[ayaghmour2]

Weekly Record: 3-5
Seasonal Record: 25-23 (3rd, 2 GB)
Stars of the Week
None generated this week

Schedule
5-31: Loss vs Saints (3-1)
5-31: Win vs Saints (4-5)
6-2: Win at Wolves (6-0)
6-3: Loss at Wolves (1-3): 10 innings
6-4: Loss at Wolves (0-3)
6-5: Loss at Wolves (1-9)
6-6: Loss at Foresters (1-2)
6-6: Win at Foresters (3-2)

Recap
I got a question for you: how does a mediocre team follow up a 5-win week? Why with a 5-loss week of course! Luckily, we had an extra game this time, so instead of two wins we had three, giving us a slight net benefit.

One step forward, two steps back...

Aside from the potential 1948 Whitney Winner Red Bond, the offense was abysmal, with only three players, qualified or unqualified, producing an OPS+ above *check notes* 70. Yeah, it was that bad...

Bond was probably more productive then everyone else combined, going 9-for-24 with a triple, 3 homers, 2 walks, 6 RBIs, and 6 runs. Our slugging star -- who Max Wilder originally wanted on the bench -- is now slashing .327/.378/.673 (182 OPS+) with 15 homers and 31 RBIs. He's on pace for nearly a 50 homer, 100 RBI season, something no Cougar has ever came close to accomplishing. Tom Taylor is the only Cougar to hit at least 30 homers in a season, with 30 in 1932 and 31 in 1934. And with Ray Ford hitting just .224/.308/.328 (74 OPS+), I think it's time for Bond to try to hit lefties again. I'll keep my expectations down, as he's way better against righties (149 WRC+) then lefties (101 WRC+). Although based on the performances this week, I think only Sal Pestilli (8-27, 3 3B, HR, SB, 4 RBI) outperformed Bond against lefties. Good thing Sal is back!

Now where did everyone else go...

The rotation did well, with all five members having a weekly ERA under 3.40, and now all five members have an ERA+ above 100, with Donnie's 105 (3.63 ERA) the lowest on the staff. Despite that, only one starter picked up a win, and Duke Bybee won both of his starts. The first was another annoying 1-strikeout game, but considering it was a 4-hit, 1-walk shutout, I'll allow it. He then helped salvage the double header with the Foresters, going 8 with 6 hits, 2 runs (1 earned), 4 walks, and 5 strikeouts. Bybee is red hot, allowing 3 or fewer runs in 8 or more innings in each of his last four starts. Johnnie Jones did the reverse, losing both of his starts, but it's really hard to blame him. We didn't give him support against the Saints, and he went all nine with 7 hits, 3 runs, 2 walks, and 5 strikeouts. He was then cruising against the Wolves before a Skipper Schneider error in the 8th, everything fell apart. They ended up with 8 unearned runs, with six of them charged to Johnnie. In total, he allowed 11 hits, 2 walks, and an earned run with 4 strikeouts. Charlie Kelsey then allowed two walks and a hit before we mercifully got the final out.

With eight games in the week, we had one more two start starter, with George Oddo picking up a pair of no decisions. The first came in our 5-4 win over the Saints, where he went 7 with 7 hits, 4 runs, 3 walks, and 5 strikeouts. Ken Matson picked up the win here, going 2 with 2 hits and a walk. He was much better against the Foresters, but we couldn't get him any runs. He left after 8 with 5 hits, a run, 3 walks, and an impressive 10 strikeouts. Matson got the loss this time, getting one out before allowing two hits and a run. Oddo now leads the team with 49 strikeouts and ranks second in the CA behind just Bob Arman who has 51 in 16 more innings. Pap and Donnie didn't have the strikeouts going for them, with Pap setting down 3 and Donnie just 2. Pap's start was better, but got the loss, going 8 with 8 hits, 3 runs, and a walk. Donnie went 7.2 in a no decision, allowing 5 hits, 4 walks, and a run. It sucks because we pitched like a team that had a winning week, but like always we fail to play complete games. More one run losses, more blown games, and more general misery, as we continue to sleepwalk through a season where we should be having success.

