[ayaghmour2]

Weekly Record: 3-4
Seasonal Record: 61-51 (2nd, 8 GB)
Stars of the Week
Leo Mitchell : 19 AB, 10 H, 1 HR, 3 RBI, .526 AVG, 1.287 OPS
Skipper Schneider : 25 AB, 11 H, 0 HR, 5 RBI, .440 AVG, 1.148 OPS
George Sutterfield : 15 AB, 7 H, 1 HR, 1 RBI, .467 AVG, 1.436 OPS

Schedule
8-8: Win vs Saints (1-12)
8-9: Win at Stars (2-0)
8-10: Loss at Stars (4-5)
8-11: Win at Stars( 4-2)
8-12: Loss vs Kings (5-4)
8-13: Loss vs Kings (4-1)
8-14: Loss vs Kings (7-6)

Recap
A huge wasted opportunity for the Cougs here, as after a great start to the week, we just fell apart at home. We succeeded at the hard part, crushing the Saints and taking two out of three in New York, before the struggling Kings decided to wake up. They were riding a five game losing streak and were losers of eight out of their last ten, but they came to Chicago and meant business, sweeping us with help from a pair of one-run wins. Brooklyn is terrible at these, and entered our series 11-24 in one-run games. Even worse then us! Of course, we quickly improved that, and since the Foresters didn't do too much, we stayed eight out. Even one win brings us within seven while a sweep had us within five, but we're starting to run out of runway.

Despite the losses, Leo Mitchell did well against the Kings, 8-for-10 including a 5-for-5 in our 5-4 loss. For the week, he was 10-for-19 with a double, homer, 3 runs, and 3 RBIs, and now owns a 140 WRC+ in 78 games. George Sutterfield may have had the better overall week, going 7-for-15 with 2 doubles, a homer, a steal, 4 runs, and 6 walks. Him and Skipper stayed hot, with the shortstop 11-for-25 with 4 doubles 4 runs, 5 RBIs, and 6 walks. Same for Red Bond, who was 6-for-13 with 6 walks, 4 runs, 5 RBIs, and a rare steal. Billy Hunter was 4-for-8 with a double, walk, 3 runs, and 3 RBIs. Chubby Hall was just 3-for-16, but all three were homers and all three in the 12-1 crushing of the Saints. This gave him 10 to go with a productive .297/.370/.445 (116 OPS+) batting line in his first season back with the organization. Unfortunately, Sal Pestilli is ice cold, just 2-for-33 this week, and he's followed up a .300/.346/.433 (107 OPS+) July with a .127/.179/.127 (-17 OPS+) August. The superstar seems prone to rough patches like this, and for a team who almost got back in the pennant race, it couldn't have came at a worse time. Overall, the offense got on base, but it didn't come with enough run production.

George Oddo extended his win-streak to seven, before a no-decision decided to creep in for the first time in nearly two months. He didn't have to be, but he was almost perfect against the Saints in our 12-1 domination. The only mistake was Otis O'Keefe's (.294, 14, 74) solo homer in the 5th, as Oddo struck out 8 with a walk and 8 hits in his second complete game win this year. But like the rest of our staff, the Kings offense gave them trouble, tagging him for 11 hits, 6 runs, and 3 walks in 6.2 innings pitched. He struck out just three, but one more would have been nice, as if he didn't walk John Moss on four pitches to start the inning, so when Dan Smith (.255, 4, 37) greeted Harry MacRae (3-2, 12, 3.53, 13) with a grand slam, it was a painful lesson on not walking the leadoff guy. Since for Harry it felt like a solo shot, he quickly recovered and got a quick third out before a painless one-two-three in the eighth. We couldn't solve Clarence Barton (3-7, 7, 5.27, 32) in the last two innings, so it's really on us, but it was a winnable game for Oddo that he led get away. Eventually luck turns, so for all the unlucky no decisions he was charged earlier in the season, he just got what was coming.

Peter the Heater made two starts this week as well, and he pitched quite good overall. He impressed with his second shutout this season, dominating against the Stars in New York. Pap struck out 6 with just 2 walks and 4 hits, picking up his 11th win on the season. He then got his 8th loss, but struck out a season high 11 in a complete game loss. Part of the reason for all the strikeouts was the extra at bats, as he allowed 9 hits and 5 walks which lead to 4 runs. We got just one off former Cougar Leo Hayden (10-10, 4.01, 72), in the only part of the sweep that wasn't a one run loss. Avoiding all that though, Donnie Jones stayed hot, securing the series win in New York. He held the Stars to 4 hits, 2 runs, and 2 walks in a complete game win, improving to 12-9 on the season. He's chasing a team tiple crown, leading in wins while sitting second in ERA (3.18) and strikeouts (101). A strong end to the season could help Donnie earn a second Allen Award, and his 3.30 FIP (80 FIP-) suggests he's been as good as advertised. He has the tough task of facing the Stars again this week, and sluggers in Cougars Park can give the best of pitchers trouble.

