The American Baseball League

[gehrig38]

• RECORD: 5-2
• STANDINGS: 55-17 +15.5
• RUNS SCORED: 451 (1st)
• OPS: .841 (1st)
• RUNS AGAINST: 257 (1st)
• DEFENSIVE EFF: .688 (3rd)
• SP ERA: 3.56 (1st)
• BULLPEN ERA: 2.17 (1st)
• OWNERS MOOD: Ecstatic
• FAN INTEREST: 99!
• POWER RANKINGS: 1st

THIS WEEK: 2-1 @ Providence (39-27) 3-0 vs Ft Worth (38-27) 0-1 @ Las Vegas (33-33)

6/13: PRO 5 AUS 4 (11) Peet (PRO) 5-5 2B (11) HR (9) R 3 RBI (34) Nolasco 2-5 HR (11) R 2 RBI (39) Collins ND 6 IP 9 H 6 K 3 ER
6/14: AUS 9 PRO 3 Tighe 3-5 HR (5) 2 R 3 RBI (28) Dziedzic HR (11) 3 RBI (49) Nolasco HR (12) 2 R RBI (40) SB (9) Forney (W) 6 IP 6 H 6 K 3 ER (9-0 2.71) Whittaker (PRO) (L) 3.2 IP 6 H 5 ER
6/15: AUS 13 PRO 9 Lach ND 6.2 IP 7 H & k 2 HR 7 ER 3-1 after 6. Providence scores 7 times in the 7th Austin scores 10 runs over last 2 innings. Archer 2-5 HR (14) 2 R 3 RBI (70) Reyes PH 2 R HR off Chris Haske (6) 2 RBI (23)
6/16: AUS 3 FW 0 Behrens (W) 7 IP 3 H 9 K 105 pitches Laskey SV (19) Orozco HR (12) R RBI (41)
6/17: AUS 6 FW 3 Steele (W) 8 IP 6 H 11 K 3 ER (7-1 3.24) Laskey SV (20) Adrian 2-3 2B (16) 2 R 2 RBI (50) SB (29) Nolasco 2-4 2 2B (17) 3 RBI (43)
6/18: AUS 10 FW 1 Collins (W) 7 IP 6 H 10 K 5 BB 1 ER (8-1 2.71) Tighe 1-4 BB 2B (12) 3 R RBI (30) Adrian 2-5 2B (17) SB (30) 2 R 2 RBI (52) Archer 2-5 2B (21) HR (15) 2 R 4 RBI (75)
6/19: LV 8 AUS 7 Phillips 2R walk off HR off Scott BS (1) 4-1 1.19 Adrian 3-5 HR (11) 3 R RBI (53) SB (31) Dziedzic 3-5 2B (26) 2 R 2 RBI (53) Nolasco 4-5 2 2B (19) R 2 RBI (45) McLaughlin 3-4

NEXT WEEK: 2 @ Las Vegas (38-35) 4 @ San Antonio (34-38) 1 vs Dallas (40-33)

ABL HAPPENINGS:
6/13:

• Danny Sanchez (SF) scatters 8 hits striking out 8 in a 2-0 win over Pittsburgh.

6/15:

• 37-year-old Steve Foreman (SJ) threw a 1-hitter to bet San Diego 3-0 and win his 1st game of the year.

6/16:

• Juan Rio (NYE) moved to 5-6 4.57 after punching out 5 and going the distance on a 4-hitter to beat Buffalo 7-0
• Xie-li Au-Yong (SF) fanned 15 LA Storm hitters in a 7-2 CG win. He's 6-4 2.79 in the 2nd year of his huge FA deal.

6/17:

• 2B Matt Barlow (PHX) went 3-5 hitting 3 HR's and driving in 4 in an 8-3 win over Mexico.

6/18:

• Pittsburgh learned veteran OF Tom Anderson will miss at least 6 weeks with a knee issue that has been hampering him all year. The 36-year-old is hitting .291-8-22 after a career-best 28 HR season last year.
• 34 year old OF Decker Blue (LEX) hit his 400th career HR in a 12-4 win over Green Bay. He's a career .310 hitter with 2158 hits and 1136 RBI's and it appears he's a Hall of Famer as well. He's been a nightmare for Austin.

6/19:

• Chicago sent veteran RP JD Murray to New England for 23-year old P Paul Myers.

6/20:

• New England learned that 27-year-old SP Cory Kleve will miss the remainder of the 2016 season with radial nerve damage in his left arm. Kleve was 15-5 3.06 last year and just 1-2 5.20 this season.

RUSTLER NEWS:
6/13:

• 1st rounder Matt Hicks (33rd overall) signed his contract and reported to Ft Wayne

PATRIOT LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Matt Barlow 2B (PHX) 12-27 3 HR 8 RBI
COLONIAL LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Larry Peet 3B (PRO) 15-25 2 HR 4 RBI

[gehrig38]

EXPANSION STORIES

• In 2013 the ABL announced the expansion of the league by 2 teams. The Las Vegas 51's and the Green Bay Blizzard.
• In the 2+ seasons since their inception, it appears the two are on divergent paths.
• Las Vegas went 64-98 in 2014, and then 62-100 in 2015. This season the 51's are leading their division at 38-35 and their system is ranked 4th overall with the games #5 (P Jim Dover) and #6 (LF Wally Williams) ranked prospects.
• Green Bay went 59-103 in 2014, followed by 72-90 in 2015 and they are struggling in 2016 at 25-47.
• They have the league's 6th ranked system while owning the game's #1 overall prospect in P John Halphen who was selected in 2015 and is now fronting the Blizzard rotation at the ripe old age of 19. he's 2-3 3.38 in 7 starts over 40 IP.
• Both clubs have just 3 ranked prospects in the league's top 200.
• Vegas is hitting (.266 AVG which ranks 4th) but not scoring (310 runs 13th overall) but their SP is 3rd in the PL at 3.80 while their 'pen is dead last at 5.72. They are desperate for arms as their closer Matt Eilers 20 SV 3.03 is the only regular with an ERA under 5.
• Green Bay signed FA Cameron Mears to a huge deal this winter and he's the hard-luck guy this season as he's 3-8 with a very good 3.50 ERA. Their offense is putrid, ranking dead last in every category except HR (13th) and stolen bases (12th) while they too are getting good SP (4.07 5th) but their pen is struggling as well (4.35 10th)

[gehrig38]

• RECORD: 3-4
• STANDINGS: 58-21 +15
• RUNS SCORED: 489 (1st)
• OPS: .836 (1st)
• RUNS AGAINST: 294 (t-1st)
• DEFENSIVE EFF: .690 (2nd)
• SP ERA: 3.65 (2nd)
• BULLPEN ERA: 2.48 (1st)
• OWNERS MOOD: Ecstatic
• FAN INTEREST: 98
• POWER RANKINGS: 1st

THIS WEEK: 2-0 @ Las Vegas (38-35) 1-3 @ San Antonio (34-38) 0-1 vs Dallas (40-33)

6/20: AUS 5 LV 3 Lach (W) 8 IP 5 H 6 K 1 ER (4-2 4.72) Laskey SV (21) Adrian 3-4 HR (12) 3 R RBI (54) 2 SB (33) Nolasco 4-5 2B (20) R RBI (46)
6/21: AUS 5 LV 2 Behrens (W) 7.1 IP 6 H 6 K 2 ER 1-3 (7-4 3.50) Laskey SV (22) Adrian 3-5 2B (18) HR (13) 3 R 2 RBI (56) Archer 3 RBI (78)
6/22: SAN 4 AUS 1 Steele (L) 6 IP 3 H 4 BB 8 K 4 ER (7-2 3.44) Dorsey (SAN) (W) 8 IP 7 K 1 ER Roth SV (17) Tighe HR (6) R RBI (31)
6/23: AUS 9 SAN 3 Reyes 4-4 BB 2 2B (11) 2 R 3 RBI (26) SB (14) Comerford 3-5 2 2B (15) 2 R Collins CG 3 H 4 BB 8 K 3 ER 2-5 2B (2) 2 R 2 RBI (9-1 2.74)
6/24: SAN 7 AUS 4 Forney (L) 6 ER 3.2 IP (9-1 3.29) Sullivan (SAN) (W) 8 IP 3 ER (5-9 5.57) Roth SV (18) Adrian 3-4 2 HR (15) 3 R 2 RBI (58) SB (35) Jones (SAN) HR (17) 2 RBI (49)
6/25: SAN 9 AUS 8 (11) Laskey BS (2) 2 ER 1 IP (0.99 ERA) Reyes 2-4 2 HR (8) 3 R 3 RBI (29) BB Jones (SAN) GS (18) 4 RBI (53)
6/26: DAL 9 AUS 6 (10) Laskey BS (3) 5 ER 1.1 IP 3 H 3 BB HR (3-1 2.15) 6-3 lead into the 9th. 3 run 9th and 10th for Dallas. McGuire 3-4 R RBI (19) Archer HR (16) R 2 RBI (81) Hansen (SAN) 3-5 2 2B (10) game tying HR in the 9th (5) 2 R 4 RBI (14)

NEXT WEEK: 2 vs Dallas (43-36) OFF DAY 3 vs Charlotte (42-36) OFF DAY

ABL HAPPENINGS:
6/20:

• Aaron Hill (NYE) went 3-3 and slammed 3 HRs in the Empire's 9-8 loss to Philadelphia. The 23-year-old drove in 5.
• Brendon Biernacki (BUF) continued his dominant season by beating former Rustler Tashfin Sassi (NYP) with a CG 5-hit 8 K shutout in their 5-0 win. He's 10-4 2.62 with a league-leading 203 K's in 138 IP.

6/24:

• Tomohiro Masuda (LEX) struck out 11 walking 0 and allowed 5 hits in the Rebels 2-0 win over Charlotte. Masuda is 6-5 3.42. Charlotte manager and 3-time world champion 3B David Lowery abruptly retired after the game.

6/25:

• San Francisco signed RP Fred Barr to a 1 year 580K contract

6/26:

• Jake Byers (PRO) fanned 17 Lexington Rebels in winning his 7th game (7-3 5.22) 4-1.

