[ayaghmour2]

Weekly Record: 3-3
Seasonal Record: 67-44 (3rd, 8.5 GB)
Stars of the Week
Cal Randall : 20 AB, 10 H, 1 HR, 2 RBI, .500 AVG, 1.174 OPS
Bob Allen : 2 Wins, 6.0 IP, 2 BB, 2 K, 1.50 ERA
Gene Case : 19 AB, 6 H, 2 HR, 6 RBI, .316 AVG, 1.172 OPS

Schedule
7-30: Win at Kings (5-3)
7-31: Loss at Kings (1-10)
8-1: Loss at Kings (0-3)
8-2: Win vs Sailors (5-11)
8-3: Loss vs Sailors (7-1)
8-4: Win vs Sailors (5-6)

Recap
Yeah...

Of course...

The Kings are just too good...

At least we won one of the last two July games, so at 21-8, we were ever-so-slightly ahead of the 21-9 Kings for July, but those Kings were just too much to handle. They took two of three from us, then the Stars, almost cementing a Continental pennant with two months to go.

We played our best ball in July, as did Dode Caudill, though this week he was better in August (5-15, 2 2B, HR, 2 RBI, 3 R, 3 BB), helping us take the Sailors series with a huge game (3-5, 2B, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI) to get thing started. Named Rookie of the Month for September, are young star hit .390/.467/.602 (185 OPS+), totaling 5 doubles, 4 triples, 3 homers, 12 RBIs, 17 walks, 9 steals, and an absurd 35 runs scored in 29 games. Still a longshot for the Kellogg, he has all the counting stats you can count, 82 runs, 18 doubles, 11 triples, 16 homers, 48 RBIs, 48 walks, 17 steals, and 4 WAR, helping us win games in whatever way he can. Sure, the .311/.379/.516 (138 OPS+) batting line isn't quite as good as Boyd and Woods, but he's done everything well as he establishes himself among the better players in the game.

One thing I was really hoping for this week was some revenge from former King Cal Randall, and at least in the opener he made a difference. Hitting his 8th homer of the season, Randall was a perfect 3-for-3, more then making up for his 11th error of the season. 1-for-3 and 2-for-4 in the losses, he finished the week an even 10-for-20, upping his season line to a more respectable .273/.303/.381 (83 OPS+). Aside from Randall, we didn't do much hitting, though Gene Case provided some pop in the heart of the order. 6-for-19, he added a double and 2 homers, drawing 4 walks with 3 runs and 6 RBIs. Now with 20 homers on the season, the second-time All-Star has hit .289/.386/.535 (145 OPS+) on the season, and still has an outside chance for his second 30 home run season. We'll need more to get back on track this week, but it was tough watching Jack Gibson (6-24, 4 RBI, 2 R, BB) and Henry Watson (4-23, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, 3 R, 2 BB) cool when we needed them most.

Same can be said for the staff, though I am thankful that Ken Stone's oblique strain was mild. He was off to a good start in the opener with the Kings, allowing 3 hits and 2 unearned runs with 2 strikeouts, leaving with one out in the 4th. Deemed fine to make his next start, he got his 5th consecutive no decision in our 6-5 win over the Sailors, chased out with 10 hits, 5 runs, 3 walks, and 4 strikeouts in 6 innings. Dick Champ was the only starter with real success, as the guy we acquired for the Fed's July Rookie of the Month got an unlucky loss, 5 hits, a run, and 2 strikeouts in 6.2 innings, as we could not do anything with our 10 hits off Beau McClellan (10-9, 3.63, 126). The pen was mostly solid, even if the Kings ruined Earle Turner's perfect July, as on the last day of the month he allowed 6 hits, 5 runs (3 earned), and a walk with just one strikeout in 3 innings. Despite the clunker, he finished with a 1.27 ERA (329 ERA+), 2.05 FIP (49 FIP-), and 1.12 WHIP, striking out 17 in 21.1 outstanding innings. Bob Allen picked up two wins, including the game Stone left early, where he went 4 with 5 hits, a run, and 2 strikeouts. The win against the Sailors wasn't as smooth, scattering 4 hits and 2 walks in 2 innings, but Allen is now 5-3 after 69.2 innings, working to a 2.58 ERA (161 ERA+) and 0.99 WHIP with 15 walks and 32 strikeouts. After two scoreless from Arch Wilson, our entire pen is now back below a 3 ERA, as it's about all that we can do better then KC. And they still have the #2 pen.

