[ayaghmour2]

Weekly Record: 4-3
Seasonal Record: 47-37 (t-4th, 5 GB)
Stars of the Week
Gene Case : 23 AB, 9 H, 4 HR, 8 RBI, .391 AVG, 1.543 OPS
Chappy Sanders : 21 AB, 6 H, 3 HR, 7 RBI, .286 AVG, 1.095 OPS
Pug White : 1 Win, 2 Saves, 7.1 IP, 2 BB, 6 K, 0.00 ERA

Schedule
7-9: Win vs Kings (3-5)
7-10: Loss vs Kings (12-2)
7-11: Win at Imperials (7-2)
7-12: Loss at Imperials (3-5)
7-13: Win at Imperials (5-4)
7-14: Loss vs Cannons (8-4)
7-15: Win vs Cannons (2-5)

Recap
We finally lost to the New York Imperials, as Andy Logue (L, 6 IP, 9 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 3 K) didn't have his best stuff and a Chappy Sanders error on a bunt attempt proved to be the difference in a 5-3 game. It wasn't Gene Case's fault, he was 4-for-4 with a pair of solo shots, and since we won that series we finished 4-3 for the week. Now within five things are really starting to get interesting, and I made a trade today (post probably tomorrow) that could help us shrink the deficit further.

Case became the first Cougar to enter one of the top-20 list, as FABL's 17th ranked position player continues to hit everything out of the park. He had homers in two other games this week, 9-for-23 with 3 doubles, 6 runs, 5 walks, and 8 RBIs. Case has now set a new career high with 23 homers in a season, two past his total in 509 PAs last season. This year it's came in 366, as he's hit a robust .324/.410/.612 (161 OPS+). A useful all-around player, Case has been worth 3.8 WAR, providing top level defense with 15 doubles, 70 runs, 64 RBIs, 49 runs, and 10 steals. My vote for CA All-Star first basemen, he seems like a lock to at least make the roster, as our second year slugger is having one of the best seasons we've had. Case is on track to become the second Cougar to surpass 40 homers, and a near lock to be the fifth guy with 30 in a season.

Despite an error costing us a game, Chappy Sanders had a solid week, going 6-forf-21 with 2 doubles, 3 homers, and 7 RBIs. The singles still aren't coming, but he's up to 8 homers in 268 PAs, and he does have 19 total extra base hits. When he makes contact, he hits the ball hard, but he's still not putting the ball in play enough. He's been lucky that there's no better option on the market, or at least that Bill Plunkett isn't a better defender. The old rookie was 4-for-8 with a solo homer for his first career homer. He continues to make one or two starts a week, and in 88 PAs he's hit a productive .321/.386/.397 (104 OPS+). Chappy handles the staff much better, but in abbreviated stints Plunkett has proved his worth.

Our starters weren't great, but John Mitchell had a much needed bounce-back outing after allowing 8 runs off 8 hits and 5 walks in a loss to the Wolves. The 25-year-old went the distance, allowing just 7 hits, 2 runs, and a walk with 5 strikeouts in a 7-2 win over the Imperials. He needed just 106 pitches as he was effective and efficient, giving the overworked pen some needed rest. Pug was needed four times, tossing 7.1 scoreless innings with 4 hits, 2 walks, and 6 strikeouts. He picked up a win and two saves, now 6-4 with 12 saves and 2 holds, maintaining an excellent 3.02 ERA (147 ERA+), 3.33 FIP (74 FIP-), and 1.15 WHIP. He's also up to 60 strikeouts in 80.1 innings, and he's got a real shot at being the team qualified ERA leader. Him and Arch Wilson (7-1, 0.93, 23), who allowed his fourth run in our 5-3 win over the Kings, have been as lockdown as it gets in the late innings, and one of the main reasons we're in the pennant race with an up and coming roster.

They'll have a new pen mate this coming week, as I picked up former Forester Earle Turner on waivers from the Foresters. One of the many pitchers I've attempted to claim on waivers, I was shocked to actually get Turner, as he's one of the better ones that has gotten cut. Just 27, he's an extreme groundballer who almost never allows a homer, attacking hitters with his low-90s sinker. As a sidearmer it comes from a funky armslot, and he's usually really tough to square up.

