[ayaghmour2]

Weekly Record: 4-3
Seasonal Record: 36-25 (3rd, 2.5 GB)
Stars of the Week
Dick Walker : 29 AB, 11 H, 2 HR, 4 RBI, .379 AVG, 1.075 OPS
Art White : 2 Wins, 17.2 IP, 6 BB, 6 K, 2.04 ERA
Skipper Schneider : 31 AB, 9 H, 1 HR, 2 RBI, .290 AVG, .796 OPS

Schedule
6-12: Loss vs Saints (8-2)
6-13: Win vs Saints (2-3)
6-14: Loss vs Saints (8-5)
6-15: Win at Kings (5-2)
6-16: Win at Kings (8-5)
6-17: Loss at Kings (2-10)
6-17: Win at Kings (3-2)

Recap
No news this week is bigger then the sale of the Cougars, as textile mogul from Peoria Mackenzie "Mack" Dalmer purchased the team from Ben Hunter, who's health has started to fail him. The 82-year-old has been living in Phoenix, and decided it was time to let go of the team he's owned since 1901. Dalmer stated that "[he's] not particularly knowledgeable about baseball," and that he will "let the baseball folks hired by Mr. Hunter [to] continue to do their jobs without my butting in." I wouldn't by that, as it's hard o get an owner worse then Dalmer. Sure, Hunter was very frugal, but hands off, understanding, and liked to win. Dalmer, on the other hand, is both demanding and controlling, and only cares about profit. Hunter already decimated our budget, dropping from $1.2 million in 1943 to the $750,000 this year, and I imagine it's only going to get lower. This couldn't have come at a worse time, as we're going to have to pay Papenfus, Brown, the Jones Brothers, Montes, Ford, and Car, which is going to push us way past our current budget.

We just can't beat the Saints... Sure, we had the two game sweep last week, but guess what? Another series loss! The only win was of the one run variety, as the piled on 8 runs in both of their wins. We had much more success in Brooklyn, taking three of four from the Kings. The Wolves and Cannons didn't fair any better then we did, so we remained 2.5 games out and in third. We also sustained our first real injury, as Jimmie James will hit the IL with a bone bruise on his knee. He's expected to miss 7 to 8 weeks, making it even harder to find someone to pay second base. The almost 27-year-old hasn't produced much with the bat, hitting .269/.291/.327 (76 OPS+) with 6 doubles and 7 RBIs. I really didn't know who I wanted to call up to replace him. I debated on bringing up another top 25 prospect, George Sutterfield, but I want to at least work him out at second first. Ranked #24, our 4th Rounder from last season was hitting .275/.330/.400 (106 OPS+) with 13 doubles, 3 triples, 2 homers, 30 RBIs, and 4 steals. I later settled on Steve Rosko, our 7th Rounder from 1940. Rosko has manned second for Milwaukee, slashing .242/.343/.376 (103 OPS+) with 6 doubles, 3 triples, 3 homers, and 23 RBIs. Rosko isn't the greatest hitter, but he's a versatile defender with a great eye at the plate. He'll fill in off the bench, but will get a few starts while James is hurt.

He'll join a lineup that has continued to struggle, as our formerly excellent outfield of Don Lee, Cliff Moss, and Rich Langton didn't hit much at all. The trio went 12-for-64, with Langton and Lee adding a double and steal. Dick Walker tried to make up for it, as he didn't stop after 2,500, going 11-for-29 with a double, 2 steals, 2 homers, 4 runs, 4 walks, and 4 RBIs. Backup catcher Mike Taylor hit his first homer of the season and went 3-for-10 with 3 RBIs. Ollie Page had to fill in for Jimmie James, and managed to go 4-for-11 with a double, run, 3 walks, and 3 RBIs. It is limited time, but he's hit a strong .333/.438/.444 (151 OPS+) with 3 doubles and 6 RBIs in 32 trips to the plate. He'll start at second at least for next week, but the position will continue to be a revolving door. Shortstop, is always locked down, as Skipper hit well again this week. He went 9-for-31 with a double, triple, homer, walk, 2 RBIs, and 5 runs scored. He's now on an 11 WAR pace, hitting .265/.343/.387 (107 OPS+) with 17 doubles, 3 triples, 2 homers, 7 steals, and 25 RBIs with an outstanding 29-to-7 walk-to-strikeout ratio. He's accumulated an absurd 22.6 zone rating in just 61 games, and his 1.214 efficiency is almost 100 points higher then his career high 1.132 from last season. We still can't hit with any consistency, but the bigger worry is our 3-8 record against Montreal, that doesn't seem likely to improve any time soon.