Looking Ahead
A much needed off day to start the season, as we'll welcome the Stars back for three before hitting the road. New York has won 61 games like us, but since they've lost three games more we're a game and a half ahead of them. The Stars are not off, scheduled to take on Pat Weakly (7-7, 4.36, 50) and the Saints at Dyckman Stadium. They lost the first two in the series but finished off the week with a win, and will be hoping to take the split before coming to town. This makes it likely we'll face Henry Shaffer (3-8, 3.59, 42), Eli Panneton (12-7, 3.76, 74), and Vern Hubbard (13-7, 3.66, 56). It won't be easy, and we'll have to have answers for. Bill Barrett (.311, 32, 85, 8), Bill Barnett (.275, 19, 55), Jack Welch (.239, 16, 53), and Mack Sutton (.276, 25, 81). Sutton, now 32, just hit his 200th career homer, and if I woke up a little earlier the day he was traded he may have ended up a Cougar. A Leo Mitchell type, Sutton posted a 134 WRC+ or better in four of his last five seasons, and his 4 WAR would be his second best if he maintains or increases it. The club leader has been a big part of many contending Stars teams, including the team that won in 1946 after they beat us in a tiebreaker game. I'm sure he'll give us plenty of problems once again, and I am worried about us coming away with a good result this series.

Same goes for the three in Brooklyn, as the seventh place Kings just embarrassed us in front of our home fans. I'm not sure how they did it, and with an off day to start the weak there are plenty of ways they can line up their rotation. The sweep is made worse considering we didn't face ace Bob Arman (9-9, 3.98, 98), but with Ralph Johnson (.326, 19, 74) they will be in every game. Chuck Lewis (.305, 14, 61) has emerged as a top slugger at 23, and they were able to acquire the second basemen by parting with outfield depth in Joe Rutherford (.277, 14, 64, 7), who is helping the crosstown Chiefs attempt another worst-to-first in the always competitive Federal Association. These are three must win games, and I think one more bad week will put us out of the running completely.

Minor League Report
SS Elmer Grace (AAA Milwaukee Blues): After missing four weeks with a bone spur in his elbow, Elmer Grace returned in July and was hitting about average. Since the calendar flipped to August, he's taken things to another level, slashing .438/.526/.729 (225 OPS+) with 6 doubles, 2 homers, and 12 RBIs. He captured a Player of the Week Award as well, going 11-for-23 with both the home runs and a combined 15 runs scored and driven in. Currently ranked as the 66th best prospect, Grace has spent all season in AAA despite being a 4th Round selection last season. He's hit a strong .282/.387/.444 (116 OPS+) with a 130 WRC+ and 6.2 zone rating (1.098 efficiency) at short. The hard-worker is on a four WAR pace and if we had a need at shortstop, he'd be a legitimate option for playing time. I'm sure there are plenty of teams that could use a talented young shortstop to build around, and if we have to make an upgrade he could be an enticing option for someone willing to part with a star level player.

RHP Zane Kelley (AAA Milwaukee Blues): Remember Zane Kelley? He's still really good! Kelley twirled a 2-hit shutout in a win over the Kansas City Eagles, improving to 11-4 in his 18 starts. Kelley now has an elite 2.75 ERA (147 ERA+) with a 1.20 WHIP and impressive 73-to-35 strikeout-to-walk ratio. His 3.21 FIP (78 FIP-) is more then 20% better then the league average, and its the lowest on a team that has four starters with FIP- below 90. Kelley will make his debut at some point this season, and he's making me heavily consider a six man rotation next season. He may have two options left, but he's dominating Century League hitters just like what he did in Cuba this winter, and has clearly showed he's a FABL quality starter. Still 23, he has room to improve, and while he doesn't rank too high on the prospects lists, he sits at 250th in the league. I'm not sure there is much more upside, but Kelley has a very low floor, and will be given every chance to earn a spot on our staff next season.

I've had a few writeups on Al Clement already, and I didn't want to do another one, but the former 2nd Rounder had a big 5-hit game in a commanding 16-4 victory. Clement was a triple away from the cycle, recording a pair of doubles with 3 runs and 4 RBIs. Clement is now hitting .291/.384/.486 (126 OPS+) with 22 doubles, 7 triples, 12 homers, 8 steals, and 48 RBIs. His impressive all around season has been worth 3.2 WAR in 99 games, scoring 63 runs and drawing 55 walks.

LF Harry Austin (A Lincoln Legislators): Another Player of the Week winner, Harry Austin went 13-for-23 with a double, walk, and RBI. Aside from the average, it's not the most exciting Player of the Week, and that's a good way to describe the 22-year-olds season. He's hit an average .312/.351/.390 (100 OPS+) with just 12 doubles, 2 triples, 4 homers, and 36 RBIs. He puts the ball in play a lot, but he hasn't been hitting the ball with much authority. The former regional pick had 11 homers in 138 games last year in A ball, but he doesn't seem likely to come anywhere close to that this season. A mediocre year doesn't bode well for his playing time, and as someone who's Rule-5 eligible and unlikely to be protected, I don't think he did enough to entice another team. He'll live and die by his bat, and right now, it looks like he's running out of lives.