[ayaghmour2]

Weekly Record: 3-3
Seasonal Record: 56-51 (4th, 10.5 GB)
Stars of the Week
Leo Mitchell : 17 AB, 9 H, 0 HR, 1 RBI, .529 AVG, 1.108 OPS
John Lawson : 24 AB, 7 H, 2 HR, 6 RBI, .292 AVG, .945 OPS
Doc Love : 23 AB, 9 H, 0 HR, 1 RBI, .391 AVG, .913 OPS

Schedule
8-10: Loss vs Sailors (6-0)
8-11: Win vs Sailors (6-8)
8-12: Win vs Sailors (1-4)
8-13: Win vs Foresters (2-6)
8-14: Loss vs Foresters (9-3)
8-15: Loss vs Foresters (7-3)

Recap
We survived the heavyweight challenge this week, splitting the week with the Foresters and Sailors, but it was quite clear the Foresters overmatched us. Rankin and Fritz couldn't silence their lineup (although Dick Lyons did) and we couldn't hit Ben Turner. Still, taking two of three from the Sailors was impressive, even if Merritt Thomas twirled a shutout in the opener. We have fallen to double digit games out, but there never really were thoughts of making it close anyways. It is reassuring to not see a 2-4 or 1-5 week, and after a string of 4 or more wins, it is expected to see some regression. The offense continues to truck along, as we now boast the CA batting title leader (Doc Love) and home run leader (John Lawson). Love hit .391 (9-for-23) with a double and triple to increase his batting line to .339/.383/.493 (131 OPS+). He's a homer shy of ten, but his season line is almost identical to his .327/.373/.496 (133 OPS+) career mark. Lawson bashed two more homers and was 7-for-24 with a pair of doubles, four runs, and six RBI's. Lawson has 20 homers, two more then the struggling Al Wheeler, and he sits second in both average (.334) and RBI's (74). It seemed impossible at one point, but if Lawson and Wheeler continue their trends, "Jack The Ripper" has a legit shot at his first career triple crown. Billy Hunter's return to the lineup showed no sign of rust, 7-for-23 with 2 doubles, a homer, four runs, and six RBI's. Another new lineup entry, Leo Mitchell, was 9-for-17 with two walks and a run scored and driven in to boost his season OPS+ to an even 100. Unfortunately, the top and bottom of the lineup (Montes and Page) were awful, combining to go 6-for-37 with 4 walks, 4 RBI's, and 5 runs scored. Add in the pitcher's spot, and this week it was an almost guaranteed 1-2-3 inning every time through the order.

Milt Fritz's rough stretch continues, picking up two losses as the only two start pitcher this week. He allowed 15 hits and 12 runs (9 earned) with 7 walks and 6 strikeouts in 17 innings. Rankin was roughed up in his start, 9 hits and runs (6 earned) with 2 walks and 3 strikeouts in just six and a third. Discounting the start he left with injury, it was the shortest start of Rankin's season in terms of innings. Of course, the back half of the rotation pitched well, picking up all three wins. Pug tossed his third complete game gem in as many starts, 2 hits, 2 walks, and 4 strikeouts to his credit. Dick Lyons continues to defy normal aging patterns, 8 hits, 2 runs (1 earned), and 2 walks in a 92-pitch complete game win against arguably the best offense in the CA. Oscar Morse didn't go the distance, but he performed fine against his former employers. Just 7 innings, but he allowed 8 hits, 5 runs (2 earned), and 4 walks with a strikeout in the no decision. Luis Sandoval picked up the win, his first as a Cougar, 2 innings with 2 hits, a run, walk, and strikeout. This was also the first week in probably a month where all three pen guys pitched. Purvis tossed 2.2 scoreless frames while Crane allowed an unearned run in his only inning.

Looking Ahead
Guess what we start the week with!? An off day! This time we use it to travel, as we play a reverse of this week; three in Philly and three in Cleveland. We caused the Sailors to drop, now 2.5 games out of first, but at 65-44 they're clearly a superior team to us. I'd love to steal some more wins, but playing at Sailors Memorial Stadium is a lot different then playing at the North Side Grounds. It's next to impossible to hit a home run there and extra base hits are often and plentiful. They can play with their rotation a little with the shared off day, but we'll avoid Merritt Thomas and will likely see Walt Wells. I'd love to see Herb Flynn too, as the 1935 All-Star hasn't replicated that performance yet. This year the 30-year-old is 6-6 with a 4.51 ERA (96 ERA+), 1.47 WHIP, 41 walks, and 37 strikeouts in 103.2 innings. Those are still respectable numbers for a #5, but with all the talent in that rotation, he'll feel like Art Black. The offense has the always reliable Dick Walker, who leads the team in homers and RBI's, but they have an interesting bench bat behind him. 28-year-old Billy Eppler has only taken 89 trips to the plate, but the slugger is slashing .345/.382/.631 (155 OPS+) with 7 homers and 25 RBI's. Most of those homers have came on the road, but he's a late game threat that has really helped them. Both Nava and Cleaves have six homers, one behind Eppler, but they've both had more then three times as many chances.