Looking Ahead
Even tough we're off to start the week, we will face the Foresters on Tuesday. We split the double header with them, and the loss in game one was the first we suffered against them this season. They have played a bit better of late, now 20-29, and they've moved within three games of the Cannons for 7th. We are scheduled to face ace Ollie White (1-7, 5.32, 46) who struck out 10 in a loss to us in Chicago back in May. I still can't believe the Foresters have scored a league high 222 runs, but I can believe they've allowed a league high 235 runs. I wonder if its a stadium thing, as RBI leader Paul Porter (.279, 1, 30, 3) has just a 91 WRC+. In theory, Donnie Jones (3-4, 3.63, 35) should be able to keep them under control, as he'll be on full rest and can miss bats when he's feeling it. A win here is going to be important, as we're back to chasing and can't afford to fall off the pace.

Next stop on the road trip is Philadelphia, where we'll face the Sailors for three games. They've had a rough go recently, and have dropped to an even 24-24. That's just a game behind us and three off the leading Saints (27-21), so a strong showing this week can push them right back into it. The lineup has cooled off a bit and now Marion Boismenu (.344, 8, 4) is hitting the IL with a fractured foot. Boismenu was one of three Sailors, the others being old friends Ed Reyes (.385, 2, 30) and Solly Skidmore (.349, 1, 16), still hitting over .340. Unfortunately there also the only members of the lineup hitting over .300, as Cotton Dillon (.241, 1, 22, 2) and Billy Forbes (.237, 1, 23, 10) are off to slow starts and Harvey Brown (.288, 17, 15), Rip Lee (.267, 24), and Les Cunha (.266, 2, 23) aren't exactly lighting the world on fire. The back of their rotation has struggled as well, but Win Lewis (5-3, 2.39, 33) has been his regular dominant self. Lucky for us, he's scheduled to go up against the first place Saints as Philly looks to avoid the sweep. I'm not sure how they're setting up their rotation, but I'd love to get John Thomas Johnson (2-4, 4.97, 13) and Art Hull (4-3, 1, 4.05, 21), who have both been hit hard early on. I expect us to avoid the southpaw Hull, instead getting JTJ, Charlie Gordon (4-1, 3.57, 23), and Al Duster (3-3, 3.51, 30). All righties may be a benefit, as Red Bond (.327, 15, 31) and Walt Pack (.266, 7, 22) have feasted on righties. This is a big series for both teams, as it could play a large part in determining which of us stay in contention.

Our week and road trip ends with a weekend series in Cincinnati where we'll look to take advantage of the struggling Cannons. For the first time all season, they're closer to last (3 GA) then first (4.5 GB), losing four of their last five games. At least Denny Andrews (.195, 3, 16) is having a resurgence, going 9-for-21 last week with 2 doubles, a homer, 7 runs, 4 RBIs, and an impressive 8 walks. It's good that he's heating up as Chuck Adams (.251, 9, 32) has cooled off and Adam Mullins (.248, 10), Fred Galloway (.229, 1, 17), and Charlie Rivera (.208, 2, 11, 4) haven't looked like themselves. And aside from Rufus Barrell (6-2, 2.14, 38) and Jim Anderson (4-3, 2.01, 33), the rotation has struggled. If we miss them I like our chances here, and I hope we can pile on the misery while they're down.

The Amateur Draft Pool was officially revealed today, but I'll touch more on our draftees over the weekend in a stand alone post. I'm not overly thrilled with our class, but plenty of Cougars appear on the conflicting mock drafts. No first rounder on either of my two computers, but Jeff King (13th) and Bob Allie (14th) appeared in other members of the league. None crack Dixie's top 15, but King (20th), 2nd Rounder Amos Peterson (29th), and 4th Rounder Elmer Grace (18th) are on his 32 player first round list.

