[ayaghmour2]

Weekly Record: 5-2
Seasonal Record: 22-18 (t-1st, 0.5 GA)
Stars of the Week
Red Bond : 16 AB, 7 H, 3 HR, 5 RBI, .438 AVG, 1.500 OPS
Sal Pestilli : 27 AB, 7 H, 2 HR, 6 RBI, .259 AVG, .841 OPS
Donnie Jones : 2 Wins, 17.2 IP, 3 BB, 6 K, 2.55 ERA

Schedule
5-24: Win vs Foresters (1-5)
5-25: Win vs Cannons (1-2)
5-26: Win vs Cannons (1-2)
5-27: Loss vs Cannons (2-0)
5-28: Win at Kings (7-3)
5-29: Win at Kings (7-5)
5-30: Loss at Kings (2-6)

Recap
Well would you look at that! First place! Sure, we're tied with the Saints, who we start next week with, but it was the first time all season we actually did what a pennant winner should! We swept the worst team in the league and took two of three from the teams above us. It's going to be tough to stay atop, but this is huge for us. With four teams sitting at an even .500 everything is extremely congested, so maybe just one more 5 win week can give us a lead we can hold on to. Winning on the road is tough, and we're still not really handling teams like we should, but positive progress is starting to be made. We even won two one run games!

After starting to slump, Red Bond had another power explosion, going 7-for-16 with a double, 3 homers, and 5 RBIs. Bond is now tied with Bill Barrett (.323, 12, 37, 2) for most home runs in the league, as each slugger has hit 12, although Bond has done it in twenty fewer plate appearances (138) then Barrett (158). Red is slashing .317/.370/.643 (172 OPS+) as we approach June, and his 9.4 K% would be the first time he had a single digit K% in a 250+ PA season. Bond didn't have too much help this week, but Leo Mitchell showed some signs of light, going 8-for-23 with 3 RBIs and 4 runs scored. Sal Pestilli had another solid week, 7-for-27 with 2 doubles, 2 homers, 2 steals, 6 runs, and 6 RBIs. Pestilli has a somewhat pedestrian .252/.306/.453 (105 OPS+) batting line, but he's added 8 doubles, 3 triples, 6 homers, and 6 steals, is walking (13) more then he strikes out (8), and has accumulated a 6.1 zone rating (1.043 EFF) out in center. It's still not the Sal Pestilli we were hoping for, but after a slow start in April he has a 126 WRC+ in May and may finally be turning the corner. Even better, he's finally not pissed off, and is even happy about a few things. This is it! Its' time for the Sal Pestilli we all know and love to make his mark on the city! My excitement is through the roof!

Donnie Jones was a Skipper Schneider error away from a 6-hit shutout and then came an out away from a two complete game victory week. He still picked up the win in our 7-5 win over the Kings, but since all but one of their runs came in the ninth it makes sense that Ken Matson got the final out. He came in with runners on first and second and walked Charlie Woodbury (.321, 2, 26) to load the bases for Pat Petty (.308, 3, 26). After a called strike on a 2-0, Matson got Petty to lift a lazy fly ball to right, securing the victory with the winning run at the plate. Donnie was solid until the 9th, and was charged with 5 runs off 9 hits and 3 walks with 5 strikeouts. His record improved to 3-4 and he's lowered his ERA and WHIP to 3.89 (97 ERA+) and 1.33. His 3.13 FIP (82 FIP-) is actually better then last year's 3.38 (89 FIP-) so with better luck things would look a lot different. Like Pap, Donnie isn't striking out many batters, and his 10.7 K% would be a career low. This has offset his drop in walk percentage (7.5 from 8.1) and if he can rely on his defense a bit less he'll win more games. I don't remember any starts of actual length last season where he had just one or two strike outs, but he already has three starts of nine innings or more. Yes, he faced 43 Sailors (10.2 innings!) in Philly and struck out only two. Even this week he only struck out one in his complete game win over the Foresters. I'm still pleased with his week and it makes me excited for our road trip where he'll see his former organization in Toronto.

Pete Papenfus had a pair of starts as well, but only one went as planned. He outdueled rookie Johnny Whitter (3-5, 1.45, 24) in our 2-1 win over the Cannons, allowing just 3 hits, 2 walks, and a single run. The Kings got to him in Brooklyn, and snapped his streak of four consecutive complete game. The Kings tagged him for 6 runs of 7 hits and walks, striking out just 3 in 5 innings pitched. It's his shortest start of the season, with the previous low coming back in April just over a month ago when the Kings tagged him for 7 runs off 12 hits in 6 innings. I now know he can only face the Kings in Chicago, as he struck out 6 in a complete game victory earlier in the month. Still, he looks plenty better then last year, and has managed to keep hitters off base better. Now that we've managed to claw our way into first, his starts will become more and more important, as the back of the rotation has really excelled and he could drop a bit in the order as we look to chase victories.

