Chicago Cougars (FABL) - Page 69

ayaghmour2 · 03-07-2024, 10:23 PM

Weekly Record: 3-4
Seasonal Record: 6-7 (6th, 4 GB)
Stars of the Week
Leo Mitchell : 20 AB, 9 H, 1 HR, 2 RBI, .450 AVG, 1.122 OPS
David Molina : 1 Win, 2 Saves, 4.1 IP, 2 BB, 2 K, 2.08 ERA
Eddie Howard : 20 AB, 8 H, 0 HR, 2 RBI, .400 AVG, .955 OPS

Schedule
4-24: Loss at Kings (3-5)
4-25: Loss at Kings (2-8)
4-26: Loss vs Stars (2-1)
4-27: Win vs Stars (2-3)
4-28: Win at Saints (7-4): 11 innings
4-29: Loss at Saints (6-8)
4-30: Win at Saints (4-1)

Recap
Yes, it's already "that" time of the year where the team with crazy expectations decides that the games don't matter, and they just tread in place as the rest of the teams start padding their leads. Add another one run loss to the tally, already three (all against the Stars...) in just seven tries, and just one of those seven losses was by more then two runs. No matter what I do, it seems this team can't win close games, but I just have to keep reminding myself: its still early. You can't win every game.
Luckily, there's just guy called Leo Mitchell, and he always makes Cougars baseball exciting. Despite being the second oldest player on the roster (happy 37th birthday!), Mitchell has a hit in all of his 10 starts, coming off a 9-for-20 week with 3 runs, 3 walks, 2 RBIs, and a homer. Yeah, small sample and all that, but the surprise anchor of the offense has slashed .512/.556/.683 (237 OPS+) with a pair homers and equal walks (4) and strikeouts. The kid is a stud, plain and simple, and I can't believe I bought into two back-to-back average seasons as his downfall. I should know better, there are some guys who just show up and hit, and "Mitch the Metronome" is certainly that guy.

Another guy who's always much-see TV, is good ol' Donnie Jones, who lasted 50.2 innings before his first (two) unearned runs. That's because Maurice Carter (.146, 3, 4) managed to elevate one of his pitches, taking Donnie deep for two in the 6th innings of his start. Now as good as he is, up 4-2 in the ninth, that was the perfect time to use David Molina, but instead, Max Wilder decided to bring our ace back for the ninth. It backfired, as there was the dreaded leadoff walk, and we could have lost had the most clutch defensive replacement ever in Don Lee was able to catch Sam Clay trying to reach third on a throw to the plate, as his throw was on line, Red Bond could cut it (not sure what a 1B is doing cutting throws from left, but that's baseball for you!), and find Otto Christian for the tag at third. Now the 10th would be a perfect time for Molina, but no, there's Donnie again! Again, he put runners on, but managed to escape, and finally after George Sutterfield gave us two in the tenth, Molina came out for the 11th. He was as advertised, striking out one in a perfect 11th, to secure his first save on the year. He pitched in the next two games too, though in the finale he threw seven pitches to finish Duke Bybee's start with a ground out, and picked up his second save. The middle outing was the first of his now five appearances where he ran into any troubles, with 3 hits, a run, and 2 walks in 2 innings. I'm not sure how, but I need to get Max Wilder using Molina more, as he's too valuable to sit around in clutch moments.

Not too much else exciting, as most of the offense was non-existent for the second week in a row. One guy who made impact despite limited time was Chubby Hall, who was 3-for-9 with 2 doubles, 2 RBIs, and 3 runs. Eddie Howard had 2 doubles too, 8-for-20 with 2 walks, 2 RBIs, and 4 runs. George Sutterfield was 6-for-19 with a triple, 2 walks, and 6 RBIs. George Oddo was back to losing games he should have won, just 6 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks, and 3 strikeouts in a complete game, though with one run of support he was charged with the loss. Duke Bybee had an awful start, which I'll ignore, but in the game Molina finished off, he allowed 9 hits, a single run, and 2 walks with 8 strikeouts. Pap lost both his starts, and was hit uncharacteristically hard (16 H, 12 R, 11 ER), but in both starts he had three Ks and no walks. Johnnie Jones pitched well enough to win, 8 innings, 6 hits, 2 runs, 4 walks, and 4 strikeouts, as despite 13 hits, it took until the last batter, a Leo Mitchell walk-off blast, to emerge victorious.

I'll never quite understand this team, but man wouldn't it be nice to just start the season on the right foot for once???

Is that really too much to ask!?!?!?!

--

Best part is I got a scare today as when I went to look at my writeup from earlier as in everything above this part, I could not find it where it was supposed to be. I'm partially scared I accidentally sent this to someone and gave them the most confusion in their life, as I sometimes DM myself writeups if I don't save them as notepad files, but for my sake I'm just going to say I got too distracted by Jesse Santoro

Luckily, I always type my dynasty report in the actual forum text editor. Not on word or anything like that, just straight into the webpage. Because there's this little saying I like to tell myself, when in doubt "Ctrl-T"

Well what does that mean?

You see, even though my computer wasn't on for hours, all I had to do was open up Chrome. And use the command. Ctrl + T. Ctrl + T. Ctrl + T. Ctrl + T. Ctrl + T. Ctrl + T. Ctrl + T.

And like magic, there it was! (And two extra tabs after) My forums.ootpdevelopments.com/newreply/etc./etc.! With all my words just as I left them!

That's the beauty of this handy little keyboard function, as it will open up any closed browsers it has in memory. Sometimes you can even use the back button! It's a true life saver! It's the only reason I continued with this!

Losing my writing makes me sad...Ctrl + T can make it all better!

Now if only it could make the Cougars win some games!

Maybe, Ctrl + W? I'll try anything!

--

Looking Ahead
Back to your regularly scheduled program, we look forward to our first actual trip of any time, as we go from Montreal to Toronto. For hopefully the last time this season, they have a better record then us, 7-5 and the closest team to the first place Kings (11-4). The reason for that is the pitching, as Joe Hancock (3-0, 0.86, 10) has turned back the clock, George Garrison (2-1, 2.11, 8) is George Garrison, and with off days they haven't had to use much more then Jim Morrison (1-1, 3.21, 5). He's scheduled to start the series, followed by Jerry York (0-2, 6.55, 6) and the ace Garrison. Even if that trio keeps us in check, the lineup hasn't done much, scoring less then every CA team except the Cannons, who have played two less games. Fred McCormick (.233, 7) is still getting on base, but Hal Wood (.395, 5) is doing all the heavy lifting. Even at 35, the former Cougar first rounder is a force at the plate, as 1950 seems to be the eight consecutive above average offensive season for him. I should be confident for this, but I just can't be, though on paper this seems to be the start of our turn around.

That's partly because the Cannons follow, as despite being half a game ahead of us in the standings (5th, 5-5), we should have no trouble with them. I'm not sure why Rufus Barrell (0-2, 4.80, 8) is disguising himself as Jim Anderson (1-0, 0.50, 9) and Charlie Griffith (2-0, 0.53, 6), and if we're lucky, two of them will pitch in New York. That leaves likely Griffith the #3, potential future ace Tony Britten (1-1, 2.12, 7), and 28-year-old Mickey Mills (1-1, 3.31, 4), who entered the season with just 51.2 FABL innings. All I care about is no Barrell, as with how little they've hit, I don't know what to do if we lose. Mike T. Taylor (.294, 2, 1) is the only guy hitting near .300, while Chuck Adams (.267, 1, 1) is the only other guy in the lineup hitting above .230. It's obviously a small sample, but I'm sure Cannons fans are nervous, and slow starts like this can diminish the value of the assets they may want to ship off.

We'll finish the week in Philly for the first of a three game series. I'll cover them more tomorrow, but right now they're 6-6 and even with the Cannons. The pitching has struggled, 7th in runs and 8th in starter's ERA, though Al Duster (2-0, 2.40, 8), Slick Wesolowski (0-0, 1.76, 5), and reliver John Thomas Johnson (1-0, 1.42, 7) have stoodout early. Luckily they've hit, leading all CA teams in average and OBP, and they're tied for third in runs. 1950 is going to be an interesting season for the Sailors, and I'm hoping we can start our series with them on the right foot.

ayaghmour2 · 03-08-2024, 09:54 PM

Weekly Record: 5-2
Seasonal Record: 11-9 (3rd, 2.5 GB)
Stars of the Week
Billy Hunter : 22 AB, 11 H, 0 HR, 4 RBI, .500 AVG, 1.022 OPS
Red Bond : 21 AB, 8 H, 1 HR, 4 RBI, .381 AVG, 1.042 OPS
Otto Christian : 19 AB, 7 H, 1 HR, 8 RBI, .368 AVG, 1.013 OPS

Schedule
5-1: Win at Wolves (9-6)
5-2: Win at Wolves (2-0)
5-3: Win at Wolves (6-1)
5-4: Win at Cannons (3-2)
5-5: Loss at Cannons (2-6)
5-6: Win at Cannons (3-2)
5-7: Loss at Sailors (1-7)

Recap
Hey now! We looked like a playoff team this week!

I guess playing at home is overrated, as we built off the series win in Montreal with a sweep of the Wolves and two of three in Cincinnati. Sure, we lost the opener in Philly, but if we win the second two, we'll have won each of our last five three game series, and we're now back over .500 at 11-9. The only thing that stopped us this week was injuries, and they were all two related. Two days (out). Two weeks (DTD). Two weeks (out).

They're all kind of shocking injuries, with the lone day-to-day injury going to Johnnie Jones, who has made 145 FABL starts before missing one. He left his start after two, and was given the unlucky loss, and it came right after one of the more interesting 2-hit shutouts. Johnnie scattered eight free passes, but considering he matched every walk with a strikeout, he was able to out-duel Jerry York (1-3, 4.15, 10) in a tight 2-0 win over the Wolves. Just as a precaution, we're IL'ing him, even his arm seems alright. It's just not worth him aggravating this, and when you have someone like Zane Kelley in AAA, there shouldn't be much of a drop. Add in an off-day before Johnnie's scheduled start comes up, and he may end up needing just one start covered. Still, it hurts losing Johnnie early in the season, where he's at his best. His 1.93 ERA (201 ERA+) and 1.29 WHIP are excellent, and even though he's walked 18 guys, he's struck out 18 too. I'll miss that production, but if he picks off right where he left off when healthy, it'll be worth the slight interruption.

The next injury was to star outfielder Sal Pestilli, who is dealing with some chronic back soreness that's severe enough to keep him out of the lineup. It's his longest injury since 1939, the year after he won the Whitney as a sophomore. Pestilli was off to a nice start too, hitting .314/.388/.414 (119 OPS+) with a league leading 6 stolen bases. He hasn't homered yet, but he's got 3 doubles, 2 triples, 9 walks, 12 runs, and 4 RBIs. Assuming no setbacks, he should be easy enough to replace short-term, as we have Chubby Hall and Don Lee, both of which are good enough to play everyday. Hall will man right against righties, while Lee will get time against lefties, whether that's in the corner with Hall or Leo Mitchell. Most interestingly, is who will be replacing Pestilli on the roster, as GWL star Clyde Zimmerman will get a chance in the big leagues far earlier then he might have anticipated. The initial Player of the Week is hitting a strong .304/.341/.494 (123 OPS+) through 18 games, and he'll give us a reliable option off the bench in any of the three outfield spots. Though likely a short-term replacement, Zimmerman's stay should last the duration of Pestilli's IL placement, as he can be optioned as much as needed during the season.

The only thing able to stop Leo Mitchell this year, seems to be patellar tendinitis, which cost him most of the week and likely the rest of the Sailors series. The injury came in the fifth when Mitchell scored from second on a Red Bond single. He was 2-for-3 with a double that game, upping his season line to an absurd 521/.558/.688 (238 OPS+) with 4 extra base hits, 7 RBIs, and 7 runs scored. Despite the good record, we did feel his absence, as the offense still isn't a well oiled machine. Bond looked good, 8-for-21 with a homer and 4 RBIs, though the top producer may have been Billy Hunter. He might have had his first six game week in, well, ever, as the oft-injured vet was an even 11-for-22 with 3 runs and 4 RBIs. Otto Christian more then doubled his season hit total, going 7-for-19 after a 6-for-46 start, adding a walk, homer, 2 doubles, and 8 RBIs. Don Lee was up for the task while Mitchell was hurt, 4-for-11 with a pair of doubles, a run, an RBI, and a steal. Losing Pestilli may weaken us a little, but I'm hoping his loss will be offset by some of our guys getting back on track, as John Moss has looked awful, Eddie Howard has been useless after his first week, and despite his patented elite defense, Skipper hasn't done much with the bat.

Of course, offense isn't how we win games, it's the pitching, as we got the shutout from Johnnie, and another excellent start from Donnie Jones. Make him 4-0 four times through, as he went all nine with 6 hits, a run, 5 walks, and 4 strikeouts. The walks have been high, as he has 14 in 37 innings, and his even 10 BB% is almost a full percent higher then his previous high. Still, he's won all his starts, and has a 1.22 ERA (319 ERA+) and 0.84 WHIP, so if the price of that is a few walks he can erase with grounders, then so be it! Peter the Heater shook off his tough two-start stretch, picking up his first win of the season in a complete game victory over the Cannons. Pap struck out 6, allowing just 7 hits, 2 runs, and 3 walks in a tight 3-2 victory. Even George Oddo picked up a pair of wins, though he only deserved one of them. That was in another 3-2 win over the Cannons, where he went 8 with 6 hits, 2 runs, 4 walks, and 5 strikeouts. He then got lucky in Toronto, as 9 runs of support got him a win despite 9 hits and 6 runs in 6 innings. Despite the lucky win this week, he's been anything but, with near identical ERA+ (83) and FIP- (81) in his starts.

In both of Oddo's starts, he was finished off by David Molina, who really showed what he could do this week. In that 6 inning affair, Molina got the last nine outs, with just a hit and strikeout to his record. He then had a little more trouble in Cincy, but he stranded both guys he walked to earn his fourth save in as many attempts. He's still low on innings, just 9.1 in 7 outings, but he's already finished off four close games for us in a row, which may be a Cougar first!

Unfortunately, we did have some rough pitching outings, with the biggest blemish coming after Johnnie Jones' injury. That's when Charlie Kelsey made his season debut, and it did not go well in the slightest. Well, after the five strikeouts, but that may have been because so many other guys got on base! He allowed 7 hits, 6 runs, and 5 walks in 4.1 innings pitched. Duke Bybee was roughed up too, as the Cannons took him deep three times in 7.1 innings. He allowed 7 hits and 6 runs, though with no walks and 5 strikeouts, there's a lot to be excited about. I'm honestly stunned the Cannons took him deep so much in Cincy, and just like George Oddo, the ERA+ (85) and FIP- (88) are almost identical. Add in the near 5 (4.8) K/BB with 19 strikeouts and just 4 free passes (same as his homers!), and just like Pap and Oddo, I think it's only a matter of time before we have an epic run on the back of our arms!

