[ayaghmour2]

Weekly Record: 4-2
Seasonal Record: 41-32 (2nd, 4 GB)
Stars of the Week
Hal Sharp : 19 AB, 8 H, 1 HR, 6 RBI, .421 AVG, 1.134 OPS
Leo Mitchell : 19 AB, 10 H, 0 HR, 1 RBI, .526 AVG, 1.076 OPS
Duke Bybee : 1 Win, 9.0 IP, 1 BB, 4 K, 0.00 ERA

Schedule
6-29: Loss vs Stars (4-3)
6-30: Loss vs Stars (3-1)
7-1: Win vs Stars (3-6)
7-2: Win vs Saints (5-9): 10 innings
7-3: Win vs Saints (0-2)
7-4: Win vs Saints (0-4)

Recap
Its not every week you lose just two games and fall a game and a half in the standings, but when you lose games to the team you are chasing, you're in for a heck of a lot of trouble. The Stars left town winners of two of three, as yet again, the one-run games got in our way. We actually matched their scoring, with both teams winning ten. Luckily, we got back to sweeping, picking up our fourth in six series, sweeping the struggling Saints and moving back within four of the Stars. They are starting to pull away, but as you might expect, our +47 run differential laps their +27. Back to our old tricks!

But guess what!?!?!?! Leo Mitchell may be back!!! The veteran slugger finally put the ball in play, going 10-for-19 with a run scored and driven in. Still no homers, but it's nice to see a classic .500+ week from the former 2nd Rounder. Hal Sharp had success as well, 8-for-19 with 2 doubles, a homer, and 6 RBIs. Sal Pestilli kept up his consistent bat, 7-for-24 with a triple, homer, 2 steals, 3 runs, and 4 RBIs. He's been an extra base machine, hitting 11 doubles, 10 triples, and 12 homers with 12 steals, 25 walks, 43 runs, and 41 RBIs. Part-timers Ray Ford, Carlos Montes, and Billy Hunter all performed well, going 7-for-19, with Ford and Montes both hitting balls out of the park. Harry Mead went 4-for-15 with a double and homer while Clark Car was 6-for-19 with a double and steal. It's hard to be too mad at the lineup, but we need to heat Red Bond and Walt Pack up. Bond is now ice cold, and the sluggers went just 8-for-40 with Pack at least adding a double and homer. It is still early, but we're starting to fall back, and I'm not ready for another failed season. Can we just score some runs please?!?!?

The pitching was fantastic, and we had just one game where we allowed more then four runs. We still won that game, as a Hal Sharp walk-off grand slam in the 10th gave us the opener with the Saints. Johnnie started that one, charged with 9 hits, 5 runs, and 3 walks with 2 strikeouts in 9 innings pitched. The Saints used up all their scoring in that one, as Duke Bybee and Donnie Jones followed it up with shutouts. Bybee did allow 10 hits, but just 1 walk with 4 strikeouts to win his 10th game of the season. This was his first start after earning Pitcher of the Month for June, as he was a perfect 5-0 with a 1.80 ERA (218 ERA+), 1.10 WHIP, and 20 strikeouts. Bybee has put his name in the running for All-Star game starter, as the former 4th Rounder is 10-3 with a 2.56 ERA (153 ERA+) and 1.22 WHIP. He's struck out 47 in 15 starts and has already thrown three shutouts. Whether he starts or not, he deserves to represent us at the Midsummer Classic, as he's been one of the few guys to consistently win starts for us.

Donnie Jones allowed just 3 hits, but his came with 4 walks and 6 strikeouts to improve return to .500 at 6-6. It came after a loss against the Stars where he allowed 5 hits, 3 runs, and 2 walks with 5 strikeouts. Donnie has shaken off his slow start, and now owns a 3.16 ERA (124 ERA+) and 1.23 WHIP with 60 strikeouts through 16 starts. George Oddo was the only one to beat the Stars, going 8 with 7 hits, 3 runs, 2 walks, and 3 strikeouts. Pap got an unlucky no decision, going 8 with 11 hits, 3 runs (2 earned), and 7 strikeouts. He's up to 69, good for third in the association. Our pitching is as good as it gets, and if the offense can start waking up, we'll be in very good shape.

A lot of our important draftees have signed, with plenty of surprising additions to the top 100 list. With no first rounder, I didn't expect any, but at least for now we have three. 4th Rounder Dixie Gaines ranks 5th in the system and 57th overall. Dixie ranks second so far among pitchers selected in the recent draft, trailing just 12th Overall Pick Jimmy Isgro (#45) He's not the only addition to the top 100, as fellow 4th Rounder Elmer Grace ranks 75th and 3rd Rounder Jeff King ranks 95th. Two more Cougar draftees Bob Allie (106th), Cecil Burr (142nd), and Archie Cunningham (178th) find themselves inside the top 200. The only guy who signed, but doesn't rank, is 2nd Rounder Amos Peterson, but that's because he signed on the last day of the sim. My only offer out left is Dick Cunningham, but I will begin to offer out more bonuses. La Crosse is getting started this week, and with three open spots, at least three of the guys who signed will be joining the Lions.