Johnnie Jones came an out away from a complete game victory, as he left after 148 pitches and the tying run on base. Knowing Matson needed just one pitch to end things makes you wonder if Johnnie should have stayed out, but as a former pitcher I think Max Wilder knows something about the right time to leave a game. Johnnie did allow 4 hits and a season high 6 walks, but it's another impressive start from the veteran. He improved to 4-2 with a 1.81 ERA (209 ERA+) in his 7 starts. Duke Bybee also won his fourth game, going all nine in a complete game win over the Kings. It was a start reminiscent of his rookie year, as the young southpaw struck out 6 while allowing just 7 hits, 3 runs (2 earned), and 3 walks. George Oddo didn't get any run support in his start, but in our offense's defense it was the uber talented Rufus Barrell (5-1, 1.21, 29) and he doesn't give up many runs. That didn't stop Oddo from looking fabulous, as he gave 8 innings with 6 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks, and 5 strikeouts. The former 8th Rounder is now 3-2 with a 2.56 ERA (147 ERA+), 1.20 WHIP, and 34 strikeouts. He's a big reason why we're in first even though he's the guy I initially planned on skipping starts for. But the mix of his performance, the amount of double headers, and the lack of real off days, there really haven't been any of those opportunities. He's earned his starts and will continue to if he keeps pitching like this.

Looking Ahead
If you told me that on the last day of May we'd be playing a double header for first place against the Saints I wouldn't believe it. Even moreso that it's because of their pitching and hitting. Of course the biggest surprise is that we're actually in first place, as other then this week we haven't really won any games. The Saints, however, have had some insane pitching performances from guys that never quite pitched like they should. The main perpetrator is 28-year-old Wally Reif, who is 5-2 with a miniscule 1.15 ERA (339 ERA+) and 0.95 WHIP in 70.1 innings pitched. The former top 20 prospect has seemingly cured his home run issues, as after allowing a league high 28 last season he has yet to give one up this year. When you pitch in Montreal that's easy, but he threw shutouts in two of his three road games. We won't have to deal with him, but it's not like Pat Weakly (4-3, 2.92, 27) and Bert Cupid (4-3, 1.93, 21) are easy to hit either. The key to this double header is keeping Montreal off the board, as their lineup is thin. Bill Greene (.278, 4, 16, 10) does have an impressive 152 WRC+ and is on pace for a 7+ WAR season, but he doesn't have much protection. 23-year-old Jack Spahr (.300, 9) is off to a nice start and Bill Elkins (.278, 13, 3) and Gordy Perkins (.287, 2, 13, 3) have been productive. The foundation in is place, and the Saints may decide to tap into their system for the first time in a while. With seven of the eight teams within two games of first, it's anyone's game, and they have to be taken seriously.

We're off on June 1st, which gives us time to time to start a twelve game road trip. That first stop is Toronto, where we'll play four games against the 20-20 Wolves. George Garrison is off to a tremendous start, as their ace is 5-3 with a 1.78 ERA (219 ERA+) and 1.19 WHIP in his eight starts. He's struck out 27 and walked just 17, and we're likely to face him him as he's scheduled to pitch a game in the double header against the Foresters to start their week. Former co-ace Joe Hancock (2-2, 5.79, 16) has not been nearly as effective, and he's allowed 4 or more earned runs in each of his last five starts. He is also likely to take the ball in the Foresters double header, which means the most rested starters will be the back half. #5 Jim Morrison (1-4, 3.29, 14) has been the best of the non-Garrison starters, but I'm not sure it's going to matter whether its him, Jimmy Gibbs (1-2, 4.08, 22), or Jerry York (3-5, 3.86, 25). It's not that they're bad, it's just they're not George Garrison, and if we have a good Sal Pestilli (.252, 6, 21) and an out for revenge Walt Pack (.281, 7, 21), we could put up a ton of runs. And the Wolves haven't provided their pitchers with much, as Fred McCormick (.265, 5, 24, 2) has cooled off a bit and Charlie Artuso (.237, 1, 18, 2), Hank Giordano (.268, 1, 12, 4), and even Chink Stickels (.250, 4, 14) aren't providing much. Home field advantage should help keep balls in the park, but can parks really contain Pack and Bond (.317, 12, 25)? Hasn't looked like it so!

