[ayaghmour2]

Weekly Record: 5-1
Seasonal Record: 83-66 (2nd, 2 GB)
Stars of the Week
Duke Bybee : 2 Wins, 14.2 IP, 8 BB, 9 K, 1.84 ERA
Pete Papenfus : 1 Win, 9.0 IP, 2 BB, 9 K, 0.00 ERA
Luke Berry : 11 AB, 4 H, 1 HR, 5 RBI, .364 AVG, 1.227 OPS

Schedule
9-20: Win vs Cannons (0-2)
9-21: Win vs Sailors (1-2)
9-22: Win vs Sailors (1-6)
9-23: Win at Saints (7-2)
9-25: Loss at Stars (4-5): 11 innings
9-26: Win at Stars (6-2)

Recap
Well now... Isn't this interesting! We won five of six, with the lone loss an extra inning one-run defeat at the hands of the Stars. As annoying as it is that our last five runs have all been of the one-run variety, we are right back in the pennant race, just two behind the Sailors with five games left for both teams. Sweeping them was huge, even more so considering that one of the wins was of the one run variety. They're on the road the rest of the way, with three in Toronto (78-70) before two in Cleveland (57-92). With their two game cushion, three wins may be all they need, and I wouldn't be comfortable with anything fewer then four wins for us. This isn't uncharted waters for us, as two years ago we made an epic late comeback after being annoyingly mediocre for a stretch, just to end up losing a game 155. I don't think I can take that again, and now after what the Blue Jays just did to me, I don't know how I can survive tomorrow. I now have to worry about how the Cougars are going to blow things for the a millionth time while being absolutely devastated to start with.

John Schneider got to go...

We pitched as well as we could, allowing just two runs or fewer in each of our five wins. Peter the Heater had arguably his best start of the year, twirling a 3-hit, 2-walk shutout over the Foresters with a season high 9 strikeouts. That gave Pap his 19th win of the season, and with two starts this week he has a legitimate chance for his third career 20-win season. His ERA is down to 2.93 (134 ERA+) with a 1.15 WHIP and 137 strikeouts. If Pap is able to reach the 20-win mark, he'll join Duke Bybee as the first pair of Cougar teammates since 1913 to win 20 games, where Isaac Meyer (21-7) and Tom Guaraneri (24-14) accomplished the feat. Bybee picked up his 19th and 20th win this week, beating the 1st and 3rd place teams in the Association. He didn't get out of the 8th in either, but allowed just 12 hits, 2 runs, and 8 walks with 9 strikeouts. His ERA is now down to 2.74 (143 ERA+) with a 1.12 WHIP and 102 strikeouts. He's got one start left, set to take on the Stars on Saturday before Pap finishes the season on Sunday.

It wasn't quite a shutout, but Johnnie Jones is as streaky as ever, surviving 5 walks in a complete game victory, charged with 4 hits and a single earned run while striking out 2 in a huge win over the Sailors. It was his 28th and final start of the season, as with all the off days he won't be needed again in the regular season. Even if we make the playoffs, we're only using three starters, and it's going to be Donnie, Duke, and Pap. I'm glad the 30-year-old vet ended his year on a high note, and he finished 10-13 with a 3.45 ERA (114 ERA+) and 1.44 WHIP in 216.2 innings pitched. Again, he walked (120) more hitters then he struck out (94), and if he can ever fix that he'll have a huge year. if he can find the zone more consistently he'll be an excellent pitcher. If not, this might end up being a career high in starts, as George Oddo has blossomed and OSA and Dixie Marsh have fallen in love with Eddie Howard as a pitcher. Add in #2 pitching prospect Bob Allen and plenty of other talented pitching prospects and eventually moves need to be made.

