[ayaghmour2]

Weekly Record: 3-4
Seasonal Record: 71-60 (3rd, 4 GB)
Stars of the Week
Sal Pestilli : 27 AB, 10 H, 3 HR, 12 RBI, .370 AVG, 1.303 OPS
Billy Hunter : 18 AB, 7 H, 0 HR, 2 RBI, .389 AVG, .778 OPS
Skipper Schneider : 20 AB, 6 H, 0 HR, 2 RBI, .300 AVG, .650 OPS

Schedule
8-30: Loss at Wolves (4-5)
8-31: Loss at Cannons (1-7)
9-1: Win at Cannons (8-5)
9-2: Loss at Cannons (0-1)
9-3: Loss vs Saints (6-3)
9-4: Win vs Saints (5-4): 11 innings
9-5: Win vs Saints (8-4)

Recap
Again, we were given the opportunity to make a dent in the divisional lead. And again, we chose mediocrity over winning games. We lost two more one run games, including the finale in Toronto and the rubber match in Cincinnati. I was wrong, we did get Rufus Barrell (20-6, 1.84, 114), who threw back-to-back 1-0 shutouts against us and the Sailors. Luckily we did better at home, and took two of three from the Saints. That included a rare walk-off victory, as once again George Oddo (7-9, 3.17, 110), but didn't get a decision. The walk-off hero was about as surprising as you could expect, as in the 11th pinch hitter George Sutterfield's (.235, 1, 8, 2) first homer of the season ended the game. That improved us to 6-5 in extra inning games, as we tend to get thing sorted out in regulation.

No one is hotter then Sal Pestilli, who used a two-homer game on Sunday to pass Red Bond for the team lead in homers. Pestilli hit three hit this week, giving him 27 on the season. It was another excellent week for our center fielder, who went 10-for-27 with a double, 2 triples, 8 runs, 12 RBIs, and a steal. He's now a tenth away from a 6 WAR season and is on pace to become the first Cougar to hit 32 home run in a year. He now leads both associations in extra base hits, as his 65 are more then even Bill Barrett (.317, 42, 125, 7) and Bobby Barrell (.303, 36, 101). He's not having quite as spectacular seasons as those two superstars, but after a dreadful start to his Cougar career, .265/.331/.539 (129 OPS+) feels like its even better. His 138 WRC+ is second to just Red Bond (145), but Super Sal can do so much more. He has 19 doubles and triples, 52 walks to just 30 strikeouts, and is 18-for-25 in stolen base attempts. Add in excellent (15.1, 1.031) defense in center and you have one of the most complete players in the league. He may never be the best again, but he's a legit 5-tool guy which is something we don't see too often. If he can push a struggling Cougars squad to the postseason, Chicago fans will pretend his 1947 season didn't exist, and 1948 can be the season that starts is legacy in Chicago.

Yesterday I challenged Walt Pack and Leo Mitchell to make a difference, and to my surprise, they actually did! Pestilli was clearly the class of the week, but the lefties were the starters that made the most impact. With a lot of lefty pitchers this week, they each started just three games, but Pack was 3-for-8 with a homer and two walks while Mitchell was 5-for-13. They carried the load against the lefties, while Billy Hunter and Carlos Montes were the lone supplemental producers against righties. Hunter was 7-for-18 with 2 RBIs and 3 runs while Montes was 5-for-15 with a walk, RBI, and two runs scored. Not the greatest numbers overall, but considering Bond, Mead, Sharp, Car, and Berry went 9-for-74, the bar was pretty low. Two callups made at bats, but both Bill Payne and Johnny Carlisle struck out in the lone trips. For Carlisle it was his first big league at bat, but he also made appearances at third and short.