Art White and Billy Riley both started two games this week, but they couldn't have gone much different. White was effective, allowing 2 runs and 3 walks with 3 strikeouts in each of the starts. He went all nine with 10 hits against the Saints, but left an out before a second complete game in Brooklyn. He allowed 14 hits and threw 142 pitches, before Ben Curtin got the final out for his 8th save. Riley completely fell apart, as both the Saints and Kings had no trouble with him. He allowed 8 hits, 6 runs, and 2 walks with a strikeout in 6 innings against the Saints, before the Kings piled on 9 hits, 8 runs, and 3 walks with another strikeout in 5.1 innings pitched. Riley's ERA jumped from 2.90 to 3.84 (95 ERA+) as he dropped to 7-4 on the season. George Oddo had a rough start too, as the Saints piled on 10 hits, 6 runs, and 2 walks with 2 strikeouts in 6 innings pitched. Rusty Petrick was a little unlucky, as four of his five runs were unearned, but he still managed to finish off a complete game victory. He recorded 8 hits, 5 walks, and 7 strikeouts to even his record at 5-5. Harry Parker dominated the Kings, two outs away from a complete game win with 5 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks, and 8 strikeouts. Parker hasn't been his Allen Award winning self this season, but his 3.43 ERA (106 ERA+) and 1.13 WHIP aren't too bad. The pen was roughed up a bit, as Ken Matson allowed 9 hits, 2 runs, and a walk with 2 strikeouts in 5.2 innings pitched. Merritt Thomas faired worse, charged with 5 hits, 4 runs, and 2 walks in just 3 innings pitched. We didn't pitch nearly as well as we have lately, but if we can keep winning, a few high scoring games aren't all that bad.

The draft pool was officially released as well, and if the mock is to believed, we captured three first round talents in Carl Clark (1.4), Johnny Peters (1.5), and Alex O'Dailey (1.13). Pat Todd (2.15) checks in on the 2nd Round, Jim Mako (4.1) in the 4th, and both Clyde Parker (5.14) and Jim Smith (5.16) in the 5th. The absence of Dutch Yoak is a little concerning, but just the mock contains just six pitchers and none in the first round. He was perfect yet again this season, and Yoak will go down as one of the most dominant prep pitchers the game has seen.

Looking Ahead
Yay, more Saints! Lucky it is just one game in Chicago, that will give the Saints either there 32nd win (most likely) or loss. While the top three teams are withing 3 games of each other, the Saints sit 8 behind the Wolves and leading the second division. We'll get Ed Baker (5-5, 4.24, 10), who we beat on the 13th. He allowed 9 hits, 3 runs (2 earned), and 4 walks in 7.2 innings pitched. This is a must win for us, but chances are Baker will outduel Oddo, and we'll drop yet another game to Montreal.

