[G-Force]

ABL Around The Horn: August 2022

• The annual August trade rush saw the usual array of complementary deals, but one big move captured the eyes - and raised the eyebrows - of many. Louisville dealt ace Bob Feller to Charlotte on August 2nd. Feller was 10-8 with a 3.01 ERA, and posting his best season to date, poised to break the single-season strikeout mark. Louisville was six games out in the Eastern League North at the time, and Charlotte has been in the cellar of the Eastern League South for much of the season. Plus, Feller is signed through 2025. The deal included first baseman Wally Joyner in return for Hod Eller (7-6, 3.98 at the time), Jim Lefevbre and cash.
  
  Feller made two starts for Charlotte before being diagnosed with a torn elbow ligament that will keep him out of action for at least a year. The Charlotte front office is livid but Louisville denies any knowledge of an injury to Feller before the deal.
  
  Though he was taken in the inaugural draft, Feller is still only 22 years old. Taking the Louisville/Charlotte "scandal" out of the equation, the real story is that the league has lost one of its most dynamic players to a serious injury.
  
  
• Denver's Ty Cobb enters September batting .412, keeping his push for .400 alive but coming off his worst month of the season, a .357 August. With Denver having run away with the Western League North, and after last year's disappointing postseason finish, one has to wonder how Cobb will be handled during the season's final month. It would be hard to criticize manager Joe Maddon for resting Cobb sufficiently, which could generate criticism of the mark if Cobb attains it - or draw Cobb's ire if he falls short.

• Omaha may have struck gold with unheralded draft pick Wally Judnich. Taken 20th overall in last year's draft, Judnich sits third in the league in homers with 20. He figures to battle Las Vegas' Johan Santana (10-7, 3.22) for Rookie of the Year honors.
  
  
• New Orleans' Frank Viola became the fourth player in ABL history to throw a no-hitter, shutting down Seattle on August 19th. Viola struck out 8 and walked 4 in the Knights' 6-2 win. He joins A.J. Burnett (2018), Satchel Paige (2020) and Wiley Piatt earlier this season in accomplishing the feat. Oddly enough, the gem comes in the 2018 ERA champ's worst season of his career. He's 12-6, but holds a 4.63 ERA.