[ayaghmour2]

Weekly Record: 3-3
Seasonal Record: 52-53 (5th, 9 GB)
Stars of the Week
Hal Sharp : 24 AB, 10 H, 0 HR, 2 RBI, .417 AVG, .857 OPS
Sal Pestilli : 26 AB, 9 H, 0 HR, 2 RBI, .346 AVG, .931 OPS
Duke Bybee : 1 Win, 9.0 IP, 2 BB, 6 K, 0.00 ERA

Schedule
7-29: Loss at Wolves (3-7)
7-30: Win at Wolves (7-0)
7-31: Loss at Wolves (9-10)
8-1: Win at Cannons (2-0)
8-2: Loss at Cannons (1-5)
8-4: Win at Cannons (4-1)

Recap
We did it again... Dropped the series against the weaker team while taking two games from the better one! And we dropped another half game back... Yay...

Don't worry though! Plenty of good stuff!

Sal Pestilli finally decided to be a hitter this week, going 9-for-26 with 3 doubles, a triple, 2 walks, 2 RBIs, and 6 runs scored. This upped his Cougar line to a better then negative .176/.222/.255 (30 OPS+), although he has still not homered in any of his 110 PAs. Most of the production came in our 10-9 loss against the Wolves, as Pestilli was a perfect 4-for-4 with a walk, a triple, and three runs scored.

Duke Bybee, who due to Ralph Johnson did not win Rookie of the Month, and will not win the Kellogg Award, continued his string of dominance, extending his scoreless streak to 28 innings with a 6-hit shutout of the Wolves. He allowed just 6 hits and 2 walks with 6 strikeouts, dropping his ERA to 2.95 (130 ERA+) in 158.2 innings pitched. He has also passed Roy Dalpman for the FABL lead in WHIP (1.07) and his five shutouts still pace the league. The lead was extended to two, but the day after that was cut back to one, as Donnie Jones twirled a shutout of his own. He allowed just 3 hits, a walk, and 3 strikeouts to break his three decision losing streak and record his first win since July 4th. Donnie's 2.52 ERA (151 ERA+) is best in the association, and if these guys keep pitching like they are, we may finish above .500!

Pete Papenfus may have endured the worst month since his debut season, as he ended April 1-5 after allowing 7 runs (6 earned), 7 walks, and 3 hits in just 2.2 innings. He didn't strike out a single batter, and walked (40) more hitters then he struck out (32) in 53.1 innings pitched. He had a poor 4.72 ERA (81 ERA+) and 1.54 WHIP, dropping his season marks to 3.57 (107 ERA+) and 1.43 on the season. It always sucks when your best pitcher isn't pitching as he does, but it's even worse when your best hitter is doing the same. Leo Mitchell had another bad week, going 5-for-21 with a homer, and he finished July with a .226/.321/.280 (66 OPS+) triple slash. His .258/.308/.388 (90 OPS+) season line looks more like something a reserve outfielder would have, and while he does have 11 homers and 53 RBIs, the overall production has really lacked. I can't imagine that he actually found the cliff, but Cliff Meyer keeps moving him down in the lineup, and since he is 34, you always have to worry about age. It would be a stunning fall off for someone so consistent, and it will hurt that much more that he was robbed of two Whitney' if this truly is the end of his effectiveness.

Red Bond had a decent enough debut week, and while he was just 4-for-18, he did launch 2 homers and drove in 6. Sure, we lost both games he homered in, and hitting just over .200 ain't too great, but compared to Sal's start, we pretty much posted banners for him. Otherwise, not much support from the rest of the cast. Yes, Hal Sharp continued to get hits, going 10-for-24 to up his CA high average to .347. And Billy Hunter hit, 6-for-13 with a triple, as he boosted his season line to .290/.361/.435 (117 OPS+). Add in a 125 WRC+, 23 extra base hits, and more walks (29) then strikeouts (23), and you have a pretty impressive season line. The pithing wasn't great, but one of the only things notable was that "closer" Harry Parker mopped up Pap in the 3rd, going 4.1 innings with 4 hits, 3 runs, a walk, and 3 strikeouts. Considering we were down 7-4, bringing Parker in made even less sense, and considering I have this nifty "long reliever" Mel Haynes who would have been perfect for the job, I can't really understand what happened here.

Although, let's be honest, I don't know much of anything that is going on this year... So why should this be any different?

Oh yeah, how about a Carlos Montes update? No games in right (oof), but 5 at third base. 8-for-8, 3 PO, 5 A, 0.1 zone rating. Let's get it!

Looking Ahead
Off to start the week, but we'll still have to deal with the trials of playing on the road. We'll face one of the hotter teams in the CA, stuck in Brooklyn for three with the Kings. They've jumped over us for 4th, and our sitting at an even 53-53, going 19-12 since the start of July. The most surprising thing is not that they're .500, but the fact that they've scored more runs (514) then the Stars (496)! The Stars! How does that happen!