We quickly hit the road and return to the Big Apple for three with the Stars. New York was expected by many to be a potential first division team by many, but very little has gone right for New York. At 25-38, they are just a game above the Foresters for the bottom spot in the association. They've actually pitched well despite poor defense, as their staff 3.43 FIP is best in the CA. Eli Panneton (8-5, 2.82, 41) and Dixie Lee (6-5, 2.93, 37) have been nothing short of elite, but they haven't gotten many quality starts after Ed Cornett (3-7, 3.64, 35). Johnny Cook (2-2, 3.16, 13) and Eddie Bloom (2-1, 2.09, 7) have both gotten starts after pitching well in the pen, but Cook has sandwiched a shutout with 6-run outings. They can hit a bit, with Howie Smith (.331, 4, 50) and Chick MacKnight (.274, 2, 13) putting together excellent seasons. Rookie Bill Grove (.353, 3) had a nice debut week and they're hoping he can develop into a long term piece at the hot corner. He ranks 4th in their system and 47th overall, and at 22 he has loads of potential. We've done well against the Stars so far, so even if we slip up against the Saints, we can use this series to right the ship.

We finish the week back at home, hosting the Kings for three before an of day to start the next week. Brooklyn is in 6th and a game and a half above the Stars, now 27-37 after we took three of four from them at Kings County Park. Former Cougar Pinch Lenhart (1-5, 5, 1.88, 24) finally picked up his first win as his ERA dropped below 2 in 43 innings pitched, but he pitched in two losses against us. We lost to Bill McGraw (6-3, 3.25, 44), who I'd love to avoid this time instead of Ike O'Donnell (3-6, 4.54, 36), who the Stars bested before we came to town. Their lineup is tough to match, as the only hitters who aren't all that scary are Bill Phelps (.259, 2, 26, 4) and Otto Deal (.189, 12), though even the 31-year-old career minor leaguer Phelps has a respectable 94 WRC+ in his first season as a big leaguer. This has the makings of a huge week for us, as we might be able to leap frog the Cannons and/or Wolves who play a four game series in Cincinnati.

Minor League Report
RHP Harry MacRae (AA Mobile Commodores): MacRae was off to a slow start this season, entering the week with a very high 5.49 ERA. He got two starts against the Memphis Excelsiors, and the former 7th Rounder had no trouble with their lineup. He started the week with a 3-hit shutout with a walk and strikeout, and then followed that up with a second complete game win. He allowed 8 hits, 3 runs (1 earned), and a walk with 3 strikeouts. This improved MacRae to 5-5 in 10 starts with a 4.35 ERA (95 ERA+), 1.42 WHIP, 17 walks, and 29 strikeouts. This season hasn't gone anything like last year, where he was 15-9 with a 2.84 ERA (140 ERA+), 1.25 WHIP, 60 walks, and 72 strikeouts in 24 starts for the Commodores. The two pitch pitcher is throwing a bit harder this season, up to 91-93 with his fastball. His curve is the better pitch, and he locates it very well, and his 1.9 BB/9 is the best of his young career. This may be the last season MacRae gets regular starts, as we have plenty of more exciting pitchers coming back, but this could open up a spot for him in the big league bullpen. I don't think Merritt Thomas will be back next year, and Ben Curtin doesn't have too many seasons left in him. He's got the stuff to be a stopper, and the endurance to pitch frequently, and he could end up challenging Bill Mendine's save record.

LHP Howie Sharp (A Lincoln Legislators): With a lack of pitching depth in A ball, Howie Sharp made a few starts there last season (which didn't go well) and returned after a trio of starts in San Jose. Those three went great, as Sharp was 2-1 with a 0.87 ERA (433 ERA+), 1.02 WHIP, 4 walks, and 20 strikeouts in 20.2 innings pitched. Three of his first four starts with the Legislators went well, but the fifth was tremendous. Last year's 11th Rounder dominated the Springfield Hustlers, tossing a 4-hit, 2-walk shutout with 3 punchouts to improve to 2-1 with Lincoln. His 2.37 ERA (171 ERA+) is superb, and while he's walked (13) the same amount of hitters as he's struck out in 38 innings at this stop, he's looked pretty good. Sharp is throwing a bit harder this season, as his fastball is up to 86-88, but his stuff as a whole isn't that great. He does use the zone well, and should end up with average control, but without an out pitch he'll have to rely a lot on his defense. Sharp isn't one of our higher rated prospects, but he's right outside the top 500 and has earned a shot to start regularly for one of our farm clubs.