Brother Donnie started the only loss, but received a no decision in the 11-inning loss to the Stars. He went just 7.1 innings, leaving with 5 hits, 3 runs, 4 walks, and 6 strikeouts. New callup Harry MacRae was tagged with the loss, but a George Sutterfield error led to a bases loaded walk of Bill Barrett as the Stars literally walked-off as winners. It was one of two walks for MacRae, who got two outs and allowed a hit. His second outing was better, just one hit in a scoreless inning. George Oddo is finally over .500, winning his 10th game despite going just 7 innings in our 7-2 win over the Saints. He's won each of his last three starts despite walking more batters then he's struck out in each. This time it was 4 walks and 3 strikeouts with 5 hits and 2 runs, dropping his season ERA to 3.09 (127 ERA+). Ken Matson was busy and mostly effective, allowing 4 hits, a run, and 3 walks with 3 strikeouts while picking up a hold, save, and blown save. The pitching had to be perfect, and it was, and I'm hoping there are 45 elite innings left as we look to pull off the impossible.

Unless you are Jeep Erickson (.358, 9, 30), It's hard to have a better debut week then Johnny Peters. The former 3rd Pick went 4-for-9 with a double, homer, 3 walks, and 4 runs. His entrance into the lineup didn't hurt Leo Mitchell, who was 5-for-8 with two walks, a run, and RBI, and just like that his season WRC+ is up to 97. Luke Berry also had no issues with Peters taking some time from him, going 4-for-11 with a double, homer, 3 runs, 3 walks, and 5 RBIs. It's his first homer as a Cougar, and he's hit an excellent .310/.408/.417 (121 OPS+) since coming over from the Miners. And the last guy affected by Peters, Ray Ford, had his second solid week in a row, going 4-for-11 as well with a homer, 2 walks, and 3 runs. Despite his error, George Sutterfield hit well, 3-for-8 with a double, walk, and RBI. Carlos Montes went 4-for-12 with a double, triples, 2 runs, and 3 RBIs. Walt Pack was just 1-for-9, but that one hit was a homer, and he added 2 RBIs, 2 runs, and 4 walks, posting solid OBPs (.400) and slugging (.500) without any singles. Otto Christian looked good in his return to Chicago, 1-for-4 with a walk and double. Sal Pestilli was just 4-for-22, but he hit his 29th and 30th home runs of the season, bringing him one away from Tom Taylor for the Cougar single season lead. I'd love for Sal to add two more this coming week, as not only does that make our slim chances of qualifying a bit larger, but it would be nice to see both our single season and career home run record broken in the same year. It's nice to see the offense really come through for the guys for once, and like with the staff, I'm hoping there's a little left in the chamber for some late season heroics.

Going into the final week we have one new player, as the Kings finally waived Harry Carter, and he finally became a Cougar. The father of Cougar farmhand Hal Carter, the soon-to-be 38-year-old started 20 of his 26 appearances, going 4-8 with a 4.80 ERA (84 ERA+) and 1.55 WHIP, walking 68 while striking out 40. He may not pitch an inning for us this year, but he's a hard worker that should be a good influence on the guys in the offseason and during camp next year. Our pen is a little shaky, and a stabilizing veteran presence could be useful. He's been a starter most of his career, with 303 starts in 346 outing between the three New York teams. His 4.00 ERA (98 ERA+) is just slightly below average, as is his 3.98 FIP (101 FIP-), but he's a high floor arm who could pitch important innings out of the pen for us next year.

Looking Ahead
Much to my surprise, the games matter this week! Chances are both teams we face will be eliminated from postseason contention, starting with the eliminated 70-79 Brooklyn Kings. They sucked in August, going just 8-20, but they've now won five straight, including a pair of shutouts from Bob Arman. Arman improved to 17-11 with an elite 2.34 ERA (173 ERA+) and 14.3 K%. His 163 strikeouts lead the association, but control can be a problem for "Cyclone", who has allowed 121 free passes. Along with strikeouts, Arman leads the CA in WAR (7.8), innings (265.1), shutouts (6), and K/9 (5.5). Lucky for us, he pitched yesterday, which means no Arman! Instead, I expect the struggling Leo Hayden (10-14, 4.66, 97) and rookies Joe Potts (2-1, 4.15, 6) and Paul Byler (2-1, 2.52, 18). Our lineup should feast on these three, but it's going to be tough to keep the lineup in check. There's no way to stop Ralph Johnson (.298, 27, 95, 5), but if we can keep the rest of the lineup in check, we have a chance for the sweep. Anything less and we may be out before the Stars series kicks off, but my confidence here is pretty high as a young Kings team playing for nothing may not be up to the challenge.