Our week ends with another double header, as like the Wolves, the Foresters will host us for a double header. Cleveland is the only team in the CA not within two games of us, and at 15-26 they have a worse record then every team except the Pittsburgh Miners (11-30). Despite the poor record, they are actually scoring the second most runs (185) in the association, as despite a 73 WRC+, Paul Porter (.244, 1, 24) has one fewer RBI then Red Bond, and Ivey Henley (.361, 3, 21) and Orie Martinez (.304, 4, 18, 2) have produced plenty of runs. It's a nice start for the former King, who is following up a .259/.349/.422 (117 OPS+) season with a .304/.420/.496 (140 OPS+) triple slash and 149 WRC+. If Lorenzo Samuels (.216, 4, 13) and Jim Adams Jr. (.238, 1, 4, 2) can turn things around, they might be a team to look out for, as a high scoring team is always a threat. The pitching has been poor, but Ollie White (1-6, 5.05, 42) is way better then he's shown and top prospect John Jackson (2-3, 5.60, 18) has the talent to turn things around. I still think the Foresters are a season or two away from contention, but they'll be at home and will get a chance to impress for their fans.

Are we still going to be in first place tomorrow?

Let's hope so!

Minor League Report
1B Billy Biggar (AA Mobile Commodores): It finally happened. Billy Biggar didn't get a hit. It took 30 games before an 0-for-4 snapped his impressive hit and on base streak. He quickly rebounded with two there-hit games in three days, and is hitting an astronomical.420/.462/.566 (162 OPS+) with 12 doubles, 3 triples, a homer, and 22 RBIs. He has walked (12) three times as often as he's struck out (4) and has a 177 WRC+ in 156 trips to the plate. 24 next month, Biggar has recently cracked the top 500 prospect list, checking in at 493rd overall and 45th in our system. Scouts have always loved his hit tool and it's hard to ignore the results he's been putting up. Unfortunately for the former 10th Rounder, 25-year-old Bill Payne is playing regularly in Milwaukee at first, and as a 40-man player he currently has priority for playing time. And with a 128 WRC+ and a whopping 24-to-4 walk-to-strikeout ratio, I don't think Payne is going to play himself out of a job. All Biggar can do is hope for a first basemen injury, otherwise he's likely stuck in Mobile the rest of the season.

RHP Harry Beardsley (AA Mobile Commodores): For some reason, the prospect people have quickly soured on Harry Beardsley, as he went from 93rd to 147th in just a few weeks. That didn't seem to phase the coincidentally also former 10th Rounder, as Beardsley threw yet another shutout. This time it was a 6-hitter with 3 walks and 5 strikeouts, as he improved to 5-2 after a 3-0 win over the Atlanta Peaches. In 7 starts and 60.1 innings, he owns a stellar 2.54 ERA (169 ERA+) and 1.06 WHIP with nearly twice as many strikeouts (28) as walks (15). With a few more starts like this is going to be tough to keep him down here, but he's still only in his second full season as a minor leaguer. We have a full rotation in Milwaukee and if I send Beardsley up I don't want to have to send him back down. Without an immediate need for pitching, I don't want to rush him, as he has great stuff that will only get better. The command has started to come around, and if he can maintain a low walk rate he's going to be really good. I think he's still at least a year and a half away from the majors, so he may be best served by spending the whole season in AA.

RHP Jim N Smith (A Lincoln Legislators): He did it again! Just one start removed from a 3-hitter, "Noodles" might have taken it up a notch, striking out 7 in a 5-hit shutout. This improved him to 3-2 and dropped his ERA below 2 to 1.97 ERA (214 ERA+) in 45.2 innings pitched. He has an impressive 1.09 WHIP with 26 strikeouts and just 11 walks, improving in nearly every way from his 11 starts with the Legislators last season. He's doing his best to force my hand into a promotion, but it's still early and there's no room on the Commodores staff. We've been rather lucky with injuries so we haven't needed to move anyone up yet either. Unless I just jinxed us, I imagine Smith will come close to matching his 11 starts from last year before returning to AA, where he started (and struggled in) nine games in 1946. He still doesn't rank on the prospect list, but with draft trading a thing of the past, he could the type of player a team takes a flier on where they would have instead preferred a pick. You can never have too much pitching, especially in the upper minors, and as a current "starter" he's more advanced then most.