[ayaghmour2]

Weekly Record: 5-1
Seasonal Record: 58-48 (3rd, 4.5 GB)
Stars of the Week
Sal Pestilli : 23 AB, 7 H, 3 HR, 8 RBI, .304 AVG, 1.129 OPS
Walt Pack : 19 AB, 7 H, 2 HR, 4 RBI, .368 AVG, 1.165 OPS
Red Bond : 11 AB, 5 H, 2 HR, 7 RBI, .455 AVG, 1.455 OPS

Schedule
8-3: Win vs Cannons (5-8)
8-4: Win vs Cannons (5-11)
8-5: Loss vs Cannons (4-3)
8-6: Win vs Foresters (1-3)
8-7: Win vs Foresters (2-5)
8-8: Win vs Foresters (4-8)

Recap
Baseball is funny, isn't it? We have our best week since last time we faced the Cannons and Foresters. No double sweeps this time, as the Cannons did manage to steal a one-run game, but we outscored our Ohio visitors 38-21, increasing our run differential to a FABL best +71. Ours is so stellar that it is one run higher then the combined total of the Stars (+34), Sailors (+6), and Kings (+30), the only other Continental Association clubs with a positive run differential. But since the Stars had a good week and continue to outperform their run differential (+6!!), we gained just half a game in the standings. This is what happens when you tread water (19-18) for two months. You finally get going, but all the chances you had to make up ground pass you up. On paper, there's no reason we shouldn't be in first place, but I'm not the least bit surprised we're on the outside looking in. It is what we do best!

Red Bond is healthy again and hitting like it, going 5-for-11 with 2 homers and 7 RBIs, giving him 22 and 62 on the season. He's got into just 84 games as his playing time has slowed down with his injury, but is back on pace to set our single season homer record. His two replacements for the week, Ray Ford and Luke Berry, were just as good if not better, 9-for-14 with a double a piece. Ford added 2 runs, 4 walks, and even a steal, but the now 37-year-old veteran is on pace for his first below average offensive season in both OPS+ (88) and WRC+ (81). Berry was really struggling coming into the week, but he's now hitting .353/.436/.412 (128 OPS+) in 39 trips to the plate. Half of his 12 hits came in his two starts (one in left, one at first), and he now has a 149 WRC+ as a Cougar and 102 overall.

For a chance there was production all through the lineup, and Walt Pack finally got thing back up again, He went 7-for-19 with a double, 2 homers, and 4 runs scored and driven in. Sal Pestilli continued his extra-base crusade, with 4 of his 7 hits going for extra bases. He tripled, homered three times, and tallied 8 RBIs and 6 runs, upping his season WAR to an even 4.0. It's not a classic Sal Pestilli season, but the 7-Time All-Star is hitting a productive .260/.325/.505 (119 OPS+) with a 127 WRC+. 47 of his 105 hits have gone for extra bases, as Pestilli has launched 19 homers with 14 doubles and triple, while swiping 16 bases and drawing 41 walks. Hal Sharp looked like the Hal Sharp of year's past, going 7-for-18 with a double, 4 RBIs, 7 runs, and even a steal. This upped his season line to .297/.371/.393 (105 OPS+), and while his 113 WRC+ is still strong, it would be his lowest in a sample of 450 PAs or more. He's on pace for almost 500, and he's seen his WRC+ (32, 98, 119, 130, 199) increase in each month. We also got strong performances from Clark Car, going 8-for-20 with a double, triple, steal, 2 walks, 4 runs, and 4 RBIs in a very complete week. If we can get this many guys to hit, it can make up for the eventual slumps (Leo Mitchell I'm looking at you...) elsewhere in the lineup, and who knows? Maybe we can make a run again! Can we just only play teams from Ohio?

The pitching wasn't great, but the back two in our rotation sure were! George Oddo continues to dominate, allowing just 6 hits, a run, and 2 walks with 5 strikeouts in a complete game victory. Johnnie Jones was just as good, with 9 hits, 2 runs (1 earned), 2 walks, and 7 strikeouts in his complete game win. Both now have ERAs below Donnie Jones, who picked up his 10th and 11th wins of the year. The Cannons chased him out with two outs in the ninth, as he left with 10 hits, 4 runs, and 3 strikeouts. One of the runs came after he left, as Jim Kenny quickly allowed a two-run homer to Adam Mullins (.288, 5, 39) before getting Chuck Adams (.268, 21, 78) to flyout on the first pitch he saw. Donnie then went 8 against Cleveland, allowing 6 hits, 3 runs (2 earned), and 2 walks with 6 strikeouts. Donnie's now won four consecutive starts, and the Cannons start was the only one he allowed more then two earned runs. It's funny our reigning Allen winner has the highest team ERA (3.24, 122), but he's still well on his way to another excellent year.

The lone loss went to Duke Bybee, who just refuses to strike guys out this year. He didn't have any in his 8 innings of work, and left with 5 hits, 4 runs, and 4 walks. He's still struck out (60) a few more batters then he's walked (56), but he's allowed one or fewer strikeouts in three of his last four starts, and after an elite 1.7 K/BB last season it's down over half a strikeout to just 1.1. Pete Papenfus had a less effective start, but with 14 runs of support he came away with his 12th victory and 4th victory since the break. Pap threw 132 pitches and got all but the final out, charged with 7 hits, 5 runs, and 3 walks with 5 strikeouts. Looking to the pen, one guy I haven't talked enough about is Ken Matson. Matson had an awful start to the year, allowing 7 hits, 6 runs (5 earned), and 3 walks in his first 3 appearances (3.1 innings). Since then he's been remarkable, and he's allowed just 7 earned runs in his last 38.2 innings pitched. With a perfect inning against the Cannons in the 4-3 loss, Matson has now thrown 12 consecutive scoreless outings, last allowing a run on June 29th. Our stopper is now 4-4 with 11 saves, and he sports a remarkable 2.79 ERA (142 ERA+) and 1.26 WHIP with 20 strikeouts in 39 appearances. The 30-year-old is definitely good enough to start, and Dixie Marsh thinks he's better then George Oddo. Having a guy like him should be useful for winning close games, and I'm hoping he can finish his season off on a high note like he has.

