[ayaghmour2]

April 21st, 1930
Chicago Cougars (3-4): 2
Cleveland Foresters (5-2): 6

W: Eddie Gray (2-0)
L: Max Wilder (1-1)
SV: Karl Clasby (2)

We couldn't avoid the sweep as the Foresters took the finale 6-2. Former Forester Max Wilder allowed 9 hits, 6 runs (5 earned), and a walk with 3 strikeouts in 8 innings. John Kincaid went 3-for-5 with 2 runs scored. Harry Simmons was 3-for-4 with a double and RBI. Vince York was 2-for-4 with an RBI.

April 22nd, 1930
Toronto Wolves (2-6): 9
Chicago Cougars (3-5): 6
20(!) Innings

W: Art Harvey (2-0)
L: Dick Kadlec (0-1)

In one of the most hectic home openers likely ever, the Wolves outscored us 6-3 in the 20th to spoil our home opener like we spoiled there's. Ace McSherry had another solid start, 7.1 innings with 5 hits, 3 runs, 3 walks, and 2 strikeouts. Dick Kadlec was charged with the loss, but he only had two days of rest. He allowed 8 hits and 6 runs in 4.1 innings with 3 walks and 2 strikeouts. Yesterday's starter Max Wilder was actually the only Cougar starter not to pitch as Tommy Russell (3 IP, 1 H, 2 BB) and Dick Lyons (0.2 IP) all got into the game. At the plate, Bob McCarty was 5-for-8 with a walk and run scored. Harry Simmons was 4-for-9 with a steal, sac-bunt, and 2 runs scored. Bill Ashbaugh was 3-for-8 with 2 walks, a homer, and 5 RBI's. John Kincaid was 3-for-10 with a run scored, steal, and RBI. Vince York was 2-for-7 with a sac-bunt, steal, run scored, and two walks.

April 23rd, 1930
Toronto Wolves (2-7): 10
Chicago Cougars (4-5): 11
10 Innings

W: Chick Meehan (1-2)
L: Bert Sweet (0-2)

While we got the win, I'm very thankful this game went 10 innings and not 20... Dick Lyons was forced to make the start despite getting two outs yesterday and a start of his own two days prior. As expected, it didn't go well and the lefty allowed 9 hits, 8 runs (6 earned), and 2 walks in 7.1 innings. Chick Meehan got the win, 2.2 innings with 2 runs, a walk, and a strikeout. Harry Simmons was 3-for-5 with 2 runs, 2 RBI's, and a homer. John Kincaid was 2-for-6 with a solo homer, the first of his Cougar career. George Jordan was 2-for-5 with a double and run scored. Slick Hostetter was 2-for-4 with 2 RBI's. Mack Deal was 1-for-4 with a steal and run scored. Bill Ashbaugh was 1-for-3 with a walk and 2 runs scored.

April 24th, 1930
Toronto Wolves (2-8): 4
Chicago Cougars (5-5): 6

W: Michael Ivory (1-0)
L: Eddie Quinn (0-2)
SV: Bill McLean (1)

Finally a game that didn't go into extras, and we took the series with a 6-4 win in the finale. Max Wilder made this start on two days rest, going 5.2 innings with 8 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks, and a strikeout. Michael Ivory got the "win" after allowing 4 hits, 2 runs, and 5 walks with 1 strikeout in 3 innings. Bill McLean got a flyout to end the game and earn his first big league save. John Kincaid was a perfect 3-for-3 with 2 runs, 2 RBI's, 2 doubles, a steal, and a walk. Mack Deal was 2-for-4 with a steal, run scored, and driven in. Bill Ashbaugh was 1-for-3 with a double, walk, and run scored. Bob McCarty was 1-for-4 with a double and run scored. Harry Simmons was 1-for-4 with a steal and 2 RBI's.

April 25th, 1930
Cleveland Foresters (6-4): 4
Chicago Cougars (6-5): 9

W: Tommy Russell (2-0)
L: Joe McCoy (0-1)

We welcomed the Foresters to town with a little revenge, taking the first of two 9-4. It was another complete game start for Tommy Russell, this time with 10 hits, 4 runs, a walk, and strikeout. He also went 2-for-4 with a run scored and driven in. Vince York was a perfect 3-for-3 with a walk and 2 runs scored. Mack Deal was 3-for-4 with a run scored and driven in. John Dibblee was 2-for-4 with a double, run scored, and two driven in. George Jordan was 1-for-2 with a solo homer, steal, and two walks. Bill Ashbaugh was 1-for-3 with a walk and base clearing double.