When the season started, I had this two game set with New York circled for potential playoff implications. Instead, it may just be battle for second and lottery balls. The Stars are nearly eliminated, as to force a tie they need to win all four of their games and the Sailors to lose all five, while we win no more then two. Both situations would force a tie, and even though it would be interesting, the last thing I want is a three way tie for first. The Stars have three off days this week, including the two games before our series, so I have zero clue who's going to pitch against us. The biggest story is Bill Barrett (.305, 43, 130, 7), who is chasing a Tom Taylor record of his own. That would be the CA single season home run record, set by a rookie Taylor in 1928. Barrett is just one away from tying it, but has been since September 10th. That's his only homer since September 6th, and his .235/.388/.426 (114 OPS+) September batting line is not what you would expect from "William the Conqueror". Cougars Park is the ideal location to hit a homer if you're a Continental Association slugger, so I have a feeling he'll tie or set the record in the Windy City. I'll allow that, if we can pick up the sweep, but the Stars play us well, and are quite skilled at keeping us out of the postseason. Maybe they can take this year off!

Cougars in the GWL
RHP Luis Sandoval (Houston Bulls): First place in the GWL has been long wrapped up, as the Oakland Grays (94-58) were the clear class of the league, holding an eleven game lead over the only two teams left competing for the final playoff spot. If it wasn't for Luis Sandoval, the Bulls wouldn't be close. Sandoval picked up another huge shutout, allowing just 3 hits with no walks and 4 strikeouts to improve to 12-14. With just two games left, Sandoval will be on the found for first game, with co-ace Tommy Shafer (9-4, 1.73, 81) in line for the finale. Sandoval has been with the Bulls all season long, working to an excellent 2.74 ERA (116 ERA+) and 1.26 WHIP with 114 strikeouts and just 49 walks. He's a tenth of a win from 5 WAR, with his next last being his 33rd of the season. A talented veteran, Sandoval was the first in what's been a year long talent shuffle for the Bulls, as after a 6th and 7th place finish, the Houston ballclub has made major investments in bringing in talent. Along with their top two pitchers, in the past year they've brought in Jim Bob Jones (6-5, 2.62, 86), Art Cascone (.277, 8, 60), and Spencer Snail (2-2, 2, 2.67, 18), all of who have made significant impacts on the big league roster. They're now so close to a playoff birth, fighting with the San Francisco Hawks for the right to lose -- I mean play -- against the Oakland Grays in the Bigsby Cup.

1B Jim Hatfield (Los Angeles Knights): Another Player of the Week for the former Cougar 6th Rounder, as Jim Hatfield went 12-for-20 with a double, triple, homer, walk, 2 steals, and 3 RBIs. The even .600 average upped his season line to .335/.371/.423 (132 OPS+) and he's been worth exactly 5 WAR through 544 plate appearances. "The Bandit" will get a few shots at Luis Sandoval to open the week, and him and his Knights could spoil the Bulls' season. Hatfield has been arguably the best leadoff hitter in the GWL, accumulating 20 doubles, 5 triples, 5 homers, 16 steals, 52 RBIs, and 70 runs scored. Despite his stellar performance, it will be interesting to see if the Knights bring him back at 37. Ben Brazel (.295, 1, 31, 3) is on hand has a more then capable replacement, and Hatfield's $15,000 projected contract for 1949 would be the highest on the team. He could be a trade or release candidate, but if I'm in LA I let it ride. He's both well liked and hard working, and he shows no signs of slowing down. He's been one of the more successful independent leaguers since debuting for San Antonio in the Lose Star Association back in 1937.