[ayaghmour2]

Weekly Record: 2-3
Seasonal Record: 94-68 (3rd, 18 GB)
Stars of the Week
Dode Caudill : 21 AB, 6 H, 2 HR, 3 RBI, .286 AVG, 1.062 OPS
Ken Stone : 1 Win, 9.0 IP, 2 BB, 8 K, 0.00 ERA
Jerry McMillan : 20 AB, 6 H, 1 HR, 3 RBI, .300 AVG, .841 OPS

Schedule
9-24: Win vs Wolves (0-8)
9-25: Loss vs Wolves (5-3)
9-27: Loss at Kings (2-6)
9-28: Loss at Kings (5-4)
9-29: Win at Kings (3-1)

Recap
I know this took forever but between life and no urgency I kept putting off the final week. Not because it wasn't very good, but because a season that could have been so good ended so, well, just ended in about as boring a fashion as it gets. That applies to the team, of course, not the players, as Dode Caudill took home his second Rookie of the Month, and while he already has my vote, the accolade could at least convince undecided voters to side with him. Hitting .382/.440/.725 (205 OPS+) in 27 September games, the 24-year-old hit 4 doubles, 5 triples, and 7 homers with 22 runs, 18 RBIs, and 12 walks. Ironically, his two steals were the fewest in a month this season, but he was on first so infrequently there wasn't much of a chance to steal. He still finished with 23, as our budding star ended up leading the CA with 130 runs and 17 triples.

A stat sheet stuffer, the Kellogg hopeful is a counting stat darling, totaling 206 hits, 29 doubles, 26 homers, 83 RBIs, and 67 walks. If you like the fancy stats, he finished with 6.7 WAR and a 149 WRC+ in 705 trips to the plate. Among Continental rookies he led in hits, total bases, steals, ISO (.222), and WPA (4.36), and then obviously runs and triples. Even when he isn't the leader, he ranks second in eight other categories, as the graduated 2nd ranked prospect displayed superstar capabilities. With him, Gene Case (.284, 34, 108, 19), Henry Watson (.313, 33, 119, 10), and a once again healthy Jack Gibson (.289, 39, 104), our offense will be a force to be reckoned with next season. Add in a Jerry McMillan (.272, 21, 77, 25) bounce back and perhaps one bat from the outside, and we can make noise in a hopefully far more competitive pennant race.

Despite Ken Stone's best effort, Hank Walker finished as the rotation's leader in ERA, winning the 162nd game of the season. Against the Continental champs he allowed just 1 run in 6 innings, scattering 4 walks and 2 hits while striking out 5. Effectively wild, he put together the second best season of his career, 14-5 with a 3.55 ERA (118 ERA+), 1.31 WHIP, and 121 strikeouts. 85 walks in 195 innings isn't too bad, and since he allowed less then a homer per nine he was able to survive at our cozy home park. He made up for struggles from three guys I thought would pitch well this season, but with our dominant pen we still finished second in runs allowed. Credit the defense if you want, but we're better then 18 out, and after getting swept by the Pioneers there's really only two way things go in Kansas City: they cup back batter then ever. Or remained stunned as the competition catches back up.

Stone finished the season with a shutout, his second of the season. His 29th start ended with 5 hits, 2 walks, and 8 strikeouts, and by going all nine he ended up leading the team with 201.1 innings. Far more then I expected this year, he rose to the occasion, going 13-7 with a 3.67 ERA and 1.25 WHIP. Add in 69 walks and 126 strikeouts and he completed what almost feels like a successful rookie season. Instead, the recently turned 24-year-old will enter the offseason before his fourth big league year on a high note. The same can be said for John Mitchell, who continues to make his case for a rotation spot next year. I do want to upgrade the rotation, but maybe I should look at the former 4th Rounder instead. Making 14 starts and 5 relief appearances, he was 7-3 with a 3.46 ERA (121 ERA+), 1.10 WHIP, 28 walks, and 63 strikeouts. The 11 homers in 109.1 innings won't play too well, but at least in his case his tended to come in bunches. As long as it's not a homer a game, you can sort of survive, and his groundball tendencies and ability to slow down the game makes him a good fit for our infield defense.

As expected, Gene Case set the Cougars single season team record for games played, appearing in all 162 of our contests. It did not effect his production one bIt, as the 25-year-old hit .284/.388/.535 (144 OPS+) with 108 runs, 26 doubles, 9 triples, 34 homers, 108 RBIs, 98 walks, and 19 steals. Sure, he was slightly better last year, but he still played nearly all the season and had a matching 149 WRC+ in just 27 fewer PAs. It's just this year Jack Gibson was back and Dode Caudill was remarkable, as there were plenty of guys who could get the job done. I think it says a lot about the dominance of past Cougar players that no other record was broken in the longest season to date, even if some may be in jeopardy. Expect a new home run record if Jack Gibson ever stays healthy, more then likely 140 games then anywhere near 162, and he was third with 39 in 117 this year. RBIs and saves are in reach, but in all honesty it will take a truly special player to break some of these franchise records.

I hope we have some of those on the way!

I also think this is the first season where the entire batting stats page fit on the browser without needing full screen. We didn't really use too many guys that year. I think that's a good sign. We're almost there I can just feel it.

Yes I know that's been said before... So has this: Go Cougars!