[ayaghmour2]

Weekly Record: 3-3
Seasonal Record: 30-24 (3rd, 5 GB)
Stars of the Week
Dick Walker : 18 AB, 9 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, .500 AVG, 1.251 OPS
Jim Lonardo : 1 Win, 9.0 IP, 2 BB, 0 K, 0.00 ERA
Johnnie Jones : 1 Win, 9.0 IP, 5 BB, 1 K, 0.00 ERA

Schedule
6-7: Win at Sailors (5-2)
6-9: Loss vs Kings (5-3)
6-10: Loss vs Kings (6-3)
6-12: Loss vs Kings (2-1)
6-13: Win vs Kings (0-1)
6-13: Win vs Kings (0-5)

Recap
We continue to muddle in mediocrity, with yet another three win week. We managed to end our road trip with a win against the Sailors, but then we dropped the first three with the Kings in Chicago. Luckily, we salvaged the double header with a pair of shutouts from Jim Lonardo and Johnnie Jones. Lonardo was perfect despite next to zero run support, allowing just 3 hits and 2 walks in a 1-0 shutout. Johnnie Jones dealt with more baserunners, allowing 3 hits and 5 walks with a strikeout in his second shutout in five starts. Both rose their ERA+ (110 and 105) above 100, and for Jones, it was the first time all season. We just can't win games at home for some reason, now a game under .500 at 13-14 in Chicago. That hasn't stopped Cougar fans from showing up more then any other group of fans, but you have to imagine we'll eventually start winning at home. We were 46-31 last year and 51-26 when we won the pennant in '41, and we haven't finished below .500 at home since 1936 (34-43) where we won only 63 games.

Harry Parker had a nice return to the rotation, tossing a pair of two run complete games. He beat the Sailors to start the week, allowing 9 hits, 2 runs, and a walk with 3 strikeouts in his first start back. We then couldn't score against the Kings for him, as he allowed just 5 hits and 2 walks with 4 strikeouts. Dick Lyons and Joe Brown didn't have much luck against the Kings, as both dropped their start. Brown went 7.1 innings with 12 hits, 6 runs, and 3 walks with 4 strikeouts. Lyons had a rare misstep, 9 hits and 4 runs in just 6 innings pitched. He hasn't allowed more then 3 earned runs in a start since his first on April 25th, and he still sports a stellar 2.51 ERA (134 ERA+), 0.99 WHIP, and 0.6 BB/9 in 71.2 innings pitched.

We didn't hit at all, but Dick Walker heated up with a huge week, going 9-for-18 with 2 doubles, 3 runs, 7 walks, and 2 steals. Walker is now hitting .272/.391/.426 (136 OPS+) with 7 doubles, 6 triples, 4 homers, 39 walks, and 21 RBIs. He's tied with three other players for 11 steals to lead the FABL, and he's been caught only once. The right field platoon was about all that hit too, and that's even with Cliff Moss going just 2-for-11. He did have a homer, 4 RBIs, and 3 walks, which is better then most everyone else. Rich Langton did look good, going 5-for-16 with a double, triple, walk, and two runs scored. Orlin Yates heard about our trade talks for a new center fielder, as well as our new waiver claim, going 3-for-10 with a double, 2 runs, and 2 RBIs.

That previously mentioned waiver claim was former Sailor Don Homer, who will take Bunny Hufford's roster spot until we can find a better option out in center. A former 11th Rounder back in 1932, Homer debuted for the team that drafted him in 1936, going 0-for-1 in 2 games for the Sailors. From 1939 to 1942, he was actually a full time starter, and he had an OPS+ of 100 and 110 in '39 and '40. He was relegated to a bench role this season, hitting just .143/.211/.171 (6 OPS+) in 39 PAs, but he owns a much more productive .272/.333/.355 (92 OPS+) batting line in 2,260 career plate appearances. Yates will still get most of the playing time, but since Homer is a lefty too, he'll get some starts against righties. This sends Bunny Hufford down to Milwaukee to play center field every day, and he should hit much better then his .188/.291/.229 (51 OPS+) line with a triple, RBI, and 7 walks.

Looking Ahead
Off to start the week, as we can hopefully get things back on track. We'll travel to Montreal for a quick three game road trip. The Saints are struggling this season, just 23-30 and 11.5 games out of first. The Saints just lost Ed Baker (6-2, 4.37, 33) for the year, weakening their rotation the rest of the way. To make matters worse, Jake DeYoung (2-8, 5.32, 27) has been awful, but former Cougar draftee Bill Ross (6-3, 2.31, 18) is pitching out of his mind. The rest of their rotation hasn't done too well, but as the season goes on, I'd expect talented youngsters Pat Weakly (1-3, 3.56, 25) and Wally Reif (1-2, 4.35, 8) to improve with experience. The offense hasn't been bad, but they've seen below average production from quality hitters like Jake Hughes (.276, 25, 5), Bert Lass (.286, 2, 25), Charlie Woodbury (.257, 3, 21,) and Bill Greene (.188, 3, 18, 11). They have gotten good production from veteran Vic Crawford (.305, 7, 28) and Mark Burns (.360, 10, 1), but not much has broken right for the Saints. I think they'll recover, but I'm hoping that doesn't come at our expense. We also host the Saints later in the week, starting a five game series with them in Chicago on Sunday.