Looking Ahead
Remember early in the season where we kept alternating home-road-home-road? It's that time again! Fresh off an impressive homestand, we'll once again face the New York Stars, with two on Monday and a third on Tuesday. The Stars are 47-30, outperforming their expected record by 6 games. The pitching matchups should favor us, as while they can use a spot starter, we'll miss both Eli Panneton (10-5, 3.72, 54) and Vern Hubbard (8-3, 3.05, 41) who swept the Kings in a double header. That leaves Chuck Cole (6-8, 5.01, 25), Richie Hughes (7-6, 4.79, 65), and Henry Shaffer (6-4, 4.78, 34), and while Cole did beat us in Chicago, I really like our chances here. Making things difficult for New York is the sore elbow of Ed Holmes, as the Stars may be without the 51st ranked prospect for the next two weeks. He's having a great debut season, slashing .344/.398/.519 (141 OPS+) with 13 doubles, 6 triples, a homer, 4 steals, and 14 RBIs in 184 trips to the plate. They could decide to have him play through it, as it only effects his throwing, but Andy Gross (.257, 2, 21, 2) is a capable replacement. This is a huge series for us, as anything less then a series win could put us in a world of pain as we look to return to the postseason for the first time since 1941.

Then we're quickly back home for two with the Kings. Brooklyn had a rough week, dropping to 39-36 and seven place out of first, dropping all five if their July games so far. One of the few bright spots of the week for the Kings was former Cougar Hank Barnett hitting his 300th career home run off the talented Bert Cupid (8-6, 2.51, 45). A career .284/.363/.441 (123 OPS+) hitter, the 38-year-old hasn't gotten off to the best start, hitting just .228/.310/.386 (81 OPS+) with 14 doubles, 8 homers, and 40 RBIs. He has walked (31) more then he's struck out (28), but there have been very few instances this season where he looks like his prime self. They've announced the recently healthy Juan Pomales (.160, 1) will move to the bench, but the replacement Pat Petty (.285, 6, 41) is more then capable. He's no Ralph Johnson (.282, 17, 50) of course, and it's going to be annoying facing the two best non-Bobby Barrell right fielders in a row. I also expect to face strikeout machine Bob Arman (8-7, 2.34, 78) making things all the more difficult. I do think we'll miss out on Leo Hayden (6-8, 4.01, 49), but no matter who pitches, we'll have to keep up with their offense. The Kings (20-16) have been playing better on the road, so it may not be in our benefit to be hosting them. We'll have to keep up with their offense, so I'm really hoping Red Bond (.282, 18, 43), Walt Pack (.255, 11, 30), and Sal Pestilli (.259, 12, 41, 12) have some home runs up their sleeves.

More traveling and a tough one as we play the Saints three times before the All-Star break. Montreal followed up a 12-17 June with three losses in four games. They're one of the few offenses to score fewer (279) runs then us and are now 36-39 and ten out of first. We just swept them in Chicago, so it's a prime revenge opportunity for them. They'll have a few All-Stars, as Cupid and Wally Reif (9-3, 2.56, 53) are both deserving of their first All-Star selections. Relievers get picked as well, which means Bud Robbins (3-2, 10, 2.20, 10) has a good chance of making his second appearance as a reliever. The lineup has deserving candidates as well, with Gordie Perkins (.283, 5, 28, 6), Bill Greene (.245, 7, 29, 15), and Pinky Pierce (.269, 9, 32) all having strong seasons. This last week will have a huge impact on who make the bench spots, and the last thing the Saints will want to do is take two more shutouts. The Parc Cartier is a very pitcher friendly stadium, so I expect three very long games between the top two pitching staffs.

Minor League Report
1B Billy Biggar (AA Mobile Commodores): Can't say I'm surprised Billy Biggar was Batter of the Month in the Dixie League, as he hit an absurd .408/472/.560 (162 OPS+) with 13 doubles and 28 RBIs. No homers for the light hitting first basemen, as he still has one in 68 games. That hasn't made him any less effective, as his season .418/.468/.561 (162 OPS+) line is just as good as his monthly one. His 170 WRC+ is best on the team and he's tallied 26 doubles, 6 triples, 45 runs, and 53 RBIs with 28 walks and just 13 strikeouts. He's even swiped three bases, and is already worth 3.3 WAR -- the exact amount he accumulated in 135 games in A ball last year. He deserves a promotion, but there's no space in Milwaukee. He could be ready for the big leagues, and as a Rule-5 eligible player there's a chance he could leave the organization sometime soon. What works against him is he's unranked on the prospect list, as light hitting first basemen aren't the most highly sought out commodities. He's always going to hit, but his defensive shortcomings limit his value.

