[ayaghmour2]

Weekly Record: 5-1
Seasonal Record: 38-26 (2nd, 6 GB)
Stars of the Week
Jerry McMillan : 26 AB, 12 H, 3 HR, 7 RBI, .462 AVG, 1.462 OPS
Gene Case : 21 AB, 10 H, 4 HR, 7 RBI, .476 AVG, 1.595 OPS
Henry Watson : 19 AB, 8 H, 2 HR, 9 RBI, .421 AVG, 1.318 OPS

Schedule
6-18: Loss at Wranglers (3-6)
6-19: Win at Wranglers (3-2)
6-20: Win at Wranglers (13-6)
6-22: Win vs Sailors (4-7)
6-23: Win vs Sailors (5-7)
6-24: Win vs Sailors (7-9)

Recap
This has got to be the most inconsistent team I have ever seen...

So many 1s and 0s in the win/loss column, and against all odds, this week the 1 was in the loss column. Ironically, we lost the opener to the Wranglers, but then absolutely throttled what was the staff that allowed the fewest runs in the CA. They're now 3rd! We absolutely throttled Charlie Lawson and George Fuller, the opposite of what I expected, as the bats were firing on all cylinders. It all started with Jerry McMillan leading off the opener with a solo shot off Charlie Lawson to start the game. Gene Case added #13 in the 3rd, and we pushed Lawson out with two outs in the 4th. He allowed 10 hits, 7 runs, and 2 walks, so even with 5 strikeouts the outing was spoiled. Zane Kelley did a little better in the middle game, 7 hits, 4 runs, and 3 strikeouts in 7.2 innings, but three of those runs came in the 8th, and we got one more on Eddie Chapman before the inning ended. That tied it at 5, and when he was back for the 9th, Bill Irvin finally did what his entire purpose on the roster was: a pinch-hit, walk-off home run! The finale was chaotic, including us almost blowing it with 3 in the 9th, but there were more homers! Henry Watson hit 11, Gene Case 14, and Fuller left in the 7th with 8 hits, 7 runs, and 5 walks.

Is this offense back!?!?!?!

Jerry McMillan sure is, as our star center fielder captured the Player of the Week award. The third CA award of his young career, McMillan did more then just spark our sweep against the Sailors, as he had a pair of homers against the Wranglers and hit .462/.500/.962 (270 OPS+) on the week. If three homers wasn't enough, he had a pair of triples too, and being the speedy outfielder he is McMillan swiped three bases as well. Add in 7 RBIs and 9 runs scored, and well, it's pretty obvious why he won! After a tough couple of weeks, he's been turning the corner, and his season line is in line where it is most years, an impressive .324/.374/.521 (130 OPS+) with 9 doubles, 6 triples, 10 homers, 13 steals, 34 RBIs, and 54 runs scored. He's a little below average in center (-2.6, .977), but I think part of that is from him spending most of his previous time in right. It's gotten better as the season has gone on, as the more familiar he gets there, the more his already sky-high value will rise. Somehow, he's still not a top-20 player, but I do believe he's one of the most valuable guys in FABL.

McMillan was not alone this week, and in all honesty, he didn't even deserve the Player of the Week award. Well, didn't deserve isn't the right word, he certainly was superb, but Gene Case continued his assault on baseballs with a 301 OPS+ week. Case had a better triple slash, .476/.500/1.095, as our first basemen was 10-for-21 with a double, 4 homers, 7 RBIs, 8 runs, and a pair of walks. Sure, he didn't have the triples or steals, but Case started five games this week and homered in four of them! Surely that counts for something!?!?!

Of course, it does, baseball loves those statistics, so the "10th best first basemen" has the team lead with 14 homers, batting .312/.394/.537 (139 OPS+) with 8 doubles, 8 steals, and 42 RBIs. Recently 24, he walks (35) more then he strikes out (29) and has scored 53 times, doing everything he can to help us win games. The reigning Diamond Defense winner is stealing outs with his patented stretches at first, as his wingspan is far greater the his 6'3'' height. We rank 1st in zone rating (31.4) and 2nd in efficiency (.709) for a reason, and it all starts with the guy at first base.