Looking Ahead
We get two more with the Sailors, who are the only team between us and the Kings. At 11-7, they're a game ahead of us, and a game and a half behind the 14-7 Kings. The Sailors are starting to look like the team they should have last year, as evidenced by their 7-1 thrashing behind new ace Charlie Gordon (2-1, 4.45, 17). Scheduled after him our Al Duster (2-0, 2.45, 13) and Slick Wesolowski (0-1, 5.30, 7), who just got his brains beat in by Saints after keeping the Foresters in check twice. I'm liking the matchups, as we'll give them Donnie (4-0, 1.22, 15) and Pap (1-3, 4.65, 17), giving us the noticeable advantage on the mound. The lineup is loaded with .300+ hitters, led by CA batting leader Marion Boismenu (.441, 3, 1) and the if he was qualified leader, Ed Reyes (.538, 6), though the 37-year-old lefty hasn't been getting regular playing time. That hasn't hurt them too much, as Rip Lee (.356, 2, 11, 1) is looking to prove the doubters wrong, Al Farmer (.360, 1, 10) is off to a scalding start, and even former Cougar Solly Skidmore (.316, 1, 11) is hitting like the guy I once thought he could be. Even with our hot streak, I'm a little nervous here, but two wins to finish off the series would be perfect.

Our long run of games ends with two in Cleveland, as we'll play our 23rd and 24th consecutive game without an off day. Cleveland does not look like a postseason team early on, 7-12 while allowing the most runs in the association. It's not reigning Allen winner Adrian Czerwinski's (1-4, 2.93, 9) fault, he's been amazing, nor John Jackson (1-1, 1.04, 6), who has excelled in three starts, but the pen has been hit hard and Ollie White (1-2, 6.52, 23) and Augie Hayes Jr. (0-1, 5.48, 8) have had issues with run preventions. Part can be blamed on the defense, which is also an association worst, though they're not really hitting as great as they could be. Still, rookie, first rounder, and 25th ranked prospect Jim Urquhart (.356, 8, 1) is off to a great start to his young career and rookie catcher Larry McClure (.360, 4, 15) has somehow managed to make the jump straight from A-ball. But Lorenzo Samuels (.219, 1, 8) is ice cold, Orie Martinez (.125, 3) might be frozen, and Jim Adams Jr. (.273, 4) is already dealing with another nagging injury. This may be the perfect time to play them, and it's looking like we'll luck out by missing Czerwinski and Ducky Davis (1-2, 3.09, 12), who both picked up losses in a double header to the Stars.

Thankfully, we're finally off on Friday, and we'll use the travel day to return to beautiful, hopefully sunny, Chicago. We'll need all the rest we can get, as the first place Kings are in town, and they've been tough for us to beat since the start of last season. The Kings can out-hit anyone, led by reigning Player of the Week Ralph Johnson (.354, 7, 20). The almost 26-year-old was 11-for-22 with 4 doubles, a triple, a homer, 4 walks, and 6 RBIs. He's got plenty of protection in Ken Newman (.333, 2, 15), Dan Smith (.323, 4, 8), and Billy Bryant (.338, 5), and once the rest of the lineup starts falling into place, they could really start to be dangerous. Luckily, the pitching hasn't been great, aside from Joe Potts (4-0, 2.83, 15) and old friend Ron Berry (3-1, 3.09, 12), so if we can keep them in the park, I really like our chances here. The off day should work wonders, as the return to our home, but I'm most worried about their ability to hit the ball out of the park, as it's something we tend to struggle to prevent.

Especially at home...

Minor League Report
CF Frank Reece (AA Mobile Commodores): No one decided to tell Frank Reece that he's not an important prospect, as the former second rounder won his second Player of the Week. This time he went 12-for-28, tallying 6 runs, 2 doubles, 2 homers, 2 steals, and 5 RBIs. Reece has managed a .392/.415/.709 (184 OPS+) triple slash in 82 trips to the plate, collecting 6 doubles, 2 triples, 5 homers, and 3 steals. He's scored 15 times and drove in 13, and with average numbers out in center he's been worth an impressive 1.4 in just 17 games. It's still way too early to start talking promotion for the 22-year-old, as even with the Zimmerman promotion there's still three starter worthy outfielders and Johnny Carlisle who can play anywhere. Now eligible for the Rule-5 draft, I wouldn't mind him ending up in the Century League, and if he keeps hitting like this I may have to make him a September callup. He's even jumped up the prospect ladder, now 9th in the system and 117th overall. It's been almost three seasons since he was last in the top 100 list, but the toolsy outfielder is trying to prove the experts were right in the beginning.

LHP Dixie Gaines (A Lincoln Legislators): The prospect pickers may not like him much anymore, but Dixie Gaines hasn't let that get in his way. He's been excellent through three starts, allowing two or fewer runs and six or fewer hits each time out. He's one all three of them as well, working to a 1.27 ERA (328 ERA+) and 1.17 WHIP with 9 walks and 15 strikeouts. Yes, it's not as good as his absurd eight run stretch with San Jose last season, but the 22-year-old lefty has picked off right where he left off even if he's not getting many groundball outs. A five pitch pitcher, Gaines relies on his mid 80s sinker, which is up a tick to 85-87. That's going to make his change up that much better, and it seems like he's getting a lot of soft contact. The stuff has never been an issue, with the only question mark here his command. He's been hovering above ten and a half with the Legislators, which may be a bit too high against FABL pitchers. As I mentioned earlier, Donnie's never come close to that before, though that would actually be a good year for Pap. In that case, Dixie will have to strike out as many guys as Pap can, and that's no easy feat. I think the control may be what OSA doesn't like here, though I see a guy who just needs a good catcher to teach him how to pitch. And with guys like current catcher Johnny Hadley, last year's Garland Phelps, and Eddie Howard in Chicago, he's always going to have a guy who will help him.

ayaghmour2 · 03-11-2024, 08:14 PM

Weekly Record: 0-6
Seasonal Record: 11-15 (6th, 6.5 GB)
Stars of the Week
John Moss : 20 AB, 7 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, .350 AVG, 1.000 OPS
Chubby Hall : 27 AB, 6 H, 1 HR, 4 RBI, .222 AVG, .694 OPS
Eddie Howard : 21 AB, 7 H, 0 HR, 1 RBI, .333 AVG, .745 OPS

Schedule
5-8: Loss at Sailors (2-5)
5-9: Loss at Sailors (0-4)
5-10: Loss at Foresters (7-8): 10 innings
5-11: Loss at Foresters (6-7)
5-13: Loss vs Kings (3-2)
5-14: Loss vs Kings (5-3): 10 innings

Recap
Call it! Season over already...

In one of the most pitiful weeks ever, we lost all six times we went out. Three in a row were by a single run. Two losses came in extras. All were by four or less runs.

We. Just. Suck.

I really hope I'm overreacting, but it seems like every time I get really hyped up for a team, they completely fall apart. We didn't do anything right, as David Molina (0-2, 3 IP, 6 H, 5 ER, 3 BB) lost three games himself, Duke Bybee (8.2 IP, 8 H, 7 ER , 2 BB, 4 K) completely collapsed in the ninth inning (5 ER), and pretty much no one did anything at the plate.

The one bright side was John Moss, who was ironically awful the first three weeks of the season. He went 7-for-20 with 3 doubles, 5 runs, and 5 walks, the first time he's really like the type of hitter I was acquiring. Of course, the defense is always great, and no one comes close to his 4.2 zone rating, which is twice the next highest (2.0, Edwin Hackberry). His 1.060 efficiency is also best among both associations, and if "Johnny Reb" has settled into the plate. It was also cool to see a successful debut from a guy that played beside him in the outfield, Clyde Zimmerman, as he went 2-for-3 against the Sailors. The rest of his week wasn't great, hitless in four at bats, but he becomes the first player that competed in the Great Western League to play a game for a FABL organization. He's got one week left, as Sal Pestilli should be back next week, and we clearly need him back as soon as possible.

Looking Ahead
So obviously this week sucked, but I'm going to try to think on the bright side. We were without both Mitchell and Sal in the Sailors series, and without Sal the rest of the week, our lineup was seriously lacking length. And even though the off day didn't quite help, the team had to be gassed, as we played twenty-six consecutive games to start the season. Even worse, twenty of those were on the road, so perhaps I was thinking too much?

We'll see how they perform this week, as we're stuck with the Kings, who we've lost to the previous four times. Lucky for us, Jake Roberts (0-2, 6.00, 5) is on the mound, and he's allowed five runs in each of his two starts. Even with his early struggles, Duke Bybee (1-3, 5.13, 23) and his 3.8 K/BB should be dominating teams instead of being left in the game too long because a certain manager refuses to listen. The rest of the week is at home too, as we'll host the Wolves (12-14) for three, the Sailors (15-10) for two, and the first of a pair with the Foresters (10-15). With all these games at home, we need to preform better, and it's crazy how ineffective the offense has been. Our staff still ranks second in the CA in runs allowed (100), and we've played three more games then the Cannons (73), who currently lead and are one of the few teams we have a winning record against (2-1).

ayaghmour2 · 03-12-2024, 10:22 PM

Weekly Record: 5-2
Seasonal Record: 16-17 (5th, 4 GB)
Stars of the Week
Leo Mitchell : 23 AB, 11 H, 1 HR, 5 RBI, .478 AVG, 1.127 OPS
Eddie Howard : 24 AB, 11 H, 0 HR, 6 RBI, .458 AVG, 1.042 OPS
Red Bond : 24 AB, 9 H, 1 HR, 6 RBI, .375 AVG, 1.000 OPS

Schedule
5-15: Loss vs Kings (7-5)
5-16: Win vs Wolves (3-4)
5-17: Win vs Wolves (3-11)
5-18: Win vs Wolves (1-2)
5-19: Win vs Sailors (3-4)
5-20: Win vs Sailors (3-10)
5-21: Loss vs Foresters (13-3)

Recap
So what happens when you sandwich an 0-6 week with two, far more respectable, 5-2 weeks?

Well, you're right back where you started, of course!

The tales of our demise may have been exaggerated, though I wouldn't hold my breath yet, as some rest and a return home was exactly what the Cougs needed to get back on track. As has been the case for nearly a decade and a half, you can thank Leo Mitchell, as the captain, fan favorite, and most importantly, my favorite, veteran outfielder has just been nothing but perfect this season. Mitchell was 11-for-23 in his first full week post-injury, contributing a homer, 5 RBIs, and 7 runs scored. He now boasts a pristine .458/.505/.602 (201 OPS+) triple slash through 93 PAs, and had he not missed a full week, he'd lead all qualified hitters by over 50 points in the batting race. Most impressively, however, may be the walks and strikeouts, as Mitchell has nine each so far. If this holds, his 9.7 BB% would be the first time in his FABL career he struck out in less then 10% of his plate appearances! Combined with 3 doubles, 3 homers, 13 RBIs, and 14 runs scored, Mitchell has managed to be worth 1.6 WAR despite being nothing more then a glorified statue on the outfield grass.

Part of the reason we had so much success this week, is because our Metronome actually had some help this week, with big weeks from Eddie Howard and Red Bond. Howard might have had the best week of his young career, as the first-year starter was 11-for-24 with 2 doubles and 6 RBIs. This brought his season line up to a far more respectable .302/.345/.358 (92 OPS+), and if he can start/keep hitting the ball with a little more authority, that OPS+ will be above 100 in no time. Bond, however, has no issues with hitting it hard, and he took Al Duster deep for his fifth homer in as many weeks. Bond finished the week a slightly worse 9-for-24, matching Howard's 6 RBIs, but contributing 3 runs and 5 walks, compared to his one of each category. John Moss had another strong week himself, 8-for-26 with 2 doubles, 3 walks, 4 RBIs, and 7 runs, with the highlight of his week a big 4-for-5 game in our 10-3 victory over the Sailors. Chubby Hall finally showed some signs of life too, as despite being 5-for-25, he did have a double, 2 homers, 6 runs, 6 RBIs, and 3 walks. It's nice seeing so many guys produce after very little involvement early on, and with Sal Pestilli's return to the lineup this week, it's hard not to be excited for tomorrow's slate of games!

Like Leo Mitchell, Donnie Jones has been tremendous all season, and had Red Bond not dropped an easy throw from George Sutterfield at second, he would have had his third shutout of the season. Instead, he allowed an unearned run in the 8th, finishing his complete game with 3 hits, 3 walks, and 4 strikeouts. Jones is now 5-2 in his seven starts, snapping his quick two game losing streak and bringing his ERA back down to 1.71 (203 ERA+). His 0.86 WHIP is arguably more impressive, and Jones has struck out 27 in 63 innings. Brother Johnnie will be back to start the week, but his replacement Zane Kelley looked good in his absence, going 8 with 11 hits, 3 runs (2 earned), 3 walks and 2 strikeouts before Jim Kenny allowed a hit and walk with a strikeout in his scoreless ninth. Scoreless doesn't come near describing his other outing of the week, as the Foresters thrashed him for 5 hits, a walk, and 6 runs, with a bases loaded strikeout of Sherry Doyal the only out he managed. Pete Papenfus came two outs away from a complete game win, but it was the right call, as at 150 pitches in a one run game he was getting tired. Pap struck out 7 with 9 hits, 3 runs, and 3 walks, leaving with one runner on due to his own error. Lucky for him, David Molina looked like himself against his old team, getting a pair of his former teammates out to end the game. That was one of the three one-run victories we managed this week, and even though this was the only time Molina was needed, it was great seeing the team respond with the effort needed to close out a few close ones.

Looking Ahead
One more with the Foresters, who are one of the two teams behind us in the standings. Their domination against us is deserving of revenge, as Johnnie Jones (2-1, 1.93, 18) will take on either Ollie White (1-3, 6.21, 29) or Gordie Irwin (2-2, 3.07, 7) in the finale. Assuming he isn't rusty from his injury, he should have the advantage on the mound. All eight position players had a hit in their 13-3 win over us, though the game was close until an 8-run 8th blew us out of the water. Orie Martinez (.202, 1, 8) managed his first homer of the season, going 2-for-4 with a double and four RBIs. Production like that has been uncommon on the team, especially for Orie, but rookie backstop Larry McClure (.333, 4, 19) is playing like he wants to represent the CA at the All-Star game. Aside from the top two hitters in Jim Urquhart (.320, 9, 2) and Jim Adams Jr. (.272, 1, 8, 1), they haven't been producing many runs, and before beating us they lost four of their last five. This is a big game for us, as a win brings us back to .500. A mark I hope we never fall below again...

Our nice homestand then ends with three against the Cannons, who have only played close games this season. They've allowed and scored the fewest amount of runs, and for their credit they're 17-13 and a game and a half out of first. Even though it doesn't really matter who we face, we're stuck with Rufus Barrell (3-3, 2.42, 26) in the opener, and I expect to face their top three with Jim Anderson (2-1, 2.22, 20) and Charlie Griffith (3-3, 2.04, 19) following. Optimistically, the law of averages would expect declines from Anderson and Griffith, and with Sal (.314, 4, 6) back in the lineup, we should be scoring some runs. The key is then preventing them, and with just two batters with a WRC+ above 100 in the lineup, our top three should really be able to shut them down. In fact, the top two are Chuck Adams (.287, 3, 9, 1) and Denny Andrews (.240, 3, 13, 1), and they're only at 101 and 105. Mike T. Taylor has been awful, hitting just .171/.246/.234 (28 OPS+), and the double play duo of Charlie Rivera (.213, 1, 11, 2) and Jim Hensley's (.214, 1, 6, 1) combined WRC+ (123) would be tied for 30th among qualifiers with Hal Wood (.316, 17, 1). All of this points to us coming away with a series win, but form is a real thing, and theirs is much stronger then ours.