I say usually because this season he's really struggled, allowing 14 earned runs off 29 hits and 12 walks in 17 innings. He's struck out one fewer hitter (16) then he's walked, and his 7.41 ERA (62 ERA+) and 2.41 WHIP make you want to shield your eyes. He's not usually like this, as evidenced even by the 4.37 FIP (94 FIP-), as he was solid the past three seasons. His rookie year was like this one, so he sports a 4.64 ERA (97 ERA+) in 159 innings, but I love the 14.1 K% and 54% groundball rate. It's always above 50, and with our infield defense he will be rolling up plenty of outs on the ground.

Turner is out of options, so he pushes the optionable Phil Means down to Milwaukee. Making his first Opening Day roster, he had some successful pen outings, but hitters were starting to catch on lately. In 51.2 innings he has a poor 5.40 ERA (83 ERA+) and 1.45 WHIP, in large part due to the 15 home runs. That accounts for more then half his earned runs, but he struck guys out (35, 15.4) and limited walks (15, 6.6). I still really like his stuff, and if he can just stay in the park, he'd be a useful reliever. He should be a great benefit to the Milwaukee pen, and I'm sure he'll be one of the guys we bring up in September.

Looking Ahead
One more with the Cannons, who we split the first two with. Lockport native Red Cunningham (6-4, 3.48, 60) takes the mound for the Cannons, while John Mitchell (6-4, 4.21, 55) looks to build off his complete game victory. A win here would put us in a tie for third, and we have a chance to win if we can keep their lineup in check. Ironically, Dallas Berry (.351, 28, 81, 11) only played in their loss, with Larry Lewis (.294, 21, 3) 1-for-5 with a pair of RBIs in the 8-4 win. Sloppy play did us in for that one, so if we can keep men off base when Berry is up we have a chance to win. Bonnie Chapin (.314, 17, 57) is the only other guy with a WRC+ above 125, as they are more of a duo then a top group. Our biggest advantage may be defense, as they rank 9th in efficiency (.665) and 10th in zone rating (-25.4) while we're 2nd (.705) and 1st (+35.9). With home field advantage, I like our chances, and with the off day following we can use whoever we need to finish the game.

For once we get to stay at home, as after the off day we'll host the Dallas Wranglers for three. 35-49, they're just a game behind the Saints (36-48) for eighth, with a sixteen game cushion on their expansion counterparts for last. A big part of that is 25-year-old Butch Abrams, who has recently been promoted to staff ace. Through 17 starts he's 8-6 with a 3.93 ERA (115 ERA+) and 53 strikeouts. 33-year-old lefty Steve Miller (3-6, 3.30, 55) has been even better, emerging as both a team leader and productive starter. No indications from them have been made about selling, as they could attempt to post a respectable record. Hanging on to Miller and guys like Ray Hughes (.301, 9, 27, 4) and Ed Thompson (.266, 4, 30) can help them stay competitive, but I imagine for the right price, anyone but Abrams and corner infielder basemen Ken Hudson (.264, 14, 38) can be had.

We'll then spend our weekend in San Francisco, playing two with the Sailors. It will be the final series of the first half, as we'll face the team we enter the week tied with. They got dealt a blow when shortstop Carlos Jaramillo (.296, 4, 27, 16) hit the IL with a partially torn labrum, potentially costing him his 4th All-Star selection. Out for a month, it's a major loss, and they have yet to indicate who will replace him. Whoever they go with, there's no replacing Jaramillo, and the lineup will be much easier to tackle. They've also moved back to a traditional five man rotation, with Larry Knez (2-1, 2.75, 10) taking up the fifth spot. Zane Kelley (6-5, 4.74, 60) has struggled, but the front three of Charlie Lawson (8-5, 3.61, 89), George Fuller (6-9, 3.78, 77), and Hank Lacey (7-3, 3.67, 73) has held up well. With the off day they can line up their rotation in multiple ways, but they'll give us a competitive fight no matter who's on the mound.

Minor League Report
CF Orlando Benitez (A Rockford Wildcats): Promotion has been no challenge for Orlando Benitez, who took home a second Player of the Week in the Heartland League. It's his third overall, as this time Benitez was 13-for-30 with 2 doubles, a triple, a homer, 3 runs, and 7 RBIs. This upped his Rockford line to .358/.455/.621 (183 OPS+), adding 6 doubles, 2 triples, 5 homers, 26 RBIs, 17 walks, and 6 steals. With how good he's been I'm tempted to promote him again, but at 19 I don't want to rush him. There's no room for him in the outfield right now, and it may be worth improving his versatility before he gets to Chicago. Center is the only position he's reach his potential at, with work needed to master third, left, and right. He's the type of guy that needs to feel challenged to perform at the highest level, and I may need to test him so he can keep up the good work.