[ayaghmour2]

Weekly Record: 2-3
Seasonal Record: 2-3 (t-5th, 2.5 GB)
Stars of the Week
Freddie Jones : 15 AB, 6 H, 0 HR, 1 RBI, .400 AVG, .904 OPS
Carlos Montes : 16 AB, 5 H, 0 HR, 2 RBI, .312 AVG, 1.012 OPS
Harry Parker : 1 Win, 8.0 IP, 0 BB, 3 K, 1.12 ERA

Schedule
4-16: Loss at Kings (1-3)
4-17: Loss at Kings (1-3)
4-19: Win vs Saints (2-3)
4-20: Win vs Saints (1-3)
4-21: Loss vs Saints (7-2)

Recap
Sure, there are worse ways to start a season, but it's hard to think of one less encouraging as ours, other then a pair of sweeps. We scored just two runs in the two game series in Brooklyn, as the Kings pitching had little trouble with our offense, and then we managed just 8 runs in the three games hosting the Saints. Luckily, despite being outscored in the series, we managed to take two of three from Montreal, but the bats were ice cold, and we definitely need better showings from the team the rest of the way. I really expected a 4-1 or even a 5-0 week, but we tied Brooklyn for the least amount of runs scored in the Opening Week.

For the most part we pitched well, and new Cougar Eddie Quinn got off to a great start. He picked up the win, tossing a complete game with 5 hits, 2 runs, and 3 walks. Harry Parker rather surprisingly didn't throw a complete game, but finished 8 innings with 8 hits, a run, and 3 strikeouts. Jim Lonardo had a pair of starts, one that was good, and the other that was ruined by errors. Against the Kings he went 7 with 9 hits, 3 runs, and a walk, but against the Saints, he allowed 6 unearned runs because of 6 errors. Yes, 6 errors! Lonardo went 8.1 with 10 hits, just one earned run, 2 walks, and 4 strikeouts, and is responsible for two of our three losses. Dick Lyons had the other, going just 6 with 7 hits, 3 runs, 2 walks, and a strikeout. Peter the Heater looked good out of the pen, 4 strikeouts in 2 innings with a save, hit, and no walks.

We didn't hit well as a team, and somehow, did not hit a single home. At least Carlos Montes started his season off on the right foot, 5-for-16 with 2 doubles, a triple, 2 runs, 2 RBIs, and 4 walks. Same goes for Freddie Jones, who was 6-for-15 with a double, walk, run, and RBI. Ray Ford was 5-for-16 with a run, walk, and pair of doubles. Harry Mead looked good in his two starts, 2-for-7 with a triple and RBI. Leon Drake had a week to forget in his Cougar debut, just 3-for-19 with a walk. Leo Mitchell and John Lawson both struggled, as the generally reliable pair combined to go just 6-for-34 with a double and 4 RBIs.

Looking Ahead
I'm hoping we do better at home against the Kings, who got swept by the Stars and are tied for 5th with us. Art White and Tom Barrell both had outstanding starts, allowing just a single run in complete game wins. We're stuck facing them both in this series, and I expect to also see Chicagoan Bob Cummings, who allowed 3 hits and 3 runs in 8 rather unlucky innings. The Kings have a new third basemen this season, Jimmie Field, who is off to a strong 6-for-14 start with his first career double, walk, RBI, and steal. In left is natural first basemen Chuck "Bow Wow" Adams who went 6-for-17 with 3 doubles, a triple, and 3 RBIs. Both made their debuts against us on Opening Day, and both are off to great starts to their young careers. Adams is one of the top prospects in the entire league, ranked 4th in the league and listed as the number one hitter, while Field ranks 6th in the Kings organization and 120th overall. The rest of the lineup hasn't had much success, including Harry Barrell who is just 3-for-20 with a double in the very early goings. We'll need to turn things around, and hopefully hit a homer or six in this series if we want to be taken seriously this season.

The homestand ends there, as we head to New York for a quick two game series with the reigning champs. The Stars lead the CA at 5-1, a game ahead of the Wolves, and have pitched almost perfectly so far. George Phillips won both his complete games, just 2 runs, 7 walks, and 12 strikeouts with 15 hits. Chuck Cole allowed two unearned runs in what could have been a complete game shutout of the Kings, with 9 hits, 3 walks, and 6 strikeouts. Billy Riley earned a complete game victory over the Saints, allowing 5 hits, a run, and 2 walks with 6 strikeouts. Vern Hubbard failed to go the distance, two outs short, but he allowed 4 hits, 2 runs (1 earned), and 2 walks with 5 strikeouts as he bested Brooklyn. Dixie Lee was the only starter to struggled this week, but we'll miss him. The lineup has looked solid too, with Joe Angevine off to a nice start, 10-for-22 with a double, triple, and 6 RBIs. Dave Trowbridge continues to defy aging logic, 7-for-24 with a homer and 4 RBIs in the first week of his aged 41 season. The Stars will be one of our toughest competition all season, and we'll be lucky to salvage a single game if we play anywhere close to how we played last week.

We then finish the week with two against the Saints up in Montreal, who are tied for 7th with the Cannons. Ed Baker looked good against us, poor against the Stars, and is 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA (68 ERA+), 1.73 WHIP, 5 walks, and 3 strikeouts in his first 15 innings with the Saints. Red Bond is on a power surge, homering in all three games in Chicago and hitting 10-for-24 with a double and 7 RBIs. The rest of the offense has had its issues, with the .336 career hitter Bert Lass going just 2-for-17 to start the year while Vic Crawford is hitting an even .100 and Adam Mullins just .208. The pitching has been decent, with former Cougar Bill Ross allowing 8 hits and 3 runs with a walk and a strikeout in 8.1 innings pitched. Bill Stewart deserved the win against us, but since the Saints scored only a single run, his 7.1 innings with 7 hits, 3 runs (2 earned), 2 walks, and 5 strikeouts weren't enough. If we can score more then 3 runs in any of these games, I like our chances, but for some reason I feel like the team left their bats in Florida, and won't get them back for a while...