[ayaghmour2]

Weekly Record: 2-2
Seasonal Record: 82-72 (t-2nd, 13 GB)
Stars of the Week
Otto Christian : 15 AB, 7 H, 1 HR, 3 RBI, .467 AVG, 1.300 OPS
Don Lee : 12 AB, 5 H, 2 HR, 3 RBI, .417 AVG, 1.500 OPS
George Sutterfield : 11 AB, 5 H, 0 HR, 2 RBI, .455 AVG, 1.227 OPS

Schedule
9-28: Loss at Kings (2-9)
9-29: Win at Kings (8-5)
10-1: Loss at Stars (1-4)
10-2: Win at Stars (5-3)

Recap
After splitting the final two series, we managed to hang on to second place, finishing 82-72 and 13 games out of first place. The same goes for the Saints, so we'll share the distinction of 2nd. It's our third second place finish in the last four seasons, and we've now finished top three in ten of the last eleven seasons. And with so many playoff wins to show for it!

The offense this week was varied, with a lot of top performances and a lot of struggles. Don Lee led the way, as the seemingly recharged outfielder finished his season 5-for-12 with 2 walks, 2 homers, 3 RBIs, and 4 runs, and in his 15 game callup he hit a well above average .302/.423/.605 (172 OPS+) with 2 doubles, a triple, 3 homers, a steal, and 5 RBIs with an excellent 9-to-2 walk-to-strikeout ratio. I may want to add an outfielder this offseason, but Lee's performance means we may have a nice in house option ready to go. Otto Christian hit another homer, coming in a huge 4-for-5 game with 2 doubles to finish his September. He didn't play enough for the award, but Otto slashed .350/.409/.767 (209 OPS+) in 17 September games, providing 6 doubles, 2 triples, 5 homers, and 14 RBIs. Others such as George Sutterfield (5-11, 2B, 3B, R, BB, 2 RBI), Charlie Woodbury (4-12, 2 2B, 2 RBI, BB), Carlos Montes (4-10, R, 2 BB), and Harry Mead (2-7, 2 2B, RBI) all finished well, but it was sad to see both Skipper (3-14, R) and Sal (3-16, 3B, RBI, BB) so cold after great starts. Both still managed 5 WAR seasons, but their first halves were significantly better then the second. A full season of dominance next year would be great, as once again, our championship drought adds another year.

Johnnie Jones finished his season with a win, starting his career high 30th game to finish the season. He's seen his starts increase each year (2, 3, 24, 26, 27, 29, 30) since his debut in 1941, and he managed to win each of his last three decisions. He walked 6, allowing 6 hits and 3 runs (2 earned) with 3 strikeouts. His 3.55 ERA (113 ERA+) makes him four of five in full seasons with an ERA+ above 100, and he set bests in wins (15) and strikeouts (101). Zane Kelley beat the team that drafted him, but Brooklyn chased him out with two outs in the ninth. He allowed 9 hits, 5 runs, and 2 walks, but struck out 4, finally more then he walked. Kelley got all but one out that he could have in his first four starts, working to a stellar 2.78 ERA (145 ERA+) and 1.09 WHIP. Harry MacRae finished that start to earn his 15th save, striking out rookie Ken Newman (.293, 5, 56) to end it. 15 saves is good enough for a four way tie for the 6th most saves in a season for a Cougar pitcher, and the 28-year-old finished his season 8-3 with a 2.91 ERA (138 ERA+) and 1.49 WHIP. We couldn't catch the Foresters for fewest runs, mainly due to our pen (5.00, 7th) and home runs (125, 8th), but the Cougs led the association in starter's ERA (3.45), hits (1,283), opponent average (.246), BABIP (.261), and strikeouts (681), with the most efficient defense (.724) and second highest zone rating (29.1).

Not too much left in the season, as the Foresters (95-59) and Chiefs (90-64) square off in the World Championship Series, but a few more Cougar related posts before starting with the yearly offseason top prospects. Tomorrow I expect to get an in-depth report of our minor league system and then Friday the no-trade team. Depending how I feel, I may end up doing a recap of the 1940s. This was supposed to be our decade, and with nine finished with 82 wins or more, you might think that would be the case. But no, zero championships, one pennant, and a ton of disappointment.

That's Cougars baseball for you! We get your hopes up, just to finish like everyone else! Not a champion...

And we'll do it all again next season!