Henry Watson stayed hot too, as the young outfielder was 8-for-19 with 2 doubles, 2 homers, 6 runs, and 9 RBIs. He's had one of the best June's of anyone, batting .385/.429/.679 (183 OPS+) with 3 doubles, 6 homers, 13 runs, and 26 RBIs. Watson now owns a .304/.337/.522 (120 OPS+) line in 264 trips to the plate this season, and his 58 RBIs not only lead the team, but are second to just Dallas Berry (.357, 24, 70, 10) in the Continental. That could be All-Star worthy, as we're about a month away from the game. He got his first last year, and as expected he's handled the move to right field perfectly (4.5, 1.067). I really want to buy something, as we're close enough to actually maybe make this a pennant race, so the 24-year-old could even move to left is the opportunity arises. Jim Barton (.293, 5, 34) has been decent, but if I can get a rental type bopper in the outfield I am going to pounce on the opportunity.

Plenty of other guys deserve shoutouts, as exciting young shortstop Tom Halliday was 9-for-22 with a double, 4 RBIs, and 5 runs scored. He hasn't hit this good in awhile, but the defense continues to be elite (10.0, 1.125) and he always puts the ball in play. Whether its a bloop or even reaching on an error, he can make things happen, and the quick infielder is a quality base runner and stealer. Chappy Sanders even hit well despite no homers, 5-for-15 with a double, 2 walks, 2 RBIs, and 3 runs. I've been desperately looking for a catcher, as while the defense is great he's just not getting any hits. He's back over .200, slashing .209/.275/.342 (59 OPS+) in a tough rookie season. Chappy has lost some playing time to Bill Plunkett, who was 2-for-7 week and has a 109 WRC+ in 68 PAs on the season. If he was any good defensively I'd consider giving him a chance in the lineup, but he's the perfect two-ish starts a week guy that frustrates opposing pitchers since he knows them so well.

Andy Logue shook off his rough stretch with 7 scoreless against the Sailors, allowing just 6 hits and 2 walks with 5 strikeouts. That snapped his 4 game losing streak, improving to 5-7 with a 3.97 ERA (113 ERA+) and 1.31 WHIP in 14 starts. Him, Roy Ellis, and John Mitchell have been a reliable 1-2-3, though Mitchell had a rough hiccough with the Wranglers. The expansion team rallied for 7 hits and 5 runs, striking out twice in 4.2 innings. It ended up not mattering, as while he left down 4-3 in the 5th, we finished that game 13-6 winners. Phil Means became the pitcher of record, throwing an inning and a third with a Carl Matthews homer scoring the batter Mitchell left on base. Arch Wilson continued his scoreless streak with a strikeout in a perfect seventh to pick up his second hold. He then got the save on Sunday, bailing out Pug White in the ninth. He was going for a three inning save, but he allowed three runs in the final inning. He was the pitcher of record, as we broke the 4-4 tie after he entered the game.

Pug won the walk-off a day earlier too, and picked up two saves. In those three appearance he didn't allow a run or walk, and his 3.29 ERA (137 ERA+) is best among qualified Cougars. Him and Roy Ellis have been an interesting combo, as in both of Ellis' starts Buck Cuppett wanted our stopper to take his start to the finish line. Their efforts against the Wranglers proved to be the difference, as Ellis started with six excellent frames, allowing 8 hits, 2 runs, 3 walks, and 5 strikeouts before Pug delivered three scoreless. He allowed just 2 hits and struck out 3, allowing Ellis to earn his fifth win. Him and Logue are one shy of Arch for the team lead, and despite not having the most talented pitchers we are not letting teams score on us.

