[ayaghmour2]

Weekly Record: 3-4
Seasonal Record: 27-27 (6th, 6 GB)
Stars of the Week
Chubby Hall : 24 AB, 9 H, 2 HR, 7 RBI, .375 AVG, 1.111 OPS
Red Bond : 19 AB, 6 H, 1 HR, 2 RBI, .316 AVG, .883 OPS
Skipper Schneider : 25 AB, 7 H, 0 HR, 3 RBI, .280 AVG, .668 OPS

Schedule
6-6: Win vs Sailors (2-3)
6-7: Loss vs Cannons (11-7)
6-8: Win vs Cannons (2-3): 10 innings
6-9: Loss vs Cannons (11-2): 12 innings
6-10: Loss vs Foresters (2-1)
6-11: Loss vs Foresters (5-4)
6-12: Win vs Foresters (9-1)

Recap
We won just one game against each of our three opponents, dropping right back to .500 with an unfortunate 3-4 week. It's a shame we can't take advantage of playing in front of our home fans, and they've been showing up less often then last season in a trend I'm hoping doesn't continue. One run losses were back on the menu again, dropping two against the Foresters, but the most annoying loss was the 11-2 loss in -- you read that right -- 12 innings against the Cannons. Based on the lack of run support and the fact it went in extras, it was pretty obvious the ever-so-unlucky George Oddo made the start, allowing just 7 hits, 2 runs, and a walk with 7 strikeouts in 8 impressive innings. It was Oddo's second start with seven strikeouts in a row the second time this season he walked just one hitter with six or more strikeouts. Harry MacRae did his best to give the offense a chance, scattering three hits and a walk in three innings, but the Cougars couldn't solve Chris Clarke (2-5, 3.51, 29) and Butch Smith (1-0, 1, 4.61, 6).

Enter Ken Matson, who came on for the 12th, but instead of getting outs, he he allowed all seven hitters he faced to reach base and later score. Yes, Max Wilder watched him fail seven times before finally turning to Jim Kenny, who allowed four more hits and two more runs before finally finishing the nightmarish twelfth. Obviously we showed no fight in the bottom half, as Lou Robertson (1-5, 5, 6.75, 6) got three quick outs, but if it wasn't enough to lose that game, two games later Matson again got the loss against the Cannons. It was just a walk and run in the top of the 10th, but even if he was perfect, it wouldn't have been enough to save his roster spot. The fall from grace for Matson is finally complete, as after a 1.01 ERA (346 ERA+) and 0.82 WHIP in 26.2 innings pitched in 1946, he put together two average seasons before completing nosediving here. Matson has allowed 15 hits, 13 runs, and 3 walks with 5 strikeouts in 9.1 innings pitched, and he's already been charged with 4 of our 27 losses (15%) despite pitching in just nine games. He recently gained the ability to refuse a minor league assignment, so I wasted no time in sending him down. He hasn't pitched in the minors since 1944, so it's a big change for the 31-year-old veteran. Matson will return to the rotation, and will look to rebuild his value in his last option year.

The obvious choice to replace Matson would be Harry Parker, but the 34-year-old is not quite ready. He has made just one appearance since early April, allowing 6 hits, 3 runs, and 2 walks with 3 strikeouts in a five inning start. I want him to get at least two more starts, but chances are he'll run out most of his rehab assignment. That means we need a short-term replacement, and we'll welcome back a familiar face. He didn't throw a FABL inning last season, but after accounting for the five years (he was the second person to enlist!) in the service, Rusty Watts made at least one appearance in four consecutive seasons for us, working to a respectable 3.20 ERA (118 ERA+) and 1.45 WHIP in 76 innings. The fireballer struck out 37 and walked 31, and he never walked more hitters the he struck out. Now 34, Watts has spent almost the entirety of the last three seasons in Milwaukee, and is in the midst of a stellar season for the Blues. In 24.1 innings out of the pen, he has a 2.59 ERA (157 ERA+) and 1.44 WHIP while going 4-1 with 3 saves. Now he's walked (14) more guys then he's struck out (12), and despite his flyball tendencies he's yet to allow a homer. A basic fastball/slider southpaw, he can eat a few innings for us until Parker is ready, and he should be easy enough to pass through waivers. Even if he doesn't, it's no real loss for us, and I'd be happy for the former 13th Rounder if he got a major league opportunity somewhere else.

Other events in the week include the criminal breaking of Sal Pestilli's 22-game hit stream, as Manager Max Wilder made the ever-so-annoying decision of using Pestilli as a defensive sub, so he ended up going 0-for-1 and losing the streak. It was one for the ages, as the soon-to-be 8-Time All Star went 33-for-85 (.388) with 4 doubles, a triple, 6 homers, 17 runs, and 27 RBIs. The streak contained a seven game multi-hit streak, a an eleven game run streak, and a six game stretch where he drove in sixteen runs! Through 53 games, our superstar slugger has hit an imposing .349/.396/.572 (158 OPS+), but when he goes on an off week (4-for-21), there was no one to pick up the slack. No one comes close to his average, RBIs, slugging, and OPS while only Red Bond is close to Sal's ten homers.