We'll then make a quick stop in Brooklyn, where we'll deal with the seemingly unbeatable Kings. Not only are they 21-14 and in first place, but they've beat us in each of the first five contests. As you might expect, we've had trouble with Ralph Johnson (.344, 10, 28), and despite a 23 point drop in WRC+ from last year, Pat Petty (.250, 4, 33) is leading the association in RBIs due to elite production with runners in scoring position. That's helped them outscore the other seven continental teams, which has made up for poor seasons from Bob Arman (4-4, 5.51, 30) and Leo Hayden (5-2, 4.55, 26), though they've gotten quality starts from our old draftee Ron Berry. He's won five of his seven starts, working to a 2.53 ERA (160 ERA+) and 1.32 WHIP in 57 innings. He has walked 30 batters while striking out just 22, so Kings will hope they can keep him in the zone more often. His emergence has been big for Brooklyn, as the cornerstone of the John Moss (.235, 1, 10) deal has outperformed the All-Star himself. Illinois native Charlie Rogers (.252, 1, 15, 2) hasn't been great, but the soon-to-be 21-year-old hit his first career homer in the second day of a double header to finish the week, and he's got 11 doubles in his first 168 trips to the plate. Earlier in the season, I would have thought a series like this would be a good one for us to steal on the road, but at this point a single win is enough to make me happy about the outcome of this series.

ayaghmour2 · 03-13-2024, 08:11 PM

Weekly Record: 2-5
Seasonal Record: 18-22 (t-5th, 7 GB)
Stars of the Week
Pete Papenfus : 1 Win, 9.0 IP, 4 BB, 7 K, 0.00 ERA
David Molina : 1 Win, 3.2 IP, 1 BB, 3 K, 0.00 ERA
George Sutterfield : 27 AB, 7 H, 0 HR, 2 RBI, .259 AVG, .619 OPS

Schedule
5-22: Loss vs Foresters (8-6): 11 innings
5-23: Loss vs Cannons (3-2)
5-24: Win vs Cannons (0-4)
5-25: Loss vs Cannons (3-0)
5-26: Win vs Kings (0-1): 12 innings
5-27: Loss vs Kings (5-1)
5-28: Loss vs Kings (4-3)

Recap
I guess we're just not allowed to have back-to-back good weeks...

The offense just completely disappeared, as after scoring six in yet another losing effort to the Foresters, we couldn't manage more then four runs against the Cannons or Kings, who both took two of three from us where the only way we could win is preventing the other team from scoring a single run. Already seven games out, we might actually be in a hole that's going to be impossible to drag ourselves out. Especially considering how ineffective the offense is.

Not a single batter who made more then 4 at bats had a OPS+ above 100 for the week, and Sal Pestilli's 81 was the closest to average. That alone is all I'm going to say about the bats, as at least some of our pitchers performed well!

Peter the Heater has gotten as hot as his fastball, and he kept the Cannons hitters guessing all game, twirling a 5-hit shutout with 5 hits, 4 walks, and 7 strikeouts. George Oddo should have joined him with a shutout, but we couldn't solve Joe Potts (4-2, 2.61, 29). That caused Oddo to throw 10 shutout innings in a classic George Oddo no decision, as 3 hits, 4 walks, and 4 strikeouts without a run wasn't enough for a win. Somehow... Luckily, David Molina threw two perfect innings, and we were able to finally win on a Skipper Schneider go-ahead single in the top of the 12th. Aside from that, it was only pitchers in losses, as even though Duke and Donnie pitched well, there's not too much else worth noting.

Looking Ahead
While I don't care too much about the coming games, the draft pool is officially published tomorrow, meaning we'll get to see exactly how good our draftees did, and who we maybe should have grabbed with one of our ten picks. Dixie Marsh thinks we got the seventh best player at twelve, though his list makes me really wish I skipped a pitcher in the second. We still got plenty of talent, but we could have landed what may end up a top ten or fifteen target with our second rounder, so if we either got better lottery luck or Elmer Sullivan fell, we would have had a very good draft.

We're actually off to start the week, and it's nice because we have a double header with the Stars (23-19) on Tuesday. That ends our homestand, as we'll use the off day after the double header to head to Toronto for three. Since we haven't lost to them all season, expect us to get swept here, before our Sunday is spent getting shutout by one of the four Cannons pitchers who are pitching out of their mind. I can't believe Jim Anderson (3-2, 2.33, 21), Charlie Griffith (4-3, 1.74, 21), and Mickey Mills (5-2, 3.09, 35) are pitching so well, and Tony Britten (4-2, 2.67, 19) may have emerged as an ace. This could be a very tough week for us, which I'm sure will lead to yet another short write up as the team has given me very little to work with.

Minor League Report
RHP Cliff Wallace (AA Little Rock Governors): Just because the major league team sucks, doesn't mean the minor league ones aren't doing extraordinary things, as from AA down we've got three teams with win percentages over .600! Cliff Wallace has contributed to that, as the 24-year-old Governor laid down the law in Chattanooga, holding the Reliables scoreless with a shutout victory. Wallace allowed 9 hits and 2 walks with 6 strikeouts, improving to 4-2 in his six starts. He's been effective in his first go at this level, owning a 3.88 ERA (110 ERA+) and 1.58 WHIP with 23 walks and 26 strikeouts. His recent improvements have earned him some respect from the prospect pickers, as he now ranks 40th in our system and 426th overall. A former 9th Rounder, Wallace is a sidewinding righty who can hit 90 with his fastball. His slider is the real treat, as at 6'5'' he has a huge wingspan, allowing him to disguise the ball well to same side hitters. Interesting enough, Dixie and OSA think the best pitch is the change, as their is no question about his stuff. The issue is command, as when he's not in the zone he's easy to wait out. Regardless, I'm happy to see a respectable 10.7 BB%, and I'll be keeping an eye on that number as the season progresses.

RHP Jim Williams (AA Little Rock Governors): The second Governor to throw a shutout this week, Jim Williams should have won Player of the Week. Not just because of the shutout, but on Monday he threw a 12-inning complete game victory, allowing just 5 hits, a run, and 3 walks with 7 strikeouts in a 2-1 win. The shutout was impressive as well, a 4-hitter with 7 strikeouts and 5 walks, improving the 23-year-old to 4-1 in his 7 starts. The former 8th Rounder ranks as our 15th best pitching prospect and 442 among all prospects, though he went untouched in the recent Rule-5 draft. Part of that was due to just two starts at AA before this season, though he's looked capable so far this season. Williams owns a 3.05 ERA (140 ERA+) and 1.20 WHIP, though I am concerned with the 25 walks to 21 strikeouts. Normally a command oriented pitcher, his 10.2 BB% is higher then each of his four stints over the past two seasons. I'm not too worried, as there is so much more to like. The tall righty is comfortably in the low 90s with his sinker, and his stuff is probably good enough to fool FABL batters. He does a good job keeping the ball on the ground too, and with the amount of effort he puts in to improving his craft, there could be some more to come from him. I think he's been undervalued some, but it might be tough for the Boston native to get a shot here with us.

RHP Bob Allen (A Lincoln Legislators): The Lincoln Legislators roster is absolutely loaded this year. You've got 36th ranked prospect Henry Norman out in right. Then there's 14th overall Jerry Smith lined up in Norman's natural center field position. But most importantly, there's baseball's #1 pitching prospect Bob Allen on the mound.

Taken 10th Overall in 1946, the eventual Allen Winner has truly shined on the mound, consistently ranked among the top ten prospects in the game since the day he inked his first contract. He was off to a somewhat slow start, dropping three of his first four decisions, but the #7 overall prospect has kicked it up a notch. He didn't get a win, but his fifth start saw him allow just one hit and one run, striking out four in an 8 inning no decision. Realizing that even one run was too much, Allen took things in his own hands against the Terre Haute Brewers, twirling a 2-hit, 2-walk shutout in a 4-0 win. This brought his ERA down to 2.68 (147 ERA+) in 40.1 innings, with a strong 1.14 WHIP despite one more walk (19) then strikeout (18). Control has been the one real weak spot for our hopeful ace, who has yet to have a single digit walk rate. Interesting enough, Dixie and OSA have no concerns about him figuring out, and when you combine that with his electric stuff, you have all the makings of a future star. He'll turn 22 tomorrow, and as crazy as it sounds, he's actually eligible for the Rule-5 draft next offseason. Obviously he won't stay unprotected, but it really shows how close to a potential debut the enticing prospect is. We have no immediate need in the rotation, even if Duke Bybee is pitching like a pitcher who never threw an inning in AA, so don't get too excited about a Bob Allen debut.

But it's getting closer and closer by the loss!

LHP Joe Oates (B San Jose Cougars): Shutouts were the theme this week, even for the big league club, and San Jose's Joe Oates was one of the many pitchers of ours to throw a shutout! Like Allen, his shutout came after a one-run outing, as Oates improved to 3-2 by allowing just 2 hits and walks with 5 strikeouts in 8 strong innings. The follow up was actually a bit worse, as in his shutout he allowed six hits and three walks with six strikeouts. Oates now has an impressive 3.06 ERA (135 ERA+) to go with a near identical 3.12 FIP (75 FIP-), and in 47 innings he's gathered 18 walks, 35 strikeouts, and a 1.13 WHIP. Another former 9th Rounder, Oates is in his second season as a starter, and the hard worker seems on his way for a promotion. A five pitch pitcher, Oates is throwing a bit faster this season, has his stuff is really starting to come around. The slider is a tough pitch and 85-87 his fastball and sinker are becoming more effective. He's still not a high upside potential mid-rotation arm, but Oates continues to go deep into games, and he could work his way into an emergency role. And once you get that, you never know what could come next.

ayaghmour2 · 03-14-2024, 08:40 PM

Weekly Record: 2-5
Seasonal Record: 21-25 (t-5th, 7 GB)
Stars of the Week
Leo Mitchell : 24 AB, 10 H, 1 HR, 5 RBI, .417 AVG, 1.065 OPS
George Sutterfield : 23 AB, 9 H, 1 HR, 2 RBI, .391 AVG, 1.027 OPS
Sal Pestilli : 19 AB, 6 H, 0 HR, 3 RBI, .316 AVG, .988 OPS

Schedule
5-30: Loss vs Stars (2-1)
5-30: Loss vs Stars (5-4)
6-1: Win at Wolves (7-6): 10 innings
6-2: Loss at Wolves (2-7)
6-3: Win at Wolves (5-2)
6-4: Win at Cannons (7-2)

Recap
Thankfully, May is over, as we were 12-17 in that stupid month. June brought joy, as we won three of four, and that was enough to actually improve our position in the standings by a game and a half. We're still tied for fifth with the Saints and Wolves, and we beat the now first place Cannons! So maybe things are starting to look up!

For starters, at least Max Wilder is starting to use David Molina right, as after a few more tweaks I think I'm going to have his usage perfect. It's good that Max is starting to catch on, as I was seriously considering firing him if he kept doing dumb stuff! Thankfully, he used our stopper four times this week, and even though one of the outings didn't go quite as plan, the decision to call on him made sense each time! One thing I was worried about was Molina taking away legit complete game opportunities from guys who deserved it, but Wilder made the right call in Johnnie Jones' start. We were up 5-2 going into the ninth, and Wilder made the right choice of letting Jones out for the ninth. When I saw he took him out with 8.2 innings, I was starting to worry, but fear not! It was the right call! It wasn't the "oh he got two outs he can't get the third," but it was Johnnie got the first two, put two runners on (one as an error), and Molina was brought in to stop the bleeding. That was the final of his 5 innings, as Molina allowed 3 hits, 2 runs, and 3 walks with 4 strikeouts, picking up a win and save for his efforts. I'm finally confident in us late in games, even if we lost some more one-run games!

When it comes to the lineup, the only thing I'm confident in is Leo Mitchell showing everyone else up, as yet again, the veteran superstar is our top performer. Mitchell hit 10-for-24, which actually lowered his lofty average ever-so-slightly, adding a homer, 3 runs, 5 RBIs, and a triple. Mitchell has maintained a .429/.477/.571 (183 OPS+) triple slash, and is remarkably a tenth of a win away from the 2 WAR mark, the same total he had in 110 games last year. There was some support elsewhere, as George Sutterfield had a nice week, going 9-for-23 with a double, homer, steal, 2 RBIs, 3 walks, and 7 runs. Charlie Woodbury got a full slate of starts after crushing it on the bench, going a respectable 7-for-21 with 2 doubles, 2 runs, a walk, and RBI. Sal Pestilli went 6-for-19 with 4 doubles, 3 RBIs, and 5 runs, but through 136 PAs he's still searching for his first home run. He does have 9 doubles, 3 triples, 7 steals, and 17 walks, so it's not like he hasn't been useful, but just imagine how much better his .296/.381/.426 (118 OPS+) line would look without a missing value in the home run department. For a guy with 55 homers in the last two seasons, you think he'd have no trouble when he plays most of his games at Cougars Park, but the veteran has not been slugging like he used to. He did have a nice moment this week, as his 1,000th career RBI came in our 7-2 win over the Cannons, as Sal doubled home Sutterfield with a 108.1 MPH line drive in the four run fourth.

The pitching wasn't great, but we got some decent outings from Pete Papenfus, who split his two starts. They were pretty similar outings, despite the different outcomes, as each time he threw 8 innings with 2 runs, 2 walks, 3 strikeouts, and a home run. There was a slight difference, as he allowed more hits in his win (9) then in his loss (6). That's baseball for you sometimes, as despite his 4-5 record, he's been as good as ever. Pap's 7.3 BB% is a clear best, and he owns a 3.25 ERA (123 ERA+) and 1.27 WHIP with 44 strikeouts in 80.1 innings pitched. If it wasn't for Donnie Jones, who was uncharacteristically awful (we aren't going into this...), Pap would be the clear ace and top preforming pitcher, but our fireballer will have to settle for the best-man this year, though I'm not going to tell him that. Let him keep pitching like an ace!

Lastly, the initial mock draft was published today, and if the creator is worth his salt, we got the 4th best player in the pool. I do love Andy Robinson, who hit .542 with 4 homers and 37 RBIs as a senior, but the mock loves to change its mind almost as much as it likes to underrate pitchers. He's clearly skilled, and I'll cover him in more detail in a stand-alone amateur report with the other nine new members, some of which are on the mock themselves. Ike Soeur (2.10), Dave Hall (3.13), Ed Freeman (4.10), Ernie Tisdale (5.4), and Frank Hernandez (5.16) are all there now, and come draft day I'm sure the order will be completely different. Dixie Marsh is pretty happy with the draft, as Robinson is his 7th ranked player, and he has Tisdale (27th) and Soeur (28th) towards the end of his 32 player first round list. Plenty more rank on his longer ones, and this could be a better then expected class to restock some depth we traded away.

Looking Ahead
Despite being the seventh ranked offense, we managed to get seven runs off the top pitching staff in the CA. Holding a half game lead over the Stars, Cincinnati now leads the Continental Association, as the Cannons played just a little less bad then the Kings this week. Lucky for us, there's no worry of facing Rufus Barrell (5-4, 2.45, 36), as Cincinnati will send Tony Britten (4-3, 2.52, 21) and Mickey Mills (6-2, 2.81, 42) out to face us. I'm not too sure what to think of Mills, an inexperienced 28-year-old, as he might actually be good? It's a small sample, just 67.1 innings, but his 3.18 FIP (77 FIP-) is arguably more impressive then his 2.81 ERA (146 ERA+). Mills has a 15.3 K% and 1.6 K/BB, all while touching 99 with his fastball. I'm not sure where this guy was the past few seasons, as the Cannons had some less then optimal pitchers make starts, but the former 13th Rounder may have earned himself a permanent spot in the rotation. I'm curious to see if we can solve him, as the Cannons offense won't give much support, as they're the only team who's plated fewer runners then we have. Chuck Adams (.272, 7, 26) is the only guy they've been able to rely much on, though Denny Andrews (.232, 4, 15) and Fred Galloway (.230, 2, 13) have done alright, even if not at their regular levels. It's still shocking they're leading the CA in June, but if things go the way they should, we might be able to steal the series to start the week.

