[ayaghmour2]

Weekly Record: 4-1
Seasonal Record: 46-39 (2nd, 7 GB)
Stars of the Week
Donnie Jones : 2 Wins, 11.0 IP, 2 BB, 5 K, 0.82 ERA
Leo Mitchell : 16 AB, 7 H, 1 HR, 5 RBI, .438 AVG, 1.125 OPS
Sal Pestilli : 25 AB, 9 H, 0 HR, 2 RBI, .360 AVG, .767 OPS

Schedule
7-14: Win vs Foresters (1-13)
7-15: Loss vs Foresters (7-2)
7-16: Win vs Foresters (5-9)
7-17: Win vs Cannons (7-15)
7-17: Win vs Cannons (1-4)

Recap
Boy is it great to be back! Even though it feels like a year since we last got some Cougar baseball, the Cougs showed so signs of rust, and put an absolute beat down on the first place Foresters before sweeping the double header against the now Adam Mullins-less Cannons. After treading water most of the season, we've now won ten of our last thirteen and have cut the previous double digit game deficit to just 7 as we approach the trade deadline. I'm not expecting any big moves for us, as our guys finally hitting their groove may be all it takes to get back into it. Love when optimism is high!

Speaking of things I love, Leo Mitchell seems to have found the fountain of youth, going 7-for-16 with a double, homer, and 5 RBIs to up his season line to .280/.357/.453 (114 OPS+) with 7 homers in just 168 plate appearances. Don't forget, he had just 4 in 570 last season! He hit an impressive .389/.436/.639 (183 OPS+) in June, about half-and-half with starting and coming off the bench, and in 12 July games (11 starts) he's slashed a respectable .273/.418/.409 (121 OPS+). The 36-year-old if looking like his old self again, and I could not be happier to see his little resurgence. He was one of many hitters, especially part-timers, to find success against the pitching staffs from Ohio, as every Cougar position player had a weekly OPS+ above 100! Another veteran Charlie Woodbury had an impressive debut week. The bat first second basemen went 3-for-9 with a homer, 3 runs, and 4 RBIs. Young slugger Otto Christian hit his 7th homer, going 3-for-7 with four driven in. Carlos Montes continued his improved play, 4-for-10 with a double, 2 walks, 6 runs, and 3 RBIs. George Sutterfield was 4-for-11 with a double, steal, 2 walks, 4 runs, and 2 RBIs. Billy Hunter was 5-for-12 with a steal, 4 runs, and an RBI. Jimmy Hairston was 3-for-8 with 2 runs and 3 RBIs. And even Eddie Howard, who just made one start, was 3-for-4 with a double and 3 RBIs.

The stars may have been overshadowed, but that's not to say they didn't pull their weight. Red Bond has continued to stay hot, going 3-for-11 with a double, homer, 4 runs, and 4 RBIs with a pair of walks. Walt Pack was 4-for-12 with a double, walk, RBI, and 2 runs scored. Skipper went 6-for-18 with 2 doubles, 2 runs, 3 walks, and 5 RBIs. Sal Pestilli was 8-for-21 with a steal, 2 RBIs, and 6 runs. I'll be honest, with a 4-1 week where we outscored our opponents 43-21, I would have thought these four were the main culprits, but for once, Super Sal didn't have to do it all himself! The offense is finally starting to come together, and with a 12-4 July we're starting to get right back into it!

The pitching wasn't great, as three of our pitchers allow five or more runs. In Pete Papenfus' defense, only two of the seven runs he allowed were earned, although he was the only pitcher to receive a loss. Even if the four errors were erased, we would have needed at least a tenth inning to determine a victor, one of those errors came from the fireballer himself. Excluding the two innings he allowed runs, he was almost perfect, finishing 8.2 innings with 7 hits, 4 walks, and 4 strikeouts. Johnnie Jones was awful, allowing 10 hits, 7 runs, and 6 walks with 3 strikeouts in 7.2 innings, but he was gifted 15 runs in our game one win over the Cannons. Duke Bybee continues to win games without pitching very well, allowing 8 hits, 5 runs, and 2 walks with 2 strikeouts in just 6.1 innings. Despite a 4.22 ERA (96 ERA+), which I guess looks a bit worse then it really is, he is 9-6 -- which is the best record in the rotation.

