[ayaghmour2]

Weekly Record: 3-4
Seasonal Record: 58-60 (5th, 9.5 GB)
Stars of the Week
Sal Pestilli : 30 AB, 14 H, 1 HR, 4 RBI, .467 AVG, 1.217 OPS
Leo Mitchell : 24 AB, 9 H, 0 HR, 4 RBI, .375 AVG, .798 OPS
Skipper Schneider : 27 AB, 8 H, 0 HR, 1 RBI, .296 AVG, .641 OPS

Schedule
8-12: Win vs Kings (2-3)
8-13: Loss vs Kings (10-6)
8-14: Loss vs King (3-1)
8-15: Win at Stars (3-1)
8-16: Loss at Stars (1-4)
8-17: Loss at Stars (7-8)
8-17: Win at Stars (1-0)

Recap
Can we do anything other then win three games? Like at all? This season man...

Despite yet another week of suckage, what should be our two best hitters had great weeks. Sal Pestilli is finally hitting line a Whitney Winner, putting together five multi-hit games in a six game stretch, including three straight three hit games. He was rewarded like a Whitney Winner too, picking up something I forgot Cougar bats could do -- win a Player of the Week. It was well deserved, as our star finished 14-for-30 with 3 doubles, a triple, homer, steal, and 4 RBIs. The 31-year-old vet is now hitting .338/.380/.538 (150 OPS+) with 5 doubles, a triple, 2 homers, 8 RBIs, and more walks (5) then strikeouts (2). And while Leo Mitchell still isn't having a good August, he went 9-for-24 with 2 runs, 2 walks, and 4 RBIs. Pretty much all the other every day players were pretty bad, but Clark Car and George Sutterfield also had a surprisingly good week, with the middle infield duo going 4-for-11 with a double, steal, 2 walks, and 3 runs scored. The offense continues to frustrate, as we'll likely finish the season out with the fewest runs scored (453) and runs allowed (427), which still should translate to 6 games over .500 (62-56).

On the mound, Johnnie Jones has really struggled, and after snapping his four game losing streak with a mediocre start, he was awful against the Kings, chased out with two outs in the 4th. He left with 10 hits, a walk, and a strikeout and was charged with 7 runs (6 earned) as his ERA inflated to 3.73 (103 ERA+), almost a full point higher then it was almost exactly one month (a month and a day) from the loss (2.84). Pete Papenfus lost yet another start, now 15 of them, leaving after just 7 innings. It was a bit shocking considering just 92 pitches and decent performance (5 H, 2 ER, 5 BB, 3 K), but the poor guy just doesn't strike guys out anymore. Donnie Jones had an uncharacteristically short start, completing just 4 innings in a no decision in New York where he allowed 8 hits, 6 runs, and 4 walks with 3 strikeouts. It came after a brilliant complete game win over the Kings, where he allowed 5 hits, 2 runs, and 3 walks with 6 strikeouts in a tight 3-2 victory.

Duke Bybee and Joe Brown both stayed hot, but Bybee was tagged with a loss. He also didn't got deep, just 7 innings for the rook, allowing 7 hits, 3 runs, and 4 walks with a pair of punchouts. Brown picked up his second straight complete game victory over the Stars (maybe he should have pitched that tiebreaker...), finishing with 5 hits, 3 walks, a run, and 2 strikeouts. Harry Parker was much better in start two, as he held the Stars scoreless through seven and a third with 4 hits, 5 walks, and 6 strikeouts. With all the short starts, including Parker's, the pen got plenty of work, but only Paul Richardson kept runs off the board. He threw a perfect ninth in Parker's start to earn the save, as stopper Ken Matson got us out of the 8th. It was one of his four appearances, and he actually pitched both halves of the double header and three consecutive games. He allowed 6 hits and 2 runs with 3 strikeouts in 4.1 innings pitched. Mel Haynes and Eddie Howard both struggled in long mop up spots, with Howard getting the loss in Donnie's start. He went 3.1 with 4 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks, and a strikeout. Haynes' outing didn't matter, as he went 5.1 after Johnnie, allowing 4 hits, 3 runs, and 3 walks with 4 strikeouts. With how poor we hit, we need to be better then this to get back over .500, and inch closer to our 62-56 expected record.