RUSTLER NEWS:
6/27:

• Recently signed 1st rounder Matt Hicks took home rookie league PotW honors going 14-28 3 HR 13 RBI through the club's first 7 games.
• At AAA Warren OF Nate Rizzo went 14-28 also, drilling 2 HR's and driving in 8 to take home AAA PotW honors.

PATRIOT LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Joel Moss (PHI) 10-22 2 HR 7 RBI
COLONIAL LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Andy Adrian (AUS) 14-26 4 HR 8 RBI

[gehrig38]

• RECORD: 3-2
• STANDINGS: 61-23 +15
• RUNS SCORED: 510 (1st)
• OPS: .832 (1st)
• RUNS AGAINST: 307 (1st)
• DEFENSIVE EFF: .692 (2nd)
• SP ERA: 3.61 (2nd)
• BULLPEN ERA: 2.39 (1st)
• OWNERS MOOD: Ecstatic
• FAN INTEREST: 96
• POWER RANKINGS: 1st

THIS WEEK: 0-2 vs Dallas (43-36) OFF DAY 3-0 vs Charlotte (42-36) OFF DAY

6/27: DAL 6 AUS 5 Steele ND 3.2 IP 8 H 5 ER Tighe 3-4 2 2B (15) 3B (4) 2 R RBI (33) Adrian 2-4 2B (21) 2 RBI (63) SB (37) Reyes HR (9) 2 RBI (31)
6/28: DAL 4 AUS 2 Collins CG 6 H 8 K 4 BB 3 ER (9-2 2.76) Hanna 2-3 2B (6) HR (4) R BB 2 RBI E (1) Jaeger (DAL) (W) 8 IP 5 H 2 K 2 BB 2 ER (5-7 3.57) Clarke (DAL) SV (17)
6/29: OFF DAY
6/30: RAINOUT
7/1: DH

• G1: AUS 4 CHA 0 Forney (W) 7 IP 1 H 11 K 4 BB 118 Pitches (10-1 3.09)Archer 3-4 2B (23) R RBI (82) Adrian 2 SB (39) 2 R
• G2: AUS 4 CHA 1 Lach (W) 8 IP 5 H 10 K 0 BB 1 ER (5-2 4.66) Laskey SV (23) Scheffler (CHA) CG 5 H 7 K 3 ER (6-8 3.89) Archer 2-3 2 HR (18) 2 R 3 RBI (85)

7/2: AUS 6 CHA 2 Behrens (W) 6.1 IP 7 H 9 K 2 ER (8-4 3.44) Laskey SV (24) Reyes HR (10) 2 R RBI (33) Archer 0-0 4 BB Nolasco 2-3 2B (22) R RBI (49) Adriani HR (3) R RBI (14)
7/3: OFF DAY


NEXT WEEK: 3 @ Memphis (36-49) 3 @ Dallas (47-39) ALL-STAR BREAK

ABL HAPPENINGS:
6/27:

• Xie-li Au-Yong (SF) whiffed 9 in a 6-hit CG SHO of Baltimore as the Bears destroyed the Blackbirds 11-0.

6/30:

• Lexington learned they will be without 29-year-old 1B Alonzo Rodriguez for at least the next 6-7 weeks after he suffered a severe concussion. Rodriguez was in the middle of their lineup hitting .284-10-41. The Rebels have moved LF Decker Blue to 1B and former Rustler Steve Bradbury is taking over everyday duties in LF.

6/30:

• Kenny Fairweather (MEX) ran his record to .500 (6-6 4.86) with a 4-hit CG SHO of Philadelphia. He struck out 9 and walked just 1.

7/1:

• Chicago routed San Francisco 18-6 and RF Marc England (CHI) went 5-7 3 RBI in the win.

7/2:

• Fort Worth lost C Mike Guzman for the year after he was HBP and suffered a broken elbow. Guzman was hitting .329 in 79 AB's.

7/3:

• Montreal beat Mexico 17-11 and Paragon CF Francisco Pinela went 6-6 and drove in 3.

7/4:

• Detroit signed RP Roy Fearon to a 1 year 1.3m dollar deal. The 33-year-old was the Rolaids winner in 2013 with 43 Saves.

RUSTLER NEWS:
6/28:

• Devastating news from AAA Warren.. 25 year old P prospect Tristan Hutchins tore his rotator cuff and will be out for a year and a half. Hutchins was acquired from the Punishers in 2014 for SP Sung-hyun Lee and at one point was the #3 prospect in the ABL. He was 5-4 4.18 in 84 IP at Warren with 90 Ks. Could potentially be a CEI.

7/1:

• We have a few contracts for ML coaches running out and with the exception of Warren, we are going to let them expire. As you can see our A and AA teams are abysmal and have been for a few years now. We need to gut the system and get fresh blood in.
• But a peek at the top prospects see us down to the 3rd ranked org. with 12 players ranked in the top 200, including 3 in the top 50.
• Feliciano and Gallo are ready to take their spots but there's a logjam. Gallo has actually struggled this year and was just recently demoted to AA Modesto.

7/3:

• Xavier Feliciano went 1-2 with a 2B and Ben Gallo hit a HR while Alex Arregui went 4 IP 5 K 0 R for the SV as the Colonial Futures team hammered the PL 10-3.

7/4:

• Omar Ramos LF (A) went 16-29 3 HR 8 RBI 8 R to win (A) PotW
• Aubrey Fitzpatrick LF (SA) went 13-25 3 HR 11 RBI 9 R to win (SA) PotW

PATRIOT LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Chris Towers RF (SJ) 12-22 2 HR 12 RBI
COLONIAL LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Matt Giles 1B (NYE) 13-23 2 HR 10 RBI

RUSTLER PLAYER OF THE MONTH: Andy Adrian CF (AUS) .398-6-26 30 R .443 OBP 17-17 SB
RUSTLER PITCHER OF THE MONTH: Tim Collins (AUS) 2-2 3.13 37.1 IP 39 K 31 H .221 OPP AVG
RUSTLER MiL PLAYER OF THE MONTH: Cody McNutt RF (A) .275/.455/.582 8 HR 19 RBI 18 R
RUSTLER MiL PITCHER OF THE MONTH: Jake Pierce (AAA) 1-1 1.77 35.2 IP 34 K .172 OPP AVG 1.01 WHIP

PATRIOT LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE MONTH: Aaron Hancock LF (NYP) .356-13-21 20 R
COLONIAL LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE MONTH: Andy Adrian CF (AUS) .398-6-26 30 R .443 OBP 17-17 SB
PATRIOT LEAGUE PITCHER OF THE MONTH: Mike Gilmore (BRK) 5-0 1.13 39.2 IP 53 K
COLONIAL LEAGUE PITCHER OF THE MONTH: Josh Roth (SAN) 2-0 8 SV 0.00 ERA 19 K 16 IP
PATRIOT LEAGUE ROOKIE OF THE MONTH: Eric Villalpando 1B (PHI) .280-6-14 16 R 9 2B
COLONIAL LEAGUE ROOKIE OF THE MONTH: Bobby McDermott (NYE) 2-1 8 SV

[gehrig38]

• RECORD: 4-2
• STANDINGS: 65-25 +14.5
• RUNS SCORED: 545 (1st)
• OPS: .835 (1st)
• RUNS AGAINST: 326 (1st)
• DEFENSIVE EFF: .692 (3rd)
• SP ERA: 3.56 (2nd)
• BULLPEN ERA: 2.44 (1st)
• OWNERS MOOD: Ecstatic
• FAN INTEREST: 95
• POWER RANKINGS: 1st

THIS WEEK: 3-0 @ Memphis (36-49) 1-2 @ Dallas (47-39) ALL-STAR BREAK

7/4: AUS 9 MEM 5 Steele (W) 6 IP 6 H 8 K 1 ER (8-2 3.66) Dziedzic 2-3 BB HR (12) 3 R 2 RBI (62) Nolasco 0-1 2 R 4 BB McLaughlin 2B (11) 4 RBI (11)
7/5: AUS 7 MEM 1 Collins (W) 8 IP 4 H 5 BB 10 K 1 ER (10-2 2.64) 1-3 2B (3) R RBI (5) Adrian 4-5 HR (16) 2 R RBI (64) CS (4) Archer 2B (25) HR (19) R RBI (86) Dziedzic HR (13) 2 RBI (64) Hanna PH HR (5)
7/6: AUS 3 MEM 1 Forney (W) 3 H 14 K 8 IP 1 ER (11-1 2.97) Laskey SV (25) Dziedzic HR (14) 2 RBI (66)
7/7: AUS 9 DAL 1 Lach (W) 7 IP 7 K 3 H 1 ER (6-2 4.43) Adrian 3-5 3 R RBI (65) 2 SB (43) Nolasco 3-5 2 2B (24) HR (13) 2 R 4 RBI (53) Comerford 2B (20) HR (12) R 2 RBI (35)
7/8: DAL 6 AUS 3 Behrens (L) 4 IP 5 H 5 R 3 ER (8-5 3.58) Jaeger (DAL) (W) 8 IP 3 H 3 ER (6-7 3.79) Clarke (DAL) SV (18) Adrian HR (18) 2 RBI (67) Hanna PH 3B
7/9: DAL 5 AUS 4 Steele (L) 5 IP 7 H 4 K 5 ER (8-3 3.94) Nolasco 3-5 2B (25) R RBI (54)
7/10: ALL-STAR BREAK

NEXT WEEK: ALL-STAR BREAK 3 @ San Antonio (43-47) OFF DAY

ABL HAPPENINGS:
7/4:

• Dakota Eddleman (BRK) tossed a CG SHO beating San Francisco 7-0 on a 3-hitter. He's 10-5 3.06

7/5:

• Green Bay lost SP Matt Creason for the remainder of the year. The 31-year old suffered a shoulder injury, details were not released.
• Charlie Angwin (SD) was diagnosed with a torn labrum and the 33-year-old CF will miss the rest of 2016. Angwin was coming off a career-high 35 HR season last year.
• Montreal signed 33-year-old Closer Dusty Pink to a 1 year 580K FA contract. Pink's career year was 2014 when he saved 47 games for Baltimore.
• Brendon Biernacki (BUF) tossed the following line today. 9 IP 18 K 4 H and 1 ER, and lost.... Cameron Mears went 9 and tossed a 2-hitter fanning 13 to beat Biernacki 1-0. Biernacki fell to 10-6 2.91 while Mears went to 5-9 3.67.
• Biernacki's 229 K's has him on pace for 408 K's. Tomohiro Masuda holds the single-season record of 426. Masuda has the top 3 single-season totals ever at 426, 390, and 388 with Josh Viens at 358 and 357.