Of course, that means Cleveland is next, and the 67-41 Foresters are actually slightly worse at home (31-21) then on the road (36-20). We'll try to take advantage of that, but I think we might be stuck seeing their top three (or at least top two). Regardless, we're almost guaranteed to see both Astle and Gonzales, and I don't like our chances against either. The offense is almost as good, but with all the star power in the lineup, the former AIAA Player of the Year Bill Moore has found himself right in the middle of the deep lineup. Acquired from the Dynamos in the offseason blockbuster, he's followed up an outstanding Rookie season to hit .314/.406/.516 (134 OPS+). Moore has hit 30 doubles, 11 longballs, and drove in 54 Foresters while maintaining an impressive 49-to-12 walk-to-strikeout ratio. The "worst" hitter in the lineup in terms of OPS+ is Fred Quinn/George Dawson, who both own a 93. Of course, Dawson's glove helps him lead the FABL in WAR while Quinn is one of the best base stealers in baseball, so even their "weak" spots are strengths. They have also welcomed former Cougar pick Hank Stratton to the big league club, although the soon to be 23-year-old is just 0-for-2 and the only prospect in the top 99 (of course, Eli Harkless just jumped to 100 this sim). This will easily be our toughest week of the season, so I'm trying to keep expectations reasonable.

Minor League Report
1B/LF Bobby Mills (AAA Milwaukee Blues): Most of the Milwaukee lineup is young and overmatched, but that's not the case with the 23-year-old Bobby Mills. Our 6th Rounder in 1932, the Washington native is slashing an astronomical .307/.375/.528 (171 OPS+) with 10 doubles, 6 homers, and 23 RBI's in his first 144 PA's in AAA. Discounting his 48 games with La Crosse in 1933, Mills has never had a level line with a sub 100 OPS+, ranging from 108 to 158 until this stint. He's almost hitting to his high school numbers, where Mills hit .375/.443/.631 (217 OPS+) in three seasons for San Antonio HS. "Nutball" is one of those guys with a lot of talent, but as a corner player, it's impossible to move him. Consistently a top 100 prospect, Mills has dropped to 158, but part of that is due to age and his defense. Mills is "slow as molasses" and pretty much unplayable in the field. I've started him strictly at first this season, but he's managed to post sub .900 efficiency rating in both AA and AAA. None the less, his hit tool is incredible, and he's easily an upgrade over Johnny Waters. Mills projects to be a .330 hitter with excellent plate discipline, and I wouldn't put a reliable .300/.400/.500 batting line out of the question with everyday at bats. He's showed double digit home run potential in the minors, and with enough games in Chicago, I could see him reach 20 in the big leagues. Like a ton of the 1932 class, he's also Rule-5 eligible in the offseason, and while I've added a bunch of those guys to the 40 now, Mills has yet to get his contract purchased. I have four free spots, so I expect him to get one by time the offseason starts, but a big league promotion isn't out of the question. He's one of the few Blues players without a green arrow, however, so he may have to wait for next year for his first Cougar jersey.

CF Elias Canady (AA Mobile Commodores): It finally looked like Canady broke out, hitting a robust .284/.383/.445 (128 OPS+) with 39 doubles, 4 triples, 11 homers, and 76 RBI's in a full season with the Legislators. Unfortunately, the 22-year-old hasn't faired as well in Mobile, carrying a .212/.314/.327 (97 OPS+) line into today's games. He has about 200 less PA's, but just 24 doubles, 5 homers, and 37 RBI's. Like Mills, the was part of the 1932 class (8th Round), is without a 40-man spot, and will most likely end up protected. My scout has always loved the Plant City kid, and OSA has started to grow fond of him, but the prospect rankers have never given him much love. He projects to be an outstanding defensive center fielder with good plate discipline and above average bat speed. His biggest issue is contact, he doesn't make nearly enough of it, and it continues to hinder his progression. He's one of my personal favorites from the feeder days too, two elite level performances before a steep drop off as a senior, and I do think he could be a starter in the FABL. Unfortunately, he's no Carlos Montes and with all the other outfielders in ours (and really everyones) system, Canady may have to wait a while before his opportunity arises.