[ayaghmour2]

Weekly Record: 3-1
Seasonal Record: 55-44 (3rd, 5 GB)
Stars of the Week
None Generated

Schedule
7-24: Win at Wolves (5-3)
7-27: Win vs Kings (2-7)
7-28: Loss vs Kings (4-2)
7-29: Win vs Kings (1-6)

Recap
Despite a strong 3-1 week, we made no progress in the standings, as the Cannons went 4-1, and we now trail them instead of the Wolves by five games for first. That's because we beat the Wolves, who are now a game behind Cincy. After the off days, we then finally returned home, but it was a pretty successful 8-6 road trip where we were hosted by the Foresters, Sailors, Cannons, and Wolves. Our homestand was very quick, winning two of three against the Kings, and we'll use the off day to head back on the road. We've actually been a bit better away (28-20) then at home (27-24), with a few more road contests left.

Plenty of offense this week, with four hitters producing an OPS+ of 190 or better. Two of them started three of four, with Ollie Page and Ken Mayhugh looking to hold off newcomer Rabbit Mudd. Page went 5-for-11 with a double, walk, run, and 4 RBIs while Mayhugh was 4-for-9 with 3 doubles, 2 runs, 3 walks, and 4 RBIs. Both have been relatively productive, as Mayhugh has an average 101 WRC+ to go with a strong 2.4 WAR while Page is hitting a productive .277/.353/.387 (112 OPS+) in just over 150 trips to the plate. Harry Mead and Rich Langton both had strong bounce back weeks. Mead went 5-for-13 with 2 doubles, 3 walks, 3 RBIs, and 6 runs while Langton was 8-for-17 with 2 doubles, 2 walks, 3 runs, and a steal. Neither has hit anything like I would have expected, but perhaps they saved the best for last? Cliff Moss returns this week, which expands our lineup a ton, and it couldn't have happened at a better time. The only hitter who hasn't really struggled since he left was Don Lee, who was as good as usual this week. The young center fielder went 5-for-17 with a double, triple, 2 walks, and 5 runs. With Ray Struble's addition to the roster, Lee may see a little more time in right, as I want to ease Moss back into things. This is our last chance to add to the lineup, but I'm worried there won't be much available that can help us score more runs. We have to rely on our internal options, but one big injury and our pennant chances could be crushed.

The way the games lined up, we got a pair of Billy Riley starts, and that's a great strategy towards winning. He wasn't great against the Wolves, but Riley went 6 with 8 hits, 3 runs, 3 walks, and 4 strikeouts. He then tossed a gem against the Kings, striking out 7 and allowing just 1 run to improve to 14-6 on the season. After a three game losing streak, Riley has now won seven of eight starts to go with a 2.99 ERA (118 ERA+) and 1.11 WHIP. His ERA is now just one point higher then Rusty Petrick, who picked up the lone loss of the week. We only provided him with two runs, and he was charged with 8 hits, 4 runs (3 earned), and 5 walks. Petrick struck out just one, and hasn't been striking out many batters as of late. After striking out 4 or more hitters in 11 of his first 12 starts, Petrick has struck out just eleven in his last five. We'll need him to start missing more bats, as he puts plenty of runners on base with the walks. Harry Parker earned himself a now rare complete game, allowing 5 hits, 2 runs, and 2 walks with 3 strikeouts in a 7-2 win over the Kings. It's crazy to think that one injury caused the two-time league leader in complete games to have just two all season, but this is a much different Harry Parker. He's still effective, working to a 3.16 ERA (112 ERA+) and 1.14 WHIP in 170.2 innings pitched with far more strikeouts (78) then walks (33). Him and Riley will get plenty of starts down the line, and if we want to stand a chance in the pennant race they need to keep performing.

Looking Ahead
Off to start the week before a three game set in the Big Apple with the Stars. At 47-54 and 14 games out of first, they made a huge deal, sending Army Vet Dixie Lee to the Detroit Dynamos for former #1 pick Roy Schaub. Lee showed no signs of rust after four seasons away, going 10-10 with a 3.29 ERA (110 ERA+) and 1.28 WHIP with 48 walks and 59 strikeouts. The Stars have one of the worst defenses, as his 2.88 FIP (79 FIP-) was significantly lower then ERA, and Detroit's defense, while not great, is still about average. The return is pretty large, as the Stars managed to pry away the two-time Adwell Award winner from the all-in Dynamos. It was an interesting birthday gift for Schaub, who probably won't get the news for a few days. The 38th ranked prospect is serving in the Army, but looked good (5-3, 3.08, 43) in 11 C ball starts last year. Tom Weinstock has always been pretty high on him, and at the beginning of the year he thought he could anchor a rotation. At just 19, there is plenty of risk, but it's scary to think of him and Eli Panneton as a 1-2, and with the amount of young talent they'll have in the lineup, the Stars are going to be a very scary team.

The current roster, however, isn't, as other then Panneton (14-7, 2.83, 71) they don't have any stars left. This might be the last year without the otherworldly Bill Barrett, and the only current Star who really has a spot locked down post-war is Chubby Hall (.291, 7, 65), and even he could be on the bench as the Stars are flush with outfield. #1 pick Bob Riggins (.280, 3) could be a star, but a strained bicep tendon has slowed his debut. Elijah Boudreau (/189, 2, 13) and him will fight to stick in center, and I doubt Boudreau could hold him off for very long. CA steal leader Steve Summers (.263, 20, 27) might stick as utility and Jim Honeywood's (.310, 4, 33) bat will keep him on the roster whether first base is open or not. The one to watch, however, is 22-year-old Bill Grove, who has hit .308/.400/.438 (136 OPS+) in his first 43 big league games. He's tallied 8 doubles, 4 triples, a homer, 3 steals, and 18 RBIs with a 23-to-13 walk-to-strikeout ratio. He'll turn 23 in September, and I don't think he's going to give Gary Carmichael his spot back. There's a lot of young talent here, but with no Lee the pitching is much weaker, and I think we can outhit them.

We don't have to travel too long, heading to Brooklyn for the second in final stop of the road trip. We just took two of three from them in Chicago, and we'll have to face them for four games in three days. They're two games clear of last, 41-61 and just over 20 games out of first. Brooklyn has been quiet so far, and it looks like Jake Shadoan (.294, 3, 43, 8) and Vernon Ruch (.303, 8, 53) will maintain their Kings uniform. They may now also be without the 24-year-old Whitey Dorsch (.263, 2, 28), who strained his hamstring and has hit just .228 with a 68 WRC+ in 29 July games. The staff's next run allowed would be 500, as they pace all CA staffs. Bill McGraw's (8-8, 3.97, 72) 92 ERA+ is the best on the team, and Pinch Lenhart (3-6, 6, 2.17, 28) is the only pitcher on the staff with an ERA below 3.60. All the pieces are in line for an excellent week to propel us up the standings, but I know too well that the Cougars plan is to choke or either spend the rest of the season in third place.