[ayaghmour2]

Weekly Record: 3-3
Seasonal Record: 19-20 (4th, 7 GB)
Stars of the Week
Duke Bybee : 1 Win, 9.0 IP, 2 BB, 3 K, 0.00 ERA
Billy Hunter : 11 AB, 5 H, 0 HR, 3 RBI, .455 AVG, 1.199 OPS
Pete Papenfus : 1 Win, 19.0 IP, 6 BB, 11 K, 0.95 ERA

Schedule
5-19: Loss at Cannons (1-4)
5-20: Win at Wolves (5-4): 14 innings
5-21: Loss at Wolves (1-3)
5-23: Loss vs Stars (14-2)
5-24: Win vs Stars (0-2)
5-25: Win vs Stars (0-6)

Recap
This was a very strange week. I did expect to lose the finale to the Cannons, but after that? It was pretty crazy. Sure, splitting with the Wolves makes some sense, even if we should have won both games rather handily, but a one-run extra inning win? Really!?!? We haven't won an extra inning game all season! Then came the scary part; an absolute thrashing at the hands of the Stars in Chicago, as they piled on 14 runs off Joe Brown and Charlie Kelsey. I thought that was going to end our season, especially with Duke Bybee on the mound for the middle match. But guess what? It may have had the opposite effect! Entering the game, the Stars scored a whopping 222 runs, more then 20 more then every other team, but that didn't rattle our poised southpaw. He did something that no pitcher came even close to this season. He shut out the Stars! Just 3 hits, 2 walks, and 3 strikeouts as the 24-year-old threw his first of hopefully many CGSHO. And then we did it again (think Goofy meme). Or at least Pete Papenfus did! The fireballer got revenge for the embarrassment he was dealt in New York, as Pap tossed a 5-hit shutout to take the rubber match! This is the pitching staff that I expected!

It wasn't Pap's only start of the week, as he was the unlucky starter in the extra inning game. Yet again, errors tried to ruin things for us, as a Billy Hunter error cost us two runs in the 8th, allowing the game to be tied at four after nine. Papenfus went 10, allowing just 8 hits and a walk with 7 strikeouts. With these two starts, his ERA is finally above average, down to 3.47 (115 ERA+) in 72.2 innings, while his BB/9 has dropped below 5 to 4.5. The bullpen did manage to keep that one as a Cougar win, with Ken Matson and Harry MacRae each tossing two scoreless innings. Matson went first, with a hit and walk on his ledger, while MacRae took the win with two walks and a strikeout. Joe Brown (6.1 IP, 9 H, 9 R, 8 ER, 4 BB, K) and Johnnie Jones (8 IP, 9, 4 ER, 6 BB, 3 K) were roughed up, but Donnie Jones was an unlucky loser in our loss in Toronto. It was his third consecutive loss, but he was charged with just 5 hits, 3 runs, and 4 walks with 5 strikeouts. Jones is now an even 4-4, but with a strong 3.36 ERA (119 ERA+) and 1.31 WHIP through 61.2 innings pitched. It's a bit surprising our staff ranks 3rd in runs against, not first, but we're allowing too many home runs, as we rank first (or tied) four of the major pitching categories.

Our offense remains ice cold, as it seems like no one other then Billy Hunter can produce. And this week, it is actually meant literally. He was the only player with a weekly OPS+ above 80. 80! Granted, his was 223 (and to be fair Charlie Kelsey is at 441 as he singled in his only at bat), as the somehow still healthy utility man was 5-for-11 with a run, 2 doubles, 3 RBIs, and 4 walks. Jim Jenkins was at 80, but that's all 1-for-3 with a single will do for you. Hal Sharp slumped, just 6-for-24, but at least he homered! Last week he was leading FABL in batting average, but he's now dropped to .356, percentage points below Freddie Jones, who is second behind the Saints Charlie Woodbury (.368). Leo Mitchell is ice cold, just 7-for-24 this week, all singles and no walks, as he's hitting just .303/.333/.375 (91 OPS+) on the season. You think at some point we'd start scoring runs, but we're 6th in the CA (169) and rank top three in just average (.274, 3rd), steals (1st, 22), and base running (1st, +8.2). This cannot continue, as these dreadful results may once again keep us out of the postseason.

There is a little transactional news, as the Foresters returned veteran outfielder Reginald Westfall, who they selected from us in the Rule-5 draft. Westfall hit about as well as our bats have, hitting just .220/.339/.320 (72 OPS+) with 2 doubles, a homer, and 4 RBIs in 59 trips to the plate. Obviously that's not what Cleveland wanted, and they have been employing former Kings Orie Martinez (.223, 3, 20) and Bill Sikorski (.303, 3, 10) in the corners instead. Westfall will now report to Milwaukee, where he'll likely keep the bench warm for the rest of the season.

