[ayaghmour2]

Weekly Record: 2-5
Seasonal Record: 46-45 (4th, 8 GB)
Stars of the Week
Walt Pack : 18 AB, 6 H, 2 HR, 7 RBI, .333 AVG, 1.091 OPS
Leo Mitchell : 22 AB, 6 H, 0 HR, 3 RBI, .273 AVG, .701 OPS
Skipper Schneider : 22 AB, 6 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, .273 AVG, .652 OPS

Schedule
7-14: Loss vs Foresters (3-2)
7-15: Loss vs Sailors (4-1)
7-16: Loss vs Sailors (1-0)
7-17: Loss vs Sailors (5-1)
7-18: Win vs Wolves (5-6)
7-19: Win vs Wolves (1-7)
7-20: Loss vs Wolves (5-2)

Recap
Oh man... This team... We really, really, REALLY, REALLY. SUCK.

Like, can we even score runs? Even a single one?

Sometimes, it doesn't seem like it...

Despite being at home, we literally can't produce, getting swept by the Foresters before being utterly embarrassed by the first place Sailors. We scored just two runs in three games, and even though we salvaged the series with the Wolves, we're now just a game over .500 and 8 out. I just, don't understand how we're going to get any better. I thought a 17 game homestand would be awesome, but with just one game left in it, we've won just six of them, and are guaranteed to end it well under .500.

At lest we had some regulars who had an above average week, but it really didn't feel like it. Billy Hunter went just 4-for-20, but since it came with 2 doubles, a homer, 4 walks, and 4 runs, so that was good enough for a 114 OPS+. Walt Pack, who has been really great since the weathers warmed up, homered in two of our games against the Wolves. He was 6-for-18 with a double and 7 RBIs. He's now hitting .267/.348/.525 (138 OPS+), and despite being 0-for-13 against lefties this season, that's pretty much what the rest of our hitters do. He's going to start playing most games against lefties, as George Sutterfield (50 WRC+) and Jim Jenkins (36 WRC+) have been awful. Leo Mitchell actually got hits this week, but went just 6-for-22 with 6 walks and 3 RBIs. His 99 WRC+ is still nothing that we're used to, and a .264 average seems unheard of. It has to improve though, right?

I don't want to cover all the bat offensive performances, but I just have to talk Sal Pestilli. Last night, I couldn't wait to wake up, because I was sure Sal would have a huge week. It was huge, just not in the good way... Pestilli was somehow even worse, going just 3-for-27 with 2 walks and runs. He's been so terrible as a Cougar, that he's hitting just .136/.174/.159 (-8 OPS+) with a -14 WRC+ in 11 games. Yes -- a negative WRC+. It is possible! He's been more then 100 percent worst then the average hitter, and has somehow managed to already be worth more then a half (-0.6) win worst then a replacement player. This guy is supposed to be a star! A STAR! Not a sub replacement player...

Funny enough, our pitchers have hit better then our hitters, with Mel Haynes going 1-for-1, Duke Bybee 3-for-6 with 2 RBIs, and Johnnie Jones 1-for-2 with a run. That's some good offense!

Bybee was also stellar on the mound, but with basically no run support, he split his decisions. An error caused the loss against the Foresters, allowing 7 hits, 3 runs (2 earned), and 3 walks with 3 strikeouts. Luckily he got 7 runs of support against the Wolves, picking up a complete game win with 6 hits, a run, 2 walks, and 4 strikeouts. His ERA is now down to 3.33 (114 ERA+) and his 1.08 WHIP his best in the CA, trailing just Ray Dalpman (1.02) of the Minutemen overall. Second in the CA is Donnie Jones, who got tagged with a loss despite allowing just one run against the Sailors. He went all nine, allowing 8 hits, the run, and 3 walks with 8 strikeouts. His 2.42 ERA is best in the CA, but since he can't buy a win, he's now in a four way tie for fourth. His 90 strikeouts are second to Pap's 97 (who also can't buy a win), but his 5.4 K/9 and .212 opponent average are best in the league. Since he's hitting .229 in 58 PAs, he's actually been getting a hit more often then allowing one. What a stud!

Same is the case for Johnnie (.233 BA vs .233 BAA), who had a really tough go of things against the Sailors. He managed to go all nine, but allowed 8 walks, 6 hits, and 5 runs with just a single strikeout. Back-to-back starts with a single strikeout is very concerning, and his K/9 has plunged to 3.6. Pap had no trouble (finally!) with strikeouts, setting down 7 in both of his starts, but he continues to lose games. He lost to both the Sailors and Wolves, now 7-11 despite a 3.39 ERA (112 ERA+). He's lost his last four decisions, and hasn't one a start since back-to-back shutouts against the Cannons and Foresters. Joe Brown, however, did win his start, pitching okay against the Wolves. He went just 7 and allowed 5 runs (3 earned) off 10 hits, 2 walks, and 2 strikeouts. Ken Matson got the final six outs, throwing two hitless innings with a walk and strikeout to pick up his 7th save of the season.

The pitching staff will have it's first adjustment since Opening Day, which two players joining the roster for the upcoming road trip. We have a long stretch of games that ends with a double header in Philadelphia on Sunday, so Harry Parker will be returning from his rehab assignment. We have a day off on Monday, so he may not pitch in the double header (I have all weekend to figure things out), but the veteran righty will make his first big league start in nearly ten months. I would have loved for him to get a fourth rehab start, but he has just 9 days remaining and has been built up to 100 pitches. He's gone 1-1 in 3 starts, throwing 19 innings with 21 hits, 4 walks, and 12 strikeouts. This is good for a 3.79 ERA (124 ERA+), 1.32 WHIP, and 3.08 FIP (65 FIP-). so hopefully the towering Parker didn't lose too much stuff after tearing his labrum. With how good Bybee is, Parker won't stay in the rotation, but having him on hand to keep the starters sharp is useful. Plus, he has some experience pitching late in games, giving us a more reliable pen arm.

