beauty is now 6-5 with a 2.37 ERA (144 ERA+), 1.15 WHIP, 15 walks, and 7 strikeouts. Ken Matson made a start and a relief appearance, with the relief outing much better. He tossed an inning and a third of perfect ball while adding a strikeout. The start didn't go so well, charged with 10 hits, 5 runs (3 earned), and 7 walks with 3 strikeouts in 6.1 innings pitched. All three pen members allowed a run, and Merritt Thomas had the roughest of his outings. He allowed 3 hits, 2 runs, and a walk in 2.2 innings split between 3 games. Ben Curtin tossed a perfect frame on the 4th, and then picked up a 3 inning save on the 6th. In that one he allowed 3 hits and a run, but the 38-year-old is now 10-1 with 9 saves, a 1.19 ERA (285 ERA+), 1.04 WHIP, 13 walks, and 10 strikeouts in 60.1 innings pitched. Lyn Trease allowed his first run of the season, making a 3.1 inning relief outing with 2 hits, a walk, and a strikeout. The staff could use some rest, but this week was all on the offense.

We didn't hit much this week, but Dick Walker put together a strong showing. He went 12-for-31 with a double, triple, steal, 3 RBIs, 6 runs, and 5 walks. Cliff Moss got back on track, going 9-for-25 with 3 doubles, 4 runs, 4 walks, and 2 RBIs. Leo Mitchell had the lowest weekly average of the season, hitting just .258, dropping his season line to .383, just two points above the Sailor's Marion Boismenu. Mitchell did have a double, homer, 3 runs, 5 walks, and 6 RBIs, leading the league in average, RBIs (55), and tied for the homer lead with Hal Reynolds of the Kings. On the flipside, Hank Barnett had an awful week, just 5-for-35 with a pair of runs and RBIs. Harry Mead came back down to earth, just 5-for-22 with a double, RBI, and two runs scored. We still have the highest scoring offense in the CA, as well as leading nearly every other category, but they'll need to do way better after the quick break.

Looking Ahead
The All Star Game takes place on the 11th, and then we don't play until the weekend. Orlin Yates is dealing with a sore elbow, and he picked the right time for it, as if we had a full slate of games I'd stick him on the IL and start the Don Lee era. Instead, Yates has the week to get healthy, because I'd prefer for Lee to play every day and not make his big league debut after a five day layoff. Yates will also be aided by the fact that we're off next Monday and Tuesday as well. The only games until the 19th will be on the weekend, where we take on the Kings for three in Brooklyn. On paper, this should be a perfect way to start back up, as the Kings are 33-49 and tied with the Saints for last. When you consider our 19 game lead and the fact that we'll line up with Harry Parker, Art White, and Dick Lyons, I really like our chances. Of course, the Kings also get to reset their rotation, and that means we'll get Jim Kenny (9-10, 3.13, 40), Jim Crawford (7-10, 4.04, 21), and Bill McGraw (3-6, 3.31, 48) to kickoff the second half. None of them will join Harry Parker and Art White at the All Star game, as the Kings only representative is 33-year-old Vernon Ruch. Ruch has made 321 trips to the plate, already a personal best since his debut back in 1937. Last year he hit well in a part-time role, slashing .277/.367/.383 (125 OPS+) while worth 2.6 WAR In 102 games. He took advantage of the starting role that the war afforded him, and he has an impressive 143 WRC+ to go with a .293/.400/.419 (128 OPS+) batting line. Ruch matched his 18 doubles from last season, while setting new bests in triples (2), homers (4), RBIs (35), and walks (48). It's nice to see the hardworking journeyman have success for a team with a lot of recent struggles, but perhaps "The Rincon Rifle" would have been a better choice. 24-year-old Orie Martinez is hitting an impressive .304/.370/.467 (132 OPS+) with 19 doubles, 2 triples, 7 homers, and 36 RBIs. Of course, at 24 he has plenty of other opportunities to represent the Kings, so perhaps the rookie is happy his corner outfield mentor got the call this year instead. Jake Shadoan (.341, 1, 23, 8) did have an outside chance, but that trio is about all there is to like about the Kings lineup.

We really need these wins and on paper this should be a sweep, but baseball has a funny way of evening out. Based on how it started, it's unfortunate how the first half ended, but we are matching our expected win record and a lot of our stats are starting to normalize. Still great, but not quite blowing everyone out of the water. Plus we have six more home games then road games left, and are struggles came on the road where we still have an impressive 26-19 (.577) record. The last 13 games of our season come in Chicago, where we are an impressive 27-12 (.692), and historically we preform better in Chi-Town. We haven't had a home winning percentage below .597 since 1939, which would still be first in the league. Even with the recent stumble, we still rank 1st in every category except average (2nd, .272), extra base hits (4th, 198), batting strikeouts (4th, 241), steals (2nd, 38), base running (4th, +12.7), starter's ERA (2nd, 3.00), hits allowed (3rd, 716), homers allowed (2nd, 24), walks (3rd, 233), and strikeouts (4th, 240). Add in the front runner for both the Whitney and the Allen, and it's hard to be anything but happy about how our season started.

Minor League Report
C Gene Lee (AAA Milwaukee Blues): With all the focus on teammate Don Lee, the unrelated Gene Lee's offensive season has gone under the radar. This week the league took notice, naming the 24-year-old catcher the Player of the Week in the Century League. Lee went 10-for-22 with a homer, 4 runs, and 7 RBIs. This increased his season line to .302/.403/.413 (130 OPS+) with 10 doubles, 5 homers, and 39 RBIs with a strong 37-to-13 walk-to-strikeout ratio. A leader on a well oiled 53-17 team, he's trying to hit himself to a big league debut, and as the third catcher on the 40-man roster, all he has to do is stay healthy to make his dream a reality. The 1938 19th Round Pick has defied odds by making it to AAA regardless, and he's taken advantage of the callups around him. He's not a great defender, but his bat is big league ready.

RHP Mike Thorpe (AA Mobile Commodores): He hasn't even pitched a minor league inning, Mike Thorpe has a green arrow all the way up to Chicago, and he ranks as the 7th best starting pitcher in terms of current ratings. That's right behind Art White and right in front of Johnnie Jones. In fact, Clyde Meyer would elevate him all the way up to the three spot, ahead of Lyons, Murphy, Petrick, and Matson. This really makes things interesting, as we basically got a 21-year-old ready to go big league starter without having to give anything up. Now I'm not ready to give Thorpe starts in Chicago, but if he mows down hitters in the farm, and one or more of our rotation members start to struggle, we could see Thorpe get important starts in a pennant race.

LF Henry DeVeaux (B San Jose Cougars): Things have not gone great to start the the career of our highest selected player in the 1942 draft, but things are finally starting to click for Henry DeVeaux. After batting just .205/.300/.285 (69 OPS+) in 104 games for the Cougars last season, the now 24-year-old has completely turned things around. He hit .303/.371/.439 (131 OPS+) in 262 PAs, and with all the new outfielders in our system, he'll make the trip up to Lincoln. DeVeaux is also hitting a lot more extra base hits, with 10 doubles, 6 triples, and 3 homers to go with 6 steals and 34 RBIs. He still is striking out a lot, with 48 already, but it's far better then his 111 last season. A natural center fielder, he's put up excellent numbers in left, but he's likely to see some time in all three outfield spots in Lincoln. He profiles more as a bench player then an every day guy, but he's shown a nice hit tool and he has the speed to cover a ton of ground on the grass. I had high hopes for him at one point, but I don't see him developing into an every day player anymore.