Looking Ahead
Off to start the week, and then our short homestand is quickly ended. We'll use the day off to head to Montreal for three with the Saints. After a hot start, Montreal has cooled significantly, 8-16 in May and 17-22 on the season. They're nine out of first and a game and a half above the Foresters (17-25), so we really need a sweep in the worst way. If anything can help our offense, its a bottom two staff, and we may get struggling southpaw Wally Doyle. A guy with all the talent, but no results, Doyle has imploded week in and week out, 0-6 with a 7.13 ERA (58 ERA+) and 1.94 WHIP in 53 innings. "The Waco Kid" has always shown tremendous stuff, but the command is never there, as he's led the league in walks in each of his last three seasons, and his 5.4 BB/9 is the highest of his career. What's worse is the homerun ball, as he's already allowed 7 in 53 innings, for a whopping 1.2 HR/9 that's higher then even Duke Bybee's! Even worse, Bert Cupid (3-5, 4.26, 26) has taken a step back and Wally Reif (5-2, 6.44, 29) has taken a lunge back. Only Andy Lyon (2-0, 2.31, 13), who's made three starts after Gordie Irwin's (0-1, 7.08, 6) banishment has been any good, and since Lyon pitched yesterday, we'll miss him.

Their offense is much better, as they've hit a CA best .287 and scored the third most runs (189) in the association. I mentioned Charlie Woodbury (.368, 1, 26) is leading the batting race after Hal Sharp's drop off, but Bill Greene (.298, 3, 22, 5) has really heated up and Red Bond (.285, 8, 30) is slugging at a 30 homer pace. 22-year-old catcher Jack Spahr (.323, 9) has been a pleasant surprise in the eight hole, and Bert Lass (.317, 2, 20) is back to hitting above average like he's done in all but one season of his career. There are some holes, but I expect 25-year-old third basemen Luke Weaver (.248, 3, 18) to pick it up, as he puts the ball in play a ton and has solid power. Even if he doesn't, he's a stellar defender, and should be a building block for future Saints teams. The Saints have and seem to always play us well, but these are the series we need to win if we want to claw our way back into a pennant race.

The road trip is a quick one, as it ends with three games in two days with the Kings. I'm sticking with our five man rotation, as George Oddo (1-3, 6.28, 28) is getting pummeled in AAA due to an absurd and clearly unsustainable 2.3 HR/9, as he's allowed a homer in all but one of his six starts, including two or more in four of them. Plus with the off day to start the week, we'll be a bit more rested then usual. The Kings have been the surprise of the CA, sitting at 21-20 and a game ahead of us for third. 22-year-old future star Ralph Johnson has defied all of Kings County Park logic, launching 11 homers in 39 games despite playing half his games in a park that surprises power. The now graduated third ranked prospect has slashed an elite .286/.415/.543 (149 OPS+) with 30 walks and 36 RBIs as he looks to be the second King in as many years to take home the Kellogg Award. He pretty much carries the lineup, but Brooklyn has gotten a lot of production from his fellow outfielders John Moss (.320, 3, 20) and Juan Pomales (.333, 1, 12, 7; 0-3, 7.11, 6). The rest of the lineup has struggled, but the recently promoted Chuck Collins (.281, 2, 12) has done well and if Billy Bryant (.289, 3, 22) could just draw a walk (3 in 140 PAs), he'd be a well above average hitter. The pitching has been hit hard, as Leo Hayden (1-3, 7.34, 18) hasn't quite shaken off his hamstring strain and more was expected from Buddy Long (4-5, 4.08, 17), while Pomales was quickly removed from the rotation. Leading the way instead has been 31-year-old Johnny Slaney, who is 7-2 with a 2.64 ERA (156 ERA+) and 1.28 WHIP through 9 starts. The Kings have used a variety of guys in the final two spots of the rotation, and normally I'd be confident that our lineup could handle whoever we face. Unfortunately, things have not gone according to plan, and winning in Brooklyn may be tougher then it should.

We finish the week back at home, again facing the Wolves for two, but this time in the Windy City. Jerry York (4-1, 2.60, 25) dominated us in their win, just 3 hits, a run, and 2 walks with 7 strikeouts as he continues to impress in year one. Its made up for George Garrison's (2-4, 3.93, 22) slow start, but when the former Allen Winner finally gets things going, the 1-2-3 of him, Joe Hancock (4-1, 1.99, 17) and York will really scare Continental Association lineups. They still aren't hitting much, so if we can just score some runs or get lucky by facing Jimmy Gibbs (1-4, 4.74, 18), we should be able to sweep them out of town. But what should happen this season, hasn't, and we continue to question if the Cougars were ever any good in the first place.