Well, Ralph Johnson is a big part, as the likely Kellogg Winner might be in the Whitney conversation as well. Johnson may have turned 23 in June, but he's not hitting like it, owning an elite .305/.410/.451 (151 OPS+) triple slash with 17 doubles, 21 homers, and 79 RBIs. He's walked (79) more then he's struck out (42) and produced a 166 WRC+ in 101 games this season. He's not the only young hitter with plenty of promise, as Cougar target (shouldn't have gotten Pestilli...) John Moss (.273, 4, 52) has been excellent on both sides of the field while Chuck Collins (.283, 8, 37) and Billy Bryant (.289, 5, 49) have had solid rookie seasons. They've supplanted the young bats with vets like Juan Pomales (.292, 3, 34, 17) and Hank Barnett (.241, 5, 36), and they recently brought in a new member for the rotation. That would be 36-year-old Harry Carter (9-8, 3.67, 45), who is in line to start the opener in Chicago. He joins Buddy Long (12-9, 3.57, 59), Johnny Slaney (11-9, 2.99, 56) and the improving Leo Hayden (8-8, 4.67, 84) in what could be a really good rotation. We'll have to deal with their best, and they'll get our top three, so this could be a very exciting series for a neutral fan.

That ends our 13 game road trip, but considering we've been better away (28-26) then at home (24-27), it may not help us too much. What makes matters worse is it starts with the Stars, who love slugging in Chicago. They may be 3 games out of first, but at 59-48 they are still not to be taken lightly. Even more so now, as they added talented Chicagoan Richie Hughes (8-11, 4.36, 77) to back up Eli Panneton (13-9, 3.06, 80) giving them a really dangerous and young 1-2 punch. The rotation was really the one weakness for the Stars, but right now it looks much better. Chuck Cole (11-9, 2.94, 64) has been outstanding and Vern Hubbard (10-10, 4.25, 63) continues to get unlucky (91 ERA+; 85 FIP-) and you have to imagine his lucky will change. They should have no trouble keeping us off the board, and when you factor in a lineup with Bill Barrett (.296, 12, 59, 4), Mack Sutton (.252, 29, 84), Jack Welch (.272, 10, 48), and Bill Barnett (.230, 19, 63), it's pretty much a guarantee we'll end up with more losses then wins.

Just please, please, please let us finish above .500...

Minor League Report
CF Rupert Abbott (AA Mobile Commodores): Our farm is a little thin in terms of upper level depth, so I was forced to move the recently turned 22-year-old Rupert Abbott to AA. It's not that he was doing bad in A ball, as a .266/.335/.424 (104 OPS+) line is bad, but just over a year ago he was still enrolled in Opelika State. It turns out my worries were misplaced, as the hardworking Abbott took the promotion and ran with it. He's been up for just three weeks, and was named the Dixie League's most recent Player of the Week. He went 10-for-21 with 2 doubles, a triple, a homer, a steal, 3 walks, and 5 runs scored and driven in. This upped his Mobile line to .346/.424/.538 (144 OPS+) and he has accumulated 20 doubles, 6 triples, 8 homers, 10 steals, and 53 RBIs in 90 games split between the two levels. Initially a 4th Round selection of the Eagles, Abbott came over this offseason in the Billy Riley trade as I really liked his range, hit tool, and potential gap power. He's shown all of that so far, and has an impressive 7.9 zone rating with efficiencies of 1.052 (14, AA) and 1.042 (67, A) out in center. He's dropped a bit in the prospect ranks with all the new faces in the system, but still ranks 17th and 210th overall. We have plenty of talented center fielders, both on the 40 (Pestilli, Montes, Lee) and in the farm (Peters, Reece, Smith), but Abbott also looks like a future regular. He lacks the star potential the rest have shown, but he's always prepared for his at bats and should continue to show improvement at the plate. In another system, he may be groomed to be the center fielder of the future, but I'll be happy with plus defense and a threat on the bases. No prospect is a sure thing, so while some of our other center fielders rank ahead of him, he has the glove and work ethic to force us into a tough decision. And there's plenty of talent to be excited about!

