July starts in what can only be described as manic fashion.
Our pitching is pushed to the limit with back-to-back doubleheaders and the day after these we are smashed 17-2 by the Cubs. This after having given up a dozen two games prior, only to win it 13-12 (and win the late game 12-0). A few days later Bobo Newsom walks 10 and yet we still manage to sneak home 8-7 to avoid our first series loss of the year.
That’s the sort of season it has been for us so far.
And yet, it cannot be denied we have come off the boil. We lose three on the trot for the first time this season as just look a bit raggedy on both offence and pitching.
Bill Foster comes off the IL and I rehab him for a while at AAA. While that’s happening, we lose O’Doul – who has been among our best in what will be his final season with us – for 6 weeks to a hamstring tear. Mule Haas, whom we signed as a MiLB FA, comes up in his place. Then we lose Little Poison to an oblique strain for 3 weeks. I don’t replace him, we’ve got plenty of cover.
For now.
As the month draws to a close, we finally lose our first series of the season as we continue to struggle for consistency, especially with our pitching. Nearly time for Foster to return, methinks.
We do round off the month with a few wins to stabilise things just a smidge, and finish the sectional with a 17-12 record.
Some slippage among the bats, which along with the loss of O'Doul and Lloyd Waner has made the contribution of Ferrell all the more important. This while he's also been holding his own in the rotation. With Foster's imminent return, however, he will go back to the pen.
An especially tough month for our starters, with Derringer's 3.88 ERA the lowest among them for the period. The BP's fine performance limits the damage to a certain degree but still we need to get back on track in this department.
The Tigers put their foot down with a 20-8 month to lead by 5 1/2 from Boston. The surprising Pale Hose are still well in contention at 55-43 and 7 GB.
Here are the Top 20s by WAR to this point:
And finally the awards, news and leaders. Marty McManus gets his 2000th hit, while our own Earl Combs reaches the 1500 mark. Satchel Paige sits within reach of the pitching Triple Crown.
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