The road trip then continues with three in Philadelphia, where we'll face off against the 4th place Sailors. They're just three back of first, so if we beat the Cannons and they beat us, there's a chance they finish the series in first place. Though at just 23-22, the reverse outcome could be lethal, sending the Sailors right back down to the second division. They're hoping to improve on their first last place finish since 1920, as even if they don't win the pennant, they could be lottery favorites with a large increase in wins. To do so, the defense will need to improve, as all of their starters have been let down more then they can count. That hasn't stopped Win Lewis from an impressive rebound campaign, going 5-3 with a 2.64 ERA (156 ERA+) and 1.08 WHIP with 19 walks and 39 strikeouts. Behind him Al Duster (5-3, 3.26, 39) and Charlie Gordon (4-3, 3.74, 30) have impressed, but the back of their rotation has struggled to keep them in games. The offense isn't good enough to outslug top teams, though they can put up runs if they're getting men on base. They lead the CA in batting thanks to Marion Boismenu (.359, 2, 14, 2) and Ed Reyes (.525, 14), while many regulars are hitting above .275. While that's not the only measure of a good hitter, guys like Billy Forbes (.307, 2, 17, 8), Al Farmer (.295, 1, 16), and old friend Solly Skidmore (.283, 3, 19) have offered plenty at the plate. It's going to be a tough series for us here, and I'm worried we won't come away with more then one win.

Our week then ends with three games in two days out in Cleveland, where we'll look to beat the cellar dwelling Foresters. Despite their lack of wins against most of the association, they've beat us all four times, and that could forecast more of the same here. Especially considering they're playing a bit better then the record shows, likely more of a .500 team then one that is 19-26. Not everyone is doing great, but on the mound John Jackson (2-5, 2.80, 28) has looked good while Adrian Czerwinski (4-6, 3.94, 31) and Ducky Davis (2-5, 4.01, 19) have far better FIPs then ERAs. That's no surprise considering they rank last in both errors and efficiency, so however you slice it they've been the worst defenders in the Continental. One of the few plus defenders is one of their better hitters, young second basemen Jim Urquhart (.342, 19, 2), though no one is hitting better then fellow rookie Larry McClure. The 23-year-old catcher is batting .333/.382/.588 (151 OPS+) with 6 homers and 25 RBIs in his first 36 FABL games. With a double header, that means we likely see him in at most two of the three games, and last year's All-Star Mark Smith (.164, 6) hasn't looked like an All-Star in the slightest. That could be the difference in a close game, as depending on pitching matchups, there may not be too many runs to come about. In tight games, defense makes the difference, so you think we'd be able to come away with the series even on the road.

Minor League Report
2B Roxy Hilts (AA Little Rock Governors): With the Cunningham brothers in the middle infield, Roxy Hilts has been working on his versatility, appearing in 18 games at first and 19 at third, with ten more at his natural second base. Despite the constant movement, Hilts has been great, and even came home with the Dixie League Player of the Month, even named the Player of the Week here too. 22 in three days, Roxy hit an impressive .349/.441/.578 (162 OPS+) with 15 doubles, 2 triples, 2 homers, 18 RBIs, 18 walks, and 14 runs. This combined for a 181 WRC+, as he made 127 trips to the plate in 29 games. On the season, he's now hitting .337/.423/.556 (152 OPS+), though the most impressive part is the 20 doubles in 44 games. If he played 140, that would give him 64, an outstanding feat at any level. Since I'm not used to Little Rock Stadium, my first instinct was to check the park factors, but the doubles (1.018) factor there is pretty neutral. He is the type to put the ball in play often, and with his discipline he's done a good job picking his pitches. Milwaukee's infield is jammed pack, so a promotion doesn't seem imminent, but he's positioned himself well for a promotion if a lineup spot opens.

ayaghmour2 · 03-16-2024, 12:04 AM

Weekly Record: 6-2
Seasonal Record: 27-27 (4th, 4.5 GB)
Stars of the Week
Sal Pestilli : 26 AB, 9 H, 1 HR, 6 RBI, .346 AVG, 1.105 OPS
Duke Bybee : 2 Wins, 18.0 IP, 2 BB, 5 K, 1.00 ERA
David Molina : 1 Win, 2 Saves, 3.0 IP, 0 BB, 1 K, 0.00 ERA

Schedule
6-5: Win at Cannons (7-2)
6-6: Loss at Cannons (1-2): 10 innings
6-7: Win at Sailors (4-1)
6-8: Win at Sailors (5-3)
6-9: Win at Sailors (4-3): 10 innings
6-10: Win at Foresters (3-1)
6-11: Win at Foresters (5-3)
6-11: Loss at Foresters (2-5)

Recap
When I went to be last night, I really thought we were going to go 2-6 or 1-7 or maybe even ... 0-8... But fear not! I was way off! A 6-2 week that brings us two and a half games closer to first!

You can thank the staff, as no one scored more then three runs against us until the final game of the week! Sure, that should be enough for a perfect week, but it's hard to complain about our best week of the season. Of course, it came with some downsides, as despite his first homer and best week of the season, we'll once again be without Sal Pestilli for two weeks. That's because shortly after hitting his first homer, he hit his head pretty hard, and will need another IL stint. Along with the homer, he was 9-for-26 with a double, 2 triples, 4 runs, 5 walks, 6 RBIs, and a steal. That upped his season line to .305/.394/.468 (133 OPS+), as despite the single homer, he has fifteen other extra base hits, and we'll again be without our best position player.

The rest of the lineup didn't do much, though Chubby Hall was able to draw walks in four of his eleven PAs, and him and Don Lee will again see more time. Luckily, the pitching has hit the groove, as Duke Bybee's luck finally corrected. He was 1947/1948 Bybee, picking up a pair of complete game victories. Each time out just one run was earned, as he went to Cincinnati and Cleveland and handled business. The Cannons got an unearned run too, as Duke allowed 5 hits with 2 strikeouts. The Foresters got 6 hits and 2 walks, but Bybee struck out three. His ERA is down to a far more respectable 4.38 (91 ERA+) in 11 starts, and his 3.45 FIP (86 FIP-) expects more and more starts like the one he threw here. I hope he's finally in the groove, as George Oddo's 3.70 ERA is the next highest, and that's good for a 108 ERA+. He also made two starts, both good enough to win, but as he tends to often, he doesn't get those wins. He split his starts, with the loss a game that should have been for David Molina. He went out for the 10th, where he allowed a walk-off single to Sam Brown. We couldn't solve Mickey Mills, so 5 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks, and 3 strikeouts ended in a loss. That was better then the win, where we went 8 with 8 hits, 3 runs, 2 walks, and 5 strikeouts.

Molina finished that second start, giving him his second save and eighth of the season. He picked up a win against his old team too, finishing the week with three separate scoreless innings. He did allow four hits, but no walks, and he picked up another strikeout. He finished starts for Johnnie Jones (save) and Pete Papenfus (win), where both went 8 with 3 runs. Johnnie walked 8, but allowed 6 hits with 4 strikeouts, while Pap allowed 9 hits with 5 walks and strikeouts. Donnie Jones made a pair of starts, and like Oddo, split his starts. He went nine against the Sailors, allowing 9 hits, 5 walks, and a run with 4 strikeouts. The Foresters, however, got to him for 11 hits, 5 runs, and 3 walks with 2 strikeouts in his 8 innings. Despite a 2.85 ERA (140 ERA+), he's an even 6-6 in his 12 starts, which is the only thing getting in the way of an Allen campaign. We need him to go on another run, as he's dropped four of his last five starts after starting the year 5-2. I'll always have faith in our durable ace, and it's started to trickle off to the rest of the squad.

Going into the week, we have a new player, acquiring off waivers a player I targeted multiple times in the past. While not the same player, it's nice getting two-time All-Star Frank Davis, who had a decade long run as a plus defensive shortstop. While not the same defender at 33, Davis is a 14-year vet who has appeared in a game for the Dynamos, Saints, Chiefs, and most recently, Keystones, as he's been involved in trades with notable players such as Ray Calfee and Hank Barnett, as well as Miners starting catcher Dino Robinson. He's appeared in 1,792 FABL games, and when considering his defense, a .268/.323/.336 (86 OPS+) career line is pretty respectable. Same can't be said for this season, hence why he was waived, as the Keystone shortstop was hitting just .154/.186/.169 (-3 OPS+), and his defense (-0.2, .982) is not nearly good enough to make up for it. Lucky for us, we have one Skipper Schneider (though his 42 WRC+ leaves plenty to be desired...), and since Al Clement (24 G, 8 PA) has pretty much played an inning a game, there's room on the bench for a veteran like Davis. He's not the only one returning to Chicago, as we're again replacing Pestilli with Clyde Zimmerman. I don't expect either to play too much, but both should be useful pieces of the bench for the coming weeks.

Looking Ahead
Can't remember the last time I was happy to do one of these, so it's fitting that we'll have to wait until Monday before more Cougars baseball. In-game, it's a wait until Tuesday, as after our double header we'll use an off day to return to the Windy City. Surprisingly, we've been a bit better on the road then at home, two games over versus two games under. The first guest is the still first place Cannons, who we again put up seven runs against. They're off after a double header too, one that saw Rufus Barrell (7-4, 2.34, 43) and Mickey Mills (8-2, 2.40, 49) pitch, which is huge news for us. I covered Mills a bit yesterday, but after besting us and Brooklyn, he now has made five consecutive starts with one or fewer earned run. Him and Rufus are 1-2 in the ERA race, with Charlie Griffith (6-4, 2.51, 26) #3. He's set to start the middle game, though since we started against us this week, he's saw his ERA jump up nearly a full run from 1.65. We'll then get Jim Anderson (3-3, 3.09, 33) in the opener and Tony Britten (4-5, 3.32, 27) in the finale, which could help us take the series. I'm not worried about their offense, which has scored fewer runs then we've allowed, and they're now missing Mike T. Taylor (.250, 1, 10, 6) for the next five weeks. After a dreadful start, he was really starting to pick things up, and I expect his spot in the order to go to Sam Brown (.305, 9), who beat us in Cincinnati. Assuming no surprises, I can see a few nailbiters, and with how well they've played, a strong showing from the visitors could make a big difference in the standings.

We'll then finish our week with three against the Wolves, who finally beat us for the first time on June 2nd. They've dropped down to 24-30, in part because Fred McCormick (.262, 1, 23) is starting to look his age. The same can't be said for Hal Wood (.337, 1, 28) or Joe Hancock (6-2, 2.76, 38), who are still having strong seasons late in their 30s. Looking towards some of the youth, the Wolves have gotten a lot at the plate from Harry Finney, who's hitting .346/.399/.471 (127 OPS+) with 10 doubles, 2 triples, a homer, and 12 RBIs. That's impressive considering in 424 FABL plate appearances, he still has just a .265/.316/.347 (79 OPS+) line. Still, the 149 this season are his most in a season, and at just 26, it may have taken him a bit longer to develop the bat. Then at the keystone, 23-year-old Joe DeMott (.317, 1, 20) has looked comfortable, quickly making Wolves fans feel better about losing Charlie Artuso (.246, 2, 23). But since we've had so much success against them so far, it's hard to expect anything other then a series win, as we seems to be the more talented team. Even if they are scoring way more often then us right now...

The draft then is on Monday, which means we'll either get our draftees Monday, or I'll have one last chance to finalize my list. Right now Dixie Marsh has been consistent with Andy Robinson as his #7, same with OSA at 4th. There are some changes, most notably Ike Soeur checks in as the final pick of the first round. Plenty of other ups and downs, but it's nice seeing plenty of future Cougars on the list! And I forgot to take the monthly screenshots, so we get them today:

ayaghmour2 · 03-16-2024, 09:57 PM

1st Round, 12th Overall: 2B Andy Robinson
School: Fredericksburg Chargers
Commit School: Alabama Baptist
1950: .542/.590/.822, 134 PA, 15 2B, 3 3B, 4 HR, 37 RBI, 18 SB
Career: .527/.574/.814, 499 PA, 64 2B, 15 3B, 10 HR, 139 RBI, 83 SB

Depending on the way you look at it, you could argue that Andy Robinson saved his best season for last, as he hit a career high .542 with 4 homers, 18 steals, and 37 RBIs. He was rewarded for his efforts by the staff at TWIFS, as our first rounder was named as one of the three middle infield All-Americans. Robinson tallied 22 extra base hits and scored 49 runs, and his .590 OBP, like his average, was one point higher then his previous best as a sophomore. I've also touched on it a bit, but it's been awesome to see our 12th Overall Pick check in at 4th on the mock, and with Biff Tiner recently promoted to San Jose (7-22, 3 2B, RBI, BB, SB), there's a wide open second base spot available at La Crosse. Robinson is demanding a hefty sum, a full $21,000, but that's an easy to meet demand for a potential top 50 prospect. Robinson is loaded with talent, and as you might be able to tell from his well above .500 batting averages, he's got an outstanding, maybe even elite, contact tool, and with his keen eye, I see .300/.400/.500 triple slashes in his future. Add in great speed, and the ability to handle second, short, and left, it's hard not to get a bit giddy when thinking about Robinson's future. OSA and Dixie are just as enthused as I am, with OSA declaring him "a potential elite second basemen on a contending team," while Dixie thinks if he reaches his potential, that Robinson "could make multiple trips to the All-Star game." As with any prep prospect, there's a ton of risk and a huge gap between currents and potentials, but Robinson is one of the surer things I've seen, and potentially are most advanced high school draftee since we made Skipper Schneider the 7th Pick of the 1939 draft.

2nd Round, 20th Overall: RHP Ernie Tisdale
School: Oklahoma City Bible College Dusters
1950: 8-4, 108.2 IP, 2.65 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 39 BB, 136 K
Career: 18-7, 231.1 IP, 2.61 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 93 BB, 285 K

There's always nerves when you take a pitcher early, and even if Rod Shearer is going to be a legit center fielder for the Chiefs, I'm still happy with Ernie Tisdale a few in-game months later. "Big E" matched his excellent sophomore season with a great junior season, going 8-4 with a 2.65 ERA and 136 strikeouts in his 16 starts. That gave him 34 collegiate starts, where he went a strong 18-7 with a great 2.61 ERA and 1.23 WHIP for the Dusters. An intimidating, 6'4' righty, Big E has a deep five pitch arsenal, headlined by an above average sinker and change. Those pitches are pretty solid already, and he projects to have a few more plus offerings with his fastball, splitter, and slider. He's not the hardest thrower right now, sitting in the 85-87 range, but with his length it may look almost 90. When you put this all together, you have the tools for a major league starter, and with the amount of movement he gets on his pitches, assuming regular development he should be at worst a reliable back-end guy who can give you innings. Like with many draftees, control is the final hurdle, though he maintained a K/BB above 3 in his college innings. With how good we've been at developing pitchers, I think Tisdale should turn into yet another quality rotation member who's first transaction was our selection of them.