April 26th, 1930
Cleveland Foresters (6-5): 2
Chicago Cougars (7-5): 8

W: Ace McSherry (1-0)
L: Harvey Tully (1-2)

We finished a quick two game set with a nice 8-2 victory to sweep the Foresters like they swept us. Vince York went 2-for-5 with 2 doubles, a run scored, and 3 driven in. John Dibblee was 3-for-4 with a sac-fly. Bill Ashbaugh was 2-for-3 with 2 walks and 2 runs scored. Fred Barrell was 2-for-4 with a double, sac-bunt, 2 runs, and an RBI.Harry Simmons was 2-for-4 with a sac-bunt and run scored. John Kincaid was 2-for-5 with a run scored. On the mound, Ace McSherry had an ace like performance, 8 innings with 6 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks, and 4 strikeouts.

April 27th, 1930
Philadelphia Sailors (9-3): 9
Chicago Cougars (7-6): 5

W: Ace McSherry (1-0)
L: Harvey Tully (1-2)

The Sailors took the first of four with a 9-5 win in the series opener. Dick Lyons made another short rest start (not sure why Kadlec didn't pitch), 6.1 innings with 9 hits, 5 runs (4 earned), 2 walks, and 4 strikeouts. Chick Meehan allowed 4 (1 earned) in 2 innings with 4 hits, a walk, and 3 strikeouts. Harry Simmons was 2-for-3 with 2 runs, 3 RBI's, a walk, and a homer. He now has the same amount of homers this season (2) as last season. Mack Deal and Fred Barrell were both 1-for-3 with a walk and a run. John Dibblee was 2-for-5.

Stars of the Week
Harry Simmons : 34 AB, 16 H, 2 HR, 12 RBI, .471 AVG, 1.162 OPS
John Kincaid : 39 AB, 14 H, 1 HR, 4 RBI, .359 AVG, .862 OPS
Vince York : 29 AB, 11 H, 0 HR, 5 RBI, .379 AVG, .886 OPS

Weekly Summary
We were over .500 this week! And over .500 (barely) on the season! I obviously don't expect it to last, as we'd be luck to steal one from the Sailors and maybe two from the Stars later in the week, but we had only two winning sims last season and there's only been two sims this season and we're halfway there. The pitching statistically looks bad, but the 20 inning marathon definitely impacted that. We've actually hit really well to start the season, finding ourselves 1st or 2nd in 11 of the 14 offensive categories. If we had a little more power on the team (dead last in homers) we'd be even that much more effective, especially considering the pitching staff currently isn't too great.

Looking to the leaderboards, Ashbaugh is tied for the RBI lead with Baltimore Lou Kelly with 16. Mack Deal checks in second with 3 steals. John Kincaid leads the CA in WAR with a 1.1 mark in just two weeks. 7 of our 8 starters are hitting over .300 with just Fred Barrell below due to his 0-for-9 20 inning debacle. I also expect Dick Lyons' 6.33 ERA to drop significantly after pitching 4 times in 8 days.

Looking ahead we'll finish off the Sailors (9-3) series with three before our first off day of the season. The Stars (7-6) will then come in town for four as we continue a long homestand and run of games.

Injury Report
Another injury for Art Panko, and this time he will go to the DL with an oblique strain. La Crosse will be without righty Cy Plummer for a week with a tired arm.

Transactions
I claimed SS Cal Blackshear off waivers from Cleveland. He was actually the Cougars 1st Round selection in the 1919 draft, but they released him the following offseason. A skilled gloveman at short, second, and third, Blackshear owns a +7.8 ZR in just 666 innings at short with the Gothams over the past two seasons. He's not much of a hitter, slashing .256/.318/.319 (70 OPS+), but he's much better then John Mallory as a bench player. Mallory would've been waived, but he'll maintain his spot as Art Panko's trip to the DL freed up an active roster spot.

