[ayaghmour2]

Weekly Record: 3-2
Seasonal Record: 46-40 (3rd, 5.5 GB)
Stars of the Week
Sal Pestilli : 23 AB, 10 H, 1 HR, 3 RBI, .435 AVG, 1.152 OPS
Leo Mitchell : 15 AB, 7 H, 0 HR, 3 RBI, .467 AVG, 1.167 OPS
Skipper Schneider : 22 AB, 8 H, 0 HR, 3 RBI, .364 AVG, .917 OPS

Schedule
7-15: Win at Foresters (5-2)
7-16: Win at Foresters (17-3)
7-17: Win at Foresters (3-1)
7-18: Loss at Wolves (1-2)
7-18: Loss at Wolves (0-4)

Recap
So frustrating...

If we could beat anyone but the Foresters, we could have taken advantage of the Stars four game losing streak, but right after a sweep in Cleveland we went to Toronto and got swept in the double header. The offense went cold up north, as after 25 runs in Cleveland we got just 1 in 18 innings. Add another one-run loss -- that makes 17 -- more then the 32-55 Foresters and the same amount as the 30-60 Miners. Only the Pioneers (18) and Cannons (20) have more, with the Cannons (.333) the only team with a lower winning percentage then us (.392). You would think after nearly 15 years we'd finally start winning one-run games, but no, only in our title year and the 1945 season where I thought we'd have no chance of contending, we are allowed to win one-run games.

The CA did win the All-Star game, crushing the Fed 11-3, but Pap (IP, H, 2 ER, 2 BB) and Duke (IP, H, ER, 2 BB) were awful and allowed the only runs. Sal had a huge game against the squad he represented six times, going 3-for-4 with a double, homer, 2 runs, and 2 RBIs. Skipper didn't start, but played most of the game at short (which shows he deserved to start!), going 1-for-3 with a run scored. Our last All-Star, Red Bond, pinch hit in the 8th and got out in his only at bat. The two associations are now tied in All-Star wins, as the Conti is on a nice little stretch.

Luke Berry may have gone just 1-for-6 in his debut week, but his presence surely helped Leo Mitchell. The struggling outfielder is feeling the pressure, and produced a 7-for-15 week with a double, triple, walk, 3 runs, and 3 RBIs. Why he can't hit any homers, I don't know, but hey! He's hitting .290! That's progress! Skipper and Sal did well in the regular games too, with Skipper 7-for-19 with 3 doubles, 3 runs, and 3 RBIs while Sal was 7-for-19 with a triple and his 15th steal of the season. He's now just one away from his previous high coming back in 1942, and he's been caught (6) less then any season prior to last year, where he was a poor 5-for-9 on stolen base attempts. Red Bond hit his 19th homer and drove in 5, 5-for-17 in total with an a double and 3 runs scored. Not much more from the rest of the team, as while we did have that awesome 17 run game, in was pretty much all Bond, Mitchell, and Sal, with help from Hal Sharp (3-5, 3 R) and Clark Car (2-4, R, 2 RBI), but both had just two hits a piece in the other four games. I don't know how we put the fewest runners on base and rank bottom half in so many offensive statistics, but eventually these guys have to perform. Our rotation is just too good to blow another season, but that seems like where we are headed.

As always, we pitched well, and needed just two outs of relief. That was courtesy of Charlie Kelsey, who relieved Pap after 8.1 innings, 7 hits, 3 runs, and 7 walks with 5 strikeouts. Kelsey got a flyout and strike out to finish the 17-3 domination. Duke Bybee continued his Allen case, allowing just 6 hits and a run with 3 walks and 3 strikeouts in another complete game win. That's 11 now for Bybee, who leads the CA in wins and ranks 3rd with a 2.56 ERA. Last year's winner Donnie Jones picked up a complete game win of his own, with 7 hits, 2 runs, 5 walks, and 5 strikeouts. Brother Johnnie got a rather unlucky loss, just 5 hits, 2 runs, and 5 walks with 6 strikeouts in 8 innings. George Oddo didn't get any run support, but 8 hits and 4 runs isn't the best line for 8 innings. Still, he struck out 5 and walked 1, and his 3.64 ERA (109 ERA+) and 1.29 WHIP are what people are happy with for their 3rd starters, let alone their distant five, and his 70 strikeouts are 4th in the CA and his 5.5 K/9 is best among all full-time starters as just Ollie White (6.4), who has started just 13 of his 23 games, has a higher mark. We've allowed 31 runs fewer then any other team, and four teams have allowed 100 or more runs then us. Even more impressive, our 1.26 team WHIP is the only one below 1.30, with all but two other teams above 1.40. In fact, 10 teams have a WHIP 20 points or higher then ours and and our 3.22 team ERA is the only one below 3.70. It might not be an All-Time great staff, as plenty have allowed fewer runs, but compared to the rest of the league we have really excelled.