Duke Bybee got hit hard again, allowing 9 hits, 5 runs, and 2 walks in 6 innings pitched. I guess I should be careful for what I wish for, as he struck out a season high 8 hitters. We ended up winning that game, as Ken Matson (W, 2 IP, BB, 2 K) and Harry Parker (SV, IP, H) got the game to the finish line, as a Sal Pestilli triple and Eddie Howard in the ninth gave us an 8-5 lead we'd keep. That was one of five appearances Matson made in his busiest week of the year, but the results were mixed. He picked up two wins, also going two scoreless innings (H, K) back in Chicago, but he was roughed up by both teams he beat the appearance before. The Cannons got 3 hits, 4 runs, and 4 walks the first time while the Saints had 3 hits, 3 runs, and a walk. Those bad outings inflated his season ERA to 4.18 (94 ERA+), despite opening the week at a much lower 3.44. He's now on pace to walk (35) more hitters then he strikes out (25) for the first time since he was a rookie in 1943. I have faith in him turning it around, as we'll need our stopper at his best to make a return to the postseason.

Johnnie Jones had a nice rebound start despite the loss, 8 innings with 7 hits, a run, two walks, and a strikeout. Donnie also pitched well in a loss, 8 innings with 9 hits, 3 runs, 4 walks, and 7 strikeouts. Both two start starters went .500, with Pete Papenfus 1-1 and George Oddo 0-0. Pap's control was a bit off, as he walked 10 hitters in 15 innings with 15 hits, 7 runs, and 6 strikeouts. Not quite what we are used to, and both of his outings were equally boring, but he's pulled into a tie with Bybee for the team lead in wins, securing his 16th in 28 starts. George Oddo was as unlucky as ever, and despite allowing 4 runs in each of his starts, he had a WHIP of 1.00 or better and 13 strikeouts to just 5 walks. On track for his first 200 inning season, Oddo has won just seven starts despite an impressive 3.17 ERA (124 ERA+) and 1.16 WHIP. He's struck out 110 and walked just 55, and his 2.0 K/BB trails just Rufus in the association. He leads most categories, but Oddo ranks top five in K/9 (5.6), WHIP (1.16), and opponent average (.232). He's the best fifth starter in baseball, but both Dixie Marsh and OSA still won't rate him anything more then an emergency starter. He's been effective all season long, and it's a shame he pitched during the war or he'd probably be in the Kellogg running this season.

Looking Ahead
Our long stretch of games ends in Brooklyn, where we'll play two with the Kings. They've been on an awful stretch lately, losers of 23 of their last 33 games, so expect us to get swept here. With a double header there is a lot they could do with their rotation, and I'm really hoping we get rookie Joe Potts (0-1, 7.94) and Jake Roberts (0-1, 7.88, 3) instead of Potts and Bob Arman. If it wasn't for his old teammate, Arman would be on track to win his first Allen Award, as the first year King is 14-9 with a 2.43 ERA (167 ERA+) and 1.29 WHIP. His 138 strikeouts are most in the association, and he's already accumulated a career high 6.3 WAR in a still career low 218.2 innings pitched. If Leo Hayden (8-13, 4.96, 84) can regain his former form, those two will be a devastating 1-2 punch atop the rotation. They have a lineup to support that, led by superstar Ralph Johnson (.296, 24, 83, 5) they've scored more runs (607) then everyone except the Stars (682). This lineup isn't as deep, but Charlie Woodbury (.309, 9, 60), Chuck Collins (.309, 7, 63), and Pat Petty (.278, 13, 77) are all doing well in their first season in the lineup. While all productive, there's no Jack Welch (.282, 30, 84) or Mack Sutton (.254, 28, 96), but the Kings have the #1 system and can either wait for #3 prospect Ken Newman to develop into the star he is or tap into their prospect reserves to add an establish player to the lineup. I'm very surprised the Kings are in the second division, but they're always a threat. Assuming we avoid Arman, Duke Bybee (16-7, 2.84, 84) and Johnnie Jones (9-12, 3.38, 88) should get plenty of run support.