To be fair, Bond himself did have a decent week, going 6-for-19 with a homer, 2 RBIs, and 5 runs, but his .243/.293/.461 (100 OPS+) is basically average, and he's somehow being outperformed by one of the prospects he was traded for, Joe Austin, who has a 146 WRC+, 16 steals, and a .326/.406/.481 (130 OPS+) batting line. The #80 prospect would look mighty fine at second, as Clark Car (4-for-15, R) had another relatively useless week while George Sutterfield (2-for-12, 2B, 4 R, SB) didn't do much better. Surprisingly it's Chubby Hall who's been one of the best hitters, going 9-for-24 with a double, 2 homers, and 7 RBIs in the week. The former Cougar draftee has hit .279/.360/.426 (111 OPS+) with 4 doubles, 4 homers, and 21 RBIs, as he's secured the starting left field job. It's no surprise that we're .500 considering he's been one of our more valuable hitters, and now six games out of first, we're quickly running out of time.

Based on the record and some of the scores this week, you would have thought the starters were hit hard, but there was only one start this week where the starter allowed more then two runs, and it came from the guy that had the only start with less then two runs allowed. That was the struggling Duke Bybee, who even after a complete game win with 7 hits, a run, and 5 walks now sports a 4.45 ERA (89 ERA+) through 12 starts. Bybee is the only rotation member with an ERA above 3.75, and it's not too long ago (a bit over month) where his ERA was just 3.13. The Cannons got to him in the 11-7 loss, as Duke was charged with 8 hits, 6 runs, and 2 walks as the dreaded zero strikeout start made its return from last season. I'm going to blame it on some lingering pain from his abdominal strain, but after being selected to his first career All-Star game last season, Bybee has been plagued by the longball (11; 1.2) and his BABIP is nearly 30 points higher then his career mark. There's plenty of time for the talented lefty to turn things around, but with how good Johnnie Jones (6-4, 2.73, 29) has been, we may end up moving Duke a spot lower in the rotation.

Johnnie himself stayed hot, picking up a 10-inning complete game win. He struck out a season high 6, charged with 7 hits, 2 runs, and 5 walks as he improved to 6-4. The walks continue to be a red flag, he's walked an unhealthy 13.4% of batters he faced, and I'm always worried about his inevitable second half slide. Still, it's hard to be mad about a 2.73 ERA (145 ERA+) and 1.38 WHIP, and he continues to show the ability to pitch effectively deep into games. Donnie picked up two starts, earning a win and no decision. The win started the week, as we captured the Sailors series on his back. He allowed 2 runs, which was perfect considering we only scored 3, with 9 hits, 2 walks, and 6 strikeouts. He then left after 8 while we were down 2-1 against the Foresters, and he looked more like his brother then himself. Again, he gave up two runs, but it came off 8 hits and 5 walks with just 2 strikeouts. What sucks is we got three runs in the ninth, but since Harry MacRae (IP, 2 H, 2 ER) likely faired worse then a Donnie Jones with just 106 pitches, we didn't walk off winners, and eventually fell as mentioned because of Ken Matson. Despite the poor luck, Donnie now has his lowest ERA (3.41; 116) of the season and is a game over .500 at 6-5.

The final start went to the still hot Peter the Heater, who was charged with a loss despite allowing just two runs. A Bill Sikorski (.219, 3, 11) solo homer in the 9th ended up being the difference (we were being shutout before a single run in the ninth), and Pap fell to 5-4. He allowed just 4 hits and 2 runs, with 6 walks and strikeouts. He continues to lead the CA with 56 strikeouts, and he leads all qualified Continental Association hurlers with a 5.4 K/9 and all FABL hurlers with a 14.1 K%. He's survived a career high 1.1 HR/9 and 13.6 BB% (among qualified seasons), which does cause some concern. There are two outcomes: the underliers catch up to him or he returns to the Peter the Heater that can dominate and overpower hitters. The surge in home runs has really brutalized our staff this season, as him and Duke lead the CA with 11 homers allowed, with Johnnie Jones the only pitcher not allowing a career high amount of homers. Granted, we've really shored that up in recent weeks, but it's the little things like this that teams need to do well to play a complete season.

I can't remember the last time we had one of those...

Looking Ahead
We get a much needed off day to start the week, as we look to get back on track on the road. Our first stop is three with the Wolves, who sit at 25-28 and a game and a half behind us. The pitching has started to struggle, as while still perfect, Jim Morrison (6-0, 2.40, 30) just allowed 11 hits and 6 runs in his last start, and not much has gone well with Harry Stewart (2-3, 3, 4.78, 10), Jimmy Gibbs (4-5, 4.61, 22), and the now optioned Jerry York (0-6, 6.93, 13). We won't face George Garrison (5-5, 3.49, 45), which is a huge plus, but were stuck with Morrison and Joe Hancock (3-3, 3.84, 25), with the third starter yet to be determined as they were running with a six man rotation and have an off day of their own to reset their staff. What has helped the Wolves is there offense is starting to heat up, with former Cougar draftee Hal Wood (.327, 1, 30) hitting .368 with 5 doubles and 10 RBIs in 12 June games. It's nice for them that Fred McCormick (.330, 5, 27) has some more support, but I'm hoping the staff can keep Toronto's everyday guys in check. We really need to put runners on base and do a better job producing runs, so I have a sneaking suspicion that this will be a very low scoring series.

