[ayaghmour2]

Weekly Record: 4-2
Seasonal Record: 62-62 (4th, 15 GB)
Stars of the Week
Elmer Grace : 16 AB, 7 H, 2 HR, 6 RBI, .438 AVG, 1.509 OPS
Duke Bybee : 1 Win, 9.0 IP, 1 BB, 2 K, 0.00 ERA
Frank Reece : 25 AB, 6 H, 2 HR, 4 RBI, .240 AVG, .749 OPS

Schedule
8-21: Win vs Wolves (3-12)
8-22: Loss vs Wolves (5-4): 16 innings
8-23: Win vs Wolves (0-4)
8-24: Win vs Cannons (2-5): 10 innings
8-25: Win vs Cannons (2-7)
8-26: Loss vs Sailors (5-1)

Recap
It finally happened!

No, not us getting back to .500. Though I guess that's cool.

But we lost a game by more then three runs! For the first time since July 14th! It was by four runs this time!

Of course it was the Sailors, who are now eight above the Saints and half a game above the Foresters, who ended our annoying streak, but it didn't stop us (and actually helped, technically) from our third consecutive 4-2 week.

Depending on how you look at things, the biggest event of the week was Duke Bybee's (4 H, BB, 2 K) complete game shutout, raising his record to 13-6 and lowering his association ERA to 2.62 (158 ERA+), but he shut out the Kings two weeks ago and three on the season. Like an Allen winner should. But since he's done it before and, let's be honest, it's the Wolves, I'd say the biggest event of the week was Frank Reece's first career homer! It was a three run shot off former 1st Overall pick Les Ledbetter in our huge 12-3 victory, and just three days later he hit a solo shot against Mickey Mills. That helped get the game to extras, before Clyde Zimmerman pulled off the theatrics again, a walk-off three run homer off Art Edwards to give us the win. He has just three hits in 16 trips to the plate, but he's made them count, a pair of walk-off blasts and a clutch pinch hit single in the ninth of an eventual loss. Both center fielders have a pair of longballs since they've came up, though Reece has way more PAs, slashing .297/.325/.459 (105 OPS+) with a 113 WRC+, 7 extra base hits, and a 3.1 zone rating (1.042 EFF) in his young career. The plan still is to bring up Jerry Smith next week when rosters expand, but Reece will still maintain a majority of playing time in center.

Interesting enough, most of the offense came from outfielders like Reece, though the star of the week is the red hot Elmer Grace. I almost feel bad for acquiring Buddy Schneider, but you know, how could I resist? Since Grace has been so darn good! This week it was 7-for-16 with 2 doubles, 2 homers, 4 runs, 5 walks, and 6 RBIs. His FABL line is up to .350/.436/.517 (151 OPS+) in 165 trips to the plate, adding 8 doubles, 2 triples, 4 homers, 25 RBIs, and a 21-to-15 walk-to-strikeout ratio. In the two positions he's played more then 100 innings in, he has above average zone ratings and efficiencies, 1.1 and 1.010 in 185.2 innings at second and 0.9 and 1.052 in 124 innings at third. Before the promotion, he had just 52 games (41 starts) at second and 19 (6 starts) at third, which makes the defensive production so impressive. His work ethic has helped him get where he is, and it's allowed him to excel in unfamiliar positions.

Looking back to the outfield, some of the vets put in the work, with Leo Mitchell 6-for-16 with a double, 2 runs, and 2 RBIs. He picked up two more steals, now 27 in 34 attempts, equal to his combined total from the previous eight seasons. 30 is in reach, and only Skipper (28) has more stolen bases in the CA. The 38-year-olds speed boost has made up for his 119 WRC+ -- ten points below his career average -- and a 21.8 K% that's set to be a career high. He's only been above 20 one other time, with the next highest the 17.2 from his 1942 season where he was actually most valuable in terms of WAR (4.2). Corner mate Chubby Hall was 5-for-18 with a double, homer, 2 runs, 2 walks, and 3 RBIs, while 4th outfielder Don Lee was 2-for-8 with a double, 3 walks, and 3 RBIs. We didn't get much from the rest of the squad, but it hasn't mattered too much, as August is on pace for our best month of the year.

The pitching is always great, and after Pete Papenfus dropped his ERA to 3.75 (110 ERA+) on a complete game victory, all five of our starting pitchers have ERA+ that are at least 10% better then average. The leader being George Polk (174 ERA+), who stayed hot with his first complete game win. He actually needed just 95 pitches, a little less then his max, as despite 11 hits he allowed just 3 runs and a walk with 3 strikeouts. But the absolute best part was Polk's bat, as he was a perfect 3-for-3 with a walk, 2 runs, and 4 RBIs. He single handedly beat the Wolves! He only hits singles, so the WRC+ isn't anything special, but he hit .250 for the Keystones and .273 in Chicago. Dixie Marsh now thinks that Polk is better then Allen frontrunner Duke Bybee, if you can believe it, so guess what!?!? We have another pitching logjam!!! I have to re-scout him, Dixie has never been the biggest fan since he joined the organization, but if we have another ace on our hands, who knows what the future holds!

If only we could consistently score runs...

