[ayaghmour2]

September 16th, 1903: A rare September trade saw Brooklyn pick up RHP Gye-hyun Yoon and RHP Geroge Kruse from Milwaukee for LF Leo Melendez and LF Jaime Angelone. Yoon was the only guy who had to pass waivers.

With Grand Rapids being eliminated from the playoffs, I brought up a bunch of players. Joining the active roster would be Felix Pena, Jose Trejo, Danny Waltz, Jonathan Hyde, and Joe Stoner. Our 40 man sits at 37 of 40 and the active roster at 34. Dave Pater is stuck on the DL in Grand Rapids while Mike Legg and Tobias Laranjeira are on the 10-Day DL. Vince Brown, Ernie Morris, and Carlos Sandate are all on the 60-Day DL and won't return, so I may pick up three more players later. Some possibilities are top prospect Jorge Montalvo, the recently acquired LF Pedro Mendosa, lefty Bryan Sepe, and a ton of other minor league signings of veteran hitters.

We opened a three game set against the Washington Wildcats with Cody Hall (11-7, 3.91 ERA, 1.25 WHIP) facing ace Marcos Hernandez (19-8, 2.73 ERA, 1.16 WHIP) who's dominated us all season long. Only Jorge Rancier has more then 5 at bats against him and an average over .200. We put up runs on him, but needed extra innings after it was all tied at 5. Gus Leyva hit a two run shot off Juan de Loera, and we dropped the opener 7-5 in 12.

Hall went 5 with 5 hits, 4 runs (2 earned...), 4 walks, and 5 strikeouts. Pat Peters allowed 3 hits and a run with a strikeout in 2 innings. de Loera allwoed 2 runs with a hit and walk in an inning.

Jesus Camargo was 2-for-6 with a solo homer. Giobbe Capuana was 1-for-6 with a solo homer. Danny Sanchez was 1-for-3 with a walk and run scored. Jorge Rancier was 1-for-4 with a run scored. Josh Stevens had a pinch hit two run homer in the 5th.

September 17th, 1903: We looked to even the series back up with Nate McCue (16-11, 4.40 ERA, 1.20 WHIP) facing Jose Gonzalez (11-9, 3.55 ERA, 1.24 WHIP). It was a close one all throughout, and we edged the visitors 4-3.

McCue went 8 with 8 hits, 3 runs, a walk, and 9 strikeouts. Simon Ellingson got the save, a walk and 2 strikeouts in the 9th.

Justin Arrington was 2-for-4 with 2 runs and a solo homer. Josh Stevens was 2-for-4. Damian Salcido was 1-for-3 with a walk and two-run double. McCue was 1-for-3 with a double.

We got a little help from the Red Hawks as Mike Gardenhire tossed a 4-hit shutout in a 3-0 win over the Rebels.

September 18th, 1903: Before the finale, I purchased the contract of 2B Bobby Smarsh from Class B St. Joseph to give me an extra infielder off the bench. I acquired the 24-year-old from St. Louis in June, and the former 1st Rounder hit .314/.363/.452 with 3 homers and 34 RBI's in 60 games with the Blowfish. He can fill in at second, third, and short, and he's a pretty solid baserunner who never strikes out.

He would be available off the bench as Josh Fisher (4-1, 3.69 ERA, 1.23 WHIP) took on Willis Salinas (12-6, 4.59 ERA, 1.46 WHIP) in the rubber match. Tied at 5 in the 8th, we got three in the bottom half and finished the series with an 8-5 win.

Fisher went 6 with 8 hits, 5 runs, 3 walks, and 3 strikeouts. Tyler Bienvenu picked up the win and Simon Ellingson got the save. The former needed just 4 pitches in a perfect 8th and Ellingson struck out 2 and allowed just 1 hit in the 9th.

Juan Vela had a big game, 2-for-3 with 3 runs, 3 RBI's, a walk, and 2 homers. Justin arrington was 2-for-4 with 2 runs, a double, and his 28th steal of the season. Rich Bennett was 2-for-4 with 2 doubles and 3 RBI's. Keith Mundt was 1-for-3 with a walk and solo homer. Jesus Camargo was 1-for-4 with a double and RBI.

We'll stay home for a four game set against the first place Lightning. At 105-44, they are 21 games behind us and the Rebels. We'll face the now beatable Jim McNiff (17-3, 1.90 ERA), Eddie Long (15-9, 3.63 ERA), Mike Wilson (11-2, 3.14 ERA), and Bobby Brosius (12-4, 3.33 ERA). Only Wilson is a righty, the rest really tough lefties.

September 19th, 1903: The Cincinnati Red Hawks have been eliminated from the postseason. At 68-80, they are 36.5 games out of first and 15.5 out of second.

The opener saw a pair of former high draft picks Jim McNiff (17-3, 1.90 ERA, 0.85 WHIP) and D.J. Ruhnke (15-9, 3.68 ERA, 1.20 WHIP). Both are lefties and both are on fire. Smarsh would make his debut, batting 6th and playing third. His first big league at bat was an RBI single off McNiff, as we shocked the Lightning 4-1 in the opeenr.