The draftees continue to trickle in, and as I expected, Clyde Skinner, our first AI pick, is a pretty solid prospect. The 18-year-old hit .455/.540/.752 with 5 homers and 33 RBIs as a senior, and now ranks 16th in our system and 164th overall. That give us eight draftees in the top 200, something I didn't think we'd even come close to sniffing. I still can't believe Dixie Gaines (55th) and Elmer Grace (84th) are so highly ranked, and maybe I didn't give myself enough credit with this class. We didn't pick until 26th, but still got a very nice haul. I have one outstanding offer and submitted a second, but it may be mid-August when I start to finish off the class. We're just two weeks into short season ball, so I'd like a little more time to evaluate some of the fringe guys.

Looking Ahead
Can we avoid the sweep? Let's find out! Joe Hancock (4-4, 4.60, 30) is back in the rotation, and he'll take on a short-rested Donnie Jones (7-7, 3.38, 66) in Toronto. There's always rumors of Fred McCormick (.284, 10, 41, 5) being on the mound, but as usual, Bernie Mallard has zero interest in moving the superstar first basemen. A quiet deadline is expected for the Wolves, like many other teams, and at 42-45 they aren't an obvious buyer. They have some legit trade pieces in vets Hancock, Chink Stickels (.271, 11, 52, 12), and Hal Wood (.347, 2, 42), but the Wolves seem to have their eyes on 1949 for another run at contention. Jerry York (8-8, 2.85, 54) has been red hot and with him, George Garrison (6-7, 3.67, 51), Hancock, and Jimmy Gibbs (3-4, 3.58, 43) they have a pretty solid rotation. Add in a catcher, a bounce back from Charlie Artuso (.233, 3, 28, 4), and maybe an outfielder and they could be right back in it. We really need the win here, but I'll give a score prediction: Chicago 2, Toronto 3. Can't wait till it's that tomorrow!

Next stop on our road trip is Cincinnati, as we face the very unlucky Cannons. And no, not just because of Denny Andrews' (.222, 8, 28) uncharacteristically poor season, but because they actually have a +2 run differential despite being seven under .500. I mentioned how they're even worse then we are in one-run games, so I fully expect us to play three of them here, where the teams spend most of the game tied since no one will want the winning run. They aren't doing much hitting, as along with Andrews, Chuck Adams (.257, 15, 56) and Fred Galloway (.229, 2, 36) have really struggled, and Sam Brown (.296, 7, 37) and Adam Mullins (.278, 4, 33) have just been average. One bright spot in the lineup has been new entrant Johnny Potter, who is hitting a strong .305/.380/.496 (127 OPS+) with 4 homers and 21 RBIs in 152 trips to the plate. It's a nice little breakout for the 30-year-old, who excluding last year, performed well in a bench role. Again, we're likely stuck with Rufus Barrell (10-6, 2.17, 68) and Jim Anderson (9-5, 2.66, 57), but if we beat them once, maybe we can do it again!

The weekend series is weird, as we get one on Friday with the Sailors, are off Saturday, and then get a double header to finish the week. The defending pennant winners are white hot, winning 12 games in a row from late June through July, and are an impressive 12-5 for the month. The Sailors are again without Marion Boismenu (.347, 15, 4), but the lineup can still put up runs. Ed Reyes (.364, 5, 51) is well on his way to a fourth consecutive batting title, almost if doing it out of spite after I said he'd regress to a sub .300 hitter once the war vets returned. Joe Scott (.310, 4, 20) has cooled some, Solly Skidmore (.280, 1, 24) has seen his production plummet, David Molina (2-7, 14, 4.48, 41) no longer looks like himself, and they'll now be without Harvey Brown (.289, 2, 35, 25) for three weeks with a bone bruise. This could be the right time to catch them, as we also should miss Win Lewis (8-6, 3.09, 61). The Sailors are always tough to beat, and since they always have a next man ready to get up, they cannot be underestimated.

