[ayaghmour2]

We went 1-2 in the last sim, but it was much better then that. We lost 2-1 and 3-1, classic Cougars, but the win? Oh man! 21-2!!! The crazy part is we only scored in four inning: a 3-run 1st, 5-run 3rd, 4-run 5th, and a 9-run 7th! What a game! Don Lee, Harry Mead, Hal Sharp, Walt Pack, and Billy Hunter all went deep, and Lee (2-2, 3B, 2 R, 5 RBI), Sharp (1-1, R, 2 RBI) Leon Blackridge (3-3, 3 R, RBI), Leo Mitchell (2-2, R, 3 RBI), and Carlos Montes (2-2) were all perfect.

We did endure a minor injury in the 36th game of the Spring, as Skipper left with a sore Achilles tendon. It's just day-to-day, and only for three days, so I'm not going to have him miss Opening Day. Skipper loves these annoying day-to-day nagging injuries, and I almost think he does it so he doesn't have to play as much. That lazy little nerd...

Final roster cuts are on the way, and we're down to 27 players. Three more players need to be sent down, a pitcher and two hitters. That pitcher will be either Ken Matson or Paul Richardson, and I'm really not sure what I'm going to do yet. Matson had a rough spring, but Dixie Marsh and Max Wilder think he's our 5th best starter. He won't be in the rotation, the five spot will be George Oddo, but it feels weird sending Matson down. He's been on the big league roster for the entirety of the last three seasons, and his 3.81 ERA (98 ERA+) was his first below below average showing since 1943. The only thing is he can be optioned, while Richardson needs to be exposed to waivers. I'm leaning towards Matson, but I have until tomorrow to make the final call.

The bench is a mess, as the only optionable guys (Otto, Sutterfield, Lee) are guys I don't want to send down, so we're going to have to DFA two guys unless a trade can be made. That likely means Ray Struble and Leon Blackridge will see their time as a Cougar end, as I don't really see any way for them to earn regular playing time. It would suck to lose them, as I'm sure neither wants to go to AAA, but I really like how our roster is shaping up, and maybe -- just maybe -- this is the year we finally capture the ever so elusive title. But World Championship or not, no one can take away our Spring title away from us! Nobody!