7/7:

• Isaias Kikkert (LA) went 3-6 in an 8-7 loss to San Jose despite him hitting 3 solo HRs.

7/9:

• Montreal learned star OF Matt Foley would miss 3-4 weeks after suffering a grade 2 strain of his groin. The 33-year-old was having his best year yet hitting .345-18-66 for Montreal who trails the 1st place Blackbirds by 1 game in the PL's Harbor Division.

7/10:

• San Francisco lost RP David Sharp for the remainder of the season to a torn flexor tendon.

7/11:

• Dallas signed 31-year-old RP Darryl Basket to a 1 year 620K contract.

RUSTLER NEWS:
7/5:

• Signed Int'l FA SP Rafael Medina with a bonus of 975K
• Signed Int'l FA OF Mikinori Shimoda with a bonus of 990K

7/10:

• Star CF Andy Adrian became the 1st player in Austin Rustler history to garner the most votes in the fan balloting for the ABL All-Star game. The 24-year-old netted 3.38 million votes to edge the PL's Ben Davis who finished with 3.18 million. Rustlers Nick Archer (2.88m) Joe Tighe (3.05m) were also voted in as starters. Dave Nolasco (2.77m) lost by less than 2k votes to Providence star Chris Whitten in RF. Steve Forney (1.83m) Tim Collins (1.82m) and Ranan Laskey (1.00m) finished 2nd, 3rd, and 5th in the SP and RP categories.
• 8 Rustlers named were the most by any one team. Rookie Tommy Dziedzic makes his 1st of what I think will be many All-Star game appearances. Only 1 ex-Rustler, Aaron Chisholm makes this year's roster.

PATRIOT LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Eddie Ridley 1B (DET) 11-22 3 HR 9 RBI
COLONIAL LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Chris Whitten RF (PRO) 8-21 4 HR 8 RBI

[gehrig38]

• RECORD: 3-0
• STANDINGS: 68-25 +15
• RUNS SCORED: 568 (1st)
• OPS: .838 (1st)
• RUNS AGAINST: 331 (1st)
• DEFENSIVE EFF: .694 (2nd)
• SP ERA: 3.49 (1st)
• BULLPEN ERA: 2.45 (1st)
• OWNERS MOOD: Ecstatic
• FAN INTEREST: 97 (see news)
• POWER RANKINGS: 1st

THIS WEEK: ALL-STAR BREAK 3-0 @ San Antonio (43-47) OFF DAY

7/11-7/13: ALL-STAR BREAK
7/14: AUS 9 SAN 2 Collins (W) 6 IP 5 H 4 K 1 ER (11-2 2.59) Archer HR (20) R 3 RBI (92) Nolasco 3-5 2B (26) R RBI (55) SB (11) Reyes 2-4 2 2B (14) 2 R 2 RBI (35) McLaughlin 2-4 2B (13) 2 RBI (13) (.354) Benoit (SAN) (L) 2.2 IP 7 ER (11-6 4.02)
7/15: AUS 8 SAN 3 Forney (W) 7 IP 9 K 4 H 2 ER 1-3 RBI (1) (12-1 2.95) Nolasco 3-5 2 HR (15) 2 R 2 RBI (57) Archer 3-4 2 2B (29) R Comerford HR (13) 3 RBI (38)
7/16: AUS 6 SAN 0 Behrens (W) 7.2 IP 11 K 0 BB 4 H (9-5 3.32) Dziedzic 2-4 HR (15) R RBI (69) Nolasco 2-4 2B (27) R RBI (58) SB (12) Adrian 2-4 RBI (71) 2 SB (46)
7/17: OFF DAY


NEXT WEEK: 3 vs Green Bay (39-55) 3 vs Ohio (39-53) 1 @ Philadelphia (45-49)

ABL HAPPENINGS:
7/11:

• Aaron Chisholm beat Brooklyn's Ben Davis 21-10 in the final round to take home the 2016 HR Derby title. Chisholm is hitting .285-23-54 at the break.

7/14:

• Montreal, still a game out, managed to deal for 29-year-old SP Justin Wilson by sending Philadelphia 2 minor league prospects. He's 5-11 5.36 (3 days later he went 8 giving up 1 ER for a win in his 1st start).

7/15:

• Dallas signed RP Ben Ehlers to a 1 year 650K deal. While they are trailing Austin by 15 in the Sam Houston they are the Wild Card leaders by 3.5 over New England and currently have 5 pitchers on the DL with 3 likely out for the year.
• Brendon Biernacki (BUF) followed up his 18 K 1-0 loss to Cameron Mears by fanning 12 and going the distance in a 3-0 win. He allowed 7 hits and walked two and upped his K total to 241. He's 11-6 2.75.
• Jonathan Powell (LA) tossed a 2-hitter and beat San Francisco 4-0.

7/16:

• Montreal's Dennis Russell fanned 15 in a 2-hit CG SHO of Detroit as the Paragons won 8-0.

7/16:

• Green Bay claimed 4x World Champion, 3x Gold glove winner, and every day 2B/SS Dylan Rucker off waivers from the Lexington Rebels. Lexington placed Rucker on waivers to make room for SS Ben Gallo, whom they recalled immediately after acquiring him from Austin, and Green Bay pounced. Rucker has spent his career in Lexington hitting .247/.309/.408 with 102 HR and 144 2B in 807 games. He's 157-195 in SB as well. He brings a winning veteran presence to a team rebuilding.
• Apparently, the Rebels will ease Gallo into their lineup but he did serve notice the same day by homering on the 1st pitch he saw as a Rebel.

RUSTLER NEWS:
7/14:

• 2nd rounder (64th overall) Tim Bingham struck out 4 in a CG 4-hit SHO for Ft Wayne

AUSTIN, LEXINGTON TRADE TOP PROSPECTS
The Austin Rustlers have sent SS Ben Gallo to the Lexington Rebels for SS Mike Davis in a straight 1-1 trade. Both players are ranked, Gallo is the league's 15th rated prospect but was having an abysmal year at AAA Warren (.197/.259/.359 in 243 PA) then hit just .118/.115/.275 after a demotion to AA.
Davis, the game's #2 ranked prospect, was also struggling at AA Keystone (.188/.320/.334 in 346 PA) before the deal.
Gallo was immediately recalled by the Rebels where he hit an HR on the 1st pitch he saw as a PH in the 7th inning. Davis was sent to AA Modesto and was 3-10 with an HR in his first 3 games.

BACKROOM CHATTER
Gallo was absolutely horrid this year. He is going to be a low avg guy anyway, but what he was doing didn't even qualify as “Mendoza” like. I had to sell given the offers after shopping and I jumped all over Davis in the return. Joe Tighe is signed and his GG ability at 2B, 3B, and SS gives me freedom when the prospects develop. With Sam Reyes's health issues and impending FA it's likely I now let him walk and take the compensation pick and depending on Luis Orozco and his opt-out I could have an IF of Feliciano at 3B, Davis at SS with Tighe at 2B opening day next year.

7/16:
RUSTLERS, ADRIAN, AGREE ON EXTENSION
The Austin Rustlers have announced the signing of 2015 CL MVP Andy Adrian to a 7 year 94 million dollar contract extension. The 24-year-old will make 12 million in base salary through 2019 and 13 million with an opt-out after the 2020 season. He will then make 15 million per season through 2023.
The contract includes a no-trade clause, a 750K MVP bonus as well as a 100K all-star bonus for all 7 years.

BACKROOM CHATTER
Probably the best all-around player in the game. Legit 40 HR 75 SB talent with Gold Glove defensive ability. He will say what needs to be said in the clubhouse and he's a leader. He's just 24 years old and this will likely NOT be the last huge deal he gets.
In 464 career games (421 GS) he's got a slash line of .334/.386/.565 with 120 2B 26 3B 79 HR 323 RBI and is 171-205 SB with just 175 K's to 124 BB. He led the league in runs last year (119) and 2B (48) as well as slugging .578 and WAR 9.2. He had 201 hits as well. He's on pace to blow by some of those numbers and if the season ended today he's likely a back-to-back Babe Ruth Award winner. His arbitration number was high 10s, but no need to gamble with a talent like this. He's locked in and creates one more solid piece to a core that will contend for the next 5-10 years. Fan reaction was obviously through the roof.