3rd Round, 46th Overall: C Ed Freeman
School: Marcus Hook Roadrunners
Commit School: Rainier College
1950: .449/.524/.685, 105 PA, 11 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 24 RBI, 10 SB
Career: .441/.500/.633, 455 PA, 41 2B, 4 3B, 8 HR, 103 RBI, 29 SB

One of the guys who's bounced up-and-down the mock, Ed Freeman completed his four years at Marcus Hook with a decent .441/.550/.633 batting line. His best season was as a senior as despite his average being two points lower then his previous best, his .524 OBP and .685 slugging were personal bests. As a catcher, the offense isn't as important, but Freeman has the tools to handle the bat as well as any non-catcher. Dixie thinks he'll hit around .310, and after a impressive 52-to-19 walk-to-strikeout ratio, he's expected to draw a large number of walks against FABL pitchers. Even better, he has projectable power, with OSA going as far as saying its "the kind that could generate 25 homers a season in the future." That may be a bit too optimistic, but Freeman does a good job squaring up the ball and hitting it hard. Even with average defense behind the plate, he has the making of an above average big league catcher, and there are plenty of at bats waiting for him down in La Crosse after he signs. Garland Phelps is still the catcher of the future, but you can never have too many quality catching prospects, as truly All-Star level catchers are few and far between.

4th Round, 62nd Overall: CF Ike Soeur
School: Walla Walla Warriors
Commit School: Daniel Boone College
1950: .505/.579/.856, 116 PA, 13 2B, 6 3B, 3 HR, 33 RBI, 23 SB
Career: .499/.566/.792, 493 PA, 43 2B, 22 3B, 11 HR, 127 RBI, 85 SB

As touched on yesterday, Ike Soeur managed to sneak his way into the first round of the mock, claiming the sixteenth and final spot. That's excellent news for us, as the Mississauga native was rewarded for his personal best .505/.579/.856 triple slash. This wraps up an impressive four year career for the week-away-from 18-year-old, who finishes his prep career just shy of a .500 career batting average. If you ignore this season, we've had plenty of success with Walla Walla high schoolers, as slugger Otto Christian spent his four seasons with the Warriors as well. Ike couldn't be any more different as a player, as he's a quick and not-so-powerful outfielder, and he could surprisingly end up as the more valuable player. Both Dixie and OSA have quickly changed their tune on Ike, with Dixie commenting on his potential to "unleash his obvious talent on the field and at the plate." OSA goes a step further, declaring he has the "dynamic tools needed to make an impact in the majors." That would be a huge steal in the fourth round, giving us yet another exciting center field prospect from the prep ranks. I don't think he'll pass five-tool outfielder Jerry Smith, but Soeur has a similar hit tool and speed, and even though he hasn't quite shown it yet, he's expected to hit for at least average power. The defense is a question mark, but with his speed I'm hoping that means good range, and I'll find someway to get him in center to see how he can do.

5th Round, 78th Overall: RHP Hal Lewis
School: Tallmadge State Terriers
1950: 8-7, 132.1 IP, 3.67 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 63 BB, 114 K
Career (COL): 22-21, 370.2 IP, 3.79 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 179 BB, 335 K
Career (HS): 38-9, 492 IP, 1.35 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 115 BB, 665 K

I'm a big fan of Hal Lewis, but he may be the first "miss" as the first four guys are all pretty highly rated by OSA, Dixie, and his list. He checks in at 18 on Dixie's pitcher list (Big E is 3! Which honestly surprises me!), but I see plenty of guys above him I wouldn't want instead. Even better, Hal was throwing a tick harder, as his three fastballs sat in the 86-88 range during his junior season. As hoped, it was a return to his freshman year form, as "Happy" dropped his ERA, WHIP, and walk rate while finishing on the right side of .500. The Tallmadge State starter cracked the 130 inning mark again, though he has had to throw more pitches then he should due to his command. I think part might have to do with the fact that he throws five pitches, and since he hasn't settled on a go-to pitch, he may be trying a bit too hard to throw instead of pitch. Despite the lack of an out pitch, he's shown a propensity for whiffs, as he keeps batters on their toes. The kid has the energy you want in a project prospect, and I really think the Brooklyn native should at least fill a pen, if not earn a starting spot with an organization that needs some help on the mound.

6th Round, 94th Overall: SS Gene Meeker
School: Glendora Tartans
Commit School: Glendora
1950: .443/.500/.670, 130 PA, 13 2B, 5 3B, HR, 31 RBI, 24 SB
Career: .443/.500/.670, 130 PA, 13 2B, 5 3B, HR, 31 RBI, 24 SB

I'll be honest, I was a little worried about this pick. It's tough gambling on a guy with no stats, and after the draft, Dixie Marsh didn't have the greatest things to say about Gene Meeker.

That's changed a bit recently!

On the older side for a high schooler, Meeker will turn 19 in September, and he's not the type who goes went to Glendora to play school. A baseballer through and through, Dixie thinks he "can be penciled in for a lion's share of starts at his position," while believing he can hit up to .330. That's a bit surprising considering he hit just .443 in 26 games, but Dixie is a fan of his above average hit tool. OSA seconds that, even if they don't see him as much more then a bench guy, but I think that's more of his floor then a ceiling. Along with a strong hit tool, the LA native has a keen eye and his speed is an asset. Not necessarily game changing, but any slow roller on the infield could spell trouble, and he's not afraid to take the extra base. I'm curious to see how the glove is, as it could be a make-or-break factor in his progression. Even being an average defensive shortstop gives you a huge advantage, and with Meeker's ability to put the ball in play and swing at mostly pitches he can hit, there's all the makings of a capable every day player. But if the glove is secondary, he can't hit enough for third base, and even second base tends to be a position where a premium is put on defense.

7th Round, 110th Overall: RF Frank Hernandez
School: Houma Barons
Commit School: St. Magnus
1950: .445/.527/.700, 132 PA, 14 2B, 4 3B, 2 HR, 27 RBI, 14 SB
Career: .444/.529/.730, 485 PA, 50 2B, 18 3B, 9 HR, 103 RBI, 100 SB

Rather surprisingly, Frank Hernandez checks in as the first pick of the third round on the mock, behind just Andy and Ike among our picks. A four year starter at Houma, Hernandez didn't even have the greatest senior year, though the only real concern was the drop in steals. He went from 27 or more his first three seasons to just 14, and that came in a career high 132 trips to the plate. On the other side, he did strike out just four times, the lowest in any of his four seasons. 18 in August, Hernandez is supposedly an elite runner, if you believe OSA, though they don't think he's much of a base stealer. This seems to agree with that huge drop this season, but one thing all three of us agree on is that he's going to draw a lot of walks. That's probably his best tool, as the part-Venezuelan outfielder is one of the more disciplined hitters. Because of that, he may hit around .300, and if the speed is legit, when he's on base you have to pay attention to him. Though as a corner outfielder only, it's going to be tough for him to fight his way into the lineup, and lucky for us that shouldn't get him down. He's one of the hardest workers there is, and that should help him approach his potential. I expect him to be one of our last guys to sign, as I'll need to make room for him, and the more I look at him the more I think he's going to be an everyday player.

This class has really grown on me!

8th Round, 126th Overall: SS Bruce Thomas
School: Sandy Valley Cardinals
Commit School: Georgia Baptist
1950: .443/.518/.639, 116 PA, 13 2B, 2 HR, 24 RBI, 6 SB
Career: .443/.515/.627, 241 PA, 25 2B, 4 HR, 54 RBI, 15 SB

Committed to the prestigious Georgia Baptist that produced both Barrell brothers we drafted, it actually might be best if we let Bruce Thomas go to college instead of meeting his $1,800 bonus. A two year starter at Sandy Valley, Thomas had near identical seasons, where most of his stats would be considered within the expected deviation of a random sample. He hit some doubles, doesn't strike out much, and isn't fast, but his athleticism is what excited me. He has a great eye, and he makes good adjustments when swinging, where if he's fooled by a pitch, he can get enough to foul it off. Yet when he makes hard contact, the ball will go far, and I think there's at least average power in his bat. What I don't think is that he'll stick at short, so even though he's the third shortstop in our final five picks, I think he's going to end up at third. Granted, all he's ever known is shortstop, so perhaps my fears are unwarranted. But if the choice is between him and Meeker for short, it's going to Meeker, and the two may end up moving up our system together. Unlike Meeker, I think Thomas is more suited for a bench role, but if the power fills out, they could end up playing on the left side of the infield together.

9th Round, 142nd Overall: LHP Bill Owens
School: Prospect Heights Cardinals
Commit School: Eastern State
1950: 4-1, 55.2 IP, 1.29 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, 12 BB, 85 K
Career: 4-1, 55.2 IP, 1.29 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, 12 BB, 85 K

Despite not pitching a single high school inning before the January draft, I rolled the dice on lefty Bill Owens, who Dixie Marsh isn't the biggest fan of. Even after seeing his senior year stats, I'm not sure how I feel about the 6'3'' lefty, as while the results were good, he didn't pitch too much. He started just 7 of his 13 appearances and threw 55.2 innings, about four and a third innings per appearance. Even if all his relief outings were a single inning, that's just over seven innings a start. It's something we may need to work on for Owens, or he could end up in the pen quick. Like our other arms, Owens is a five pitch pitcher, and his fastball and sinker sit in the 86-88 range just like Happy Lewis. The command still needs work, but I like the stuff, and his change could be a good out pitch. There's a lot of work here, and Owens may spend a few seasons in the pen, but he has the build of a legit big league pitcher. The odds of him developing into one aren't something you want to bet on, but we hadn't taken a prep pitcher yet, and Owens had some of the more exciting tools.

10th Round, 158th Overall: SS Dave Hall
School: St. Blane College Fighting Saints
1950: .286/.343/.396, 254 PA, 8 2B, 3B, 5 HR, 48 RBI, 39 SB
Career: .281/.339/.393, 825 PA, 25 2B, 5 3B, 16 HR, 144 RBI, 110 SB

Rounding out my portion of the class is Dave Hall, who actually ranked as a 5th Rounder on the initial mock. They quickly took him out, but like Happy, he matched his better freshman year as opposed to his down sophomore year. Hall hit .286 with 8 doubles, 5 homers, and a career high 39 steals, and it came in a somewhat significant low 254 trips to the plate (301 and 270 his first seasons). A speedy switch hitter from New York, Hall almost profiles as a designated runner. Only one player who stole more bases then him did in fewer plate appearances, and his speed has given him rave reviews at short. I have a sneaking suspicion he can handle the outfield too, and I may start Hall in San Jose getting starts all over the diamond. The bat is respectable too, as he has a quick swing that allows him to hit most pitches, but he doesn't have the greatest swing. OSA thinks that's because he tinkers with it too much, so he may just need the right hitting coach to find what works for him. Regardless of if he hits or not, I can see Hall spending a few seasons on our bench, as he's the perfect high floor utility guy that I can never get enough of.

ayaghmour2 · 03-18-2024, 08:32 PM

Weekly Record: 5-1
Seasonal Record: 32-28 (t-2nd, 1.5 GB)
Stars of the Week
L. Mitchell : 26 AB, 11 H, 1 HR, 7 RBI, .423 AVG, 1.060 OPS
C. Hall : 24 AB, 7 H, 2 HR, 5 RBI, .292 AVG, 1.013 OPS
R. Bond : 23 AB, 8 H, 1 HR, 2 RBI, .348 AVG, .988 OPS

Schedule
6-13: Win vs Cannons (2-3)
6-14: Win vs Cannons (1-2): 10 innings
6-15: Win vs Cannons (2-16)
6-16: Win vs Wolves (5-13)
6-17: Win vs Wolves (0-2)
6-18: Loss vs Wolves (9-4)

Recap
Oh boy!

Oh man oh man oh MAN!!!

THE CHICAGO COUGARS AREEEEEEEEEEEEE

BACKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!! !!

I don't know why it took us so long to resemble a competent baseball team, but after throttling the "best pitching staff in baseball" for 16 runs before piling on another 13 to our next visitor, I am back to where I was when the season began: this team is going to win a pennant.

June has been everything May wasn't, as not only did we crush a few teams, we have played eleven games that ended in a save situation. Cougars teams of the past would be lucky to win three of those games. And that's being optimistic.

We won nine of them!

After winning 13 of our last 15, the Cougars are 14-4 in June, 32-28 overall, and just a game and a half behind the now first place Stars. Just like every week prior, we can thank Leo Mitchell for anything that went right, though this week even our starting pitchers (especially Duke Bybee and his double and base clearing triple!) were hitting the ball with authority. Mitchell was rewarded for another impressive week, as after going 11-for-26 with 2 doubles, a homer, 4 runs, 7 RBIs, and a steal, our veteran slugger was named Player of the Week, something he's now done 14 times since his 1935 debut. Now qualified for the batting title, no player in either association has a higher average then Mitchell, who's slashing a picturesque .407/.455/.548 (167 OPS+) with 6 doubles, 2 triples, 5 homers, and 27 RBIs. Among qualifiers, he leads in average, OBP, OPS (.993), OPS+ (167), and wOBA (.453), while third in slugging. And despite just 191 trips to the plate, he's top five in WAR (4th, 2.6) and hits (4th, 72). At this point, he has to be the favorite for the Whitney, and he's been our most valuable hitter by a landslide.

It was nice seeing him receive plenty of help from his teammates, especially the struggling Chubby Hall, who was thrusted back into a starting role. He hit two more homers, going 7-for-24 with a double, triple, 2 walks, 5 runs, and 5 RBIs. His triple slash is an adjusted league average .203/.317/.428 (100 OPS+) with an even better 110 WRC+. Obviously the average is low, but he's been hitting plenty of extra base hits, contributing 8 doubles, a triple, and 7 homers while driving in 23 runs and walking 23 times. He's tied for the team lead in homers with Red Bond, who hit one himself this week, finishing 8-for-23 with a triple, 2 RBIs, 3 walks, and 6 runs. He's hitting a below average .254/.335/.380 (93 OPS+), as he's hit just .230/.319/.344 (79 OPS+) in June despite a nice week. Same for Eddie Howard, who did all his June hitting this week, a nice 8-for-22 with 4 doubles, 3 runs, and 4 RBIs. Charlie Woodbury continues to hit in regular playing time, going 6-for-21 with a double, homer, 4 walks, 4 runs, and 2 RBIs. John Moss is staying hot, 6-for-19 with 2 doubles, 5 walks, 5 runs, and 6 RBIs. If these guys can keep it up, our season will quickly turn, as our staff continues its great run.

Add a third shutout for Donnie Jones, who's now tied with Wally Reif and Juan Tostado for the FABL lead, giving him a shutout in 42.9% of his wins and because we can't give him run support, he's allowed one or fewer runs in six of his seven starts. His win over the Wolves was quite impressive, just 4 hits and a walk with 6 strikeouts to jump back over .500 at 7-6. That's not a record worthy of a guy with a 2.62 ERA (154 ERA+), 1.05 WHIP, and 3.1 WAR, but our ace is making a really good case to start the All-Star game yet again. Peter the Heater matched him with 4 hits in nine no decision innings, but he allowed a run and 4 walks with 5 strikeouts. Duke Bybee has caught fire, as along with his double extra base night, he allowed 5 hits, a run, and 3 walks with 4 strikeouts. Johnnie Jones picked up a complete game win, though he also got the only loss. In the win, he went all nine, allowing 8 hits, 2 runs, and 6 walks with 3 strikeouts. Aside from one less walk and one more strikeout, the Wolves hit him much better then the Cannons, as Toronto got 8 hits and 7 runs in just 6.2 innings. George Oddo got a rare undeserved win, up to 5-4 after allowing 10 hits, 5 runs, and 2 walks with 5 strikeouts. David Molina finished that start, striking out one in a perfect ninth. He also picked up the extra inning win after a John Moss walk-off single, walking one in a scoreless ninth. That's now 5 wins, 8 saves, and 17 total games finished for Molina, who despite one poor week, has been as good as expected since his acquisition.