RHP Fred Terry (AA Mobile Commodores): One pitcher at each level needs to be moved from San Jose on up to make room for Dixie Gaines, and Fred Terry might very well be the guy getting the call to Milwaukee. He's certainly hot, winning five of his last six starts, including a 6-hit shutout of the Knoxville Knights. Terry struck out three and surrendered no free passes, improving to 8-4 on the season with a 3.64 ERA (122 ERA+) and 1.39 WHIP. Unfortunately for Terry, fellow 23-year-olds Harry Beardsley (7-4, 3.23, 52) and Dick Garcia (7-5, 2.27, 34) have been excellent as well. Luckily for the hardworking Terry, more spots will be needed once Hal Carter, Joe Oates, and Nick Tomlinson sign, so even if he's passed up this time, he'll have a few other chances. It would be a quick ascend to AAA if Terry makes it, as he threw just 2 starts in San Jose and 8 starts in Lincoln last year. As a college senior, he was more advanced then the average college starter, so I'm not worried about rushing him. If he can solidify is arsenal he could pitch his way into a big league rotation, but there's a tough path ahead for the Birmingham native.

LHP Ron Berry (A Lincoln Legislators): It has been a dominant start for Ron Berry in A ball, as through 12 starts he has an elite 2.11 ERA (205 ERA+) and 1.00 WHIP with 19 walks and 59 strikeouts in 81 innings pitched. It would be tough to keep this up for long, but considering Berry's 2.93 FIP (67 ERA+), he may continue to miss bats and keep runs off the board. The extreme groundballer has yet to allow a home run and is sporting an outstanding 3.1 K/BB in his 12 starts. This combination has allowed to many quick innings and he hasn't lost a start since May 11th. Currently ranked as the 65th prospect in baseball, Berry is doing everything he can to boost his prospect stock, and his stuff has impressed so far. He's not a very hard thrower, sitting at 85-87 with his fastball, but his change up is devastating as the bottom just craters out. His slider is particularly effective against same side hitters and his curveball is effective against the ones with the platoon advantage. Despite the low speed, all four of his pitches are already weapons, and he could probably strike out some FABL hitters at 22. It's clear he is ready to face tougher competition, and the former 7th Rounder will finish out his season with the Commodores.

RHP Bob Allen (B San Jose Cougars): It hasn't been the greatest start to the season for Bob Allen, and he's seen his K% drop from 11.1 to 8.9 down in San Jose. He did finish June strong, throwing a 5-hit shutout against the first place Salem Warriors. That dropped his ERA to a more palatable 4.65 (98 ERA+) in 81.1 innings pitched. The 20-year-old isn't having the same batted ball luck he did last year, and with the stark decline in strikeouts he hasn't wiggled out of jams as easily. He does tend to get outs on the ground, with an elevated 58% ground ball percentage. With a Skipper Schneider at short that's an advantage, but most minor league infielders aren't as gifted as him. I'm hoping Allen can start to miss more bats. His slider is an excellent pitch, but his fastball remains in the 80s. If he can sit in the 90s Allen will lead a rotation, as his pitches have plenty of bite and are difficult to elevate. His overall stuff is still raw, but he could be among the leagues strikeout leaders just like Pap, Oddo, and the Jones Brothers are now. A few of the new draftees rank above Allen, so he's just outside the top 10 (11th Overall), but he remains the second ranked pitcher. His future is bright and will surely spend years in our rotation. A full decade younger then Pap, they may not pitch too much together, but I'm hoping they will be good enough for a nice passing of the torch.

RHP Tommy Seymour (B San Jose Cougars): One of the pitchers who will be moving up, the former 1st Rounder Tommy Seymour will return to Lincoln, where he went just 6-14 with a 5.63 ERA (75 ERA+) in 24 starts last year. The 22-year-old was much better down a level, as despite his 5-6 record he had a strong 3.74 ERA (121 ERA+) and 1.37 WHIP with 33 walks and 45 strikeouts. A three pitch pitcher, Seymour was just pushed outside the top 300 prospect list and now ranks 31st (341st overall) in our system. When we selected him 13th Overall back in 1943, I was hoping he'd add some speed, potentially sitting in the low 90s by now. Instead, he tops out at 87, severely limiting the effectiveness of his excellent change up. He does still have his youth, but Seymour lacks the shine of some of our recent first rounders. If he doesn't debut in FABL, he'll break a 13 player streak going back to Ed Reyes in 1931 of FABL players. None of the first rounders selected after Seymour have debuted, but 1945 1st Rounder Johnny Peters is ticketed for a debut no later then this September as he'll be Rule-5 eligible. There's still some time left for Seymour to earn a big league callup, but he's no longer a 1st Round talent, and won't receive the benefits that distinction brings.