PATRIOT LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Arthur Vaughn RF (SD) 8-13 HR 7 RBI
COLONIAL LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Dave Nolasco RF (AUS) 8-14 2 HR 4 RBI

[gehrig38]

• RECORD: 5-2
• STANDINGS: 73-27 +14.5
• RUNS SCORED: 594 (1st)
• OPS: .833 (1st)
• RUNS AGAINST: 347 (1st)
• DEFENSIVE EFF: .699 (1st)
• SP ERA: 3..40 (1st)
• BULLPEN ERA: 2.44 (1st)
• OWNERS MOOD: Ecstatic
• FAN INTEREST: 96
• POWER RANKINGS: 1st

THIS WEEK: 2-1 vs Green Bay (39-55) 3-0 vs Ohio (39-53) 0-1 @ Philadelphia (45-49)

7/18: GB 3 AUS 2 Beckers (GB) (W) 8 IP 5 H 1 K 0 BB 2 ER (5-4 3.51) Vance (GB) SV (18) Lach (L) 6 IP 4 H 9 K 4 BB 3 ER (6-3 4.43) Dziedzic HR (16) 2 RBI (71)
7/19: AUS 3 GB 0 Steele (W) 7.1 IP 6 K 5 H 1-3 (9-3 3.66) Laskey SV (26) Tighe 2-4 2 2B (21) 2 R SB (31) Dziedzic HR (17) 2 RBI (73)
7/20: AUS 4 GB 0 Collins CG 10 K 3 H (12-2 2.40) Dziedzic 3-4 2 2B (31) R Nolasco 2-4 HR (16) R 3 RBI (61)
7/21: AUS 3 OH 0 Forney CG 1-hitter 10 K 2 BB (13-1 2.76) Archer 2 RBI (96) Hanna HR (6) RBI (22) 3 straight shutouts.
7/22: AUS 5 OH 3 Archer 3-5 2 2B (33) R RBI (97) Reyes 1-2 3 BB 2 R 3 SB (20) Behrens (W) 6.2 IP 8 H 8 K 3 ER (10-5 3.37) 2-2 2B (1) 3B (1) 2 RBI (6) Laskey SV (27)
7/23: AUS 6 OH 2 Lach CG 13 K 4 H 2 ER (7-3 4.24) Dziedzic 3-4 2 HR (19) 2 R 3 RBI (76)
7/24: PHI 8 AUS 3 Steele (L) 3 HR 6 ER 6 IP (9-4 3.95) Ullrich (PHI) CG 7 H 9 K (4-12 5.15) Reyes 3-4 2 HR (12) 3 R 2 RBI (38) 2 SB (22) Adrian SB (50) Moss (PHI) 3-4 HR (22) 2 R 3 RBI (62)


NEXT WEEK: 2 @ Philadelphia (50-50) 4 vs Ft Worth (51-48) 1 vs Houston (41-60)



ABL HAPPENINGS:
7/19:

• Memphis signed 36-year-old Sung-Hyun Jung in early April and today sent him to San Jose along with P Harry Boyle for 3 prospects. San Jose is in last place but just 4 games out.

7/20:

• Rich Mertz (PIT) won his 10th game (10-5 3.69) by fanning 10 in a 3-hitter to beat San Jose 7-0.

7/21:

• Tim Keen (PHI) out-pitched 2x Koufax winner Jason Keeton (DET) in a 1-0 Philadelphia win. Keen tossed a 2-hitter, walking no one and fanning 6 to go 8-7 4.24 while Keeton tossed a CG allowing 6 hits, walking 5 in the loss to fall to 8-6 2.74. Eric Villalpando's 8th inning 2B plated the games only run.
• Marquis Rush (DAL) went 5-5 in a 8-5 win over Lexington. Rush drilled 2 1B's 2 2B's and a 3B driving in a run.
• Brendon Biernacki (BUF) continued his monster season with yet another powerful performance. The 26-year-old righty fanned 17 Houston hitters in holding them to 5 hits in a 5-2 win and moved to 12-6 2.73 and upped his league-high strikeout total to 258 in just 168.1 IP. He's on pace to strike out 414 hitters in 270 IP. He was a 6th round selection in the 2008 June Draft and prior to a rule change disallowing the trading of players in their 1st professional season Mexico dealt him to Buffalo just 5 months later. He has fanned 10 or more in 17 of 20 starts and 15 or more in 4 starts including his 17 K opening day performance. In his past 3 starts he has thrown 26 innings while fanning 47 hitters and allowing just 16 hits.

7/23:

• Jeff Alexander (PHX) won his 10th game of the year (10-9 4.31) making it the 8th straight season with 10 or more wins. He has not won fewer than 12 games in a full season and has won 14 or more in every season but 1. He's 115-91 3.62 in his 265 career starts.

7/26:

• Danny Hynes (NE) went 5-5 in a 10-6 win over San Francisco

RUSTLER NEWS:
7/25:

• 2014 1st round draft pick (22nd overall) Brad Hathaway took home AAA PotW honors going 12-27 3 HR 7 RBI 7 R

PATRIOT LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Arthur Vaughn RF (SD) 13-24 2 HR 3 RBI 8 R
COLONIAL LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Brian Bauer 2B (NE) 16-31 2 RBI

[gehrig38]

• RECORD: 4-3
• STANDINGS: 77-30 +17
• RUNS SCORED: 629 (1st)
• OPS: .834 (1st)
• RUNS AGAINST: 370 (1st)
• DEFENSIVE EFF: .698 (1st)
• SP ERA: 3.34 (1st)
• BULLPEN ERA: 2.51 (1st)
• OWNERS MOOD: Ecstatic
• FAN INTEREST: 96
• POWER RANKINGS: 1st

THIS WEEK: 1-1 @ Philadelphia (50-50) 3-1 vs Ft Worth (51-48) 0-1 vs Houston (41-60)

7/25: AUS 6 PHI 2 Collins CG 7 H 12 K 2 ER 1-4 2B (4) RBI (16) (13-2 2.38) Reyes 2 R 2 SB (24)
7/26: PHI 5 AUS 4 3 R 8th for 4-1 lead, Scott BS (2) (L) 0 IP 2 H 3 R 0 ER (4-2 1.23) Keen (PHI) (W) 8 IP 6 H 4 ER (9-7 4.26) Baker SV (22) Archer 2-4 HR (21) R 3 RBI (101) Nolasco HR (17) RBI (65) Kerner (PHI) 3-4 2 2B (6) 3 RBI (10)
7/27: FW 5 AUS 4 Behrens ND 7 IP 6 H 8 K 2 ER 1-2 Laskey BS (4) (L) 1 IP 2 H 2 BB 3 ER (3-2 2.64) Nolasco 2-3 2B (28) R 2 BB RBI (66)
7/28: AUS 6 FW 2 Lach (W) 8 IP 9 H 11 K 2 ER (8-3 4.11) Dziedzic 3-4 2 HR (21) 2 R 2 RBI (79) McLaughlin 2-4 R 2 RBI (15) Adrian HR (18) RBI (73)
7/29: AUS 5 FW 2 Steele (W) 8 IP 10 K 2 ER (10-4 3.84) Laskey SV (28) Tighe 4-4 2 2B (24) 2 R BB RBI (40) SB (32) Nolasco 3-4 3B (2) 2 RBI (68) Hanna PH HR (7) RBI (23)
7/30: AUS 6 FW 0 Collins (W) 7.2 IP 13 K 3 BB 4 H 138 pitches (14-2 2.25) Tighe 3-3 2B (25) R SB (33) CS (8) Comerford 2-4 HR (14) R 4 RBI (42)
7/31: HOU 7 AUS 4 Forney (L) 5 IP 6 H 6 K 3 BB 5 ER (13-2 2.95) Nolasco 3-4 HR (18) 2 R RBI (69) Orozco 3-4 2B (22) HR (14) R 2 RBI (52)


NEXT WEEK: 2 vs Houston (46-61) OFF DAY 3 @ Buffalo (53-54) 1 @ Houston (46-61)

ABL HAPPENINGS:
7/24:

• Dakota Eddleman (BRK) tossed his 3rd CG SHO of the season by beating Dallas 6-0 on a 2-hitter. He's 11-6 3.02 on the year.
• Josh Viens (NYP) struck out 15 in the Punishers 3-1 win over San Antonio to even his record at 9-9 4.12. He allowed just 2 hits and walked 1.
• Time Soledad (LV) went the distance in a 4-hitter to beat Charlotte 9-0 and run his record to 8-10 3.97

7/25:

• Frank Glebocki (SJ) struck out 12 Empire hitters and walked 4 in a 7-0 CG SHO
• Jamie Truncellito (LA) went 5-5 homering and driving in 3 in a 10-1 win over Buffalo
• Dallas signed 34 year old RP Ruben Castillo to a 1 yer 660K contract.
• San Jose acquired 34 year old RP Randy Hackett from Pittsburgh for 2 minor league prospects.
• Steve Griggs (LEX) moved to 12-4 2.95 with a 13 K 1-hitter in a 7-0 win over Green Bay. It was just the 5th game score of 95+ (97) this year.
• By the way, the Biernacki vs Mears pitching clinic put on on the 5th of July featured two 90+ game scores. Biernacki's 92 vs Mears 94.
• Tim Soledad (LV) tossed a 3-hitter in an 11-0 win over Denver. He fanned 3 and walked 1.
• John Del Bianco (NE) tossed his 2nd 2-hitter of the year beating Providence 7-0 on 6 K's and 4 walks. He's 11-5 4.51

7/30:

• 22-year-old Mike Gilmore (BRK) threw a 2-hitter to beat cross-town rivals the NY Punishers 8-0 and move to 13-6 2.85.
• Tony Delgado (SF) evened is record at 9-9 4.03 with a 9 K 5-hit CG SHO of his former Los Angeles club.

7/31:

• Mike Benoit (SAN) won his 13th (13-6 3.76) by scattering 8 hits and striking out 6 in the Broncos 8-0 victory over Dallas.
• San Francisco sent 3B Bryan Clukey to Charlotte for 26-year-old RP Larry Held.

8/1:

• Chicago lost CF Marc England for the remainder of the year with a torn meniscus. The 26-year-old was hitting .272-6-41

RUSTLER NEWS:
8/1:

• Brad Hathaway (AAA) took home PotM honors hitting .337 .378 OBP 7 HR 19 RBI 17 R
• Top prospect Xavier Feliciano suffered a severe elbow sprain and will miss at least a month.