Looking Ahead
Can we stay hot?!?!? We'll find out!

Well, after a day off...

Granted, that didn't slow us down this week, which again is two, three game series before another Monday day off. Our first task is Cleveland Foresters, who are back up to six at 28-31. They're 3.5 games behind us and 5 behind the Stars, improved by their 12-7 June. They're off too, but after a double header sweep of the Stars, they won't get to adjust their rotation. The opener will be must-see baseball, as fellow Allen Winners Pete Papenfus (4-5, 3.05, 54) and Adrian Czerwinski (7-6, 3.56, 42) will square off in the opener. After that star-studded matchup, we'll look to keep young rookie Larry Beebe (0-2, 4.24, 10) out of the win column in his third big league start. Not only was he on my super shortlist for the 1946 draft, but the former 4th Overall Pick is currently ranked as the 13th best prospect and both Dixie and OSA expect him to one day lead a rotation. A polished four-pitch pitcher, he projects to have excellent command, and aside from Bob Allen and Les Ledbetter, I don't think there's an unproven pitcher that can match his upside. After that, we'll get Ducky Davis (2-7, 4.10, 24) to wrap it up, which could be a series where our offense struggles. The hard part is that theirs has been great, even with sluggers Lorenzo Samuels (.250, 3, 25) and Orie Martinez (.213, 1, 17) have struggled. Young outfielder Sherry Doyal (.297, 6, 40) has really heated up for them, slashing .400/.476/.529 (161 OPS+) in 19 June games. I always trust our pitching, especially against a team that doesn't hit many home runs.

Then it's three with the Sailors, who have fallen back to last place, now 25-35 and 8.5 games out of first. That's still not too far out, I mean, we were further out then that just a few weeks ago, but the Sailors stopped scoring and stopped preventing runs. Yes, Ed Reyes (.446, 18) is hitting .400 in limited time, and yes, they're still leading the CA in average, but it's almost ten points lower then it was a few weeks ago and now just Marion Boismenu (.329, 2, 19, 2) is qualified and hitting above .300. Rip Lee (.253, 2, 26) has cooled since his hot start, Solly Skidmore (.262, 3, 24) has had a rough June, and after avoiding a sophomore slump, Joe Scott (.254, 1, 12) has had a brutal third year. Now just Boismenu and Billy Forbes (.294, 4, 28, 10) are putting up above average offensive production, and with rough years from Art Hull (2-6, 5.75, 31) and Slick Wesolowski (1-5, 6.71, 25), the Sailors are not going to be winning more games unless something changes. It's crazy to see how quickly they've dropped off, but perhaps all they need is a quick reset this Summer to get back to regular contention that they're used to.

Then there's the draft tomorrow, which of course coincides with a super busy day for me, so we may not get any update on the draftees until Wednesday. The final mock holds Andy Robinson at 4th, though Ike dropped to 2.16. Other entries include Ed Freeman (4.4), Ernie Tisdale (4.13), and Frank Hernandez (5.1), which is somewhat of a good sign. There is one guy I left I really want, who I was considering taking towards the end of the draft, but I'm not expecting too many late gems, as most of what's left should be scooped up early.

Minor League Report
RHP Jim Williams (AA Little Rock Governors): It's been an excellent season for Jim Williams, who's now thrown a shutout in two of his last four starts. The most recent was a 6-hitter, where he walked and struck out 3 in a nice 5-0 win over the New Orleans Showboats. That's improved him to 6-2 in his 10 starts, and he has an impressive 2.66 ERA (160 ERA+) in 88 innings pitched. As good as that looks, he has walked (39) more hitters then he's struck out (31), and while a 1.32 WHIP isn't bad, it's actually third among Governors with six or more starts. Not one of the more exciting prospect in our system, he's towards the back of our system, ranked 41st among our prospects and 419th overall. The former 8th Rounder has a decent three pitch arsenal and does a good job keeping the ball on the ground, but the command could use some work. He doesn't strike too many guys out, with more effort put on getting batters to role over his sinker, and I don't think he's going to develop a true out pitch. He's really just "try to hit my low 90s sinker" with the occasional curve or circle change to keep batters off balance. OSA and Dixie don't think he can be a FABL starter, but there's something to be said about a 6'4'' guy with a great sinker and the stamina to throw 178 pitches in a game. That came in an 11 inning effort, and he's thrown 107 or more pitches each time out so far. There's something to be said about being a reliable innings eater, and that's exactly what Williams is.

RHP George Carter (AA Little Rock Governors): Jim Williams wasn't the only Governor (I was so good at writing this until I accidentally wrote Little Rock Commodores...) to throw a shutout, as the surging George Carter picked one up in a 2-0 win over Atlanta. This was his fourth consecutive win, allowing 8 hits and 4 walks with 4 strikeouts. A big strikeout arm, Carter now has 57 in 92.1 innings pitched, even better then our very own Peter the Heater (54 in 97.1), who's tied with Cougar draftee Ron Berry for third in the CA. In his 10 starts, Carter is now 6-3 with a 3.51 ERA, but his 1.55 WHIP is inflated due to 48 walks. As you might guess, as good as the stuff is, part of what makes it so is the wildness, though I'm worried better batters will be able to work him into trouble. Ranked a bit higher then Williams (37th, 391st), I'm still a big fan of Carter, even if we aren't able to solve his command issues. His change is impressive, and when located, his sinker, slider, and fastball are decent offerings too. That will work well in the pen, where he can eat a lot of innings. Even if that means 238 pitches in a 15-inning complete game! He hasn't thrown fewer then 125 pitches in a start, so if there is a plus on his lack of command, it's that it doesn't tire him out. This guy is the definition of a rubber arm, that should allow him to stick around with us so long as no one decides to take a risk on him in the Rule-5 draft.

3B Lou Jackson (B San Jose Cougars): Pitching didn't get all the fun this week, as Lou Jackson had himself a perfect end to an eventual Player of the Week, hitting for the cycle in San Jose's 15-2 thwacking of the Bakersfield Bears. Along with the basic parts, Jackson added another single, 5-for-6 with 3 runs and 6 RBIs. A natural outfielder, I've pretty much used Jackson exclusively at third, just as a way to get him in the lineup. A natural speedster, the 6th Rounder is an awful base stealer, 2-for-10 last year and 5-for-15 this year, but lucky for us he more then makes up for it with extra base hits. He has 17 doubles and 10 triples in 251 trips to the plate, slashing .283/.382/.514 (142 OPS+) in his second stint in San Jose. I've been dying to promote him, but there's absolutely no room in Milwaukee or Mobile, and Lincoln is pretty full. But, with a 1-day injury to Johnnie Love, I decided "hey let's IL him and hope someone else gets hurt later," allowing Jackson to move up a level as he rightfully deserves. Ranked 48th in our system and 469th overall, I don't think the 22-year-old gets nearly enough credit. He has a strong hit tool and a good eye, and I just can't get over how many triples he hits. Is that enough to start in the majors? Maybe not, but it's surely enough to earn a roster spot as a utility player, and I'm really hoping the switch hitter can keep hitting his way to Chicago.

He just has to work a little harder...

RHP Steve Davis (B San Jose Cougars): I guess the new thing for San Jose is to have a pitcher who starts the year on a crazy run. Last year it was Dixie Gaines, this year it's Steve Davis.

Sure, he has two no decisions this season, but Steve Davis is a perfect 7-0 and has allowed one or fewer runs in eight of his nine starts. And the season high? A terrible three!

Taken in the 7th Round of the 1945 draft, Davis has an awe-inspiring 1.18 ERA through 68.2 innings, and while obviously he needs a promotion, I think I'm going to let him hang out here until he inevitably loses, as "Scuff" is on an impressive run. His 1.19 WHIP isn't as dominant, partly due to his 31 walks, but he's struck out an impressive 56 batters so far. Not generally known for his stuff, Davis is one of those kitchen sink guys who throws six pitches, with Dixie not thinking they're good enough to make him anything more then an emergency starter. Perhaps this run of dominance is more due to his age and competition level then his overall skill, but for a guy who's never really projected as much of a big league candidate, I'm hoping he's enjoying every second of his crazy stretch.

ayaghmour2 · 03-19-2024, 06:43 PM

Weekly Record: 2-4
Seasonal Record: 34-32 (5th, 3 GB)
Stars of the Week
Red Bond : 22 AB, 10 H, 1 HR, 4 RBI, .455 AVG, 1.227 OPS
Charlie Woodbury : 19 AB, 8 H, 1 HR, 5 RBI, .421 AVG, 1.184 OPS
Skipper Schneider : 22 AB, 7 H, 2 HR, 8 RBI, .318 AVG, 1.032 OPS

Schedule
6-20: Loss vs Foresters (7-6): 11 innings
6-21: Loss vs Foresters (6-5): 11 innings
6-22: Loss vs Foresters (5-3)
6-23: Loss vs Sailors (8-5)
6-24: Win vs Sailors (3-4)
6-25: Win vs Sailors (4-7)

Recap
After a stretch of so many wins, especially close ones, I can't really be too upset about a 2-4 week. Sure, losing back-to-back one-run games in 11 innings super sucks, especially considering the first loss was Max Wilder's first pitching blunder since his beratement. He flew too close to the sun, letting Pete Papenfus try to finish off a complete game, which instead led to 4 ninth inning runs, partly because he went to Molina too late, and he allowed a hit and walk before getting a strikeout to end the game. It stayed tied until the 11th when Jim Kenny blew his first of two consecutive games, almost calling his roster spot into question. Dropping the next two, again both close, hurt as we continue to be an annoyingly streaky team, making it no surprise the next two games were close wins to start our next 4+ game streak!

We got some bad news on the injury front, as not only will Sal Pestilli not be rejoining the club this week, but Charlie Woodbury will hit the IL for the next two weeks with an oblique strain. It couldn't have come at a worse time, as the now 32-year-old was coming off another great week, 8-for-19 with a triple, homer, 3 runs, 3 walks, and 5 RBIs. "Mad Hatter" has slashed a healthy .324/.393/.510 (142 OPS+) in 119 trips to the plate, and losing that level of production is tough. Yeah, he's not a good defender (-1.7, .984), but he's also not terrible, and with Skipper at short all you really have to do is look pretty and turn double plays. The injury gives a chance for Billy Hunter (.243, 1, 6) and Otto Christian (.173, 2, 12) to not suck, though I'm not sure how optimistic I should be. I think the plan is for both at third, Otto against lefties, Hunter righties, with Otto playing every third against righties. And while Al Clement is the obvious replacement, he's only been down for a few weeks, and I want to let him settle in more with the Blues. That means former 7th Rounder Rupert Heinbaugh has a chance to make his debut across the next two weeks. He's hit a productive .282/.359/.392 (107 OPS+) in 59 games, tallying 5 doubles, 4 triples, 4 homers, 4 steals, 27 runs, 27 walks, and 20 RBIs in a well-rounded effort. Like Clement, he can handle second, third, and short, giving us a little versatility late in games now that Hunter will be playing more.

I think the funny part about this week is we actually hit well, getting production up-and-down the lineup. Skipper Schneider looked like a FABL hitter once more, going 7-for-22 with a double, triple, steal, 4 runs, 8 RBIs, and most surprisingly, two homers, as he didn't have any his first 62 games. The homers came in the wins over the Sailors, with the first giving us a lead we'd hold the rest of the way. That's because Leo Mitchell homered a few batters earlier, giving him two on the week as well. The reliable outfielder is only hitting .397 after going 7-for-22, but he drew 4 walks, drove in 4, and scored 7 times. Red Bond homered as well, 10-for-22 with 3 doubles, 4 runs, 4 RBIs, and 2 walks. George Sutterfield was 9-for-26 with a double, 3 runs, 3 walks, and 3 steals. John Moss was 9-for-26 too, even with a double, just 2 walks, 3 RBIs, and 5 runs. Even though the overall results on the week weren't good, it was a relief to not be let down by the offense, and it makes me excited for what's to come next.

Not all the pitching was bad of course, this is the Cougars we are talking about, a team that's highest ERA of the 1940s was 3.61 in our awful 7th place season, and we got plenty of quality starts. Duke Bybee's stretch of complete games wins was broken, as he left after 8 against Cleveland. He allowed 6 hits, 3 runs, and a walk with 3 strikeouts. As always, it was the homers that got to him, as even though the Foresters don't hit many of those, Lorenzo Samuels (.244, 5, 29) does (at least against the Cougars...), with a two-run homer and solo shot accounting for Bybee's only mistakes. David Molina held the lead in the ninth, but allowed two runs in the top half of the 10th before we tied the game back up, finishing with 2 hits, a walk, and 2 strikeouts. As mentioned before, this game was blown by Jim Kenny, who allowed 2 hits, a run, and a walk in the 11th. He was better in the previous loss, as despite the run allowed, he struck out two while allowing two hits. After two really solid years in our pen, he's now allowed 22 hits, 14 earned runs, and 10 walks with 8 strikeouts in 18.2 innings. I'm confident he'll turn things around, but 0-4 with five meltdowns is anything but ideal.

Johnnie Jones picked up one of our wins, scattering 10 hits, 3 runs, and 4 walks with 3 strikeouts in a complete game win. As crazy as it sounds, he's our only starter with a winning record, as Johnnie is 6-3 in his 11 starts. Sure, he's prone to blowups and walks, but the recently turned 32-year-old is great early on and he can eat innings. He's allowed three or fewer runs in eight of his starts (one was the 2 innings he got hurt for what it's worth), and even with our 7th ranked offense, that's on average (4.1 runs per game) enough to secure the win. Granted, Donnie tends to hold teams to three or fewer, and that would have been the case had Charlie Woodbury and Red Bond not made errors. Instead, he allowed 5 runs (3 earned), leaving with two outs in the 8th. Donnie was charged with 9 hits and 2 walks with 5 strikeouts, dropping back to even at 7-7. Pap evened his record at 5-5, but he didn't really pitch that great. He got a no decision too, but in the win he allowed 12 hits and 4 runs in his complete game. It was a rare start too, as he almost never allows double digits and even more never (if that's allowed?) walks just one guy. He struck out 4, finishing his week 9. Interesting enough, he's on pace for career lows in both K% (13.1) and BB% (8.1), as perhaps with age he's working more on getting outs then overpowering. Of course, overpowering isn't tough when you hit 101, and our co-ace is on track for another excellent season.

The draft is also officially completed, and after checking if I got the guy I really wanted, Reggie Woodis, who went to the Keystones nine picks I quickly met Andy Robinson's $21,000 signing bonus. A hefty sum that's probably (I'm not doing the math...) more then everyone expect Ike Soeur combined, it should be money well-spent, as he should crack the top half of the top 100, if not even up in the 20-30 range ahead of Garland Phelps (36th) and Henry Norman (39th). Class C doesn't start until July 5th, so I don't expect to sign too many guys early, but I want Robinson ready for Opening Day. We have 36 guys already in La Crosse, so I have some work to do. I hate cutting guys, especially in this league, but there are 15 or so guys I have to make room for, leading to some hard decisions in the coming weeks. I might cover some of the AI picks today, just depends on how exhausted I am tonight, though I expect to get to all 15 AI picks no later then tomorrow.

But I have to start with an All-Time name: 18th Rounder and shortstop Dick Coffey. That's straight out of a vulgar coffee shop menu!

Oh yeah, he's getting signed!

