[ayaghmour2]

Weekly Record: 7-1
Seasonal Record: 13-6 (t-1st, 2 GA)
Stars of the Week
Dick Walker : 26 AB, 11 H, 1 HR, 5 RBI, .423 AVG, 1.235 OPS
Clark Car : 19 AB, 9 H, 1 HR, 5 RBI, .474 AVG, 1.320 OPS
Hank Barnett : 31 AB, 10 H, 2 HR, 9 RBI, .323 AVG, .905 OPS

Schedule
5-3: Win vs Stars (0-5)
5-4: Win vs Stars (2-12)
5-5: Loss vs Stars (5-3)
5-6: Win vs Stars (1-4)
5-7: Win at Kings (2-1)
5-8: Win at Kings (15-6)
5-9: Win at Kings (13-3)
5-9: Win at Kings (4-1)

Recap
I can get used to weeks like this! The Cougars were firing on all cylinders, taking three of four from the Stars in Chicago before sweeping the Kings in Brooklyn. The only game we lost was a Ken Matson spot start that was needed with all the double headers, and we outscored our opponents by 37 runs in 8 games. We're technically in first, although the Cannons have a better win percentage due to one less win and loss, and we've scored the most runs (114) while allowing fewer runs (63) then everyone but the Cannons. We did get some bad news with Billy Hunter, who played just one game this week due to a torn hamstring. His first of likely many IL trips will cost him 7 weeks. Hunter made 43 trips to the plate, hitting .317/.326/.415 (115 OPS+) while playing passable center field defense. That gave most of the starts in center this week to Orlin Yates, who was an impressive 9-for-28 with 2 doubles, 2 walks, 3 runs, and 5 RBIs. Yates is off to a real nice start to his season, batting .350/.395/.450 (147 OPS+) with 2 doubles, a triple, a steal, and 9 RBIs. The Hunter injury makes me wish I hung on to Aart MacDonald, who will likely clear waivers tomorrow. I may bring the glove only outfielder back after he clears, but for now Bunny Hufford will head back to Chicago. The 25-year-old currently ranks as the #74 prospect in baseball, and has hit .310/.383/.452 (139 OPS+) with 6 doubles in 11 games for the Blues.

We obviously scored a lot of runs this week, but what made the difference was the consistent quality from our rotation. Jim Lonardo rode the momentum from career win 250, adding 251 and 252 this week. He was brilliant against the Stars, tossing a 5-hit shutout with 2 walks and a strikeout. He wasn't as perfect in Brooklyn, but threw 7 quality innings with 7 hits, 3 runs (2 earned), 2 walks, and 4 strikeouts. After a rough first start, he's won three in a row and allowed just 4 earned runs in 25 innings pitched with 5 walks and strikeouts. Dick Lyons was arguably more impressive, picking up wins against both teams as well. He almost threw a complete game, going 8.1 innings on 100 pitches in our 12-2 win over the Stars. Both runs he allowed were unearned, allowing 6 hits with a walk and a strikeout. Then in Brooklyn he went 7 with 7 hits, a run, a walk, and 2 strikeouts. It is just four starts, but the 42-year-old veteran is 2-1 with a 2.25 ERA (147 ERA+) and 1.07 WHIP in 28 innings pitched.

Harry Parker continues to stay hot, tossing a complete game victory with 8 hits, a run, a walk, and 3 strikeouts. Johnnie Jones came close, leaving in the 9th of a 4-1 game. He did walk 5, but allowed just 4 hits and a single run with 4 strikeouts. Joe Brown had a shaky start, but still finished 7.1 innings with 9 hits, 6 runs (3 earned), 4 walks, and 4 strikeouts as we cruised to a 15-6 win. Ken Matson picked up the lone loss, going the distance in Chicago with 7 hits, 5 runs, 2 walks, and 3 strikeouts. He then picked up a pair of relief outings, going 2.2 innings with 3 hits, a walk, strikeout, and save. Matson hasn't been great this season, now 2-3 with a 3.97 ERA (83 ERA+), 1.50 WHIP, 12 walks, and 9 strikeouts. He's got two weeks to make his case for the big league roster, as our other four relievers have combined for 9 scoreless innings.

A lot of the bats had huge weeks, including Dick Walker, who raised his season line from .136/.283/.136 to .243/.386/.343. The veteran first basemen went 11-for-26 with 2 triples, a homer, a steal, 5 RBIs, 8 walks, and 12 runs scored. Clark Car managed to accumulate a full win above replacement in just five games, going 9-for-19 with a triple, homer, 8 runs, 5 RBIs, 5 walks, and 3 steals. Car is on a 9 WAR pace now, hitting .383/.453/.532 (187 OPS+) with 2 doubles, a triple, homer, 3 steals, and 6 RBIs. Hank Barnett showcased his power, going 10-for-31 with 2 homers, 9 RBIs, 4 runs, and 4 walks. Cliff Moss impressed in his first week back, 7-for-24 with 3 doubles, 4 runs, 5 walks, and 5 RBIs. Skipper Schneider went 9-for-30 with a homer, 4 walks, 7 runs, and 7 RBIs. His 1.5 WAR is the best in the CA three weeks in, and he's on pace for a Bill Barrett-esque 12.2 for the season. We did have struggles from Mead, Mitchell, and the now healthy Freddie Jones, but there is really nothing to complain about this week offensively, as we rank 1st in each category except wOBA (2nd), base running (2nd), and of course, strikeouts (8th). Our 114 runs are best in all of baseball, and over double compared to the 56 the last place Miners have scored.