We're then off for two days, one of which we'll use to travel to Montreal. We'll be there for four games, before having an off day to return home. At 65-68, the Saints are three games behind the Wolves for fourth, and still closer to first (11 GB) then last (12.5 GB). We took two of three from them, as the lowest scoring offense had trouble with the best staff at preventing runs. That should again work in our favor at the Parc Cartier, which has one of the largest outfields. Maurice Carter (.275, 20, 69) homered in our 5-4 win in Chicago, becoming the sixth Saint to hit twenty homers in a season. Pinky Pierce (.265, 18, 88) should become the seventh by season's end, and those two account for just over half (55%) of the teams home runs. Add in Bill Greene (.260, 12, 56, 21), who has already had a 20-homer season, and nearly 75% (72.4) of the team slug is accounted for. These are four must win games for us, as we cannot fall further back in the standings. Four games is already tough enough, and any more and we may have to shift our focus to the future.

Minor League Report
RHP Zane Kelley (AAA Milwaukee Blues): I won't go too deep into it as I covered him yesterday, but Zane Kelley was named the Century League Pitcher of the Month for August. He made 5 starts in August, going 4-1 with a 1.70 ERA (266 ERA+) and 1.37 WHIP. Kelley struck out 12 in 42.1 innings pitched, and had both a 5-hit and 9-hit shutout. His first September start wasn't nearly as good, as Indianapolis got to him for 10 hits, 6 runs, and 3 walks. He struck out just 4 in 7.1 innings pitched, falling to 13-6 on the season. Despite the loss, the Blues hold a conformable 4.5 game lead over the Hoosiers and the Kansas City Eagles. Milwaukee is done with the Eagles, but will host the Hoosiers while we are in Montreal, and Kelley will get a chance for some revenge in the third game of the series.

Cougars in the GWL
RHP Bill Ballantine: Our first and only pitcher to be recalled, "The Windy City Whip" split his time between the rotation and the pen. He had a near identical ERA in the rotation (4.31 ERA+) and pen (130 ERA+), and he has a 1.54 WHIP and 39 strikeouts in 94 innings pitched. A former 6th Rounder, Bill Ballantine will get a chance to make his major league debut, as while he was on the 40 last season as well he never got a callup. I like him a lot out of the pen, as his fastball hits 95 and is easily his best pitch. He does have major issues with the longball (1.1 HR/9), as his control isn't refined and when he misses his spot the balls will travel. While he could start games, he hasn't really filled out his arsenal, so I expect the majority of his future innings come out of the pen. I'm hoping he can be the dominant stopper we've never quite had, and him and Harry MacRae will battle each other for that role in the longterm.

3B Leon Blackridge: After failing to make the final roster this season, Leon Blackridge was DFA'd and went unclaimed on waivers. He was willing to stick around, reporting to Milwaukee instead of heading to free agency, and he'll now be rewarded with a spot on the expanded roster. The 32-year-old appeared in 73 games for the Blues, but made took just 114 at bats. His .246/.363/.368 (85 OPS+) line wasn't too impressive, but his 95 WRC+ is just a hair below average and he's well regarded clubhouse leader. Now 32, he'll have a chance to add to his 771 career FABL games. His hold on a 40-man spot won't be very tight, but with four more available I didn't mind allowing him the opportunity to make a few appearances off the bench.

1B Jim Hatfield (Los Angeles Knights): The Knights season might be over, but that hasn't stopped "The Bandit" from having an amazing week. A 5-hit game in a 8-6 with in Seattle capped off a week that earned him Player of the Week. It's an aged 37 surge for Hatfield, who did this all after his birthday. He's been great all season, hitting .323/.358/.407 (124 OPS+) with 18 doubles, 4 triples, 4 homers, 48 RBIs, and 14 steals. If he keeps hitting like this, he'll come back for a fourth season, as Hatfield owns a strong .328/.372/.442 (141 OPS+) line in 398 games for the Knights. Always a hard worker, he should be able to stay in shape to keep playing till his 40s. The Knights value him enough to bat him above their top two hitters in Ace Anderson (.316, 4, 46) and Bennie Griffith (.309, 20, 63), and if they look to compete next season he'll again be a useful contributor.