Looking Ahead
A lot of games in advance of the upcoming All-Star game, which will take place on July 9th, but we start the week with our last off day of the first half. Plenty of Cougars will be looking to improve their stock, starting with the end of our lengthy and successful homestand. They've been equally impressive in June, going 17-9 to find themselves in second place and a game behind the Cannons (36-28) for the lead. Second is where I expect the Saints to be, as they're a very good team that can both hit and pitch. They're lucky to have eventual June Pitcher of the Month Wally Reif (7-6, 2.76, 52), as he has three shutouts and a four with no earned runs. The only team to get to him was the leading Cannons, who got 9 hits, 4 runs, and 3 walks in 7.2 innings. That made him 4-1, though I don't think that's enough to stop a 0.82 ERA (490 ERA+) and 0.92 WHIP with 21 strikeouts to just 9 walks. This run has dropped his ERA from 4.01 to 2.76 (147 ERA+), and we'll have our work cut out for us if we want to knock it up a bit. He's scheduled in the opener, followed by Pete Ford (4-5, 3.69,36) and Bert Cupid (6-6, 3.35, 57).

That's a tough group to face, and it's made tougher knowing they will be well protected. Maurice Carter (.291, 12, 45) has quickly made Saints fans forget about Red Bond, and the now healthy Gordie Perkins (.359, 3, 20) would be a legit Whitney Candidate if he could play a full season. They didn't miss a beat without him, as center fielder Bill Elkins (.209, 2, 28) was surprisingly effective at short, and while none of the supplementary pieces are having superb seasons, Joe Austin (.263, 5, 24, 17), Otis O'Keefe (.266, 5, 29), Luke Weaver (.284, 1, 21), and Bill Greene (.247, 3, 16, 5) have all been average or better at the plate. Those guys are more then capable of kicking it up enough, and someone like Austin causes so much trouble on the basepaths. This team is legit, and has finally recovered from their awful 3-14 starts, and if we don't get back to our winning ways, they could leave us and the rest of the association in their dust.

It doesn't get easier, as our road trip starts with four games in three days with the New York Stars. A consistent team, who usually goes 4-3, the Stars have a decent chance of ending the week in first, especially considering Bill Barrett (.286, 6, 45) hit three home runs after just three total in his first 58 (!!) appearances. Guys like him don't have off years, so I think the vet is finally awake, giving another threat to us trying to break our annoying drought. Lucky for us, Ed Cornett (7-2, 2.88, 42) is the only Star who's pitched really well, which is absolutely absurd, though Jack Wood (7-4, 3.57, 41) continues to do his thing. What's insane is how bad Vern Hubbard (5-7, 6.02, 31) has been, as thee 35-year-old was coming off a stellar year. Eli Panneton (9-5, 4.24, 53) hasn't quite been himself either, and rookie Dan Atwater (0-3, 8.15, 7) has looked overmatched in his first three starts. We'll have to face all but one of these guys, so if the offense does what they did at the end of last week, we could steal a series from our hosts, even after Barrett, Bill Barnett (.267, 16, 44), Mack Sutton (.269, 14, 49), and Jack Welch (.279, 16, 48) get their regular home runs on us.

Might add a minor league report later, we'll see! Busy day with traveling. Got most of this done at the airport and wanted to get this in now in case I have time to take a look at some of our draft picks tonight, and I'm not sure if there's anything worth mentioning from the week.

Minor League Report
LHP Ben Clough (AA Little Rock Governors): Ha! There was something notable! And it only took one day!

Ben Clough was cruising in Mobile last year, working to a 2.86 ERA (140 ERA+) and 1.34 WHIP in his first four starts. The only issue was that he tore his UCL.

There's no Tommy John in this universe, so it's a pretty sever injury, and Clough missed a full nine months. This came after his starts in Mobile and 16 more in Lincoln, where he went 10-5 with a 3.03 ERA (130 ERA+) and 1.08 WHIP, and his 104 innings saw 77 strikeouts to just 25 walks. He made his season debut on the first of June this year, and despite two wins, his first three starts looked like a guy who hadn't pitched in almost a year. But when he got a second crack at the Atlanta Peaches lineup, Ben Clough looked like the pitcher he was last season, and he spun a 3-hit shutout with 4 walks and 3 strikeouts. Despite being a 14th Rounder, Clough was always a guy I kept an eye on, and I was excited when we were able to get him in the AI portion. A four pitch pitcher, Clough was able to pitch deep into games, and he struck out a ton of batters.

Unfortunately, that hasn't been the case this year, as he has just 13 in his 31.1 innings. Never one for command problems, he's actually walked 23 hitters, just two away from his total last season. His 16.5 BB% is more then double his measure in Lincoln last season, and aside from his one appearance in the Cuban Winter League, he's never had a walk rate in the double digits. I'm really hoping it's rust and not the injury, but I know all too well that arms are fragile, and Clough did not get the treatment his arm needed. Lucky for him, he's the most intense and competitive guy out there, and he's going to work his but off until he feels like his old self. The deck may be stacked against him, nut he's the guy that doesn't falter when he's cornered. I really want him to succeed, but unfortunately I just see minor league fodder, those he's the ultimate clubhouse guy and will probably earn himself a pen role. And once you get a shot, you never know what's going to happen.

ayaghmour2 · 03-20-2024, 09:19 PM

Weekly Record: 4-3
Seasonal Record: 38-35 (3rd, 4 GB)
Stars of the Week
Leo Mitchell : 28 AB, 8 H, 3 HR, 4 RBI, .286 AVG, .940 OPS
Billy Hunter : 23 AB, 9 H, 0 HR, 5 RBI, .391 AVG, .962 OPS
Chubby Hall : 27 AB, 8 H, 2 HR, 7 RBI, .296 AVG, .840 OPS

Schedule
6-27: Loss vs Saints (2-4)
6-28: Win vs Saints (5-6)
6-29: Loss vs Saints (10-7)
6-30: Win at Stars (7-4)
7-1: Loss at Stars (4-9)
7-2: Win at Stars (7-3): 11 innings
7-2: Win at Stars (5-3)

Recap
The Saints have jumped everyone, in first after their awful start, and even though they took two of three from us in Chicago, we're the only team to beat them in their last ten games. Despite the home series loss, we rebounded quickly in New York, winning three of four after sweeping the double header. That moved us up to third, and we're one of four teams within five games of Montreal.

As always, it was a great week for Leo Mitchell, the eventual June Batter of the Month (.368, 7, 21), who wacked three balls into the seat, becoming one of three Cougars to reach ten homers this week. He was just 8-for-28, so his average dropped a bit to .383, but he drew two walks and scored six times, with a fourth RBI on his week. The other two to join him were Chubby Hall and Red Bond, who each hit two homers in a slug-filled week. Of these two, Hall had the better overall week, 8-for-27 with with 3 runs and 7 RBIs, though with Sal Pestilli's return, he'll play a lesser role in the coming weeks. Bond was just 5-for-22, but he drew two walks and both scored and drove in five runs. We got a lot from Billy Hunter, who replaced Charlie Woodbury, going 9-for-23 with a double, triple, 2 runs, 2 walks, and 5 RBIs. George Sutterfield hit well too, 9-for-29 with a triple, homer, 3 walks, 3 RBIs, 8 runs, and a steal. It's nice to see the offense starting to pick things up, as we're now 6th in runs scored, and our staff is starting to get the support it deserves.

Unfortunately run support did not happen for Donnie Jones, who picked up a loss and no decision despite just 7 total runs in 17 innings. He allowed 10 hits, 6 walks, and 10 strikeouts, and will have just one more chance to improve his All-Star chances. His 7-8 record will be held against him, but behind that are a 2.81 ERA (143 ERA+) and 1.06 WHIP. His 3.14 FIP (78 FIP-) is third in the CA, and he has 64 strikeouts and 39 walks in 134.2 innings pitched. He's going to be on my ballot, and if he doesn't end up on the final roster, I'm going to be quite disappointed. He deserves it most on our team, but that's not to say there aren't others deserving candidates.

I'm upset that Andy Robinson didn't sign yet, with 9th Rounder Bill Owens the first to join. We needed a 15th pitcher in La Crosse, and since he was our only high school pitcher from the human portion, he's the guy that gets the first call. He didn't crack the prospect rankings, though I'm not surprised there, He'll start out pitching in the pen, but if a rotation spot opens, he'll probably be one of the first to take advantage of it. I think the two week point is where I'll start to add players from the class, but if spots open up the process will be accelerated. This doesn't apply to guys ticketed for San Jose, as I sent 2nd Rounder Ernie Tisdale his check and I'm getting a closer look at some of our college picks. Seniors always get priority, though I see a few juniors in the AI portion I might give a shot.

Finishing off the week I had to make some procedural moves, as we'll actually have two outfielders joining the roster this week. The first is expected, as Sal Pestilli is healthy and will rejoin the lineup, but we also welcomed a new member to the organization. He came from Chicago, as we claimed former top 50 prospect Billy Brown from the crosstown Chiefs. A former 5th Rounder, "Big Bad Billy" has been awful, hitting .095/.269/.119 (6 OPS+), but at one point there was a really solid hitter. At 24 he hit .252/.327/.431 (114 OPS+), and in his four largest samples he has WRC+ of at least 97. I'm not sure he's going to be happy on the bench, but a change of scene could do him well. Leo Mitchell is on the older side, and if Brown can do well enough in a reserve role, he could eventually compete for a spot in a platoon.

Down to Milwaukee is Clyde Zimmerman and Rupert Heinbaugh, and the young infielder did manage his first career hit! It was a memorable one, as it came in the middle of a four run 11th inning. He finished his stint 1-for-2, and will now return to every day playing time with the Blues. Zimmerman, however, has not hit very well, and this may be his last trip up. He was just 2-for-15, with both hits coming in his debut.

Looking Ahead
What's the best thing to do after a double header?

While three games in two days with the first place team! Lucky for us, they also dealt with a double header against the Kings, so we're on equal footing. I have no idea how they're going to set up their rotation, but my best guess is Bert Cupid (6-6, 3.69, 58) on short rest in the opener, followed by Pat Weakly (5-3, 3.15, 38) in one of the halves of the double header. Wally Doyle (8-6, 3.78, 67) could go on three days rest, though that's tough for any pitcher. Andy Lyon (0-1, 3.79, 23) is an option for a spot start, as he hasn't pitched in five days. Lucky (?) for us, George Oddo (5-6, 4.78, 49) pitched just 59 pitches in his second of two season worst starts, so he's actually good to go! This will save us a spot start against a very good Saints lineup, and in the opener Duke Bybee (6-6, 4.13, 50) is fully rested and Peter the Heater (6-5, 3.37, 67) could have started today on three days rest if it was absolutely necessary. Being on the road could be an advantage, as it will suppress Saints power and keep our pitchers in the park. This is where John Moss (.251, 1, 28) can really make his paycheck, as I expect him tracking down multiple potential hits in the spacious Parc Cartier.

The remainder of our games our at home, as we start with two against the Brooklyn Kings. Part of the reason they've slumped is because they haven't played us, as they've won seven of the eight contests. I'm hope the Jones Brothers can stop their potent offense, but Ralph Johnson (.325, 11, 46) is as good as it gets. You have to almost pencil the Kings in for three from him alone, but surprisingly the rest of the offense hasn't followed. I couldn't believe they were now seventh in runs scored, as Pat Petty (.235, 4, 43), Chuck Lewis (.277, 6, 40), Billy Bryant (.288, 1, 15), and Charlie Rogers (.265, 3, 25, 8) have all cooled off. This is a good chance for us to take advantage of them, and at 37-35 they could enter our series below .500.

That would be due to the New York Stars, who we play to finish the season. They have dropped to 39-37, though with the Kings and Saints to play against they'll have a tough time. The Stars had their first losing month (13-16, .448) in June, though Bill Barrett (.306, 8, 50) homered in both halves of our double header win. I'll remained worried about their sluggers at Cougars Park, though with double headers of their own there are plenty of question marks on who pitches. I'm happy with whoever, especially since the staff has to be tired. There are very few David Molinas (6-3, 10, 2.80, 19) out there, and some of the lesser relievers may get tested in the final week of the first half.

I can't believe a bad George Oddo start (3 IP, 7 H, 8 ER, 2 BB, K) actually helped us!

Well, assuming we win the games of course!

Minor League Report
RHP Tommy Seymour (AA Little Rock Governors): He may not have won Pitcher of the Month, but Tommy Seymour finished off his impressive June with a 9-strikeout shutout. Our former first rounder walked just one, improving to 7-5 on the season. In June, he won four of his five starts, allowing just 6 earned runs in 44 innings. This equates to a 1.23 ERA (336 ERA+), and he had a nice 1.11 WHIP with 14 walks and 24 strikeouts. While not quite this dominant all season long, he has pitched well, with a 3.06 ERA (135 ERA+) and 3.58 FIP (86 FIP-) in his 12 starts. That's one Dixie League start more then last year, as the then Commodore really struggled. He was just 1-7 with a 5.33 ERA (75 ERA+) and 1.73 WHIP, walking and striking out 43 batters. This year he's walked just 36, striking out 57 as his BB% and K% improved. 25 in August, he's looking to earn a promotion to Milwaukee, and as a pitcher eligible for the Rule-5 draft he's on audition for all sixteen teams. Part of me wants to protect him, but I don't see an easy way to any role on the team right now. Dixie still thinks he could end up filling a back-end role, but as long as we are in competition we need more upside then that.

ayaghmour2 · 03-20-2024, 10:53 PM

11th Round, 174th Overall: SS Chief Raffa
School: Phoenixville Phantoms
Commit School: Eastern State
1950: .404/.466/.629, 104 PA, 8 2B, 3 3B, 2 HR, 23 RBI, 35 SB
Career: .413/.472/.602, 474 PA, 33 2B, 10 3B, 8 HR, 101 RBI, 93 SB

I was pretty sure I was going to get Reggie Woodis, so I didn't adjust this pick. Chief Raffa was Dixie Marsh's shortstop pick, but I'm not as fond of the four year starter. He never hit above his .423 average as a freshman, same for his .487 OBP, and neither are all that impressive. Despite that, Dixie thinks he has a "good knack for barreling the ball" and he addresses his ability to hit to all fields. OSA thinks he's a solid defender, which does give him some additional value, and he is a plus runner on the base paths. Add in a solid work ethic, and I can see why the scouts are willing to overlook his modest numbers. I doubt he'll play much in our system this year, but I will not be allowing him to fulfil his commitment to Eastern State.

12th Round, 190th Overall: RHP Don Vincent
School: Southington Generals
Commit School: New Haven State
1950: 5-1, 64.2 IP, 2.09 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 24 BB, 92 K
Career: 9-3, 134.1 IP, 1.94 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 50 BB, 193 K

The 12th Round was the one where Dixie wanted a pitcher, and he took the 5'7'' righty Don Vincent. A two year starter at Southington, he split time between the pen and the rotation, going 9-3 with a 1.94 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and 193 strikeouts. That's not the most impressive stat line, but he does have an interesting five pitch arsenal that could be refined. His command isn't great, and could get in the way, but I think I can overlook that for now. It's definitely something that can be improved on, and Dixie likes his change, slider, sinker, and cutter. We do have a lot of guys that need innings, but my guess is most pitchers after this aren't going to have stuff that comes close to his.