Donnie Jones had the best start, allowing just 3 hits, a run, and 2 walks with 2 strikeouts in a complete game victory. This improved him to 9-7 on the season as he lowered his ERA to 2.97 (137 ERA+), just a few points higher then Pap, despite seeing his ERA as high as 5.10 in mid-May. After starting the season 0-4 in his first 10 starts, George Oddo picked up his third victory in as many starts, going 8 with 8 hits, an unearned run, 4 walks, and 3 strikeouts. Harry MacRae picked up the save, allowing 2 hits with a strikeout in a scoreless ninth. He also picked up a hold when Johnnie Jones got in trouble, as after a Joe Burns (.316, 1, 42, 10) pinch-hit two-run single he got the recently recalled Nellie Walters (.357, 1) to fly out to Leo Mitchell in left. At the time, we held a slim 8-7 lead, but we battered veteran Butch Smith (4-2, 3, 7.31, 15) in the bottom half of the eighth for 7 runs, allowing Harry Parker to work a perfect and stress-free eight pitch ninth to end the game. Our other two relievers got work in too, as Charlie Kelsey needed two pitches for the last out of Pete Papenfus' start, and Jim Kenny recorded the last eight outs (3 H, K) of Duke Bybee's outing. I can't remember the last time all four members of our pen not only pitched, but didn't allow any runs, as quite literally everything worked out for us in the return to play.

I should also mention the All-Star game, as the Continental Association won 4-3 and our very own Donnie Jones was named the games winner. He allowed just one hit and struck out three in two scoreless innings. He became the third Cougar to earn the victory in the Mid-Summer classic, as current teammate Pete Papenfus won in 1941 and former teammate, the ageless wonder Dick Lyons, won two years later. Lyons was 43 (!!) at the time, and finished that season 11-11 with a 2.65 ERA (123 ERA+) and 1.08 WHIP, which would easily be CA bests this season. Sal Pestilli went 1-for-4 with a strikeout while Skipper was 1-for-3 with a walk, a run scored, and an error. They led off the CA lineup and both left in the 8th after being pinch hit for by Joe Scott (.288, 10, 45) and former Cougar 1st Rounder Hal Wood (.340, 3, 48) respectively. Its the fourth consecutive win for our association, which now holds the All-Time lead 9-8.

Lastly, we got some more draftees signing, as we welcomed 2nd Rounder Wilson McKinney, 5th Rounder Freddie Hutchison, and 13th Rounder Bill Hardaway. Not surprisingly (Hutchison looks like a mistake already but I needed a college shortstop), McKinney is the only one who cracked the top prospect list, checking in at 16th in the system and 143rd overall. I'm still waiting for 3rd Rounder Fred Crawford to sign, as he's the only player selected in the first seven rounds yet to sign. We have just over a month left to sign players, so expect the later round guys to trickle in as we get closer to the deadline. The Lions have finished two weeks so far, and I want at least one more week for the incumbents to try to separate themselves before I have to make major cuts. The AI class feels weak, so we may have a large number of guys not signing this year.

Looking Ahead
One more with the Cannons, who are now 41-46 and 13 games out of first place after dropping four of their first five contests in the second half. They are expected to go with Charlie Griffith (8-8, 4.12, 39) for the finale, who has been given the tough task of having to face All-Star winner Donnie Jones (9-7, 2.97, 72), who is in the middle of an impressive near two month run where he's won six of his eight decisions. The Cannons now have a hole in their lineup and behind the plate, with plenty of options to fill that spot. Currently Paul Wilkerson (.246, 9) is the only catcher on the active roster, but they have both Enos Shank (.231, 7) shank and Dan Scurlock, who are in AAA and on the 40-man roster. Neither are highly regarded prospects (OOTP 24 doesn't seem to like catchers), but both are decently developed stopgaps who can eat up at bats in a transition season. They could welcome back Fred Galloway (.303, 2, 19, 3), who missed about a month with an oblique strain, which could push Joe Scott (.316, 1, 42, 10) back to right and Sam Brown (.256, 12) on the bench. Still, with the way we are looking and the clear pitching advantage, I'd be quite shocked if we lost this game.

Next up on the docket is three with the last place Sailors, who are a much better 8-8 in July and just 5.5 games behind our next guests, the Toronto Wolves. Still, 33-51 is probably the opposite record many would have expected for the back-to-back Continental Association champs (surprisingly 51-33 is still shy of the Foresters...), and their percentage chances of returning to the postseason probably have more zeros then non-zeros. But you have to respect this team that usually finds ways to win, and always develops talented players. The next one in a very long line is 25-year-old All-Star Joe Scott, who has hit .288/.396/.446 (116 OPS+) with 9 doubles, 10 homers, 51 walks, and 45 RBIs. On the surface, ten homers doesn't seem all that impressive (we have two guys with 15!), but no other Sailor has more then five homers and Sailors Memorial Stadium is the toughest park for left handed hitters to leave the yard. He's been one of the few bright spots in the 8th ranked lineup in terms of scoring, with one of the only guys helping him being the perennial batting title champ Ed Reyes (.369, 5, 38), who is more then twenty points clear of the field. The pitching hasn't been great, as Win Lewis (3-11, 4.83, 44) and Al Duster (5-7, 4.87, 43) continue to struggle, with Charlie Gordon (6-8, 3.61, 45) the only rotation member with an ERA below 4. Everything points towards a Cougars series win, but we all know how this game goes!