Minor League Report

LF Dave Ward (C La Crosse Lions): Class C has been playing the longest, and Dave Ward has been the best hitter for the Lions thusfar. Hitting .442/.479/.558 (144 OPS+) with a homer, 3 steals, and 7 RBI's, the recent 14th Round Pick has had an excellent start to his professional career. Selected out of Henry Hudson, Ward has always had trouble staying healthy which lead to him falling so far in the draft. It's a small sample size (12 games) and this doesn't likely put Ward in our future plans, but it will help him maintain a spot in the organization as we have a lot of players down in La Crosse.

Amateur Report

SP George Jacobs (Asheville HS Eagles): A senior righty, George Jacobs has bounced back from a rough Junior season to help lead the Eagles into playoff contention. He's 2-2 with a 1.99 ERA (196 ERA+), 1.01 WHIP, and 23 strikeouts in 40.2 innings across 6 starts. Eligible for this year's draft, Jacobs is a soft tosser who's fastball only registers in the low 80s. He's more of a finesse pitcher, however, and Jacobs generates a lot of weak contact. He will have to work on his secondary offerings if he wants to be a future big league starter.

CF Harry Clark (Ellery Bruins): A freshman center fielder, Harry Clark is working on a nice 27-game hit streak, the best active streak in the NAIA. The lefty is hitting .375/.388/.616 (137 OPS+) with 6 homers and 25 RBI's. The youngster is a smart hitter with average power who can be really hard to pitch to. If you give him a good pitch, it'll end up over the seats. If you try to paint the corners, he won't swing if you miss. He's young, so he can still develop his defensive capabilities, so it's too early to say he can't stick in center. He's also one of four Bruins with 6 homers, the other being Jim Mason, Harry Buckley, and Cal Ruth.

SP Joe Owens (Lubbock State Hawks): It's been a perfect 7-0 start to the season for Lubbock's Joe Owens who just completed a 7-hit, 8 strikeout shutout of the Boulder State Grizzlies. Owens owns an impressive 2.75 ERA (192 ERA+) with a 1.06 WHIP and 55 strikeouts in 72 innings pitched. In a year that seems to be dominated by freshman, Owens is just another quality youngster leading his teams' rotation. He has the Hawks just 1.5 games behind North California and Travis College for first in the Western Conference. Owens' battery mate, Jack Flint, is a projected top pick who's an excellent hitter and dependable defender behind the plate.

1B Leo Mitchell (Atlanta HS Peaches): A 6 hit performance was almost expected for 1B Leo Mitchell who's been hitting about everything this season. His second season as a starter has been excellent, as he's hitting .363/.389/.637 (177 OPS+) with 6 homers and 32 RBI's. The power is new to this season, as he hit just 1 last year. He projects to be an elite hitter with 20 homer power potential from the left side of the plate. He's also an excellent defensive first basemen who can make plays on the diamond and scoop errant throws. He'll be eligible for next year's draft, but is a name to keep an eye on for now. He was also named this weeks Player of the Week.

LF Bob Corvin (Mobile HS Commodores): Player of the Week in the other HS sub-league, Bob Corvin went 10-for-16 with 2 homers and 8 RBI's. Like Mitchell, it's been an excellent season for the junior. Corvin's hit even better, with a .460/.486/.670 (218 OPS+) batting line to go with 4 homers and 21 RBI's. Corvin isn't all that fast, but he'snot a bad defender out in left. His bat is his calling card, however, and he projects to hit for a high average in the big leagues. He has seen his walk and strikeout rate invert (from 22/12 to 6/21) which could be concerning for the future, but Corvin looks like a future big leaguer.

2B Freddie Jones (Central Ohio Aviators): Just turned 20, whoever as the worst record in the Continental League next year will have the chance to select one of the best college hitters the game as seen. His line this year dropped to .455/.580/.596 (195 OPS+), but it is really hard to measure up to a .486/.625/.665 (257 OPS+) line. There's really nothing Jones can't do, as he hits well, runs well, and fields well. He has power and he has discipline and of course, can hit well over .400. His teammates love listening to what he says and the fans just love him. It'd be interesting to see if he can play short (there starter is awful defensively) and it would really boost his already inflated draft stock. Regardless, Jones seems to be a lock as a first rounder and the likely favorite for the #1 overall pick next season.