Looking Ahead
We have one more with the Sailors, and I really hope we can embarrass the swingman John Thomas Johnson (11-3, 2, 1.39, 42) who has somehow allowed just 13 earned runs despite 5 homers. I have no idea why he's been so dominant, as even his 3.33 FIP (77 FIP-) in 84 innings is elite, but at some point the former top 50 prospect is going to fall back to earth. If it's against us, it's even better, but he's coming off a 1-run complete game win over a weakened Kings lineup that he recently shutout in his first of five starts. He's yet to allow more then 2 runs in a game all season, and a pair of solo shots from Ralph Hanson (.312, 4, 35, 15) and Bill Barrett (.275, 21, 78) in start two is his only appearance with two earned runs. I mean, I know we don't score, and their #1 offense is probably going to put up 15 on us, but wouldn't it be fun to blemish his nice ERA? I won't dive too much into their elite offense, but George Rutter (.311, 24, 120, 6) is the biggest run producer in years. He's on pace for 147 RBIs, good for a tie with Max Morris for 16th, and the highest total since Bobby Barrell knocked in 152 in 1944. I've always been a huge Rutter fan, so it's nice seeing this breakout for him, as the once 11th ranked prospect has managed to be one of the best run producers despite a tiny 2.9 BB% and 100 strikeout pace. If he wasn't in the lineup, I don't see a way they spend this much time in first, and while the overall numbers don't back it ("just" a 123 WRC+), I could see the 25-year-old getting serious consideration for the Whitney.

Speaking of Whitney contenders, we get Sherry Doyal (.330, 27, 97) and the Foresters next, ending our long homestand with the other pennant hopeful. Joe Wood (.315, 14, 71) is still 3-4 weeks out, and aside from his 29.2 BB% in his first 24 trips to the plate, Ivey Henley (.176, 3) can't do anything that Wood can. Will it matter? Maybe not, as Doyal. Lloyd Coulter (.273, 20, 63), Frenchy Sonntag (.327, 22, 83), Lorenzo Samuels (.273, 22, 78), and Larry McClure (.287, 10, 55) provide plenty of oomph. The one limitation to their title hopes is the pitching, and even Adrian Czerwinski (17-5, 3.25, 103) has allowed 5 earned runs in each of his last two times out. Dick Lamb (4-2, 2, 2.54, 27) has looked decent in his return to the rotation, but that's not going to be enough. They might have to just out slug everyone else, and aside from the Sailors, that shouldn't be too hard. Just maybe not when Larry Beebe (13-12, 4.75, 80) is pitching. He's been awful in August (9.99 ERA, 2.10 WHIP) and the sophomore slump pretty much kicked in on his last start of May.

Off on Friday to start our road trip, where we technically get the third pennant contender. That would be the Saints, but now that they're a game closer to us then the Sailors, things aren't looking good. The guy who is looking good is Ted Coffin, who may be Bybee's biggest competition for the Allen. An impressive 13-5, Coffin's 2.88 ERA (144 ERA+) trails just Bybee in the CA, and he's got a 1.23 WHIP and 94 strikeouts in 187.1 impressive rotation innings. He's trying for a team triple crown, tied with Pat Weakly (13-8, 4.20, 93) for wins and Wally Doyle (12-8, 3.62, 108) for strikeouts. The rookie has a good shot at the Kellogg award, mainly with Wood missing time, as he leads or shares the lead in nearly every pitching category among Continental rookies. He loses a couple if you include the Fed rookies, but he's still the dominant name, and as much as I don't want him to take votes away from Bybee, I've always loved "The Grim Reaper" and some more dominant starts could help secure the nomination at the expense of Bybee's Allen. Lucky for us, I think we miss him, but after a quick sweep at the hands of the Wolves, I think they're going to be out for revenge. Let's just hope they take it out on the Sailors first. Then they can beat us. I guess...

Minor League Report
CF Henry Norman (AAA Milwaukee Blues): Center field is going to open up when Jerry Smith makes his inevitable debut, and Blues fans will have no loss in production value when Norman slides over. He was crucial in the recent 6-5 win over St. Paul, going 4-for-5 with 2 runs and 4 RBIs. Norman hit for the cycle, and was responsible for all but one of the first place Blues runs in a rather strange Bob Allen (7.2 IP, H, 3 R, 8 BB, 5 K) start where he couldn't quite recover from an unlucky error as the command wasn't quite there. Norman has helped his pitchers out many times, as after hitting .350/.395/.577 (151 OPS+) in 85 games for the Governors he's hit .304/.353/.519 (148 OPS+) in 20 games with the Blues. He's played mainly in left, the position he's had the least experience so far. Time out there can do him well, as Smith has been amazing (9.6, 1.129) in 37 games of center field. It's going to tough to beat that, and while I like him best in right if him, Smith, and Reece are in the same outfield, I've been known to trade for big bats. Sometimes that needs to be in an outfield spot. Being able to play all three outfield positions will be a plus, and he could use any advantage he can get when it comes to earning playing time.

RHP Cliff Wallace (AA Mobile Commodores): I don't usually like talking about the older guys, especially since pitchers tend to throw shutouts more often then they should, but man after four I just got to give Cliff Wallace props. The former 9th Rounder doesn't have the slightest chance of pitching in our rotation, but that hasn't stopped him from trying, as the ready for Milwaukee righty now has more shutouts then losses (3). He's done it twice in three starts, and actually had more shutouts then losses for a brief time before this, and he's won 14 of his 20 starts. 25 this May, he's got a slim chance to win Pitcher of the Month, following a perfect 4-0 July with the same figure in August. In his 165 innings on the season he has an impressive 3.00 ERA (136 ERA+), 3.30 FIP (80 FIP-), and 1.27 WHIP with 56 walks and 96 strikeouts. If you can believe that, it's a bit worse then last year, where he was 17-7 with a 2.57 ERA (155 ERA+) and 1.24 WHIP and 114 strikeouts. He's stuck here as our AAA rotation is full, but I'll do whatever I can to ensure he's pitching somewhere other then Little Rock elsewhere. I have too many guys in need of 40-man roster spots, and a season like this could make him very enticing for a team in need of an arm.