[ayaghmour2]

Weekly Record: 2-3
Seasonal Record: 77-64 (3nd, 4 GB)
Stars of the Week
Leo Mitchell : 22 AB, 10 H, 1 HR, 5 RBI, .455 AVG, 1.069 OPS
Harry Mead : 17 AB, 7 H, 1 HR, 4 RBI, .412 AVG, 1.171 OPS
Ben Curtin : 1 Win, 1 Saves, 5.0 IP, 2 BB, 2 K, 0.00 ERA

Schedule
9-12: Win vs Kings (3-4)
9-13: Win vs Kings (0-4)
9-15: Loss at Kings (3-4)
9-16: Loss at Kings (6-9)
9-17: Loss at Kings (1-5)

Recap
We just cannot win road games. We swept the Kings at home, but we let them sweep us back in Brooklyn. After starting the season 24-13 (.648) on the road, we finished a game under .500 at 38-39 (.493). What makes things worse, is the Cannons beat up the Wolves, so if we didn't mysteriously suck on the road now, we would be closer then just four games back. With 13 games left, we're still technically alive, but I have next to zero faith in any sort of comeback, especially considering almost half (6) of those games come against the Cannons and Wolves. Technically, that could work into our favor if we beat them, but again, I don't think this second half Cougar team can beat two extremely talented squads. Since July 1st we're now just 27-41 and just 5-9 in September. At this point I just can't wait for the season to end, as this has easily been my most least enjoyable season at the helm of the Cougars.

Pitch counts continue to sabotage me, as yet again, Harry Parker is given a single digit pitch count. He made two "perfect" starts, but tallied just an inning and a third of action. It "worked" in our 4-0 win, but sabotaged us in our 5-1 loss. This more or less made it so Ken Matson and Angel Lopez got starts instead of one of the best pitchers in the game. Matson, however, pitched like an ace, tossing 6.2 shutout innings with 2 hits, a walk, and 3 strikeouts. Lopez, on the other hand, was abysmal, allowing 9 hits, 4 runs, and 2 walks with 3 strikeouts in just 3.2 innings pitched. I can't really blame him, as he should never have been pitching, but I continue to find ways to sabotage a team that has done far more then enough sabotage themselves.

Because of this weirdness, the only good start of the week went to Art White, who seems to be back on track. The veteran tossed a complete game victory with 7 hits, 3 runs (1 earned), 2 walks, and a strikeout. Dick Lyons had his second straight start with 4 or fewer innings and 6 or more runs, going 2.2 innings with 6 hits, 6 runs, and 2 walks. One more start like this and it may be the last of his career, but this is the same guy who had a sub 2.50 ERA in each of our first four months of the season. Billy Riley continues to have no luck as a Cougar, getting walked off by the useless Otto Deal's (.243, 2, 41) lucky double with one out in the ninth. Riley allowed 10 hits and 4 runs with a strikeout to drop to 1-6 with a 4.12 ERA (84 ERA+) as a Cougar. His luck has been so bad, that his FIP- matches his ERA+, and he boasts an elite 4.8 K/BB. It hasn't mattered much, as Riley has left plenty to be desired in a Cougar uniform. Starters Rusty Petrick and Mike Murphy both struggled in the pen, but with Lyons' issues, Murphy will get a start this week. He allowed 3 hits and a run with a strikeout in an inning and a third. Petrick faired far worse, allowing 5 hits, 3 runs, and 4 walks in 4.1 innings pitched while failing to record a single strikeout. This was his first appearance all season where he pitched more then an inning and did not strike out a single hitter. Ben Curtin shook off his rough stretch, making three appearances with a win and save. He threw 5 hitless innings with a pair of walks and strikeouts. With no off days after the 20th, our pitching will be tested, and without a solid arm behind Parker and White, we are going to need plenty of luck.

At the plate, Skipper Schneider's bat has gone ice cold, adding another poor week by going just 2-for-20 with a run scored and driven in. Our talented young shortstop hit just .216/.236/.304 (54 OPS+) in August before continuing the slump with a .250/.264/.308 (63 OPS+) line in September. His glove more then makes up for it, as he's still been worth a CA best 6.1 WAR despite his now .267/.305/.355 (89 OPS+) season line. Dick Walker has also been in a dreadful slump, going 3-for-20 with 3 walks, a triple, run, and RBI. Walker's season line has dropped to .207/.371/.297 (92 OPS+) and his August (.168/.288/.316, 73) and September (.155/.246/.207, 30) lines are just as bad as Skipper's. These are two very important members of our lineup, and their complete lack of production has made it extremely hard to win games.

On the other end, Harry Mead has been red hot, going 7-for-17 with a double, homer, 4 walks, 4 RBIs, and 5 runs scored. Mead has slashed an elite .405/.468/.667 (222 OPS+) in September, good for a 241 WRC+. In full, the backstop has slashed .324/.374/.472 (141 OPS+) with 38 doubles, 2 triples, 7 homers, and 58 RBIs. Leo Mitchell has started to separate from Marion Boismenu, taking the batting title lead by 11 points after going 10-for-22 with a homer, 3 runs, and 5 RBIs. My vote for the CA Whitney is now hitting an impressive .370/.404/.492 (156 OPS+) with 26 doubles, 14 homers, and 84 RBIs. He was also somewhat surprisingly the Player of the Week, as Mead had arguably the better seven days. Cliff Moss had a strong week as well, going 5-for-14 with 2 walks, a homer, and 2 RBIs. Billy Hunter went 6-for-15 with a steal and two doubles, runs, and RBIs. Hunter has now started 100 games for the first time since 1939 while hitting an excellent .297/.354/.433 (125 OPS+) with 23 doubles, 8 homers, 6 steals, and 50 RBIs. If we can get a better showing from Hank Barnett (5-19, 2B, RBI, 3 R), we'll be in good shape, but our lineup has too many holes right now, and our staff needs far more help then they've been able to provide.