For the first time in nearly twelve years, we'll be facing a Toronto Wolves team that is not employing longtime shortstop Charlie Artuso (.240, 5, 37), who ranks top five in Wolves history in WAR (5th, 57.4), games (2nd, 1,697), at bats (2nd, 6,512), runs (3rd, 843), hits (3rd, 1,666), doubles (4th, 331), homers (5th, 63), RBIs (3rd, 695), and walks (3rd, 677). Whoever replaces him will have big shoes to fill, and right now the only options on the major league roster are second basemen John Fast (.281, 3, 16), a "natural" shortstop with a -6.2 zone rating and .796 efficiency at short in 23 games, and Harry Finney (.179, 1), who hasn't hit or fielded well in limited play. In the minors there's former 24th Rounder Frank Frady (.115, 3), who has appeared in parts of four seasons for Toronto, and is a member of the 40-man roster, and the light hitting, not-very-great defender Jim Owens, who at 27 has yet to have his contract selected. With little depth here, this could open the door for Joe DeMott (.222, 1), who came from Chicago in the Artuso trade and needs to be placed on the Wolves extended roster. Regardless of who they pick, the replacement won't be able to match Artuso's reliable and impressive defense, but they could find an offensive upgrade to finish the year out. No sign from the front office that a tear down is in order, but I have to imagine Hal Wood (.340, 3, 48), who just picked up his 1,000th hit, and Chink Stickels (.242, 2, 20) will get some interest from rival teams, while rotation members George Garrison (7-6, 3.23, 75), Joe Hancock (6-6, 3.82, 39), and Jim Morrison (9-4, 3.44, 45) may appeal to a pitching needy team like the Gothams. Any trade made wouldn't impact this series, but I'd wager the next time they come to town, the roster will look a little different. We really need to take advantage of this series, and we're oh so lucky to face the three worst teams at home in our first full week back. This series does end our homestand, and I'm really hoping we'll be within five games of the Foresters when its all finished. Especially with them on the road against the Kings (41-45), Saints (43-43, and Stars (47-41). We're now at the point where we can't afford a bad week, and will need to win more then we lose each time out.

Minor League Report
3B Al Clement (AAA Milwaukee Blues): One of our most productive hitters in the farm this season, former 2nd Rounder Al Clement took home another Player of the Week, going 11-for-23 with 3 doubles, 2 triples, a homer, 2 walks, 4 runs, and 4 RBIs. This has upped his season line to an impressive .291/.384/.502 (130 OPS+), a far cry from the .248/.322/.292 (61 OPS+) he posted in 46 games with the Blues last year. He's played a brilliant all-around game at the plate, adding 15 doubles, 7 triples, 9 homers, and 36 RBIs with more walks (40) then strikeouts (36), and is on pace for nearly 4 WAR in 126 games. Now 24, Clement has really turned the corner, and seems destined for his major league debut this September. He's set himself up well for an audition for a bench spot, even in a very crowded infield pitcher. His remaining option year may work against him, but that level of offense is hard to ignore. He doesn't have the lofty upside he once had, but Clement looks like a decent bat first utility infielder who could hit his way into a starting spot. I don't think that's with us, but if injuries become an issue, he could force his way into our future plans.

1B Cal Rice (AA Mobile Commodores): I totally forgot that I promoted Cal Rice to AA before the hiatus, but he quickly reminded me that not only did it happen, but it was clearly the place he should be. The 21-year-old hit a whopping .556/.636/.944 (310 OPS+) with a double, 2 homers, 5 RBIs, 3 runs, and 4 walks. This five game sample netted him 0.7 WAR, just two tenths shy of what he was worth in 75 games with the Legislators before the promotion. The 21-year-old currently ranks within the top 20 prospects in our system, listed 15th between recently drafted pitchers Buster Clark and Wilson McKinney, while securing the 140th spot in the league wide rankings. He's also our highest ranked first basemen prospect, and the former 10th Rounder has really come into his own the last few years. Rice lacks the power most first basemen prospects have, but he has eight homers between the two levels and is two away from his previous season high of ten back in 1946 with the Lions. But with a solid, 6'3'' frame, Dixie Marsh expects him to eventually unlock the power, while complimenting his plate discipline. Rice has struck out more then he walked at each stop so far, but he should end up having similar totals for both. With Red Bond entrenched at first, there's no rush to get Cal up quickly, which should allow him time to build up strength and hone in on his approach at the plate. He's far from a star, but he has the tools to be an average big leaguer, and although first base is a deep position, he has the chance to carve out a solid career for himself.