Looking Ahead
We get two off days to start the week, and we get to spend them at home while we prepare for a three game set with the Sailors. Philly is off to an okay start, 8-9 and 4 games behind us and the Cannons. They have the lowest scoring offense in the league, scoring nearly half of our runs with just 58. Most of this has to do with just one home run as a team, courtesy of backup outfielder Bennie Griffith, as they do have four .300 hitters in their lineup. One of those is Joseph Mills, who is off to a tremendous start, hitting .366/.447/.561 (180 OPS+) with 6 doubles, a triple, steal, and 7 RBIs in his first 48 trips to the plate. Besides him, leadoff man Harvey Brown (.319, 8, 2), and catcher Woody Stone (.328, 7), everyone is providing below average production in their starting 8. That includes Marion Boismenu, who's batting line dropped from .310/.355/.419 (130 OPS+) last season to .203/.217/.254 (31 OPS+) in his first 15 games this year. They have gotten good pitching, as Karl Wallace (1-2, 2.61, 11) picked off where he left off, while Doc Newell (2-1, 2.00, 8) has looked like a good pitcher again. Unfortunately, Chuck Murphy (0-2, 8.78, 1) and Tom Cipolla (0-2, 10.38, 10) been hit really hard, and former waiver claim Paul Richardson (0-1, 2.76, 7) isn't likely to keep things up. These are important must win games here, as our next test will be far more difficult.

That's because we'll host the Cannons for three games over the weekend. Cincinnati is 12-5, and riding a six game win streak. The pitching in Cincinnati has been elite, led by Rufus Barrell and his all out war against opposing hitters. The soon-to-be 26-year-old Barrell, who is better then all pitchers who aren't named Pete, has allowed just one run in 30 innings. He has been a bit lucky, as his 1.10 WHIP is far higher then his 0.30 ERA (1,125 ERA+), and he's walked 12 with just 5 walks. He's one of four Cannon starters with sub 1.50 ERAs, as Butch Smith (3-0, 1.04, 12) is back to his old self, and Rule-5 Pick Red Nokes (2-1, 1.44, 15) has surpassed even the loftiest expectations for the 25-year-old. It's kind of cheap to consider Jesse Bowen (1-0, 1.08, 5), as it's just one start, but no matter who the Cannons have been pitching, they've been keeping runs off the board. It helps when you have a ton of run support as the Cannons can give their guys a comfortable cushion. Star catcher Adam Mullins has shook off a tough Spring, slashing an astronomical .397/.493/.672 (231 OPS+) with 4 doubles, 3 triples, 2 homers, and 11 RBIs with 10 times the walks (10) as strikeouts (1). They aren't a one man wrecking crew either, as Chuck Adams (.312, 4, 14) supplies plenty of power and Fred Galloway (.292, 1, 3) seems to always be on base when Mullins is hitting. They could need a little boost as Leo Clark (.269, 1, 7) and reigning Player of the Week Bob Griffith (.365, 8, 1) are vastly over performing, but the Cannons will likely be a thorn in our side all season long.

Minor League Report
1B Adolph Jacobson (A Lincoln Legislators): May 4th was a big day for slugger Adolph Jacobson, who was instrumental in the Legislators 11-4 win over the Cedar Rapids Chiefs. The eventual Player of the Week went 4-for-5 and hit for the cycle while driving in six runs. He then finished the week 14-for-29 with 3 doubles, 2 triples, 2 homers, and 10 RBIs. In 11 games this year, the former lottery pick is slashing a superb .426/.500/.830 (240 OPS+) with 3 doubles, 2 triples, 4 homers, and 17 RBIs. This is his second go at A ball, as he spent all of last season with the Legislators. The now 23-year-old hit .297/.355/.529 (146 OPS+) with 33 doubles, 18 triples, 9 homers, and 73 RBIs. An extra base machine, Jacobson hits the ball with authority, lining the ball to all sides of the field. He should be able to hit more then his share of home runs, and he's a very good defensive first basemen who can play a little second base too. He's not one of our more exciting prospects, and not the greatest member of the clubhouse, but Colorado native just hits. Perhaps some of the dislike has to do with his first name and outspoken tendencies, but if he keeps hitting like this, I'm sure his teammates can learn to tolerate him. Just don't expect the boys to invite him out for drinks after the game...