Looking Ahead
Well, the next one is a big one! And it could determine our season! Our 8-5 homestand ends with three crucial games against the Stars, who are 65-46 and have a 4-game lead on the Sailors (59-48). Even if we win all three, they're still right in the middle of things, but if they do the same we can kiss our season goodbye. They've bested us in 9 of our 13 contests this season, including seven of the last eight. That's a trend we'd like to stop, but after dealing with Henry Shaffer (8-6, 4.59, 51) in the opener we'll do battle with Eli Panneton (12-9, 3.74, 83) and Vern Hubbard (11-6, 3.41, 62) supported by the best offense in the association. I don't think I talk enough about Bill Barrett, who will likely win the Whitney this season. With Bobby Barrell nearing the end, there will be an opening for best hitter in baseball. "William the Conqueror" is my best, and it's going to really suck playing against him for a very long time. It's not like the Stars need help beating us, we've finished second in four of their last five pennants.

Barrett should take home his fourth Whitney this season, as he's hitting an absurd .323/.432/.649 (181 OPS+) with 17 doubles, 35 homers, and 102 RBIs. He's not only scored 78 runs, but walked 78 times, and has a 190 WRC+ and 6.6 WAR in 104 games this season. This is nothing new for the 28-year-old superstar, and if the season ended today, that 190 would only be his third highest WRC+. What makes him so great is exactly what Bobby does best, walking significantly more then they strike out. Bill has led the league in walks with 130 or more strikeouts three times, and this year he's walking at an elite 16.4 walk rate compared to a 6.7 k-rate. Among qualifying hitters, no hitter with a lower strikeout rate then Barrett have a higher walk rate, and just two have hit more then 20 home runs. He's a competent right fielder with a pretty strong arm, and as long as he's still in town they have a chance. They will be without the slick fielding Joe Angevine (.217, 1, 26, 18), but the Stars are far from a one-man band. Mack Sutton (.235, 20, 68) and Jack Welch (.274, 25, 66) are two of the top sluggers and when healthy 24-year-old Bob Riggins (.244, 7, 34, 7) is one of the more exciting young players. They're going to be tough to outscore, and Pap (12-8, 2.98, 94), Duke (13-6, 2.67, 60), and Oddo (6-8, 3.17, 85) are surely going to have their hands full.

The next series won't be any easier for the staff, as we'll be in Brooklyn for four with the Kings. Ralph Johnson (.297, 21, 71) might not be Bill Barrett, but he's another hindrance we're stuck with and he'll lead the #2 offense with support from Chuck Collins (.310, 7, 48), Pat Petty (.284, 10, 63), and offseason pickup Charlie Woodbury (.326, 8, 56). Another offseason pickup, 22-year-old Chuck Lewis (.340, 3, 15), has been excellent since his recall, and they have one of the top young outfielders John Mos (.226, 3, 36, 3) patrolling center. The balls aren't landing his way this year, but he's walked (61) just over twice as often as he's struck out (30) and has an impressive 17.5 zone rating (1.063 EFF) in 778 innings out in center. That's helped guys like Clarence Barton (4-7, 5, 3.11, 48) who give up a lot of flyball hits. Of course, for someone like Bob Arman (13-8, 2.50, 112), who's just flat out dominant Moss as a lesser impact, but with four games we'll see pretty much everything they have to offer. With an off day to start the week they can do make adjustments to the rotation, but with Arman beating his former team yesterday we're stuck getting him somewhere. Let's hope the offense shows up for the other three, as I'm predicting a 6-strikeout shutout.

Minor League Report
1B Billy Biggar (AA Mobile Commodores): It's not quite .400, as Billy Biggar's season line has dropped to .399, but the 24-year-old took home another Player of the Week. He went 13-for-30 with a double, 2 triples, and 4 RBIs. Like Leo Mitchell, he still has just one homer, but unlike our struggling star Biggar boasts a 158 WRC+ in 456 trips to the plate. He has a real shot to be the Commodores first .400 hitter since Cougar All-Time batting average leader Vince York hit .407 in 1928. Mitchell came three points shy in 1934, so let's see if the Ontario native can make Mobile history. He's on a 5.4 WAR pace and he's working on a 12-game hit streak. Biggar has drove in 76, walked 36 times, and tallied 37 doubles, frequently finding the holes with hard hit grounders. Next year he'll have a chance at the Blues modern record (post 1915), with Leo Mitchell slashing .359 in 1936. Eligible for the Rule-5 draft, I may have to protect Biggar, who has to be on the radar of scouts around the league.

RHP Fred Terry (AA Mobile Commodores): Year two has been tremendous for Fred Terry, but on Monday he was hit hard for 13 hits and 8 run with 4 walks and just 2 strikeouts in 6.1 innings pitched. After a start like that, most pitchers would take their struggles into the next game, but Terry instead decided to bounce back. He threw a 7-hit, 4-strikeout shutout to improve to 11-5 in 17 starts. The 23-year-old now owns a 3.39 ERA (127 ERA+) and 1.37 WHIP with 39 walks and 47 strikeouts. A real innings hitter, he's gone nine or more in all but five of his starts, and last month picked up a 12-inning complete game win over this same Crackers lineup in Atlanta. The hard worker has been crucial on the Commodores pennant quest, even if not as big as Biggar, and he'll be allowed to finish the season in Mobile if they have any chance of winning it all.