We then head home to host the Stars for a pair of must win games. New York is a completely different team then the won who wiped the floor with us last season, just 20-33 and 7th in the league on win percentage. Billy Riley (1-5, 3.80, 26) hasn't pitched since May, and Vern Hubbard (5-6, 3.74, 51) is suffering from a huge drop in production. Chris Clarke (4-6, 3.75, 19) hasn't looked good in a full time starting role and waiver claim Hank Mittan (2-5, 3.59, 15) hasn't been much better. They've only gotten good innings from Bill Keith (2-1, 2.70, 16), but he's had walk issues (5.1 BB/9) in his first five big league starts. The offense has been even worse, ranked 8th in a lot of hitting categories, including runs scored, wOBA, OPS, and WAR. Of course the loss of Bill Barrett hurts, but Chink Stickels (.187, 1, 18, 3) has been awful and Dave Trowbridge (.266, 1, 9) is finally showing his age. Ray Cochran (.257, 1, 10, 1) is one of their only above average hitters, as they are still waiting for Chubby Hall (.202, 2, 11) to flash the promise he did in the minors. The Stars have also announced that they're going to be sellers, meaning some of their vets may be on the way out before we face them. It's been a fall from grace for the powerhouse Stars, but once the war ends they'll be more then ready to compete.

Minor League Report
2B Jimmie James (AA Mobile Commodores): I debated moving Jimmie James up to AAA when I called up Eddie Curtis, but I instead went with veteran filler first basemen Chris Smith. James quickly made me regret my decision, putting up a Player of the Week where he went an even 13-for-26 with 2 homers and 11 RBIs. The 24-year-old middle infielder will be rewarded with the deserved promotion, finishing his 44 games at AA with a .325/.443/.490 (148 OPS+) batting line. The former 4th Rounder added 4 doubles, 2 triples, 6 homers, and 39 RBIs with twice as many walks (35) as strike outs (17). A versatile switch hitter, James has spent most of his time at second, but he's also capable at short, third, left, center, and right. His range on the dirt is impressive and he's a great fielder, and OSA thinks he'll develop into an above average big league player. I like him for second, and with Barnett and Skipper at third and short it's the best immediate place for him, but I could see him filling in at all three spots before securing everyday playing time. He has a good handle of the strike zone and projects to have at least an average hit tool, but I can't see him hitting for much power as he's shown in Mobile this season. Currently ranked 11th in our system and 155th overall, he's got a decent prospect pedigree and he could develop into a useful big league starter, but at worst he's a very useful utility man who can hit far better then Tip Harrison.

LHP Ed Fisler (AA Mobile Commodores): What a debut! In his first start in our organization, and up in AA, Ed Fisler flashed greatness, tossing a 6-hit shutout with 5 strikeouts as the Commodores topped the Reliables 2-0. Fisler needed just 101 pitches to record 27 outs, and he didn't walk a single hitter. We couldn't have asked any more from the lefty, as he hadn't pitched above A ball before this. Ranked 17th in our system and 206th Overall, Fisler made 9 starts for the Chiefs in Class A Cedar Rapids, going 4-2 with a 3.93 ERA (124 ERA+), 1.59 WHIP, 30 walks, and 48 strikeouts. I loved his massive strike out numbers, and while I don't expect him to keep up a 8.2 per 9 pace, he should settle around 5. If he can get his control down, he'll be a really good starter, as walks can turn into an issue for him. Going a full game without a walk is a huge first step, and I'm excited to see how he continues.

C Pat Brown Jr. (C La Crosse Lions): It's been an extremely productive season for the 20-year-old Pat Brown Jr., who continued an excellent season with a Player of the Week Award. A 9th Round selection back in 1941, it hasn't always been easy for Brown to get playing time, but he's certainly taking advantage of it now. The New Jersey native went 10-for-21 this week with 2 homers, 7 RBIs, and 8 runs scored to improve his season line to an outstanding .305/.431/.595 (146 OPS+) with 9 doubles, 9 homers, and 31 RBIs. He has struck out a lot, on pace for 113 strikeouts in 116 games, but he's walked (29) nearly as much as he's struck out (32) and he's already homered seven more times this season then last. Brown has an all or nothing swing and won't make too much contact, and while he didn't hit many homers last year, he did have 32 doubles. When he makes contact, the ball does go far, so the defense should always be on their toes. Right now he just projects to be a backup catcher, but at 6'3'' his power can really grow in, and he could surprise a few pundits.