Looking Ahead
We'll get two days of rest and relaxation before finishing off our season at home. With four series left, each team we host will be the last time we face them in 1944. Lucky for us, those four include the three other teams with a winning record, really making things difficult for us to finish the season. At 77 wins, we're all but guaranteed to win fewer then our 86 wins last year, as 9-4 seems very unlikely. First stop is the Sailors, who are the lowest ranked team still mathematically eliminated, nine games behind the Wolves and Cannons and 5 games behind us. At 72-69, they are also unlikely to surpass their 82 wins from last year, and they've been without ace Doc Newell (10-12, 2.87, 79) since the end of August. Interesting enough, they've brought up veteran William Jones (1-0, 2.53, 1) for the final month, who picked up a complete game win in his first FABL start since 1941. Karl Wallace's (14-9, 3.90, 54) regression has limited the effectiveness of their rotation, but the future looks good for 23-year-old rookie Win Lewis (2-4, 2.39, 35). He's likely to lead the next generation of Sailors, and they're hoping 24-year-old Art Hull (0-2, 3.94, 14) will follow in his footsteps. They haven't added any youngsters to the lineup, but Frank Covarrubias (.314, 2, 46, 5) continues to impress ahead of Marion Boismenu (.359, 3, 67, 5) and Joseph Mills (.252, 9, 53). A bad showing in this series effectively ends our season, as we'll need momentum before our next two series.

Those would be against the Cannons and the Wolves, as we end this week one of the leaders before starting the following week with the other. We'll get the Cannons on the weekend, one game on Saturday and our final double header of the season on Sunday. At 81-60, the Cannons erased a 17.5 game deficit as they look to hold onto a chance to repeat as champions. Veterans Tom Barrell (9-8, 3.22, 33) and Rabbit Day (17-9, 3.22, 67) have been surprisingly effective behind co-aces Butch Smith (17-9, 1, 2.19, 107) and Chris Clarke (11-9, 1, 2.39, 68). Day in particular has really helped since coming over with Tom Bird (.332, 15, 62), going 4-1 with a 2.62 ERA (134 ERA+) and 1.45 WHIP in 7 starts back in a Cannon uniform. Not only do the Cannons allow the fewest amount of runs, but they also score the most, usually a foolproof strategy for winning a pennant. Chuck Adams (.295, 21, 99) is trying to slug his way to a Whitney, Al Wheeler (.228, 18, 71) has looked good since coming over from the Chiefs, and Bob Griffith (.293, 5, 57, 8) and Sam Brown (.346, 9, 54) continue to get the Cannons starting off strong. Denny Andrews (.257, 4, 28) is back and now in the 6th spot, as the Cannons compose the most effective lineup in the game. I really think they'll sweep right through us on their way to a pennant repeat, but I'll hold off hope until that dreaded "e-" proceeds our name in the standings.

Minor League Report
RF Bill Rich (AAA Milwaukee Blues): He has just a week left in Milwaukee before a likely big league debut, and Rich made the most of it. The Quincy native went 14-for-29 with 2 doubles, a triple, homer, steal, and 5 RBIs. He's surprisingly been better in AAA then AA, upping his line from .283/.335/.357 (87 OPS+) to .301/.379/.413 (127 OPS+). Between the two levels he has 21 doubles, 5 triples, 5 homers, 6 steals, and 62 RBIs. Now 25, Rich couldn't match his 18 homers in 1943, but I never quite expected him to maintain that. He's more of a contact hitter, who should hit for a high average, but he's not the most disciplined hitter. His defense will hold him back, as the former center fielder now really only profiles in a corner, and even there he's not that great. He is quick, but his range is limited. Rich could be a decent bench bat, but he'll get a shot to earn his way onto a big league bench.

SS George Sutterfield (AA Mobile Commodores): It was a huge week for the first pick of the last June draft, as George Sutterfield took home one of the first of hopefully many Player of the Weeks. The 22-year-olf went 18-for-30 with 2 doubles, 4 steals, and 6 RBIs. Currently ranked 5th in our system and 58th overall, Sutterfield spent just 17 games in Lincoln before a promotion up to Mobile, and he probably could be raking up in Milwaukee. In just 44 games, Sutterfield has been worth an impressive 3 WAR with a .357/.426/.429 (131 OPS+) line. He has a combined 9 doubles, 5 triples, a homer, 6 steals, and 21 RBIs in 61 games since draft day. A talented defender, he also has an elite 18.2 zone rating and 1.159 efficiency in 544.1 innings at short. The hard working 22-year-old has been outstanding so far, featuring an excellent swing with strong hands, hitting the ball up the middle while using his speed to take extra bases when needed. He won't hit many homers, but with his raw hit tool, excellent speed, and tremendous defense, it won't matter too much. He's shown strong discipline too, walking (19) a bit more then he struck out (16) as a Commodore. He has all the tools to be a star, and he could end up starting in the FABL as early as next season. I'll make room for him wherever I can, but he's still a bit behind Jim Dickinson, and I can't see him surpassing Skipper. I may start to give him time at second, as I'm sure Billy Hunter will miss significant time next season.