The roster will get a reinforcement for the coming week with Carlos Montes returning from the IL. He's missed a lot of time this season with injuries, appearing in just 23 games for the Cougars. The 31-year-old vet was hitting just .247/.287/.376 (81 OPS+), but he had a much better .250/.381/.412 (102 OPS+) in 18 rehab games down in Milwaukee. His 113 WRC+ was pretty solid and he added 5 doubles, 2 homers, 10 RBIs, and 5 steals while walking (15) more then he struck out (11). While all that's well and good, the bigger thing was his defense. He actually had a positive (0.1) zone rating in 125 innings at the hot corner, and he completed all 21 (17, 2, 2) of the even or harder balls hit to him, as well as 1 of the 4 unlikely. With Sal Pestilli entrenched in center for the rest of the season, Montes' natural position, where he started all 808 of his FABL appearances, is unavailable. He'll get some time in center, whether that is due to a double header or needed rest from Sal, but most of his time (unless he starts raking, of course) will come spelling lefties Hal Sharp and Walt Pack when a southpaw is on the mound. Both have been awful against same side pitchers, with Sharp going 23-for-106 (.217, 61 WRC+) and Pack 2-for-35 (.057, -39 WRC+). Pack is nearly unplayable against same side guys, so Montes will enter the lineup as the third basemen most days, but he'll get some time in right, opening up some time for George Sutterfield or even Dick Walker, as Ray Ford can shift to second and Billy Hunter to third. Ford has been awful since June, and isn't a good defensive second basemen, but it's still better then Pack or Sharp trying to hit lefties.

I debated the roster casualty for a while, but I think it's going to be Ray Struble, as I don't want to burn an option on Lee or Sutterfield, even if they can't hit. It's not like Struble can either, his .200/.314/.233 (52 OPS+) line equates to a 38 WRC+, and while he's stuck around because he's a plus center fielder, we don't really need that as much as Montes and Pestilli are as well. It didn't cost much to acquire Struble, and he has a chance to clear, but it feels weird cutting the guy who saved our season last year less then a year later. But the bat just can't be relied on, and he would have had a very limited role. By time he is off waivers, rosters will be expanded, so if he passes he'll be added right back.

Looking Ahead
We begin a nice long homestand with three against the Wolves, who have lost seven of their last eight to fall to 56-61 and 11 games back. Of course, that means they are just in time to turn their luck around against us, as we look to stay above them in the standings. A sweep would put us below them, something we cannot afford this late in the season. They look more like a .500 team then a 6 under team, with nearly equal runs scored (507) and allowed (510) through 117 games. Their rotation is weird, as all five members have ERAs between 3.53 and 3.97, but with a recent double header they may resort to a spot start from someone like Bob Walls (2-5, 4.22, 8) or Jim Morrison (4-5, 3, 4.24, 25), both of which have started frequently in the past but spent most of the season in the pen. Cookie Myers (9-6, 3.77, 32) is fully rested and ready for the opener, and with no changes they'd then throw co-aces George Garrison (6-10, 3.65, 81) and Joe Hancock (9-8, 3.53, 44) who have excellent FIP-s of 78 and 82, just what a struggling offense needs to deal with. To make things tougher, Hank Giordano (.255, 3, 57, 5) is starting to hit, slashing a robust .339/.371/.627 (160 OPS+) in August, which has upped his season WRC+ way up to 92. Tom Frederick (.272, 2, 36) is starting to play more regularly and the results have been solid (107 WRC+), and Chink Stickels (.274, 3, 42, 12) is trucking right along in another excellent year. And of course, there's Fred McCormick (.321, 23, 85), who reached 20 homers for the first time since his Whitney Winning 1939 season. This is the type of series that could help us string some wins together, but I have a feeling it won't end the way we want.

Then it's our new nemesis, the Foresters, who seem to have gotten really good at beating us despite trading two of (in not their best two) their best pitchers. At 57-64, they're a game behind the Wolves, so after we get swept by them, they could be sitting ahead of us. If not, they will be afterwards, as I have very little faith in beating the team that ranks 7th in both runs allowed (570) and scored (460). Despite that, they have the CA ERA leader in Ollie White, who is just 23 and has done it in both the pen and rotation. He's started just 10 of his 35 appearances, and is 9-5 with 6 saves through 121 innings. That league leading ERA is a sparkly 2.01 (198 ERA+), nearly two points lower then his nearly league average 3.96 FIP (99 FIP-). He walks (74) a ton but strikes out even more (88), and he has a pretty solid 1.29 WHIP. He's really grown on Dixie Marsh as well, as our rookie scout ranks this rookie a future #1. With Hughes (10-11, 3.99, 86) and Steinberg (16-5, 3.15, 59) out of the picture, he's probably the best pitcher on the staff now, but Augie Hayes Jr. (8-14, 4.15, 63) still ranks above him in the rotation.

The lineup doesn't have a high caliber starter like Ollie, but they did pick up a favorite of mine in Bill Grove (.210, 6) from the Stars in the Hughes trade. No longer a prospect, he'll turn 25 in September, but was frequently ranked in the top 100 before getting significant time on the 1945 Stars team. He excelled as well, slashing .273/.374/.372 (116 OPS+) in 96 games, adding 17 doubles, 5 triples, 2 homers, and 31 RBIs with 56 walks and just 37 strikeouts. With the addition of Mack Sutton (.241, 30, 87), there was no room for Grove, and he'll now compete with the recently optioned Bob Miller (.275, 13) for the title of third basemen of the future. Beyond Grove, first basemen Lorenzo Samuels (.306, 10, 38) and Ivey Henley (.302, 5, 34) have shown tremendous promise, with the latter trying his hand at left field to keep both bats in the lineup. Beyond that, not much to write home about, but they're over .500 in July and August, and seem likely to end up out of the cellar for just the second time since 1942. Can they finish above 7th for the first time since they were 2nd in 1939? If we keep falling, that seems like a lock!

