[ayaghmour2]

Weekly Record: 3-3
Seasonal Record: 78-69 (3rd, 1.5 GB)
Stars of the Week
Leo Mitchell : 22 AB, 13 H, 0 HR, 3 RBI, .591 AVG, 1.245 OPS
Red Bond : 19 AB, 5 H, 2 HR, 6 RBI, .263 AVG, .917 OPS
Johnnie Jones : 1 Win, 8.1 IP, 6 BB, 3 K, 0.00 ERA

Schedule
9-18: Loss vs Cannons (7-5)
9-19: Win vs Sailors (3-9)
9-20: Loss vs Sailors (3-2)
9-21: Win vs Sailors (2-0)
9-23: Loss at Stars (3-4): 10 innings
9-24: Win at Stars (8-4)

Recap
We alternated decisions this week, dropping to a game and a half out of first as we enter the final week of the season. The new co-leaders are the New York Stars (80-68) and the surging Cleveland Foresters (80-68), who have won seven straight and nine of their last ten. The last series they lost was the midweek series against us that ended with a 10-2 throttling of 1949 All Star John Jackson (12-14, 4.21, 100) on the 14th. They appear to be the favorite going into the final week, as the reigning pennant winners are off to start the week before starting a three game series in Toronto. They finish the season at home, hosting the seventh place Sailors, who were eliminated by the Foresters four game sweep.

Lucky for us, Leo Mitchell has gotten hot, earning Batter of the Week in the Continental Association. This was made possible by Leo Mitchell's sixth career five hit game, as he contributed to our 9-3 beatdown of Al Duster (10 H, 6 ER, 2 BB) and Art Hull (3 H, 3 ER, 2 BB). Mitchell was 13-for-22 with a double and 3 RBIs, now hitting .341/.389/.467 (129 OPS+). He's a point away from Marion Boismenu (.341, 3, 49), who was just 3-for-11 in four starts. Barring a Cougar pennant led by Mitchell himself, he's not longer a Whitney candidate, currently third in the CA for WRC+ (144), he was no better then average since July, but no one will remember that if he can spark a win streak to steal the crown in a crowded sprint to the finish.

Red Bond deserves some acknowledgement, not only for going 5-for-19, with a double, walk, 3 runs, and 6 RBIs, but because his first of two homers was the 250th of his career. 165 of them came when the 37-year-old was in Montreal, as Bond now has 86 homers in 397 games as a Cougar. He's been our hottest hitter in September, and with two well-timed homers he could match his 27 longballs from the past two seasons. 1950 as been a healthy season for him too, as his 528 plate appearances are already most as a Cougar, and I expect him to play plenty in this final week.

Johnnie Jones and Duke Bybee stayed hot, with Johnnie coming two outs away from a shutout. He was at 142 pitches, and while he allowed just 4 hits, there were 6 walks to 3 strikeouts. David Molina picked up the final two outs, earning his 20th save of the season. Unfortunately Molina blew the Stars game, as he allowed Ed Holmes (.266, 11, 54, 8) to score on a Bob Riggins (.280, 3, 18, 6) double. Molina stayed on for the 10th, but it took just two pitches for Jack Welch (.269, 27, 80) to end it with a 400 foot homer. He finished Bybee's start earlier earlier in the week, as like Johnnie Duke went eight and a third. The 5 walks was unusual, but it was partially countered by six strikeouts and fully saved by nine runs of support. He allowed just 7 hits and 3 runs, improving to 13-11 on the season. This duo has two starts in the most critical week of the season, and while they're not the most talented pitchers in our rotation, they've been cruising down the stretch.

Looking Ahead
Losses can be lethal at this stage of the season, and with a pair of them could be a season ender for either of the teams on display at Cougars Park. Both us and the injury riddled Saints are within two games of the first and cannot afford to drop games at this point. Lucky for us, they're ice cold and without Big Moe Carter (.267, 24, 86), and now lefty Wally Doyle (10-13, 3.98, 135) is done for the year. Even though Joe Austin (.233, 6, 42, 27) they have been without a lot of notable players who are very hard to replace. Hank Smith (.261, 8, 23) has been alright at first, but Carder provides a lot more then that. Bob Jennings (.247, 11) has not been able to replicate Luke Weaver's (.290, 8, 48) bat, and our staff should be able to feast here if we can keep them in the park. Our lineup needs to come up big, and with the Doyle injury we may see a spot starter like Andy Lyon (3-1, 3.55, 37) or top 100 prospect Ted Coffin (0-1, 5.40, 3). More likely we'll see Wally Reif (15-13, 3.26, 99) and Bert Cupid (13-14, 3.74, 118), but both are susceptible to the longball, and may have trouble keeping it in our park.

I think we caught the Saints at the right time, but I'm extremely worried about what comes next, as we'll have three with the Brooklyn Kings. Unless we sweep here, they'll finish 1950 with the most wins against us, as they can at worst tie our 8-14 record with the Foresters. I'm not sure who's going to win the Whitney, but you can't go wrong with Ralph Johnson (.317, 18, 86, 6), who absolutely feasts at Cougars Park. He has two homers and a 183 WRC+ in 8 games there this season, and the 26-year-old is hitting .317/.407/.495 (134 OPS+) on the season. His 150 WRC+ leads the Association, and with 6.4 WAR he's in a race with Billy Forbes (6.3) for what could be his fourth consecutive season as the Continental WAR Lord. Three wins here would do them wonders, as even in fifth they are still three and a half out. A lot can be accounted to Ron Berry (18-11, 3.22, 138) and Charlie Rogers (.315, 7, 60, 17), who are locks to finish top three in the Kellogg Race this season. I'm really hoping Berry pitches and wins the finale against the Stars before the Kings come to town, as we are likely stuck with Joe Potts (11-11, 3.65, 95) in the finale.

It won't get any easier after, as we play two with the New York Stars to finish the regular season. Lucky for us, there's a chance for a pennant to be clinched their, but unlucky for us it's most likely to be for the Stars. Unlucky for them, they've already finished their home allocation, though they have similar win percentages at home (.545) and on the road (.535). Before coming to town, they face the same two teams we do, but with an off day on Friday to rest up for our matchup. I think that means we get Eli Panneton (15-14, 4.13, 93) and Ed Cornett (11-9, 3.67, 71), who I reckon will open the week in Brooklyn. No matter who they throw, I'll remain vigilant of the lineups power, especially CA home run leader Bill Barnett (.284, 33, 92), whose 33rd blast came off Pete Papenfus (14-11, 3.52, 140) in our 8-4 win. Despite being at home, I don't think we can get a worse matchup to end the season then the Kings and Stars, but Champions overcome whatever is ahead of them, and if we can't do that here then we don't deserve to represent our association.