Minor League Report
2B Bob Schmelz (AAA Milwaukee Blues): Young infielder Bob Schmelz just keeps pushing for a promotion. The 23-year-old was instrumental in Milwaukee's 11-4 win over Indianapolis, as the former 1st Rounder went 5-for-6 with 3 runs scored and driven in. He was just a triple away from the cycle, and is now hitting .365/.457/.545 (150 OPS+) in 81 games. His 168 WRC+ is higher then any Cougar, and he's compiled 17 doubles, 5 triples, 9 homers, 61 RBIs, 58 runs, and 51 walks. He's struck out just 24 times in 359 trips to the plate, and despite an awful -9.9 zone rating (.916) at second he's on pace for a 5 WAR (5.5) season. That defense is the only thing keeping him in the minors, as Schmelz looks more like a first basemen then a second basemen. That limits his opportunity to get into games, but if thinks get bad I could get created. George Sutterfield isn't hitting much and I could send him to AAA to play more frequently. Billy Hunter could shift from second to third, opening a spot for Schmelz. With Sutterfield's immense potential I really want to give him a chance to shine. But if we keep flailing as we have, Schmelz could be the spark we need to win a few extra games.

LHP Ron Berry (AA Mobile Commodores): Yeah, Ron Berry was ready for AA. After a complete game victory with 7 strikeouts and just 1 walk in his first start with the division leading Commodores, Berry threw a 3-hit shutout in a dominant 10-0 win over the the last place Chieftains (32-49). He struck out just one and walked three, but he now has a 1.50 ERA (291 ERA+) and 0.89 WHIP, somehow better then the 2.11 (201 ERA+) and 1.00 he put up in 81 innings with the Legislators. Of course, his 3.36 FIP (77 FIP-) isn't as impressive (2.87, 67), but it's still a dream start for the 22-year-old. Currently ranked as the 76th best prospect in baseball, he's showing he should probably be ranked above, oh, say a Dixie Gaines. Yes, he doesn't throw very fast, but he has insane command, generates a ton of groundballs, and already has big league level stuff. I do want the extra velocity, don't get me wrong, but the young southpaw has a very high floor. He could probably be a spot starter now and he has the potential to be a really good #3. I don't think that cracks our top five, but he's 8 years younger then Pap and Johnnie Jones, and as much as I love Johnnie, I'm not sure how long he can hold off the talented youngsters. I won't go on too much on how the war cost him some of his best seasons, but I do think the veteran will have plenty to share to Berry once he gets up in the big leagues. He'll be protected for the Rule-5 draft this offseason, so that could be as early as next season. I expect Berry to use up all three options, but if we're in a pinch injury wise, he could be an exciting option, working his way into a spot like George Oddo did.

LHP Bob Hobbs (AA Mobile Commodores): After a poor showing in 11 AAA starts last year (3-7, 6.43, 37), 26-year-old Bob Hobbs was sent to AA to start the 1948 season. And after a slow start, Hobbs is really starting to turn things around. He's now won six of his last eight starts, capping that run off with a 3-hit, 3-strikeout shutout against the Atlanta Peaches. He's now 9-4 in 14 starts with a 3.88 ERA (112 ERA+), 1.33 WHIP, 43 walks, and 61 strikeouts. Those are pretty great numbers, and I'm ready to give him another chance as we need to make room for Joe Oates to start his pro career in San Jose. The former 8th Rounder has always had great stuff, as he almost always sports a K% above 10. This year's 11.8 is no different, but it comes with a near personal best 8.3 BB%. That's aided a similar 3.91 FIP (89 FIP-) and with such a good fastball he could really do well in the right environment. It'll be tough to find him a spot with us, but he's a live arm who wouldn't be the worst option to give a big league audition. As a Rule-5 eligible player every inning he throws is an audition, and teams love to take a chance on guys who can handle AAA hitters.

Cougars in the GWL
CF Orlin Yates (San Francisco Hawks): Remember Orlin Yates? He's making a decent living in the GWL as an every day player. He's in year three with the Hawks, and even stole a league high 19 bases last season and posted WRC+ of 106 and 98. With his stellar defense that meant 5+ WAR seasons (5.6 and 5.4), making him one of the more valuable players in the league. He wasn't great in the first two months of the season, but he hit a rough patch in June, hitting just .212/.288/.263 (60 OPS+) in 26 games. July has been a different story, and he had a day to remember in the Hawks 8-4 win at home. The original Bigsby Cup MVP did something he had no shot of doing in FABL, going a perfect 5-for-5 with a homer, 3 runs, and 3 RBIs. That's fueled his .329/.347/.471 (136 OPS+) month, and his monthly 144 WRC+ is much better then the 90 he has in the aggregate. At 36, he's not quite the defender he once was, but still a bit above average (4.4, 1.007) in his standard center. The Hawks have profited from his month, as they've gone 11-6 and have moved up to second, 4.5 games behind the leading Knights. Yates isn't the star, that would be Jack Henderson (11-5, 2.12, 50), Mr. .401 Bob Land (.346, 33), or richy rich Woody Stone (.247, 6, 33) but the former Coug is one of many useful supplemental pieces.