[ayaghmour2]

Weekly Record (2): 3-3
Weekly Record (3): 4-3
Overall Record: 11-9 (3 GB)

Well, here's something new! I forgot to do a writeup! Honestly can't remember the last time that happened, but hey, here we are! I'm blaming it on the Bills. I'm still shook after last night. I don't know when that's going to change. But we missed out on some awesome headlines like "The J-0nes Brothers" (Donnie and Johnnie threw 17 shutout innings in two weeks), "Not So Sharp" (Harry Sharp was 0-for-13 with 5 Ks), and something about how Zane Kelley and Eddie Howard both didn't allow a run. Instead, we'll pick things up after three weeks of exhibition games.

Is Zane Kelley an Alien Who Mastered Pitching?: 4 more innings, another shutout. The former King struck out 4 and allowed just 2, now up to 11 scoreless innings in Spring Training. He has the longest shutout streak on the squad so far, and as good as he's been, it's time for another Eddie Howard start. Like Kelley, Howard hasn't allowed a run, but it's came in just 4.2 innings, walking (4) more guys then he struck out (2). Kelley, however, has just 1 walk to 7 strikeouts, allowing 9 hits in those 11 scoreless innings. I think this week more or less secured Kelley's spot on the active roster, assuming he doesn't allow 5 runs in 10 innings or something along those lines. This make things difficult for some of the out of options guys like Charlie Kelsey, Jim Kenny, and Harry MacRae, along with last year's stopper Ken Matson who may be optioned for the first time since 1944. It's time for him to step up and assert himself on the staff, hopefully the missing piece we need to finally break through.

The Odd(o) Man Out: Nothing is going to happen to George Oddo, but of our five main starting pitchers, he's the only one with an ERA above 3. In Oddo's defense, it was a single bad outing, as in his first two he went 5 innings each against the two Canadian teams. He held the Wolves to 3 hits and a run with no walks and 7strikeouts, while the Saints got 3 hits, 2 runs, and 2 walks with 6 strikeouts. The strikeouts were working again in start three against the Sailors, 4 in 3.2 innings, but the defending pennant winners piled on 7 hits, a walk, and 5 runs in their 8-6 win. This ballooned the 26-year-olds ERA to 5.27 (75 ERA+) despite a stellar 3.27 FIP, 1.17 WHIP, 28.8 K% and 5.7 K/BB in 13.2 innings. That's the long way of say he's been okay. But with how good the rest of the rotation has been, he sticks out like a sore thumb. Donnie and Johnnie both allowed 2 runs in a start, but Donnie didn't allow a run in 15 of the 17 innings he pitched and Johnnie has 12 strikeouts to just 2 walks. Pap and Duke haven't allowed more then 2 runs in a start, and the sixth spot has gotten three shutouts. The pitching has been known to be a strength of the team, but it's always great seeing such stellar performance after a long offseason. And even with how "Odd(o)" George's start has been, he's looked great under the hood and should once again be a key piece of our rotation.

Mitchell Magic?: Last season Leo Mitchell hit just four home runs. This week he homered in back-to-back games. Mitchell hit a grand slam off veteran journeyman Lee Marshall in the 8-6 loss, and then followed it up with a solo-homer against the Saints that put the Cougars up 2-0, a lead that would shrink to one before Charlie Kelsey recorded the 27th out. It was a nice bounce back for the veteran, who hit .158 entering the game. Things have trended upwards, as he's recorded a hit in five of his last seven appearances where he recorded at least one at bat. The 35-year-old is now hitting a respectable .240/.321/.480 with 3 walks and 7 RBIs. Fellow veteran Hal Sharp erased his o'fer this week, going 4-for-11 with a double, walk, and run. Right now, him and Mitchell are in competition for at bats, as Sharp is penciled in as the every day left fielder. He can always move to right, but I like Carlos Montes' speed and defense, which was on full display this past week. He went 3-for-11 with a steal, a triple, 2 runs, and 3 walks. But the biggest impediment in to Mitchell right now is top prospect Johnny Peters, who went 3-for-7 with a double and is now hitting .333/.429/.556 with a homer and two RBIs. Even Chubby Hall (.320, 3 2B, 3 RBI) has impressed, so Mitchell's long reign as an Opening Day starter may be reaching its natural end.

Second Seems Solid: No, I don't mean second place. Although that's what the standings tend to say. I'm talking about second base. One of the few "question marks" we had entering the offseason, we've gotten excellent production from the Clark Car/Billy Hunter platoon thus far. Car's offense has been most impressive, as the 35-year-old veteran is hitting .400/.423/.480 -- equal to a 150 WRC+ in 27 trips to the plate. The former Cannon and Star added a pair of doubles, swiped two bags, and has driven in three. Hunter hasn't matched that overall production, but he's coming off a 5-for-13 week with a double and 3 RBIs, raising the spring line to a strong .345/.394/.379 in 33 PAs. Age is a question for both of them, but there would be plenty of internal options if age catches up with them. George Sutterfield (.250, 2B, 3 RBI) could shift to second if needed, and he's more then talented enough as a defender. Everyday playing time could finally help him break out, and another young shortstop Elmer Grace (.200, BB) is already big league ready despite being in college at this time last year. While it would have been nice to add a Buddy Schneider or Jim Adams Jr. in the offseason, the odds of a deal for either player are low. And there aren't many other options better then this duo. If the spring stats are any indication of the upcoming season, we should be getting steady and reliable results from a pair of well traveled veterans. And that should help us in close games.