Minor League Report
2B Johnny Carlisle (AA Mobile Commodores): The Cougars farm clubs haven't had the greatest success, and Mobile is no different, but we got a huge week from the versatile Johnny Carlisle. The former 8th Round Pick hit an even 15-for-30 with 3 doubles, 2 walks, and 5 RBIs. It's been an excellent overall season for Carlisle, who's hit .376/.441/.472 (134 OPS+) with 5 doubles, 2 triples, a homer, 3 steals, and 16 RBIs in 145 trips to the plate. Never one of our top prospects, Carlisle always competes and produces, and he provides our system with plenty of value. He's played almost all of his time at second this season, but he's comfortable at all three outfield spots and has time at each infield spot excluding first. At the plate, he can hit to all fields, and his speed allows him to be impactful on the bases. He's exactly what you want in a utility infielder, and he may end up having a long, Tip Harrison like career as a Cougar.

LHP Bert Rogers (B San Jose Cougars): Despite a season and a half of struggling in La Crosse, where he went 4-9 with a 5.69 ERA (68 ERA+) and 1.71 WHIP, I made the decision to move former 1st Rounder Bert Rogers up to San Jose to start the season. So far, it has more then paid off. Sure, a four start sample is small, but going 3-1 with a 3.33 ERA (114 ERA+), 1.44 WHIP, 13 walks, and 12 strikeouts. This is a very impressive showing form the 20-year-old Chicagoan, who currently ranks 8th in our system and 56th overall, has always shown plenty of promise, but it's nice to see things starting to come together. The young lefty is a finesse guy, not a power guy, but his fastball is up a mile to 86-88 this season. This should continue to make his slider even better, which is an absolute wipeout pitch against lefty hitters. The change will determine whether he can start in the big leagues, but with the spin and movement he generates on his pitches, I'd bet on it turning into a decent third pitch. The command needs some work, and he's actually walking more guys then last year, but if he can get that solidified, he's going to be a mid-to-top of the rotation starter. With our rotation depth, he was a common name in trade discussions in the offseason, and that could be the case again this summer. If he keeps pitching like this, it will up his value a lot, Rogers could be key to upgrading what has been an anemic batting order thusfar.

Cougars in the GWL
RHP Bill Anderson (San Diego Conquistadores): He's not having a notable season by any means, but longtime Wolf and Eagle Bill Anderson announced his year that he would be calling it quits at the end of the season. Now 38, Anderson has struggled a bit, allowing 11 hits, 6 runs, and 6 walks with 7 strikeouts in his 11.2 innings, but he was pretty effective for the Conquistadores last season. He made 24 appearances out of the pen and ate 60 innings, working to a 3.30 ERA (102 ERA+) and 1.35 WHIP with 14 walks and 20 strikeouts. This will mark the end of a nine year FABL and two year GWL career for Anderson, who went 92-108 with 20 saves in 340 games (195 starts). His 4.48 ERA (95 ERA+) was slightly below average, but in 1936, Anderson actually led the Fed with a 7.1 WAR in his first season as an Eagle. That was his best as a starter, as Anderson went 22-14 with a 4.48 ERA (107 ERA+), 1.59 WHIP, 77 walks, and 123 strikeouts. He was a reliable starter from 1933 to 1939, but then didn't appear in a major league game until his cup of coffee with us back in 1944. Anderson was superb, tossing ten shutout innings with 6 hits, a walk, and 3 strikeouts. We then moved him and pen mate Cal Knight to the Miners for a 9th Round Pick, and Anderson put up a solid season as their stopper in what would be his final FABL season. Anderson went 7-7 with 16 saves, a 3.01 ERA (117 ERA+), and 1.39 WHIP. While decent enough, it was the last war season, and since he was old and struck out (21) fewer batters then he walked (25), the Miners cut bait in favor of some of their younger arms. All in all, he was worth 27.6 WAR, nothing to sneeze at, and did a good job eating innings wherever he was employed.

RHP Cy Sullivan (Oakland Grays): After taking home Pitcher of the Month in April, Cy Sullivan began to slip a bit. He allowed 5 runs in each of his first two starts, and 5 more in his fourth. Part of this was the fault of his defense, as three of those fifteen runs were unearned, but the towering righty looked to get things back on track against the Thunderbirds. Sullivan was firing on all cylinders, allowing just 5 hits while striking out 4 and walking none in a complete game shutout as the Grays came on top 8-0. This improved Cy to 6-3 on the season with a 2.84 ERA (122 ERA+) and 1.12 WHIP. He's struck out (22) twice as many batters as he's walked (11) and he's gone all nine in each of his last four starts, and seven of nine. One of those two was only eight because he lost on the road, and the other he left with one out in the ninth. The former 4th Rounder is on pace for a 240+ inning season after leading the GWL with 277.2 innings last season, and he leads the best rotation in the GWL. Behind him are Hal Siddoway (3-4, 2.71, 32), Jim Hawkins (2-3, 1.94, 15), and Doc Newell (4-1, 2.61, 15), with the first two very unlucky to be under .500. Oakland is five out of first, but their +19 run differential would suggest that they should be winning more games.