PATRIOT LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Wally Williams LF (LV) 9-16 2 HR 8 RBI
COLONIAL LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Abdul-Muta'al Rhodes 1B (NE) 9-16 4 HR 10 RBI

RUSTLER PLAYER OF THE MONTH: Dave Nolasco (AUS) .372-6-22 17 R
RUSTLER PITCHER OF THE MONTH: Tim Collins (AUS) 5-0 0.91 49 K 39.2 IP
RUSTLER MiL PLAYER OF THE MONTH: Ricky Martinez LF (SA) .327/.427/.644 9 HR 32 RBI 27 R 5-7 SB
RUSTLER MiL PITCHER OF THE MONTH: Francisco Castro (AAA) 4-1 2.20 41 IP 34 K .229 OPP AVG

PATRIOT LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE MONTH: Josh Sims (MON) .408-7-20 20 R
COLONIAL LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE MONTH: Dave Nolasco (AUS) .372-6-22 17 R
PATRIOT LEAGUE PITCHER OF THE MONTH: Brett Gerber (MEX) 5-0 1.36 38 K 39.2 IP
COLONIAL LEAGUE PITCHER OF THE MONTH: Tim Collins (AUS) 5-0 0.91 49 K 39.2 IP
PATRIOT LEAGUE ROOKIE OF THE MONTH: Wally Williams (LV) .329-6 2B 2 3B 7 HR 20 RBI 15 R
COLONIAL LEAGUE ROOKIE OF THE MONTH: John Halphen (GB) 4-1 1.42 ERA 55 K 38 IP .163 OPP AVG

[gehrig38]

ABL ERA LEADERS ON THE ROAD

1. Tim Collins (AUS) 1.85
2. David Andrade (SAN) 1.96
3. Mike Benoit (SAN) 2.13
4. Brett Gerber (MEX) 2.16
5. Brendon Biernacki (BUF) 2.23

[gehrig38]

• RECORD: 4-2
• STANDINGS: 81-32 +17.5
• RUNS SCORED: 667 (1st)
• OPS: .830 (1st)
• RUNS AGAINST: 391 (1st)
• DEFENSIVE EFF: .698 (1st)
• SP ERA: 3.36 (1st)
• BULLPEN ERA: 2.52 (1st)
• OWNERS MOOD: Ecstatic
• FAN INTEREST: 96
• POWER RANKINGS: 1st

THIS WEEK: 2-0 vs Houston (46-61) OFF DAY 2-1 @ Buffalo (53-54) 1-0 @ Houston (46-61)

8/1: AUS 12 HOU 1 Behrens CG 6 H 12 K 1 ER 2-3 2 R (11-5 3.16) Adrian 2-5 2B (26) HR (19) 3 R 2 RBI (78) Archer 3-5 3 2B (37) 2 R 5 RBI (107) Andriani 3-4 2B (11) 2 RBI (17) Brill PH HR (2) RBI (9)
8/2: AUS 9 HOU 6 Lach ND 6.2 IP 9 H 3 HR 6 ER 1-2 HR (1) RBI (5) Laskey SV (29) Tighe 2 BB 2 R SB (34) Adrian 2-3 2 2B (28) R RBI (79) Dziedzic 2-4 HR (22) 2 R RBI (82) Orozco HR (15) 2 RBI (54)
8/3: OFF DAY
8/4: BUF 5 AUS 4 (10) Madison (BUF) ND 9 IP 8 H 5 K 2 ER Lytle (L) 2 IP 2 H 1 ER (3-1 1.53) Reyes HR (13) 2 R 2 RBI (40)
8/5: BUF 7 AUS 6 (11) Collins ND 7 IP 11 H 10 K 4 ER Laskey BS (5) HR 2 ER 1 IP Skelly (BUF) 3-5 2B (20) game-tying HR in the 9th (10) 3 RBI (57) Dziedzic 3-5 HR (23) R RBI (83) Nolasco 3-5 HR (19) R 3 RBI (73)
8/6: AUS 3 BUF 2 Forney ND 7.1 IP 3 H 14 K Laskey SV (30) Nolasco 3-4 2 HR (21) 2 R 3 RBI (76) GW HR in the 9th off JR Jones BS (2) Biernacki (BUF) ND 8 IP 3 H 14 K 1 ER
8/7: AUS 4 HOU 0 Behrens (W) 7.1 IP 2 H 12 K (12-5 2.99) Hanna 2-4 RBI (24)

NEXT WEEK: 2 @ Houston (47-66) OFF DAY 3 vs Lexington (63-51) 1 vs Chicago (45-66)

ABL HAPPENINGS:
8/2:

• San Francisco signed 29-year-old RP Kyle Burkes to a 1 year 720K contract. The Bears currently lead the California division by 1 game over San Diego and 2 over San Jose.
• Jeremy Cline (BUF) fanned 17 Black Sox hitters in a 4-2 win. The win puts him at 8-13 5.38

8/6:

• The LA Storm learned that their 2016 #1 pick (9th overall) Dave Whittington will need at least another 8 months to recover from an elbow injury that was at first thought to be something short-term. The 21-year-old missed the last third of the UCLA season but was still taken 9th overall and was expected to be back by mid-August. He has yet to throw a pitch in professional baseball.

PATRIOT LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Jamie Truncellito (LA) 11-21 2 HR 8 RBI
COLONIAL LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Brian Bauer (NE) 10-23 HR 4 RBI 6 R

[gehrig38]

• It was never my intention to try and build a team for the sole purpose of leading everything. But with 2 exceptions, I have. The team is ranked #1 in literally every category both offensively and defensively. A true dynasty in the making I think.
• I am excited to see how long I can maintain this.
• I feel like I need to solidify the mid minors (A and AA) with more talent but I also feel like I have star talent to offset ALMOST any injury.
• Two things that concern me. Blowing late leads (we are 10-15 in 1 run games) and Dallas. They have played the Rustlers very tough and currently are the WC leaders which would mean a 1st round match-up. I know anyone can beat anyone but this team feels like one that could run through a post-season bracket if it falls right. A look at the numbers shows a 43-13 record at home and a .666 win % on the road. 22-8 vs LHP has been made partly because Hanna has been handling LHP for Dziedzic more often than not.
• We've handled LH and RH pitching well.
• This team is built to dominate and to last.
• (The great thing about the game is I can use the budget as a 'balance' tool by adhering strictly to it on a yearly basis which will make parting with some players hard but necessary)

[gehrig38]

• RECORD: 3-3
• STANDINGS: 84-35 +18
• RUNS SCORED: 697 (1st)
• OPS: .824 (1st)
• RUNS AGAINST: 410 (1st)
• DEFENSIVE EFF:
• SP ERA: 3.34 (1st)
• BULLPEN ERA: 2.55 (1st)
• OWNERS MOOD: Ecstatic
• FAN INTEREST: 95
• POWER RANKINGS: 1st

THIS WEEK: 1-1 @ Houston (47-66) OFF DAY 1-2 vs Lexington (63-51) 1-0 vs Chicago (45-66)

8/8: AUS 4 HOU 3 Lach (W) 8 IP 6 H 8 K 2 ER (9-3 4.20) Laskey SV (31) 1 IP HR Adrian 2B (30) HR (20) R RBI (82)
8/9: HOU 6 AUS 5 Steele ND 7 IP 8 H 4 K 3 HR 5 ER Lytle (L) .1 IP 2 H ER (4-2 1.73) Comerford 2-4 HR (15) 2 RBI (44) Pace (HOU) 4-5 2 HR (19) 2 R 5 RBI (70)
8/10: OFF DAY
8/11: AUS 6 LEX 3 Collins (W) 7 IP 10 K 2 ER (15-2 2.39) Scott SV (3) Adrian 2-4 2B SB (53) R 2 RBI (84) Masuda (LEX) (L) 5.2 IP 9 K 6 R 4 ER (7-9 3.71)
8/12: LEX 3 AUS 2 (10) Forney ND 8 IP 11 K 3 H 2 ER Laskey (L) 2 IP 4 K 1 ER (3-3 2.98) Bean (LEX) ND 8 IP 7 H 7 K 2 ER Nolasco 3-4 BB SB (15) Adrian HR (21) 2 RBI (86)
8/13: LEX 2 UAS 0 Shrader (LEX) (W) 7.1 IP 4 H 10 K (14-10 2.93) Guerin SV (26) Behrens (L) 6.2 IP 7 H 8 K 2 ER (12-6 2.98)
8/14: AUS 13 CHI 2 Lach (W) 7 IP 2 H 3 K 2 ER (10-3 4.12) Archer HR (22) 4 RBI (113) Hanna HR (8) 2 RBI (26) Nolasco HR (22) R 2 RBI (80) Orozco 3-4 2B (25) R

NEXT WEEK: 2 vs Chicago (40-69) OFF DAY 3 @ Green Bay (49-69) 1 @ Houston (50-69)

ABL HAPPENINGS:
8/8:

• Juan Rio (NYE) went the distance scattering 10 hits and fanning 15 in a 4-3 win over San Antonio to move to 10-8 4.40
• Fort Worth learned starting C Matt Manning will miss the rest of the year with a herniated disc. Manning was hitting .287-14-48

8/11:

• San Francisco signed FA RP Steve Gifford to a 1 year 680K contract. Gifford was released by Memphis earlier in the month.

8/12:

• Dusty McLaughlin (MEX) struck out 15 in a 6-3 win over the NY Punishers. He's 6-2 2.30

8/15:

• RP Brian Bean signed a 1 year 560K deal with Montreal

RUSTLER NEWS
8/11:

• Steve Lovejoy (AAA) tossed a CG SHO to beat the Amarillo Armadillo's 7-0.

8/15:

• Recently promoted to AAA 3B David Bone was 10-25 3 HR 9 RBI 4 R to win PotW honors.
• At week's end Dave Nolasco leads New England LF Romeo Pirelli .356-.354 in the CL Batting race.