Minor League Report
LF Ducky Cole (AAA Milwaukee Blues): It was an excellent birthday month for the now 24-year-old Ducky Cole, who was named Batter of the Month in the Century League. Ducky hit an impressive .382/.434/.555 (149 OPS+) with 10 doubles, 3 homers, 23 RBIs, 14 runs, and 9 walks. He's now hitting a strong .357/.408/.506 (130 OPS+) with a 143 WRC+ in his first 40 games. He's added 12 doubles, 2 triples, 3 homers, 13 walks, and 28 RBIs and is on pace for an impressive 5.3 WAR in just 127 games. One of two 40-man players in the Blues outfield, Cole is the more likely of the two (the other being Jimmy Hairston) to receive a callup, and he good be a good short-term solution if one of our outfielders gets hurt. Although he generally plays in one of the corners, he has played some center field in the past and will begin to play more this season as I want to give Johnny Peters some reps in right. Whenever he returns to Chicago he'll be in line for his first big league hit, as he was 0-for-2 last fall. He seems in line for a September callup, but if he keeps hitting like this he'll get a chance to jolt a very nonchalant lineup.

CF Franklin Thomas (AA Mobile Commodores): Despite hitting just .254/.319/.411 (96 OPS+) in A ball last season, I decided to give Franklin Thomas one of the three outfield spots in AA. The former 9th Rounder has not disappointed. Through 43 games, Thomas has hit .349/.391/.537 (135 OPS+) with a 144 WRC+, and is fresh off a Player of the Week award. He went 13-for-28 and added a double, 2 homers, 7 RBIs, 9 runs, 5 walks, and 2 steals. He now has 9 doubles, 3 triples, and 6 homers with 9 steals, 23 RBIs, and a whopping 40 runs scored. Leading the order with Rupert Abbott (.329, 3, 31, 4) and Billy Biggar (.425, 1, 31, 2) behind him, Thomas has not been left on base very often, but a lot of that can be accounted to Thomas' own skills. He's a great base runner who can make a defense sweat, and he makes consistent hard contact. He has a quick bat that handles the fastball, and while breaking pitches can fool him, he's cut down on his whiffs. A natural center fielder, Thomas has spent most of his time in left, and he's more then excelled at the position. He should be a plus defender at all three spots, making it a bit easier on him for cracking a big league roster. I wouldn't bet on him being an every day player, but he has the skillset to be a useful role player who can help his team win games.

2B Roxy Hilts (B San Jose Cougars): Just when I was talking about how we didn't have many injuries, Bob Stout goes down with a severe hip strain. And while that's not good news for him, it is for Roxy Hilts, who has more then earned a promotion to Lincoln. In 44 games with San Jose, Hilts slashed .383/.418/.533 (143 OPS+) with 10 doubles, 6 triples, a homer, a steal, and 20 RBIs. He was worth nearly 2 WAR and was on pace for 6 in 140 games, and he played impressive defense at second (3..9, 1.059). If there was a fault, it was his 4.9% walk rate which is much lower then his 15.8% strikeout rate. His strikeout rate is higher then Leo Mitchell (15.3) this season, and he'd be on a 92 strikeout pace for a full season. That will be something to watch in A ball, but like a younger Mitchell, Hilts still projects to hit for a very high average. His bat is his strength and he could hit around .330, but it's not going to come with much power. That's why it's going to be important to keep his strikeout rate down, or at least start to walk more. Roxy turns 20 tomorrow, so it's a rather aggressive promotion, but the former 4th Rounder is advanced for his age. I would have preferred to promote third basemen Billy Nash (.345, 2, 23), but third base is covered by Buddy Brumbaugh (.257, 1, 18) in Lincoln. This will bring Hilts, who ranks 19th in our system and 224th overall, closer to a big league debut, which OSA thinks isn't too far off. They have him scheduled to reach the majors in 1950, but I think that might be a little too close. There's still plenty of work to be done with the bat, but if he doesn't slow down he could quickly find himself in the upper minors.