The other addition is a completely new face, as after many failed attempts at claiming pitchers on waivers, we finally got one to slip to us. That is soon-to-be 33-year-old Paul Richardson, who was struggling in a swingman role for the Miners. The former 15th Rounder made 9 starts and 7 relief appearances, going 3-4 with an inflated 6.00 ERA (66 ERA+) and 1.73 WHIP. He was much better in the pen last season, working to a 2.12 ERA in 34 innings with 17 strikeouts and just 5 walks. He's just a few seasons removed from being a very good starting pitcher, as he went 10-11 with a 2.90 ERA (121 ERA+) and 1.00 WHIP in 30 starts split between the Sailors and Minutemen. I don't expect him to pitch anything like that for us, but we just need a veteran who can give length out of the pen. This is a guy with a career 3.66 FIP (101 FIP-) in 488.2 innings, and he's been far better as a reliever (3.38 ERA, 116 ERA+, 1.05 WHIP) then as a starter (6.70, 59, 1.91). Richardson and Parker will replace Charlie Kelsey and Harry MacRae, who have both struggled in limited time. Kelsey had a 5.09 ERA (75 ERA+) and 1.61 WHIP in 23 innings, and will head down to Milwaukee to go back to starting games. MacRae will likely close games for the Blues, as he was much worse this season then last year. His ERA went from 3.21 (109 ERA+) to 4.58 (83 ERA+) and his WHIP is up 20 points to 1.63. Both are 25, so they're not finished products, and I imagine one if not both will rejoin the club in September.

Finally, we got some more additions to the top 500 prospect list as the signings start to trickle in. 6th Rounder Ed Sutton debuts at 226th, 10th Rounder Willie Watson at 246th, and 9th Rounder George Carter at 379th. He signed last week, but Johnny Dickinson snuck in at 499th, giving us at current count 52 of the top 500 prospects. Still a few guys left that I want to sign, but I'm not sure there's many others who will sneak in. I want to try to move some of our youngsters, but there are plenty of cuttable guys still hanging around.

Looking Ahead
I can't believe I'm going to have to wait a whole weekend until we play games again...

We have just one more home game, hosting the Cleveland Foresters, before we'll flee to the Clev for a three game set. Despite being 42-51, they had no trouble keeping our offense off the board, despite having the 7th ranked pitching staff, and they're the only team to score fewer runs then us this year. As we approach the deadline, they may sell off some pieces like Ken Vance (.331, 13), Orie Martinez (.253, 10, 44), and Ducky Davis (5-12, 5.18, 35). We're not going to face him, instead we'll start with All-Star Davey Morris (3-5, 2, 2.96, 44), Ollie "three straight shutouts" White (6-3, 1.94, 56), a surging Richie Hughes (8-10, 4.18, 68), and Augie Hayes Jr. (7-11, 3.84, 47). Morris is the only one on full rest, which could either give us an advantage or cause a spot start from someone like Joe Crosby (1-3, 6.26, 15). On paper, this is exactly what we need to get back on track, but if this goes sideways, not only are we nearly guaranteed to miss the playoffs, but we might fail to finish over .500 for the first time since 1936.

Because it does get worse...

Yes, the next stop is four games in three days against the Sailors. The 56-39 first place Sailors who allowed just two runs in three games in Chicago. We didn't even lose to Win Lewis (12-7, 2.54, 58), dropping starts from Al Duster (8-6, 2.83, 74), Slick Wesolowski (11-6, 2.92, 56), and John Thomas Johnson (5-2, 1, 2.15, 36). We let Les Cunha (.287, 5, 52) and Rip Lee (.285, 1, 31, 4) heat up against us, and I don't want to go into all the players they have that hit better then ours. There's just too many! When we get swept once again here, we could be more then 15 games out of first! That would be a blast!

Minor League Report
RHP Bob Allen (C La Crosse Lions): I can't believe it, but I'm promoting Bob Allen to San Jose. Currently ranked as the 6th best prospect in the league, Allen made four starts for the Lions, and it's clear he's the best pitcher in the league. He's been so good, that after his 4-hit, 12-strikeout shutout, he was named Player of the Week. In his other start that week he did allow a run, with 5 hits, 4 walks, and 11 strikeouts in the win. He won all four of his starts and struck out 11 or more hitters in each outing, tallying 46 in just 33.2 innings pitched. He allowed just 20 hits, 2 runs, and 14 walks, ending with a miniscule 0.53 ERA (664 ERA+) and 1.01 WHIP, while being worth a full 1.3 wins above replacement. As fun as it would be to see just how many batters he could strike out in a full season, he clearly needs to be challenged, as this kid has the potential to be one of the best pitchers the game has ever seen. He's striking out more guys then Pap did in the minors, and I don't think any of our talented young arms have had a four start stretch like Allen just put together. His stuff is amazing, his command is amazing, and he's not going to give up any home runs. He has the mindset of an ace, the talent of an ace, the name of an ace, and pretty much everything but the body of one. If he reaches his potential, he could be the best pitcher in baseball, and even with Pap being 29, I think these two will be able to pitch some dominant seasons together. The age difference is large, as he's even six years younger then Duke Bybee, but with no war getting in the way of his development, Allen may be up in Chicago before you know it.