PATRIOT LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Brian Steele 2B (PIT) 12-28 3 HR 7 RBI
COLONIAL LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Rich Pace RF (HOU) 9-19 4 HR 10 RBI

[gehrig38]

• RECORD: 4-2
• STANDINGS: 88-37 +18.5
• RUNS SCORED: 733 (1st)
• OPS: .825 (1st)
• RUNS AGAINST: 429 (1st)
• DEFENSIVE EFF:
• SP ERA: 3.30 (1st)
• BULLPEN ERA: 2.64 (1st)
• OWNERS MOOD: Ecstatic
• FAN INTEREST: 95
• POWER RANKINGS: 1st

THIS WEEK: 2-0 vs Chicago (40-69) OFF DAY 2-1 @ Green Bay (49-69) 0-1 @ Houston (50-69)

8/15: AUS 3 CHI 2 Steele (W) 8 IP 5 H 8 K 1 ER 1-3 Laskey SV (32) 1 IP HR Reyes 8th inn GW 1B 2 RBI (48) Dziedzic HR (24) RBI (86) Santamaria (CHI) CG 10 H 4 K 3 ER (8-12 4.08)
8/16: AUS 12 CHI 1 Collins CG 3 H 11 K 1 ER (16-2 2.32) Reyes 3H 2B (16) 3B (4) BB 3 R RBI (49) Adrian 2H 3B (10) 2 R 2 RBI (90) Archer 2B (38) R 2 RBI (115) Nolasco HR (23) 4 RBI (84) McGuire 2B (10) HR (3) 2 R 2 RBI (24)
8/17: OFF DAY
8/18: AUS 7 GB 4 (10) Hanna PH GW 3R HR (9) 3 RBI (29) Comerford 2-4 HR (16) 2 RBI (46) Forney ND 6 IP 9 K 3 ER Laskey BS (6) 2 IP 5 K 3 BB 1 ER (W) (4-3 3.15) DeSanto SV (1) Halphen (GB) (#1 prospect) ND 5 IP 5 K 7 BB 4 ER (8-5 2.90)
8/19: GB 5 AUS 4 (13) Behrens/Mears ND Behrens 8 IP 6 H 8 K 2 ER Mears 9 IP 8 H 9 K 2 ER Lytle BS (3) both score twice in the 11th McGuire 3-6 2 HR (5) 2 R 3 RBI (27) Reyes 0-3 3 BB SB (26) R
8/20: AUS 8 GB 2 Lach (W) 8.1 IP 6 H 8 K 3 ER 138 pitches Reyes 3-4 2B (17) GS (14) R SB (27) 5 RBI (54) Tighe 2 2B (28) R
8/21: HOU 5 AUS 2 Steele (L) 7 IP 6 H 3 HR 5 K 4 ER White (HOU) (W) 7 IP 3 H 4 K 1 ER (4-2 5.26) Adrian HR (22) R 2 RBI (93)

NEXT WEEK: 2 @ Houston (56-69) (they went 6-0 last week) OFF DAY 3 @ Dallas (70-56) OFF DAY

ABL HAPPENINGS:
8/17:

• Tony Delgado (SF) fanned 11 walked 4 and allowed just 3 hits in a CG 1-0 win over Green Bay. Blizzard SP Jamie Crone went 8 IP 1 ER in the loss.
• Mike Fox (PHX) held Buffalo to 6 hits and kept them off the scoreboard in a 6-0 Roadrunner win. He's 8-9 3.07, pitching with horrid luck this year. He was 15-9 3.46 in his 1st season with Phoenix and the 32-year-old has punched out 153 in 167 innings.

8/18:

• Brendon Biernacki (BUF) continues his run at Tomohiro Masuda's single-season K this time with Masuda actually on the mound against him. He punched out 15 Lexington Rebels and beat Masuda 5-4 to go 14-7 2.59 and up his total to 322 in 208.1 IP. Biernacki walked to the dugout after the top of the 9th down 4-2 but Ricky Gutierrez's 3R walk off HR with 2 outs made him the winner.
• The Brooklyn Blackhearts are 8 games up on Philadelphia in the PL Metro Division so the news that MVP candidate Ben Davis would miss 2 weeks wasn't as big a blow as it might have been. The 28-year-old is hitting .324-26-108. He was the 3rd place finisher in 2014 for the Babe Ruth award and last year won the Division series and LCS MVP awards.

8/20:

• 24-year-old Jim Duffy (MEX) shut down San Francisco on 6 singles and struck out 6 to move to 9-11 4.18 in the 3-0 win.
• Jack Terhune (DAL) went 5-6 in an 8-5 loss to Charlotte. He hit 4 1B and a 2B and drove in 2.

8/21:

• Former Rustler Pat Madison (BUF) fanned 8 and walked 3 to beat Providence 5-0 and got 8-11 5.23 on the year.

RUSTLER NEWS:
8/15:

• Francisco Castro was acquired last July from Las Vegas and today tossed a 3-hitter beating the Athens Vandals 3-0. He's 13-7 3.65 in 23 starts at AAA Warren

8/19:

• John Stanley pitched AAA Warren to a 3-0 win with a CG while scattering 7 hits to go 10-8 3.69.
• Stanley will push for a rotation spot next spring at just 24 years old.

8/16:

• I have 6 personnel contracts expiring. Assistant GM Pat Stansifer, Scouting Director Tom Tuff, A and AA pitching coaches and single-A hitting coach and SA Manager.
• Salt Lake and Modesto have been putrid, and I want new blood so they will be allowed to walk.
• I'm torn on my head scout. Our low minors is horrible and our draft day “heads' appear to be in different places as I have had to overrule on, in my opinion, far too many early picks, and I've managed to nail more than not and his picks have turned out to be bad ones had we made them.
• There's a former player, Ian Eller, who is talked about as some sort of 'savant' scouting younger players and that's what I want. I have actually made him an offer and if he accepts I will have to let Tuff go. Hard to imagine in a season going so well but for a team that's looking to set all kinds of records there's not a ton of homegrown talent on the 25 man and our lower minors (where scouts 'reputations' are made and lost) is and has been putrid.

BACKROOM CHATTER
Sam Reyes has approached me for an extension. I am amicable to listening and if the talks are reasonable would love to get it done.
I did the +/- argument
+

• Outstanding player when healthy. .265/.384/.451 slash over 563 games. 110 2B 15 3B 82 HR 273 RBI 119-165 SB and pretty much a guaranteed 3.5 WAR or better each year.
• Popular in the clubhouse, locally, and nationally.
• Good team guy
• Very good defensive player at SS and 2B.
• Showed himself to be a clutch post-season hitter.

-

• “When he's healthy” isn't just a catchphrase. He's never played more than 121 games and played 100+ just twice in 5 full seasons. Playing 94, 97, and 98 the other 3 years.
• Mike Davis, our top prospect acquired via trade with Lexington just over a month ago, is penciled in at SS, he plays nowhere else. He's ready now but barring injury (which isn't a stretch here) he's going to be held back until next spring and the plan will be to open up with him at SS.
• That means Joe Tighe will need to move. He of the newly signed 7 year 91.6 million dollar extension.
• Xavier Feliciano is ready now too. He's the heir apparent to Luis Orozco at 3B and like Davis is penciled in to open next year as our 3B.
• That means Joe Tighe will HAVE to move to 2B. That leaves a man out, and it's likely that man will be Sam Reyes.
• Initial talks had him asking for a 5-7 year 14+ million dollar deal. Not many guys are worth that annually and a guy that can't post up 100 games a year is absolutely not one of those guys. I went back and forth but he wasn't budging nearly enough to continue talks.
• I meant what I said earlier, I want to keep the core together and Tighe, Archer, Orozco, and Reyes were that core IF. But I won't overspend to make that happen, certainly not when there is elite talent available at the league minimum.

PATRIOT LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Chris Mulligan 1B (LA) 11-22 HR 8 RBI 8 R
COLONIAL LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Jack Terhune RF (DAL) 16-30 5 RBI 5 R

[gehrig38]

5 BEST SINGLE-SEASON RBI TOTALS

1. 1992-Jeff Weathers (SJ) 194
2. 1992-Micah Tufts (AUS) 160
3. 1998-Justin Walk (DAL) 156
4. 1997-Chris Bateman (CHA) 156
5. 2000-Justin Walk (DAL) 150

[gehrig38]

• RECORD: 4-1
• STANDINGS: 92-38 +19.5
• RUNS SCORED: 761 (1st)
• OPS: .829 (1st)
• RUNS AGAINST: 445 (1st)
• DEFENSIVE EFF: .701 (1st)
• SP ERA: 3.26 (1st)
• BULLPEN ERA: 2.69 (1st)
• OWNERS MOOD: Ecstatic
• FAN INTEREST: 95
• POWER RANKINGS: 1st

THIS WEEK: 2 @ Houston (56-69) (they went 6-0 last week) OFF DAY 3 @ Dallas (70-56) OFF DAY

8/22: AUS 4 HOU 1 down 1-0 into the 8th, Archer GT HR (23), tied 1-1 in the 9th, Reyes (15) Adrian (23) go back to back. Nolasco 3-5 2B (32) Collins (W) 8 IP 5 H 5 K (17-2 2.26) Laskey SV (33)
8/23: AUS 7 HOU 0 Forney CG 1-hitter (Kole Madden leadoff 1B in the 6th) 7 K 4 BB (14-2 2.81) Archer 4-5 HR (24) 2 R 2 RBI (119) Dziedzic HR (26) R 2 RBI (92) Nolasco 3-5 2B (33) R
8/24: OFF DAY
8/25: AUS 8 DAL 6 (10) Laskey BS (7) (W) 2 IP 4 K 2 ER (5-3 3.30) Behrens ND 6.1 IP 11 H 7 K 2 ER 1-2 Adrian 4-6 2B (35) R 2 RBI (97) SB (57) Nolasco 3-5 HR (24) 2 R 2 RBI (86) Hardy (DAL) 3-5 2 2B (9) R 4 RBI (35)
8/26: DAL 8 AUS 5 Lach (L) 4.2 IP 10 H 8 R 6 ER (11-4 4.24) Archer 4-5 2B (40) RBI (120) Dziedzic HR (27) R RBI (95)
8/27: AUS 4 DAL 1 Steele (W) 8.2 IP 2 H 10 K 1 ER (12-5 3.82) Laskey SV (34) Reyes HR (16) 3 RBI (58) Dziedzic HR (28) RBI (96) Jaeger (DAL) (L) 8.2 IP 11 K 7 H 3 ER (10-10 3.31)
8/28: OFF DAY

NEXT WEEK: 3 @ New England (69-61) 3 vs New York Empire (67-66) 1 @ San Francisco (69-62)

ABL HAPPENINGS:
8/24:

• Kyle Zampella (SD) went 5-5 in the Missions 8-0 win over San Francisco

8/25:

• Bob Shrader (LEX) went the distance and finished with a 4-hitter as the Rebels beat Ohio 5-0. Shrader is now 16-10 2.67

8/26:

• David Gullion (MEM) threw a 2-hitter and struck out 6 in a 5-0 win over Green Bay to win his 15th (15-8 2.90)
• Tommy Santamaria (CHI) won his 10th (10-12 3.94) with a 5-hitter as Chicago beat Detroit 7-0.
• Baltimore is pulling away in the Harbor Division of the PL after winning their 10th straight to move to 80-50 and 10 games ahead of 71-61 Montreal.