RHP Fred Terry (B San Jose Cougars): One of our recent draftees, 8th Rounder Fred Terry has gotten off to an amazing start to his professional career. The 21-year-old from Yellowhammer State was unlucky in his debut, as despite 7 excellent innings with 5 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks, and 6 strikeouts, he was given the loss as 10th Rounder Chet Komer (3-2, 4.05, 11) of the Eagles' Class B affiliate threw a 6-hit shutout. That didn't deter Terry, just inspired him to pitch better, as he followed that up with 7 more frames of impressive ball, and even with two runs of support, this time he secured the victory. Terry allowed 6 hits and a walk with 7 strikeouts, and will now make his way up to Lincoln. He seems more then ready, even when you look past the 1.93 ERA (198 ERA+) and 1.00 WHIP. Yes, it's a small sample, but while top prospect Bert Rogers struck out 50 in 93 innings, Terry is on pace for 84 in that same amount. And when you add in the stellar command, it's worth seeing what he can do against tougher competition, as some of the Legislators rotation members haven't had much success. Terry's not one of our more highly touted prospects, but the advantage he has lies within his development, as he's much further along then most of are talented pitchers. He sacrifices future potential for the current success, as I'm not sure he's much more then a back end guy. But if you pitch and continue to pitch well at any level, you'll get plenty of chances to earn a shot in the majors. I'm hoping he finishes the season off here, and perhaps the 22-year-old righty will start next year in the Commodores rotation.

Cougars in the GWL
1B Jim Hatfield (Los Angeles Knights): Many Cougars struggled in July, but a former Cougar took home Batter of the Month in the GWL. Our 6th Round Pick way back in 1929, Jim Hatfield has made a really good career for himself in the independent league, going from the San Antonio Gunslingers to the war, to the Los Angeles Knights, and in the inaugural GWL season he matched his 165 OPS+ from his last season pre-war (1941) with an even higher 167 WRC+. This season has been more of the same, and Hatfield was named the best hitter for July. He hit a robust .393/.439/.571 (195 OPS+) with 4 doubles, 2 triples, 3 homers, 19 RBIs, 10 walks, and 3 steals. The soon-to-be 36-year-old is now slashing .335/.387/.455 (146 OPS+) in 414 trips to the plate. He's tallied 8 doubles, 8 triples, 7 homers, 16 steals, and 37 RBIs, and bats third on a team with plenty of pennant aspirations.

The Kings are in the thick of things again, as last year's runner up are 54-48 and 3.5 games behind the Grays and Centurions (58-45). Hatfield hits in front of another one of our draftees in Elmer Hutchins (.299, 4, 45), with King Price (12-6, 3.18, 69) and former Cougar farmhand Karl Wallace (8-8, 3.12, 52) in the rotation. Wallace has been unlucky, following up a 17-8 season with a similar ERA and FIP with less luck, and you have to imagine that'll improve as the season goes on. In fact, Price is the only one who has gotten good support, as Bob Cummings (8-9, 3.26, 76), Red Nokes (9-9, 3.45, 64), and Steve Noel (9-9, 4.01, 45) are all .500 or worse. Part can be blamed on closer Chick Pappalardo (5-4, 15, 4.24, 31), but beyond Hatfield, Hutchins, and Les Hendrix (.238, 8, 26, 10), most of the lineup has been average or worse. They'll need a little help from someone else, maybe leadoff man Ernesto Perez (.262, 3, 34, 9), if they want to return to the playoffs for a second attempt at the GWL crown.

RHP Mac Watters (Dallas Centurions): While he never pitched a regular season game for us, we were the first of three teams to select Mac Watters in the Rule-5 draft. The second, the Gothams, were the only team to pitch him in FABL, and he made 139 appearances out of the pen. He struck out 79 and walked just 35, but his 4.31 ERA (96 ERA+) and 1.44 WHIP left plenty to be desired. The Gothams cut him after the '45 season, and he latched on to the Dallas Centurions. He pitched well for them out of the pen, going 4-6 with a 2.99 ERA (115 ERA+) and 1.14 WHIP. He had an almost identical 2.98 FIP (86 FIP-) and boasted an impressive 4.0 K/BB (36-to-9) in 75.1 inning. This season the Centurions have promoted him to the rotation, and he's been effective for a team that holds a share of first place.

The Chicagoan was great to start August, tossing a 8-hit shutout in Houston to even his season record at 8-8. His 3.40 ERA (99 ERA+) is just above league average, but he's sporting his highest walk rate (1.8) and second lowest strikeout rate (2.3). Still, considering Watters is Dallas' #5 starter, it's hard to be upset with the results, and he's given them 159 innings in his 20 starts. The star of the staff may be George Hunter (10-4, 10, 2.40, 38), who's excelled in the pen and rotation, but Watters is one of many former Cougars. I've written plenty of Ira Hawker (11-8, 3.59, 73), who was one of the lone bright spots for the Centurions last year, and the pen is filled with Rube Finegan (5-5, 6, 2.53, 39) and Joe Foote (2-2, 3.04, 25). The revamped lineup has notable big leaguers in Heinie Billings (.317, 10, 50, 14), Brooks Meeks (.310, 5, 46, 8), Al Gross (.266, 7, 43) and former Cougar Ken Mayhugh (.288, 6, 45), but there's longtime Minutemen infielder and former Cougar 2nd Rounder Charlie Reed (.228, 2, 19, 3) as well. The Centurions have plenty of former Cougars to thank for their success, and are hoping to hang on to one of the top two spots in year two.