Same may be true on the weekend series, as we'll deal with the Cincinnati Cannons and the #2 pitching staff. That's despite recent struggles from Rufus Barrell (5-5, 3.20, 42), who has allowed four or more runs in four of his six outings and he's dropped five of his last six decisions. In his struggles, former first rounder Tony Britten (5-4, 3.75, 33) hasn't allowed more then three earned runs since May 11th, winning four of his last five decisions. Jim Anderson (7-1, 3.44, 33) is on pace for a 20-win season and Chris Clarke (2-5, 3.51, 29) deserves to be much better then 3-5. Even if we face Charlie Griffith (6-5, 4.36, 22), we'll have our hands full, and it's going to be tough to keep their offense off the board. Mike T. Taylor (.340, 5, 22, 4) is fresh off a Player of the Week award (.448, 2 HR, 6 RBI), but they've made the surprising decision to move Denny Andrews (.204, 2, 21) to the bench in favor of Rule-5 pick Dolph Krapf (.258, 2, 10, 2). I'm not sure how much longer this lasts, but with a solid supporting cast, what they really need is a star like Andrews to help power the lineup. That's not to say they haven't gotten good performances from Fred Galloway (.306, 2, 19, 3), Chuck Adams (.282, 8, 34), and Joe Burns (.316, 1, 30, 6), but if they want to erase their 5.5 game deficit, they'll need someone to step up.

We'll reach the draft tomorrow, but it won't happen until Wednesday's sim, which means we'll have one more chance to set a list for the in-game portion of the draft. I usually leave it to Dixie Marsh, he's one of the better scouts and has already found a few gems, but I might give him a few guys to take extra consideration for. There's not too much worth sifting through to find the hidden gems, but I'm excited to see who we end up with come Wednesday. They won't all sign, in fact most of the AI picks (especially high schoolers) will probably return to school, but it's always nice to get new blood into the system.

Minor League Report
CF Henry Norman (A Lincoln Legislators): Just 20-years-old, Henry Norman has held his own in his return to the Heartland League, and this most recent week was the culmination of all his improvements. Norman went 13-for-28, scoring three times and driving in six. Norman also drew seven walks with a double and a triple, improving his season batting line to .318/.381/.399 (113 OPS+) in 219 trips to the plate. Acquired in the deal that sent Mel Haynes across town, Norman currently ranks as the 42nd best prospect in the league, as OSA expects him to become a "reliable hitter in the organization's grand scheme." It's not because of power, although his two homers this season are the first time he's hit more then one with the same team in the same season, but the combination of his bat, speed, and eye. He's walking (20) more then he's striking out (17), and has tallied 9 extra base hits with 19 runs and 27 RBIs. He's spent time in all three corners, with most coming in his natural center (0.6, 1.014), though he has absolutely amazing numbers (3.3, 1.061) in his 71 innings in right. I like him best out in center, but with Jerry Smith he may be forced into a corner. He's ahead of our top rated position prospect for now, but when they were in San Jose smith spent more time up the middle. There's a good chance they will be teammates at some point this season in Lincoln, as I don't expect Norman to get a promotion any time this year. This will cut into his center field time, but it will be good for him to gain more experience in the corners.

LHP Joe Oates (B San Jose Cougars): He's done it again! After a shaky set of starts, Joe Oates did it again, twirling a 7-hitter with 3 walks and 6 strikeouts to improve to an impressive 7-1 on the season. With Dixie Marsh gone to Lincoln, Oates is the new star of the staff, and when the new draftees file in he has a chance to earn a promotion of his own. In 8 starts he owns a 2.12 ERA (201 ERA+) and 1.29 WHIP with twice as many strikeouts (42) as walks (21). He's not a ranked prospect yet, but you have to imagine the scouting staff will have to take notice if he keeps dominating. Since he doesn't throw very hard, he needs to stay around the edges, and before this season he had not shown the ability to do so. Despite turning 22 next month, he hasn't thrown many innings, as he was a 9th Round selection last season and threw just 42.2 inning between La Crosse and San Jose last year. Most of that came from the pen, but I think he's going to find a lot of his subsequent innings coming in starts. While not overpowering, he has mixed his five pitches well, even if none of them are all that great. I'm hoping that changes, as he's one of the hardest workers on the team, and he'll put in the effort to improve his arsenal. It will be interesting to see how he finishes the season, but I bet he'll show up here a few more times.