8/27:

• Rich Whittaker (PRO) beat New England on a 1-hitter to win his 12th (12-13 4.10)
• Omar Trinidad (SD) beat Tony Delgado 1-0 as RF Arthur Vaughn hit a 2 out walk-off single in the bottom of the 9th. Trinidad went 9-4-0-0-3-5 and is now 9-11 4.12 and Delgado went 8.2-4-1-1-1-8 in the loss (13-10 3.41)
• Heriberto Perez (PHX) went 5-6 as Phoenix crushed Vegas 14-3. He had 3 1B a 2B and a grand slam to drive in 9. That is the 2nd time THIS SEASON Perez has driven in 9 runs in a 9 inning game.

RUSTLER NEWS:
8/24:

• Modesto Manager Nick Boggs was fired and 62 Matt Thompson was given a 4-year contract to take over the AA club that finished 43-87 this season.

8/27:

• AAA Warren clinched a playoff spot

• At the week's end, Dave Nolasco was at .361 leading the Empire's Joe Miner by .015.
• Check this out. Nick Archer 120, Andy Adrian 97, and Tommy Dziedzic at 96 were 1,2, and 3 in RBI's in the Coastal League. Archer is on a pace for exactly 150, which would make him just the 6th player ever to hit that mark.
• Adrian at 8.1 and Nolasco at 7.2 were 1, 2 in WAR. They were 2 and 3 in Slugging.
• Tim Collins is the CL ERA (2.26 to 2.57) over Brendon Biernacki and he is the leader in Wins as well at 17. One ahead of Lexington's Bob Shrader.
• Steve Forney is 3rd in K's at 244 with Biernacki at an insane 327. That is the 14th highest single-season total in history and just 99 shy of Masuda's 426 K's setback in 2010.
• Ranan Laskey leads the CL with 34 saves but his 7 blown tie a career-high setback in 2010 which was the year we acquired him from Ft Worth. His career-high in saves is 43, done in 2006 (43-46) and 2009 (43-44). His penchant for the long ball has the manager trying hard to give him 'clean' innings to come into, as he's only inherited 7 base runners all year long allowing just 1 to score. There is some concern heading into October, and that's not something to take lightly given how incredibly favored we will become in the Playoffs.

PATRIOT LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Heriberto Perez RF (AZ) 12-30 3 HR 16 RBI
COLONIAL LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Alex Simon RF (FW) 14-27 6 HR 12 RBI

[gehrig38]

ABL CAREER HIT LEADERS

1. Mario Santiago RET 3095
2. Omar Torres (DEN) 2990
3. Ralph Helf RET 2925
4. Brian Lundy (NYP) 2898
5. Mike Murphy (PHI) 2702

[gehrig38]

• RECORD: 5-2
• STANDINGS: 97-40 CLINCHED
• RUNS SCORED: 802 (1st)
• OPS: .831 (1st)
• RUNS AGAINST: 468 (1st)
• DEFENSIVE EFF:
• SP ERA: 3.21 (1st)
• BULLPEN ERA: 2.78 (1st)
• OWNERS MOOD: Ecstatic
• FAN INTEREST: 94
• POWER RANKINGS: 1st

THIS WEEK: 1-2 @ New England (69-61) 3-0 vs New York Empire (67-66) 1-0 @ San Francisco (69-62)

8/29: AUS 12 NE 2 Collins (W) 8 IP 3 H 7 K 0 ER (18-2 2.16) Reyes HR (17) 2 R 3 RBI (61) Dziedzic HR (29) 2 R 2 RBI (98) Nolasco 3-5 2B (36) HR (25) 2 R 2 RBI (89)
8/30: NE 5 AUS 4 Forney ND 7 IP 10 K 1 ER Matsui BS (1) 3 ER 0 IP Pirelli (NE) 3-4 2 2B (46) HR (13) 2 R 2 RBI (82) Del Bianco (NE) ND 7.2 IP 10 H 3 ER
8/31: NE 4 AUS 2 Behrens (L) 76 IP 6 H 3 K 3 ER (12-4 4.25)
9/1: AUS 4 NYE 3 Lach (W) 6 IP 6 H 3 ER (12-4 4.25) Laskey SV (35) McGuire 3-4 2B (12) R RBI (28) Adrian HR (25) RBI (98)
9/2: AUS 7 NYE 5 Steele ND 6 IP 7 H 7 K 0 BB 4 R 2 ER Laskey SV (36) Razo 1st ABL AB PH GW 2B (1) 2 RBI (2) Tighe 2-5 2 SB (42) R RBI (46) Nolasco 2-4 R RBI (90) SB (19)
9/3: AUS 8 NYE 2 Collins (W) 8.1 IP 9 H 8 K 2 ER (19-2 2.16) Nolasco 2-4 2B (38) HR (26) 2 R 4 RBI (94) Orozco 3-4 2B (27) 3B (4) RBI (60) Rustlers hit 4 3B's Archer 3-4 2 2B (44) R RBI (124)
9/4: AUS 4 SF 2 Forney (W) 6 IP 2 H 0 R 8 K 5 BB 1-1 (15-2 2.67) Laskey SV (37) Nolasco HR (27) R RBI (95) SB (20) (.366) Comerford 2-4 R RBI (49)

NEXT WEEK: 2 @ San Francisco (72-66) OFF DAY 3 vs Ohio (54-83) 1 vs Houston (61-76)

ABL HAPPENINGS:
8/29:

• Empire RF Robby Mercer went 3-4 and drilled 3 HR's (25) while driving in 8 in the 16-9 win over Green Bay.
• 25-year-old Mexico Black Bandits SS Matt Ivory totaled his 500K dollar Porsche in an early morning accident. Apparently, he walked away with “scraped and bruises” which is stunning after seeing pictures of the car.

9/1:

• Mark Holmes (SF) struck out 11 in a 2-hit CG SHO of Denver for a 7-0 win to move a game over .500 (10-9 3.34)

9/2:

• Jimmy Williams (LA) struck out 12 and walked 1 as the Storm beat Mexico 3-0. Williams allowed just 2 hits.

9/4:

• Beat writers in Mexico are scrambling today as it was announced that 25 year old OF Alex De La Cruz will miss the remainder of the season and possibly 2017 spring training with a torn meniscus suffered in a 'car accident'. The team insists there is no relation to the report earlier in the week of IF Matt Ivory wrecking his car and De La Cruz's injuries.
• Cameron Mears (GB) went 9-2-0-0-1-9 and made Brett Goetsch (SJ) the loser in a game where Goetsch threw a 93 game score out. Goetsch went 9-1-1-0-0-10 in a masterpiece that was marred by 3B Matt Welch's error on the games 1st batter. Adrian Kessler's 1 out infield grounder plated Dave Harmsen for the games only run. CF Brad Pecks 2 out full count 1B was the only hit for Green Bay. Goetsch's 93 was 2 pts higher than Mears game score of 91. It was the second game Mears has pitched in this year where both SP achieved a 90+ game score.

RUSTLER NEWS:
9/1:

• With AAA Warren in the playoffs I won't disturb the roster for anything outside necessity. RP Alex Arregui is recalled to give me an extra arm, 1B Brennan Jungles to spell Archer this last month, IF Greg Bopp who plays all three spots and is RH, and OF Alfredo Razo who earned the promotion and has 3 position versatility in the OF.
• Alex Arregui (AAA) took home PotM after going 3-0 7 SV 1.23 ERA 14.2 IP 14 K
• 10th round pick in 2015 Jared Davis took home PotM for the NY Penn league hitting .281-11-32 22 R

8/4:

• Warren swept the Anchorage Ice Wolves (DEN) in the AAA WC Series. They will face the Augusta Linksmen (SAN) in the Division series.

PATRIOT LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Chris Towers RF (SJ) 13-25 2 HR 5 RBI
COLONIAL LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Ricky Perez C (HOU) 9-14 3 HR 8 RBI 5 R

RUSTLER PLAYER OF THE MONTH: Dave Nolasco RF (AUS) .413/.466/.702 9 2B 7 HR 20 RBI 25 R 4-6 SB
RUSTLER PITCHER OF THE MONTH: Tim Collins (AUS) 4-0 1.85 ERA 39 IP 43 K .182 OPP AVG
RUSTLER MiL PLAYER OF THE MONTH: Jared Davis RF (SA) .281/.425/.698 11 HR 32 RBI 22 R 3-4 SB
RUSTLER MiL PITCHER OF THE MONTH: Alex Arregui (AAA) 3-0 7-7 SV 1.23 14.2 IP 14 K 7 H

PATRIOT LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE MONTH: Jamie Truncellito RF (LA) .446-7-22 23 R
COLONIAL LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE MONTH: Dave Nolasco RF (AUS) .413-7-20 25 R
PATRIOT LEAGUE PITCHER OF THE MONTH: Jeremy Stuever (BAL) 6-0 1.70 ERA 42.1 IP 52 K 16 BB
COLONIAL LEAGUE PITCHER OF THE MONTH: Bob Shrader (LEX) 4-1 0.76 ERA 47.1 IP 60 K .158 OPP AVG
PATRIOT LEAGUE ROOKIE OF THE MONTH: Ryan Conley SP (DEN) 4-1 3.03 ERA 33 K 38.2 IP
COLONIAL LEAGUE ROOKIE OF THE MONTH: Josh Maslak RP (NYE) 1-1 9 SV 2.45 ERA 19 K 11 IP

[gehrig38]

Heading into the final month

• Looks like 1, at most 2 possible races in the PL with the California division being separated 1st to 4th by 3.5 games, and the Metro has 2 teams within 6.
• The Skyline has a race going on but that's likely it. We've clinched, Lexington, barring a collapse, wins the Central (again) and it looks like Dallas has the Wild Card in hand.
• Dallas absolutely scares me as a 1st round opponent.
• Some great races in the individual stats categories with Nolasco chasing a batting title and an MVP which I think may end up being between him and Adrian with them finishing 1-2. Archer will get some votes. Collins vying for an ERA title and a Koufax and Forney after 300 K's again.