I made a roster move this sim, sending defensive star Billy Thompson on outright assignment to AAA. The 25-year-old is one of the best defenders in our organization, but he hit just .205/.244/.205 (18 OPS+) in 41 trips to the plate. He hasn't played regular enough to get into a groove, and we finally have someone in AAA I sort of want to call up. He isn't a world beater and hit just .167/.318/.222 (47 OPS+) in 22 PAs for the Foresters last season, but Larry Curtis was good in the 50s for the Wolves and hit .299/.432/.727 (225 OPS+) in 23 games with the Blues. Since we signed him as a minor league free agent almost exactly a month ago, he's pounded 9 doubles and 8 homers, driving in 20 with 22 runs and 10 walks. A disciplined hitter with plenty of power, Curtis once looked like a future All-Star, bursting onto the scene in 1954. The former 2nd Rounder and Top 50 prospect hit .340/.441/.571 (177 OPS+) in 413 PAs, adding 27 doubles, 4 triples, 15 homers, 51 walks, 70 RBIs, and 75 runs. That was an outstanding rookie season, and for the next three seasons he was an above average hitter in terms of both OPS+ and WRC+.

That stopped in '58, but he followed his average year (100 OPS+, 96 WRC+) with a great one. Curtis hit .283/.339/.527 (134 OPS+) with 25 doubles, 28 homers, and 75 RBIs. This improve his career line to .266/.330/.474 (122 OPS+), and in their pursuit of outfielders, the Cleveland Foresters picked him up for a minor league outfielder. With their stars, even a guy with 130 career homers doesn't have room to play everyday, and he played sparingly the next two seasons. Because of that, he was left unprotected in the expansion draft, going to the Minneapolis Millers in the 14th Round. Despite being taken early, he was cut after being DFA'd, and sat there for about a month until he took my $2,100 minor league contract offer.

It proved to be a wise move, as he's earned himself another chance in FABL, with his next appearance being #859. He won't start much, but he's a useful slugger with a cannon in the outfield, and despite not being that fast he's an amazing baserunner. As good as Thompson's defense is, we need him to get back on track, and Curtis is worth a flier until something better comes along. Our 40 had six open spots and Curtis can be optioned, so even if I'm able to grab a big bat in the outfield, I don't have to worry about losing him as depth. Granted, I could choose to keep him and cut bait with Bill Irvin, who's clutch pinch hit homer was his first hit of the season.

Last piece of note is the draft, and as expected, none of the auto-scrubs crack the top 500. Luckily, the two guys I took are in the top 100, as Bill Grimm checks in at 44 and Jim Place at 91. Grimm is behind just Dode Caudill in our system, as the talented young outfielder is 12th, while Place is 6th in the system and the clear best pitcher. To make matters worse, picks auto sign now, so I can't just let the guys with eligibility go back to school. Instead, my Class C roster as 52 players, and I have two sims to get that down to 35.

All those poor released late round picks...

Looking Ahead
I'm a little behind so I'll make this short and sweat. Three in LA, three hosting the Foresters, one in Montreal. You'd think we'd lose all but the games in Montreal. You'll find out soon! Probably tomorrow. Night sims really throw me off. Need to get in to the routine!

Minor League Report
CF Orlando Benitez (A Rockford Wildcats): Last week I promoted Orlando Benitez to Rockford. This week, he won Player of the Week.

Last year's first round pick, Orlando Benitez was hitting .351/.390/.597 (177 OPS+) in San Jose, looking more then ready for a new challenge. In 205 PAs he hit 8 doubles, 3 triples, and 11 home runs, driving in 28 with 27 runs scored, 13 walks, and 6 steals. He won a Player of the Week there too, going 12-for-21 with 2 homers and 9 RBIs, production similar to his first week in Rockford. The 19-year-old was 10-for-22 with 2 homers and 9 RBIs, adding 8 runs, a double, a steal, and 7 walks, proving he was more then ready for the Heartland League. The Wildcats new everyday center fielder, he currently ranks as FABL's 64th best prospect and one spot behind our 3rd ranked prospect Bobby Martinez. I think Benitez will be even better, as he's got a nice swing and the athletic mold of a ballplayer. He's strong and athletic, more then capable of sticking in center, and his power potential is legit. He could mash plenty of home runs when he's older, and he's got a great arm in the outfield and at third. His versatility, speed, and overall raw talent will work in his favor, but I really need him to put in the requisite effort to be a star.