[ayaghmour2]

Weekly Record: 5-1
Seasonal Record: 42-31 (3rd, 5.5 GB)
Stars of the Week
Jack Gibson : 20 AB, 7 H, 4 HR, 9 RBI, .350 AVG, 1.348 OPS
Tom Halliday : 19 AB, 9 H, 1 HR, 3 RBI, .474 AVG, 1.132 OPS
Jerry McMillan : 26 AB, 9 H, 1 HR, 5 RBI, .346 AVG, 1.008 OPS

Schedule
6-18: Win vs Foresters (4-5)
6-19: Win vs Foresters (6-7)
6-20: Loss vs Foresters (3-2)
6-21: Win vs Imperials (1-8)
6-22: Win vs Imperials (3-4)
6-23: Win vs Imperials (3-10)

Recap
It is good to be back!

Another 5-win week for the Cougars, and this time we actually made up ground! A full game and a half on the first place Kings, who now lead us by just 5.5. LA is two above us, and without getting too far ahead of ourselves, they're our next opponent. Instead, let's reflect on the impressive homestand, as we took two of three from the Foresters before sweeping the Imperials out of Chicago. I cannot believe I'm writing this, but one-run games were actually the highlight of the week, as we won two of the three with the Foresters, before winning our fourth of the week on Saturday. After the abysmal start, we've won 6 of our last 7 one-run games, a more respectable 12-15 on the season.

A healthy Jack Gibson is apart of it, as he homered in two of the one-run victories and each of his last four games. Now with 19 in just 188 PAs, he's still fourth in the CA and five off the lead. Gibson drove in 9, 7-for-20 with 6 runs, a double, a walk, and 9 RBIs. With a .306/.335/.688 (168 OPS+) season line, he's making a push for All-Star consideration, though I can't see him starting over the batting title leader Heinie Spitler (.381, 5, 42, 9). Henry Watson will be there for sure, as after a 6-for-23 week he's been worth exacting 4 WAR in 71 games. Adding a triple, two homers, seven RBIs, and a steal, he's hitting an outstanding .337/.380/.588 (157 OPS+) with 13 doubles, 6 triples, 15 homers, 19 walks, 5 steals, 43 runs, and 55 RBIs. What will be a second nod, Watson turned 25 last month, and currently ranks as the #1 right fielder and FABL's 19th best player overall. 1963 has been a huge breakout year for our young outfielder, solidifying himself in the lineup despite the emergence of the now graduated 2nd ranked prospect.

Tom Halliday got to hitting this week, 9-for-19 with a walk, 2 runs, and 3 RBIs. More importantly, he hit his third home run, already topping his total in 151 games last year. The slick fielding defender has also passed +10 for zone rating (10.4), and his .315/.393/.493 (138 OPS+) June line is turning some heads. It's improved his season line to a solid .262/.335/.373 (91 OPS+), and the 24-year-old is trying to prove he's more then just good for defense. We got a ton of home runs from everyone, with Jerry McMillan (9-26, 2 2B, 3B, 5 RBI, 4 R, 2 BB), Dode Caudill (9-26, 2B, 3B, 2 RBI, 4 R, BB, 2 SB), Gene Case (7-25, 3 3B, 2 RBI, 6 R, BB), and George McKee (3-14, 5 RBI, R, 2 BB) all added a home run. I want to single out Caudill's, as it was his 10th on the season. He's got 28 extra base hits, 25 walks, 32 RBIs, and 43 runs, giving us a glimpse of the star he could become.

Add another quality start for Hank Walker, as the now 31-year-old righty has allowed two or fewer runs in four of his last five starts. He's won each of those five, improving to 6-2 with 7 flashy innings. Walker allowed just 5 hits, a run, and 2 walks, striking out 6 in an 8-1 win over the Imperials. This run lowered his ERA to 3.83 (108 ERA+) in 80 innings, striking out 47 with 35 walks and a 1.36 WHIP. Overshadowed by Ken Stone (8-2, 2.46, 55) and Don Griffin (5-3, 3.30, 42), Walker has quietly been one of our most productive starters, and he's continued to show why he deserves to pitch every fifth game. Stone (W, 7 IP, 2 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 4 K) and Griffin (W, 11 IP, 12 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 5 K) both pitched well this week, and we won the three games they started, but with Roy Ellis allowed 5 runs in three of his last 5 starts, and Dick Champ's continued inconsistency, a reliable Walker has allowed us to keep winning games.

Of course, a reliable Pug White helps too, as the anchor of our pen continues to lock down games. It was another win and save for Pug, going 6 innings with 7 hits, 2 runs, 3 walks, and 5 strikeouts. The only other reliever to allow a run was Bob Allen, and his came in 4 innings with 2 hits and 5 strikeouts. Earle Turner tossed 4.1 scoreless innings, allowing 2 hits and a walk with 4 strikeouts, while Arch Wilson picked up his first win, a two inning outing with a hit and two strikeouts. Doc Cook's 1963 debut was similar, 2 innings with a hit and two strikeouts, but in an 8-1 win he had little stress starting his third FABL season. Even if his time is short, Cook will be a useful stopgap to get us outs when needed.

With the draftees all joining the system, there was a lot of trimming needed, but luckily Class C doesn't start until July 5th. This gives me time to wait for the inevitable injuries, but one move that couldn't wait was regarding John Morrison. After clearing waivers, he wouldn't go to AAA, so the recently turned 34-year-old will have to look for employment elsewhere. 1962 was good for him, hitting .342/.419/.658 (180 OPS+), but he was just 2-for-12 to start the season. With little time for at bats he couldn't get into the same groove, and I doubt he'll be able to find a FABL job elsewhere.

Looking Ahead
We get a pair of off days to keep us rested, with a two game series in LA in between. At 45-30, they're the only team between us and the Kings, and it sucks we have to beat up on each other here. Luckily it's a short series, and their ace Floyd Warner (8-3, 3.64, 63) would have been rested regardless of the off day. Then in the finale we seemed to have lucked out, as their most rested candidate is 28-year-old Earl Wright (2-3, 4.71, 27), who's a very exploitable weakness. You can't say the same thing about the Conti's top scoring offense, so a weak pitching matchup will make up for dealing with Ralph Barrell (.319, 17, 49, 6), Lou Allen (.291, 20, 56), Bobby Garrison (.313, 9, 39, 9), and Bob Griffin (.328, 4, 41, 3). Roy Ellis (6-4, 3.97, 59) and Hank Walker (6-2, 3.83, 47) will have their work cut out for them, and I'm worried we may struggle to survive.

Our next stop should be easier, as even on the road a 29-45 Saints team should be easy for us to handle. We tend to struggle against them when they're not very good, so even though they're 8th in runs scored and allowed they won't play like it against us. Runs aside, Henry Woods (.352, 13, 41, 6) makes them better, as the Kellogg frontrunner has hit .352/.423/.601 (171 OPS+) with 26 extra base hits, 33 runs, 41 RBIs, and 25 walks. Firing on all cylinders, the 20-year-old graduated as the #3 prospect, just behind our exciting left fielder. Woods may be more valuable coming from the catching position, but he would love someone like Dode hitting with him. Old pal Ham Flanders (.264, 6, 32, 12) is fighting what you could classify as a sophomore slump, while infielder Andy Gilman (.215, 12, 41) is enduring the worst season of his career. Pitching isn't much better, as 24-year-old Bob Nelson (4-8, 4.70, 74) hasn't take the step needed this season, and the days of Jim Montgomery (4-8, 5.14, 54) befuddling FABL hitters seems to be firmly in the past. These are must win games for us here, as we'll get one more chance at these two teams next week before the All-Star game.