[gehrig38]

• RECORD: 5-1
• STANDINGS: 102-41 CLINCHED
• RUNS SCORED: 827 (1st)
• OPS: .828 (1st)
• RUNS AGAINST: 482 (1st)
• DEFENSIVE EFF: .702 (1st)
• SP ERA: 3.18 (1st)
• BULLPEN ERA: 2.71 (1st)
• OWNERS MOOD: Ecstatic
• FAN INTEREST: 98
• POWER RANKINGS: 1st

THIS WEEK: 1-1 @ San Francisco (72-66) OFF DAY 3-0 vs Ohio (54-83) 1-0 vs Houston (61-76)

9/5: AUS 7 SF 5 Behrens ND 5.1 IP 8 H 7 K 4 ER Laskey SV (38) Hanna 3-4 3 R Archer 2-3 R 2 BB RBI (125) Andriani HR (4) 2 RBI (22) Harris (SF) 3-3 2B (13) 3B (6) HR (15) R 2 RBI (55)
9/6: SF 7 AUS 3 Lach (L) 3.2 IP 6 H 0 K 3 BB 5 ER Au-Yong (SF) (W) 8.2 IP 8 H 7 K 3 ER (13-9 2.87) Gutierrez SV (32) Heitzer (SF) HR (32) 4 RBI (101) Ralph Collins 3.1 IP 3 K 2 H 1 ER 1-1 HR (1)!
9/7: OFF DAY
9/8: AUS 2 OH 1 (12) Steele/Zape ND Steele 7-3-1-1-3-6 Zape 8-6-1-1-1-4 Pen goes 5 IP 2 H 10 K 0 R Laskey W (6-3 3.30) Reyes 12th inning walk off HR (18) RBI (65) Archer 3-4 (.340-24-125)
9/9: AUS 3 OH 0 Tim Collins (W) 8 IP 6 H 7 K (20-2 2.08) Laskey SV (39) Chris Collins (OH) CG (L) 8 IP 8 H 3 ER Bopp 3-4 2B (2) R Tighe 2-4 2 R SB (43) Adrian 2-3 2B (36) 3 RBI (101)
9/10: AUS 7 OH 0 Forney CG 3 H 12 K Reyes 2-4 2B (19) LO HR (19) 2 R BB RBI (66) Adrian 2-4 HR (26) 2 R 2 RBI (103) Nolasco 1-2 BB HR (28) R 2 RBI (100) Archer 2 H 2 RBI (127) McLaughlin 3-4
9/11: AUS 3 HOU 1 Pierce (W) 8 IP 5 H 10 K 1 ER (3-1 2.75) Nolasco HR (29) RBI (101) 20 game hitting streak McLaughlin 2-3 3B (1) (.369)

NEXT WEEK: 2 vs Houston (62-82) OFF DAY 3 @ Dallas (80-64) 1 vs Providence (72-71)

ABL HAPPENINGS:
9/5:

• Tashfin Sassi (NYP, kind of hard to forget that name) fanned 7 and walked 1 in winning his 10th (10-8 4.66) by blanking Charlotte 11-0 on 3 hits.

9/6:

• 26-year-old Rich Mertz (PIT) won his 16th (16-6 3.35) with a 6-hit CG SHO of Memphis. He fanned 15 in the 5-0 win.
• Adrian Kessler (GB) went 5-5 and drove in 3 in an 8-3 win over San Jose.

9/8:

• Ouch! Dallas spark-plug Marquis Rush will miss the next 4 weeks after straining an oblique. The 29 year old is hitting .327-5-41 and is 31-38 SB with 85 Runs scored for the Texans who are leading Buffalo by 6.5 in the wild card and their DL is filling up.
• Joe Farmer (MON) won his 1st game of the year after he whiffed 14 LA Storm hitters in a 3-hitter to beat them 5-0. The 30-year-old was released by New England earlier in the year.
• 22-year-old Matthew Sheffler (CHA) struck out a career-high 15 Dallas Texans in a 5-4 win to go 11-13 3.73.

9/9:

• Memphis righty Mike Hunter tosses a 4-hit CG SHO to beat New England 6-0. He's 10-11 5.11
• 34-year-old Lexington 1B Dan Frazier hit his 400th career HR. He was the 2007 MVP, a 9-time gold glove winner, and 7 time all-star while with New England.

9/10:

• Tyler Nix (DET) struck out 8 in his 1st career CG SHO in an 8-0 win over San Jose. The 23-year-old 1st rounder (2011 20th overall) is 3-2 3.61
• Chad Johnston upped his record to 7-1 2.67 with a 4-0 CG 3-hitter over Charlotte. Johnston was the Texans 6th round pick in 2012
• Speaking of 400 HR's and New England, a day after former Minuteman Dan Frazier did it, current New England 1B Abdul-Muta'al Rhodes hit his 400th career HR. The 34-year-old is a 2x MVP, GG winner, 7x All-star, 5x silver slugger and won post-season series MVP's twice.

9/11:

• Hsueh-Liang Lo (PHX) was 3-4 and hit 3 solo HR's in a 5-1 win over Denver. The 27-year-old has hit 100 HR's over the past 3 seasons.

RUSTLER NEWS:
9/9:

• Warren won the Division Series in 5 games and now heads to the AAA LCS

PATRIOT LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Josh Sims 1B (MON) 12-26 3 HR 6 RBI
COLONIAL LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Sam Jones 1B (SAN) 10-20 2 HR 12 RBI

[gehrig38]

• RECORD: 5-1
• STANDINGS: 107-42 Clinched
• RUNS SCORED: 860 (1st)
• OPS: .828 (1st)
• RUNS AGAINST: 503 (1st)
• DEFENSIVE EFF: .702 (1st)
• SP ERA: 3.21 (1st)
• BULLPEN ERA: 2.63 (1st)
• OWNERS MOOD: Ecstatic
• FAN INTEREST: 97
• POWER RANKINGS: 1st

THIS WEEK: 2-0 vs Houston (62-82) OFF DAY 2-1 @ Dallas (80-64) 1-0 vs Providence (72-71)

9/12: AUS 5 HOU 4 Lach (W) 8 IP 8 H 6 K 4 ER Nolasco HR (30) 2 RBI (103) Adrian 2-4 SB (61) R Dziedzic 2 RBI (101)
9/13: AUS 8 HOU 4 Steele CG 9 H 4 R 3 ER 5 K 1-4 RBI (2) (13-5 3.65) Archer HR (25) 2 RBI (129) Orozco 1-2 3 BB 2B (28) 2 RBI (62) Reyes 1-3 BB 3 SB (32) 2 R RBI (67)
9/14: OFF DAY
9/15: AUS 4 DAL 2 4 hit batters Collins ejected in the 3rd (see news) Nolasco HR (31) 2 RBI (105) Archer 2 RBI (131) DeSanto SV (2)
9/16: AUS 9 DAL 1 Forney CG 5 H 9 K (17-2 2.49) 2-4 2B (1) Tighe 3-5 2 R Adrian HR (27) 3 RBI (107) Dziedzic 3-4 HR (30) 2 R 3 RBI (104) Comerford HR (17) 3 RBI (53) 2 more HB Nolasco's hitting streak ends at 23
9/17: DAL 9 AUS 5 Pierce (L) 7 ER 1.1 IP 3 H 4 BB (3-2 4.34) R Collins 4 IP 5 K 1 H 0 R Berry (DAL) 1st inning grand slam (12) 4 RBI (63) Orozco HR (16) 3 RBI (65)
9/18: AUS 2 PRO 1 Lach ND 7 IP 4 H 7 K 0 BB 1 ER Scott (W) (6-2 1.43) Laskey SV (42) Adrian 2-4 2B (37) R SB (62) Archer RBI (132) Dziedzic RBI (105)

NEXT WEEK: 2 vs Providence (76-74) 4 vs San Antonio (72-78) 1 vs Dallas (83-67)


ABL HAPPENINGS:
9/13:

• Ryan Logan (BUF) scattered 5 hits and fanned 9 in a 4-0 CG SHO to beat Providence.
• Matthew Sheffler (CHA) followed his 15 K performance last week with another 15 this week in a CG 7-2 win over Ohio. In his 1st full ABL season the 22 year old is 13-13 3.60 with 248 K's in 217.1 IP.

9/15:

• Jake Byers (PRO) won his 14th (14-8 4.31) after he fanned 13 and held New England to just 4 singles in a CG 7-0 win.
• Joe Beck (LV) moved to 9-12 3.62 after he went the distance on a 4-hitter to beat Phoenix 2-0.

9/16:

• Brendon Biernacki's magical season continued as the Bison ace came within a strikeout of the single-game record when he fanned 19 Empire hitters in a 9-3 win to run his record to 15-9 2.79. It was his 2nd straight 140+ pitch game. Fans in Buffalo are very concerned about the 26-year-old's future as he has made 21 starts of 125 or more pitches and 13 of 135 or more including 2 150+ pitch games (his opening day starts was 150 pitch 17 K game!). His season total now stands at 381 and he likely has 3 starts at most remaining. He's 43 strikeouts short of the all-time record.
• Montreal's TJ Vanderhoff took home AA Pitcher of the Year after he went 4-0 1 SV 1.27 ERA over 42.2 IP with 44 K's. Vanderhoff was the Roughriders 4th round pick (116th overall) in the 2008 draft out of Miami Sunset HS.

RUSTLER NEWS:
9/15:

• Tim Collins was suspended 6 games for his involvement in a bench-clearing brawl with Dallas. The clubs had a 3 game total of 9 hit batters and it's clear there are no friends on the benches there. That should make for an interesting run-up to meeting them in October.
• The Aurora Suns downed Warren 3 games to 1 as former Roar OF Dave Melone took home the LCS MVP.
• After the game we had to order a large bus to bring the following players to Texas:
• P-John Stanley, Bobby Antonelli, Francisco Castro, Brian Hruska
• C-Matt Becker
• IF-Xavier Feliciano (3B) Mike Davis (SS)

• Pitcher Bill Lubrand and CF Joe LaPorte were DFA to clear roster spots on the 40 man which now sits at 39 players. Feliciano and Becker had to be added.
• Stanley will take Collins's next start while he serves his suspension. The other arms will go to the bullpen and both Feliciano and Davis will get some spot starts to see where they are and get their feet wet for next year.

PATRIOT LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Andy Munoz 2B (PHI) 9-25 4 HR 9 RBI
COLONIAL LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Amir White LF (HOU) 13-23 3 HR 7 RBI