Sunday will be spent hosting the Sailors for the first of three. Currently 3.5 games above the Stars (65-55). The Sailors do pretty much everything better then we do, and while we do have the advantage in the rotation, we could be stuck with their top three and David Medina as the stopper is no joke. Most people undervalue the use of relievers in the league, but Molina is an obvious exception. The 28-year-old doesn't really have the ability to start games, but that doesn't stop him from being ranked as the 3rd best pitcher (behind Eli Panneton and Ed Bowman) in either association, a spot that was previously awarded to the best pitcher who wasn't Pap or Donnie. What makes the Illinois native stand out from the pack is how effective he's able to pitch as often as he's able to pitch. He appeared in a league high 80 appearance last season, and his 62 this season give him a double digit lead over every other pitcher. And they aren't a ton of one inning outings either. He's thrown 97 inning and directly accounted for 28 (7 wins and 21 saves) of the Sailors 70 victories. His 2.69 ERA (148 ERA+) and 2.73 FIP (68 FIP-) are elite and his WHIP is a point below 1. He strikes out (79) almost twice as many batters as he walks (41) and his 2.3 WAR trails just Win Lewis (4.3) and Al Duster (2.4) on the staff. When the Sailors have a lead, he usually keeps it, and it's shown in extra innings (6-3) and (16-13) one run games. I'll cover more of their guys tomorrow, but I really hope those games will actually have some effect on the pennant race.

It is still just a single digit lead after all... Maybe Leo Mitchell is heating up? Maybe Sal Pestilli? Who knows, Carlos Montes has shown flashes of being a star. And the let Walt Pack face lefties experiment can officially end. I think it's time for a Don Lee redemption. After all, Rap will see Rip (281, 2, 43, 5) when Philly is in town. Oh yeah, expect to see Dick Walker all series. Sailor fans deserve one last look at their former star.

Let's win some games!

Minor League Report
C Bob Mundy (AA Mobile Commodores): Despite being a 13th Rounder, I inserted Mississippi A&M backstop Bob Mundy directly into the Commodores lineup. He has not disappointed. The 22-year-old has appeared in just 13 games, but his .347/.377/.592 (144 OPS+) triple slash fuels a 151 WRC+, and he's already doubled and homered three times. A hard working switch hitter, Mundy has really strengthened a lineup that now ranks 5th in runs scored. He's not a highly touted prospect, completely absent from the top 500 list, but he's very well developed and is basically at his ceiling of being a useful enough backup catcher. That's not to say he won't get any better, but what he does has already shown up. Dixie thinks he'll "catch and throw at a high level" which I take to mean good framing and a strong arm. The bat has more questions, as I don't believe in this power, but he does project to have a strong hit tool with consistent plate discipline. Everyone needs catchers and you can never have too many good ones, and I think if Mundy gets a shot like Joe Rainbow did, he could be a solid starting catcher for a big league club. He even has an up arrow to the big leagues, but with Homer Guthrie and Eddie Howard in the way, that promotion won't happen any time soon.

RHP Tommy Seymour (A Lincoln Legislators): My faith in Tommy Seymour has never wavered, and after an awful four game losing streak that finished with 14 hits and 8 runs in 5.1 innings in a 8-1 loss to the Peoria Pastimers, who are right behind Lincoln in the pennant race. He got right back on the mound and fired a perfect answer as this time a single run of support was enough. He allowed just 2 hits and 4 walks in the shutout, striking out 4 in the 1-0 victory. Recently turned 22, Seymour has been challenged in A ball, as more experienced players then him have solved his pitched. I'd love for the former 1st Rounder to continue adding velocity, as he upped his fastball to a max of 87 this spring. That's definitely hittable, and since he's susceptible to the walk (68, 5.2) runners tend to be on base when he makes his mistakes. He has a bloated 4.94 ERA (84 ERA+) and 1.70 WHIP in 116.2 innings pitched, and is one of thew few pitchers on the staff that is struggling. There's still plenty to like about our 15th ranked prospect (201st overall), who I didn't really expect to be ready for A ball anyways. He has a really nice change and an impressive splitter, but both are far from a finished product. The harder he throws, the better these pitches are going to be, and the more polished they get, the misses will look much better. There's plenty of risk, but I believe if his fastball can live in the 90s, he could be a very useful big league starter.