[ayaghmour2]

Weekly Record: 1-6
Seasonal Record: 27-27 (4th, 10 GB)
Stars of the Week
Billy Hunter : 27 AB, 11 H, 2 HR, 4 RBI, .407 AVG, 1.111 OPS
Johnny McDowell : 23 AB, 11 H, 0 HR, 2 RBI, .478 AVG, 1.129 OPS
Leo Mitchell : 23 AB, 6 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, .261 AVG, .683 OPS

Schedule
6-6: Loss vs Stars (4-3)
6-7:Win vs Saints (1-2)
6-8: Loss vs Saints (3-1)
6-9: Loss vs Saints (7-5)
6-10: Loss vs Kings (6-3)
6-11: Loss vs Kings (4-2)
6-12: Loss vs Kings (4-3)

Recap
Welp, better luck next year... Not much worse then a 1-6 week, especially when it happens at home. It was a whole lot of bad, and not much good, as we couldn't score all week and had almost zero production from the offense. Billy Hunter was one of the only bright spots, 11-for-27 with a triple, 2 homers, and 4 RBIs. He has a team high 6 homers on the season, matching his total from last year, and his 37 RBIs are tied for the most in the Continental Association. Johnny McDowell had a great week as well, 11-for-23 with 3 doubles and a pair of walks, runs, and RBIs. Every other hitter at a below average week, even Ray Ford who slumped to a 2-for-20 while every other hitter except Mitchell recorded 4 or less hits on the week.

Can't really fault the pitchers, as really only Dave Rankin had a bad start. He went all nine, but allowed 11 hits and 6 runs (5 earned) with 3 strikeouts. Dick Lyons looked good in both his starts, 18.1 innings total with a win, a loss, 12 hits, 5 runs, a walk, and 3 strikeouts. Oscar Morse unluckily lost both his starts, 17 innings with 18 hits, 8 runs (7 earned), 4 walks, and 3 strikeouts.

Looking Ahead
Thankfully, we're off to start the week, so it would be really hard to lose six games again. We'll head to Baltimore, to play a split four game set. The first two games are Tuesday and Wednesday, we're off Thursday, but then have a double header on Friday. Baltimore is out of the cellar, up to 21-32 and 2 games ahead of the Stars. Pinky Conlan is hut again, this time a DTD strained shoulder that may cause him to miss his start against us. Conlan is 5-5 with a 3.93 ERA (105 ERA+), 1.40 WHIP, 30 walks, and 12 strikeouts in 68.2 innings pitched. If they need to skip his starts, they could go to veteran Dutch Leverett, who has had some issues on the mound this season. He's 1-2 with 7 saves, a 5.18 ERA (80 ERA+), 1.54 WHIP, 10 walks, and 24 strikeouts. Baltimore has seen a nice run from first basemen Bunny Stapleton, as the 29-year-old is hitting .309/.379/.421 (112 OPS+) with 5 homers and 24 RBIs in 169 trips to the plate. He hasn't got all the starts at first, but it looks like he'll be getting a majority from here on out. They've also brought up former 11th Rounder and top 100 prospect Charlie Rivera, but he's hitting just .189/.250/.297 (44 OPS+) with a homer and 3 driven in during his first 12 games replacing the injured Clark Car at second.

We'll then have to deal with those darn Kings again, getting the first two of another three game set. After sweeping us, the Kings improved to 37-17, but with a 5.5 game lead over the Wolves, who just swept them. Art White is healthy again, and now in three starts he's 1-1 with a 2.33 ERA (182 ERA+), 1.19 WHIP, and 6 walks and strikeouts. It's not like they needed anymore pitching help, but other then ace Tom Barrell, all of the other four Kings starters have ERAs south of 3. Brooklyn has been playing longtime King Doug Lightbody at first this season, and he just hit the 100 at bat mark. The 34-year-old is batting a nice .320/.387/.410 (106 OPS+) with 9 doubles and 12 RBIs while handling first pretty well. He's one of six lefties in the Kings lineup, something that makes them very dangerous against us. We will also get to continue the draft over the weekend. I've already made my 3rd Round selection, and I'm hoping I'll be able to make all three of my fourth rounders today. There is a guy I was eyeing with my 3rd I thought would still be available in the 4th, and a few picks before mine he's still there. I plan on announcing all four picks here tonight, assuming they are all made. The in game draft in son June 22nd, so we still have at least through Monday before the auto portion. There are also rumors swirling that this is the last year of the lottery, and a potential new system will be in effect next year.

Minor League Report
RF Larry Robison (AA Mobile Commodores): Its been a long journey to the 40-man roster for the former 19th Rounder Larry Robison. This week was a particularly helpful one, as the 24-year-old speedster took home the Dixie League Player of the Week. He went 12-for-24 with a homer and 8 RBIs as he continues what has been a strong start to 1938. He's been outstanding defensively out in right and hit .317/.373/.455 (122 OPS+) with 6 doubles, 4 triples, 2 homers, 3 steals, and 19 RBIs in 159 PAs. He's walked three times (12) as much as he's struck out (4), but this is one of the few seasons he's struggled with his stolen base percentage. He's just 3-for-7 after 74-for-86 last season. His speed is easily his most impressive tool, but Robison makes a ton of contact and is able to draw more then his share of walks. The contact tool is extremely helpful, as if he puts the ball in play, chances are he can beat out the hit. It's hard being a corner outfielder in the FABL these days, but Robison is a very unique and talented player who's speed alone is enough to roster him.

RHP Roy Carey (A Lincoln Legislators): Its been a great season for the 1936 2nd Rounder, and he made it even better with his recent 3-hit shutout of the Terre Haute Brewers. Now a perfect 4-0 in 7 starts, Carey boats a 2.90 ERA (135 ERA+) and 1.41 WHIP with 16 walks and 8 strikeouts in an out less then 50 full innings. The walks are a little concerning, but almost a third of Carey's allowed runs came in one start and all but two of his starts he allowed 2 or fewer walks. He is a bit on the older side, 23 as of April, and his stuff isn't that great yet. None of his pitches really stand out, and part of that is because there are seven of them and he only throws in the low to mid 80s. He does have a decent sinker that he uses to generate a lot of easy ground outs, but he doesn't have a good strikeout pitch and he doesn't have other offerings he can lean on yet. If one of the other five pitches can turn into a reliable offering, he's got the chance to start in the big leagues, but for now he just profiles as a AAAA type starter who can eat innings out of the pen in the big leagues.

RF Marv Smith (B San Jose Cougars): He may not be someone I would have ever drafted, but 23-year-old lefty Marv Smith is absolutely tearing the cover off the ball right now. Our first lottery selection from last year, Smith also took home a Player of the Week, going 11-for-17 with 9 RBIs and 5 runs scored. Smith is now hitting an outstanding .341/.481/.500 (163 OPS+) with 4 doubles, 3 triples, 4 homers, 4 steals, and 26 RBIs. He's walked 40 times in 42 games and would be on pace for 130 in a full season. He's clearly ready for Lincoln, and even though I already have a full outfield of Panduro-Bennett-Sevilla, none of those are really top guys (like Smith), so I'm comfortable working with a four man rotation. This also allows a promotion for Chick Browning, and will make more at bats available in La Crosse. Smith is an aggressive hitter, so he may start walking less and striking out more. He also profiles as an above average defender out in right, but hasn't yet showed us that this season. I still don't think there's much here with Smith, but if he keeps hitting like this, he may develop into at least a valuable left handed bat off the bench.