Looking Ahead
It's not quite panic time, but since the Kings don't play us or the Stars until the last few days of August, and they only have one series with the Sailors, I just don't see us making up even four games in August. We at least start with what should be an easy matchup, as our quick six game homestand finishes with three against the Wranglers. With a Monday off-day, rotations can be reset, but all their starters are easy to hit, and ace Steve Miller (5-14, 4.24, 75) won't be ready till Friday. In better Wrangler news, they moved All-Star bench bat Elmer Piper (.374, 5, 31) to the starting lineup, and the 29-year-old has hit a productive .374/.396/.508 (137 OPS+) in 202 PAs. Him and Ken Hudson (.251, 15, 41) can do some damage, but overall the Wranglers are closer to the Blues then us, and anything less then a sweep will be a let-down.

Things get tougher on the weekend, as we'll have to visit LA for four games in three days. Like us, they're off to start the week, but they'll host the Wolves before we come to town. LA has started to slip, as ace Floyd Warner (11-5, 4.11, 105) has been hit hard and none of their bats showed up in KC. Star slugger Lou Allen (.298, 27, 89) had a rare hitless week, 0-for-18 with 3 walks, and despite the best efforts of their deep lineup, runs were tough against the Kings staff that's back to allowing the fewest runs. I'm hoping that means their lineup struggles with our staff, as we should be able to put runs on their pitchers. Harry Stout (10-6, 3.41, 128) has had a major breakout at 22, and I think we're stuck facing him. A deadly fastball/slider pitcher, he might quickly emerge as the Stars top option, and I'm worried that he'll have no issues carving through our lineup on the road. 27-26 away from home, we just play like a much different team, and I can easily see us sweeping the Wranglers before doing no better then a split in LA.

Minor League Report
CF Orlando Benitez (AA Little Rock Governors): Despite being just 20-years-old, Orlando Benitez continues to dominate minor league pitching, capturing Batter of the Month in the Dixie League. Now with 3s across the board for offense, and improving defense at third and all three outfield spots, he's starting to push for a FABL spot, and he probably should be in the Century League already, but there's just no rush to bring him to Chicago. In July, Benitez hit an excellent .292/.398/.667 (177 OPS+) with 11 homers and 27 RBIs, homering more then Hank Williams in four less games. The power has really shown through lately, as the 36th ranked prospect now has 23 in 88 games, hitting .297/.410/.563 (155 OPS+) with 12 doubles, 12 steals, 60 runs, and 78 RBIs. Most impressive may be the eye, as he's drawn 64 walks to just 38 strikeouts, improving what at once might have been considered a weakness of his. The strengths are evident, he's a gifted athlete with legit pop and blazing speed, but everything is starting to come together this year. Dixie thinks has more upside then Henry Watson and is just above or below Jerry McMillan, and if all breaks right Benitez could be among our top players, and his improvements at third base open up an easier avenue for playing time.

SS Bill Grimm (A Rockford Wildcats): Our top ranked prospect and #22 in baseball, Bill Grimm is looking like a steal at 10, as only four players from his draft class rank ahead of him. Sure, John Edwards (.266, 3, 35) has debuted and projects to be a building block in Minnesota, but every other pick in the draft is listed behind him. He's doing us proud so far, crushing San Jose to the tune of .342/.382/.561 (160 OPS+) in 55 games before his promotion to Rockford. Reunited with Sam Pratt, he's playing more then just short, with starts at first, second, third, and even center. It hasn't impacted his hitting, as in 147 PAs he's hitting .285/.381/.423 (116 OPS+) with 5 doubles, 3 triples, 2 homers, 13 RBIs and 3 steals. Combined with his time in San Jose, he's picked up 58 runs, 36 extra base hits, 35 walks, and 53 RBIs. Like Benitez, the 19-year-old is very advanced for his age, with 3s everywhere but Avoid Ks and Contact. Once he cuts down on the strikeouts, he's going to be a really good hitter, and he can get into the lineup anywhere. He's no worse then a 3 potential for each position he plays, everywhere but catcher and pitcher so far. With speed, power, and a great eye, he's oozing with potential, and he has all the tools to be among the best in the game.