Ruhnke outdueled McNiff, 7 srong with 3 hits, a run, walk, and 10 strikeouts. Bienvenu picked up the hold and Ben Follmar earned his 3rd save of the season.

Damian Salcido was 3-for-4 with 2 doubles, 2 runs, and a solo homer. Bobby Smarsh was 2-for-4 with an RBI. Jim Raines was 1-for-3 with a walk and solo homer. Jesus Camargo was 1-for-3 with a walk, double, and RBI. Muhan Yakin was 1-for-4 with a double and run scored.

September 20th, 1903: The Philadelphia Freedom clinched the first playoff spot in the NL. At 92-58, they have a slim 2 game lead over the Brooklyn Bearcats.

We looked to keep up the momentum and win our 4th straight with Jason Campbell (12-13, 3.90 ERA, 1.14 WHIP) looking to stay hot against fellow southpaw Eddie Long (15-9, 3.63 ERA, 1.11 WHIP). Tied at 2 in the 8th, Danny Sanchez hit a three run homer of Jay Williams, and we took another, 5-2!

Campbell got a no decision, 7 innings with 4 hits, 2 runs, 4 walks, and 10 strikeouts. Juan Barajas picked up the win, an inning with a hit and strikeout. Bienvenu recorded the save, just a hit in a scorless 9th.

Smarsh continued to hit his former team, this time going 3-for-4 while batting leadoff and playing second. Josh Stevens was 2-for-4 with 2 runs and a solo homer. Kab-shik Min was 3-for-4 with a triple and RBI. Sanchez was 1-for-3 with a walk and the big homer.

Cleveland lefty Sal Lopez tossed a 6-hit shutout in a 7-0 win over Philly.

September 21st, 1903: Washington 3B Cody Lowrie and Brooklyn CF C.J. Blackburn were named Players of the Week.

We remained 3rd in the Power Rankings. At 86-65, we are 19 out of first, but have a small 1 game lead over New York.

The Wildcats will miss the playoffs while the Bearcats will make the playoffs. Washington is 74-77 and 12 games behind us for 2nd. Brooklyn is 91-60 and now just 1 behind the Freedom.

As shocking as it may seem, we had a chance to win the series today, with Cody Hall (11-7, 3.91 ERA, 1.26 WHIP) taking on Mike Wilson (11-2, 3.14 ERA, 1.06 WHIP). It was another close one, but we were topped 4-3.

Hall went 5 with 7 hits, 4 runs (1 earned...), 2 walks, and 9 strikeouts.

So yeah, both of Hall's starts should've been wins, but errors killed us...

Jesus Camargo was 1-for-4 with a solo homer. Josh Stevens had a pinch-hit two run homer in the 9th. Rich Bennett was 1-for-3 with a double.

In his first year with Brooklyn, SP Jerry Smith broke Noel Kessler, Mike Miller, and Jose Mejia's record for most wins in a season with 26.

Kessler, who pitches for the Freedom, won 25 games 3 years ago in 1900 where he was 25-9 with a 2.42 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and 200 strikeouts in 36 starts. This year, the former 7th Overall pick is 14-9 with a 4.16 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, and 161 strikeouts in 203.1 innings.

Miller, who retiered in 1889 and spent his whole career with New York, won 25 in 1882. The first ballot Hall of Famer (97.7%) was 25-4 with a 2.22 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, and 292 strikeouts in what wasn't even close to the best year of his career. In 464 career games, he was 210-111 with a 2.91 ERA and 0.99 WHIP with 3,535 strikeouts in 3,021.1 innings.

Mejia, who retired last season, won 25 in his second full season in 1890. It was one of his four consecutive good seasons, where he was 25-3 with a 2.83 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and 22 strikeouts. He finished his career 105-56 with a 3.84 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, and 1,268 strikeouts in 1,483.2 innings.

In 34 starts, Smith is 26-5 with a 2.96 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, and 223 strikeouts.

September 22nd, 1903: We looked to win this tough four game set with Nate McCue (17-11, 4.37 ERA, 1.19 WHIP) facing Bobby Brosius (12-4, 3.33 ERA, 1.28 WHIP). We couldn't finish, and were shut out 8-0.

McCue went 8 with 10 hits, 6 runs, 3 walks, and 7 strikeouts. Jonathan Hyde allowed 2 hits and 2 runs with a walk in the 9th.

We only managed 4 hits. Giobbe Capuana was 2-for-4. Justin Arrington was 1-for-4 with a double. Jim Raines was 1-for-4.

We'll hit the road for three with New Orleans to face the 64-89 Cajuns who sit 43 out of first and 22 behind us. We'll see former Charger Jesse Salvetti (9-6, 5.80 ERA), Francisco Marquez (0-0, 2.70 ERA), and Steve Hudson (8-11, 5.52 ERA).