13th Round, 206th Overall: 3B Bubba Holland
School: Chester Presidents
Commit School: Federal University
1950: .426/.491/.653, 118 PA, 11 2B, 4 HR, 32 RBI, SB
Career: .426/.496/.647, 469 PA, 38 2B, 4 3B, 14 HR, 114 RBI, 21 SB

If name quality translated to baseball quality, Bubba Holland would be a top prospect, but instead the four year grad from Chester projects to be nothing more then a bench piece. This is a pick based on athleticism, as he's a strong kid who can hit the ball hard, even if he's a bit too aggressive at the plate. This may prevent him from being anything more then an average contact hitter, so he'll either have to improve or discipline or hit enough homers where it doesn't matter. Both is preferred, but he needs playing time for that, and I'm not sure we have that for him. OSA does view him as a decent supplemental piece, so I am leaning towards offering him a contract and giving him a chance to hit work hard on the bench, and take advantage of what time he receives.

14th Round, 222nd Overall: RHP Slim Foster
School: Laclede Trappers
1950: 7-7, 131.1 IP, 4.18 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, 43 BB, 112 K
Career: 17-19, 348.2 IP, 4.54 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, 155 BB, 291 K

The first AI pick from the college ranks, I think I'm letting the junior go back to school. I've never heard of Laclede, which tells you something about the quality Foster is facing, so his 4.18 ERA and 1.48 WHIP leave plenty to be desired. Especially considering both were personal bests, he doesn't seem to be much of a legit prospect. Working to his advantage is his height, as he stands 6'3'', and his 3.89 FIP is actually three percent better then average. He does have a nice slider, but his fastball sits in the mid-80s and there's not much else. I'm not sure what I'm going to do hear, and he may be one of the last guys I decide what to do on.

15th Round, 206th Overall: 3B Abas Abaghian
School: Tipp City Bees
Commit School: Central Ohio
1950: .424/.495/.750, 111 PA, 11 2B, 2 3B, 5 HR, 30 RBI, 2 SB
Career: .405/.488/.616, 492 PA, 39 2B, 5 3B, 13 HR, 115 RBI, 16 SB

Another four year starter, Abas Abaghian is committed to Central Ohio, where former Cougars Freddie and Al Jones attended college. He does show impressive extra base power, hitting five homers with 18 extra base hits in 22 games, It was a career high for homers and he matched his previous bests for doubles and triples. Both OSA and Dixie think he can hit his way into a lineup, as along with the power he has a good eye and make hard contact. He won't hit for a high average, but if the power develops, there's a chance he could find his way into a big league lineup. Even though it may be best for him to hit the campus, I'm leaning towards bringing him along, allowing him to use our facilities and hopefully develop his power.

ayaghmour2 · 03-21-2024, 09:58 PM

Weekly Record: 4-4
Seasonal Record: 42-39 (4th, 4 GB)
Stars of the Week
Eddie Howard : 23 AB, 11 H, 0 HR, 5 RBI, .478 AVG, 1.129 OPS
Pete Papenfus : 2 Wins, 17.0 IP, 4 BB, 7 K, 0.53 ERA
Leo Mitchell : 30 AB, 9 H, 2 HR, 10 RBI, .300 AVG, .944 OPS

Schedule
7-3: Win at Saints (7-5)
7-4: Win at Saints (5-2)
7-4: Loss at Saints (1-7)
7-5: Loss vs Kings (11-5)
7-6: Win vs Kings (2-4)
7-7: Loss vs Stars (3-1)
7-8: Win vs Stars (0-6)
7-9: Loss vs Stars (5-2)

Recap
While not an ideal week, can't really complain with 4-4, and we remained four games behind the first place Saints (47-36). Sure, we're down to fourth, but just half a game behind the Cannons (41-37) and Stars (44-40). This isn't where I expected us to be at this point in the season, but we have five All-Stars representing us, and plenty of time to return to the top of the association.

Two were rather obvious, as Donnie Jones (7-8, 2.86, 65) made the staff and Leo Mitchell (.374, 12, 45) will start in left, but one guy I thought that would be there, wasn't. That was David Molina (6-4, 11, 3.65, 20), though he was roughed up in his last outing, allowing 4 hits and 4 runs with a walk and strikeout in his shocking 7th blown save of the season. I guess even the best struggle in close games if they're a Cougar, as he's blown 9, 9, 3, and 10 saves in his last four seasons. I'm hoping we can get him back on track, but I guess I should have known better!

One guy who really earned his All-Star nod, however, was Pete Papenfus, who's on an absolute tear. He's won each of his last four starts, and he hasn't lost since May 30th. His most recent start was the best, as Pap spun a 2-hit, 0-walk shutout of the New York Stars. Pap is now 8-5 with a 3.02 ERA (133 ERA+) and 1.24 WHIP with 74 strikeouts and just 47 walks. His 8.1 BB% is a full point lower then his dominant 1946 Allen season, and I'm excited our hard working star will represent us for the fourth time. He'll be joined by Sal Pestilli (.300, 1, 16, 10), who I didn't think would get in with all the time he missed, but the overall body of work still impressed. Then there's backstop Eddie Howard (.298, 27), who really only got in because there's not really a second worthy catcher in the CA. His 98 WRC+ and 1.1 WAR isn't too shabby, and gotta love a catcher hitting almost .300! He's the lone first timer, as Sal is making his 9th trip, Mitchell his 7th, and like Pap, Donnie is making his 4th. For the rest of us, we'll spend time regrouping, so we can hopefully get our season back on track!

We can't let this year get away from us like we did last year!

Charlie Woodbury is healthy, but with so few games he's going to head to the minors to rehab. I'm going to be working him out at first, as he's never really played anywhere but second and could use some added versatility. That'll cost Billy Biggar a few starts, but I don't yet know who I want him to replace. Good thing I have the weekend for that!

We did get some exciting news on the prospect front, as 1st Rounder Andy Robinson exceeded even my lofty expectations, checking in at 19th on the prospect list. This trails just Bob Allen (10th), as Jerry Smith has been pushed to 22nd. Most of the top round picks around the league have signed, so I don't expect the top three to move. Offers are out to Ernie Tisdale, Ed Freeman, and Ike Soeur, so we could add a few more top 100 prospects to FABL's third ranked system. We have seven in the top 100, with Biff Tiner at 79 the lowest. That seems comfortable enough to stay worth of points, so we shouldn't go down. The Minutemen (204) and Foresters (179) both have great systems, so unless there's a major graduation or a surprise jump for one of our guys, we aren't nearly close enough with just 133, and three teams are pretty much a back end prospect away from passing.

Craziest part?

Dixie Marsh thinks Andy Robinson is going to be better then Skipper Schneider. Better then Skipper! Hype level 1,000! Gosh the 4-1 Lions are so lucky to have Andy! Why couldn't he have signed right away! Jack Moore (.423, 1, 6) is cool and all, but there's something special about a guy who's a top 25 prospect right out of the gate!

Looking Ahead
While the five mentioned above play Tuesday, the rest of the squad waits until Thursday, where we'll be hosted by the Cannons for three. Cincinnati has played pretty evenly at home (21-19) and on the road (20-18). I'm psyched Mickey Mills (9-4, 2.47, 64) was rewarded for his dominance this season even if Dixie isn't a fan. This guy can hit 99 and his 1.14 WHIP best all our guys not named Donnie Jones. He's a max effort guy who can overpower, and as long as he stays around the corners he's going to be tough to hit. As much as I want it to be a flash in the pan, the Cannons could have unearthed a potential long-term piece, as besides the always awesome Rufus Barrell (10-6, 2.06, 59), there's no other dominant arm. The Cannons defense has been amazing all season, even if at the expense of the offense. It has been dealt injuries with Sam Brown (.340, 15) the next member of the IL, right after Mike Taylor (.250, 1, 10, 6) was added last week. Fred Galloway (.295, 3, 26) has missed time as well, so the outfield has seen numerous alignments since the season began. Chuck Adams (.270, 13, 50) has provided home runs as he always does, but he hasn't gotten much help. A recent bright spot, however, is Dan Scurlock (.316, 3, 27), who hit . 344/.423/.492 (138 OPS+) in June and started July 8-for-22 with 2 doubles, a triple, a homer, 2 runs, 3 walks, and 3 RBIs. If he played more earlier in the season, there's a chance he could have been the All-Star instead of Eddie Howard. It will be interesting to see which finishes the season better, and if OSA had a pick, they'd go with Eddie (5th to 14th). Perhaps that'll be the key this series!

Next stop is Toronto, where we'll play the first of a three game series with the last place Wolves. It's been tough sledding for them, dropping eight of their last ten while losing shortstop Harry Finney (.310, 1, 18) to a sprained wrist. That's a tough injury for a shortstop to play through, and they've made the decision to call up #3 prospect John Wells.

At least until Finney is healthy once again, that is.

That's not to say Wells will be the casualty, as if I was ranking prospects I'd put him #1 (I'm not sure you can guess my #2!), as the former lottery prize has superstar potential. I'm not sure he's quite ready, but I can see why they want to give it a shot. The 19-year-old pretty much does everything right, but he's looked overmatched in AAA. His .263/.298/.309 (63 OPS+) line is not indictive of his eventual talent, I'm hoping he does well for them, but for now he may be an easy out. I'll dive deeper into them tomorrow, but I have to recognize our former first rounder Hal Wood (.331, 2, 35). Part of the Donnie Jones trade, Wood has been named to his third consecutive All-Star game, and he's hitting an impressive .331/.407/.445 (121 OPS+). He's now in his 10th season with the Wolves, and the team leader (and probably captain!) seems set for an 8th consecutive season with a WRC+ (138) above 100. I'm hoping he finishes his career with the Wolves, but Toronto has announced that they are open for business, and I have to imagine that no one is untouchable.

Minor League Report
RHP Cliff Wallace (AA Little Rock Governors): Are there awards for minor league pitchers? Or at least can there be?

And can I give them out!?!?

Cliff Wallace certainly deserves one, as he threw third shutout in 13 games. This one was a 4-hit shutout with 1 walk and 4 strikeouts, improving him to 9-4 with a 2.41 ERA (148 ERA+) and 3.68 FIP (88 FIP-) through 105.2 innings. As much as he deserves a promotion, I want to let him stick it out, as the Governors are leading a tight four team race. This might be the closest he gets to a real pennant race, and with so many arms in AAA it wouldn't really make sense to force him where there isn't a spot.

Pretty tired today, so potentially no Amateur Report. We had so many Player of the Weeks that I don't think I'll be able to cover them all. Frank Reece (11-25, 3 R, 2B, HR, 5 RBI, 3 BB), Charlie Harvey (6-8, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 3 BB), John Price (10-23, 7 R, 2 2B, 3 HR, 9 RBI, 4 BB), and Joe Marshall (8-15, 6 R, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 2 BB). Yes, that's every league except the Century League. Well and the CA of course, the one that really matters. All five of our affiliates have a higher winning percentage then us, three are in first, and a fourth is in second. Too bad these wins don't count!

ayaghmour2 · 03-22-2024, 07:20 PM

Weekly Record: 2-2
Seasonal Record: 44-41 (t-4th, 3.5 GB)
Stars of the Week
Red Bond : 15 AB, 6 H, 1 HR, 3 RBI, .400 AVG, 1.038 OPS
Duke Bybee : 1 Win, 9.0 IP, 2 BB, 2 K, 1.00 ERA
Eddie Howard : 14 AB, 5 H, 0 HR, 1 RBI, .357 AVG, .971 OPS

Schedule
7-13: Win at Cannons (3-1)
7-15: Loss at Cannons (3-4)
7-15: Loss at Cannons (1-3)
7-16: Win at Wolves (3-1)

Recap
The All-Star game didn't go well for the Continental Association, though offense as a whole was hard to come by. No runs came until the last swing of the bat, where our Donnie Jones allowed Red Johnson to hit probably his first ever pinch-hit grand slam. It would have been nice if Donnie didn't pitch almost two innings and throw 35 pitches, but despite that loss he did win when he put his trusty Cougar jersey back on. It wasn't his finest start, as he walked six guys, but he finished 8 innings with 5 hits, a run, and 6 strikeouts. He wasn't needed for the ninth, as while David Molina did walk two, neither scored, and he held the 3-1 lead. Our other win came from Duke Bybee, who allowed just 5 hits, a run, and 2 walks with a pair of strikeouts. Believe it or not, his 3.95 ERA (101 ERA+) is now above aver age. This is impressive considering his ERA was over 5 when June started, and we may need him to step up if we want to make up the now three and a half deficit we face.

Peter the Heater didn't get a win, but he outperformed Donnie Jones in the All-Star game, as he allowed just one hit in a scoreless seventh. A Billy Hunter error ended up being the difference in a 4-3 game, as Pap allowed 10 hits and 3 walks with 5 strikeouts in an eight inning loss. Like Pap, Johnnie Jones pitched well in a loss, allowing just 5 hits, 3 runs, and 2 walks with 3 strikeouts in 8 innings pitched. Neither got run support against Jim Anderson (6-5, 3.09, 54) and Charlie Griffith (9-7, 3.19, 48). Red Bond tried, 6-for-15 with a homer and 3 RBIs, and both Eddie Howard (5-14, 3 2B, RBI, 2 R, BB) and George Sutterfield (4-13, 2B, 3B, 3 R, 2 BB) made the most of their at bats. I'm giving Charlie Woodbury one more week to get acclimated to first, but I'm hoping someone else can step up before he provides a jolt to the offense.

We got two new additions to the top 100 list, with 2nd Rounder Ernie Tisdale (94th) and 4th Rounder Ike Soeur (88th) ending up in the bottom half. 3rd Rounder Ed Freeman isn't ranked, but he's 17th among all catching prospects. Ike is one of 24 listed center fielders in the top 100 alone, so it really shows you how difficult it is to be a ranked catching prospect. We might add a few lower ranked prospects, but when it comes to top 100 prospects, we're far more likely to lose one then gain one.

Looking Ahead
Two more against the Wolves, who we have beat in eleven of our thirteen contests. Considering they're almost further from the Sailors (7 GB) then the Sailors are from first (8 GB). Toronto has recently announced everyone who isn't Fred McCormick is available, and I am really tempted to inquire on George Garrison (7-10, 3.69, 54) even if it doesn't make much sense. They want young pitchers and, well, I don't want to trade Bob Allen, so I don't really see any deal getting done. As much as I'd like him, I also wouldn't go after Joe Hancock (7-4, 3.38, 56), as it just wouldn't seem right having him on any team that wasn't the Wolves. Looking at the younger generation, John Wells had a nice debut (2-3, 2 R, 3B, 2 RBI) but has gone hitless sense, and this coming week could be his last in the pros for a while. It's not quite his time yet, but this kid is gong to be feared one day, so our pitchers might want to get a head start on their head-to-head numbers.

Next stop is Cleveland for three with the Foresters, who are an even 42-42 after their surprise pennant last season. Their offense has been the strength this season, ranked second in runs scored. This is rather surprising, but not as surprising as their newest third basemen. After being taken in the 2nd Round this June, Lloyd Coulter went straight to the majors, and has gone 9-for-33 with 3 doubles, a homer, and 7 RBIs. This shifted Jim Adams Jr. (.277, 6, 40) to second and Jim Urquhart (.306, 1, 36, 4) to left, with Paul Porter (.256, 25) now on the bench. Coulter is a very exciting prospect, don't get me wrong, but I'm surprised he didn't get some seasoning first. The power is there, he hit 16 homers in his single season of college ball, but he has some makeup issues and the jump from the minors to the majors is hard enough already. I'm curious to see how he does against us, and the Foresters could be awarded for their aggression.

Our road ends with two in Philly against the seventh place Sailors, who are the highest placed team below .500. They've made a few changes to their rotation, with recent starts given to Joe Hess (5-8, 8, 3.98, 61) and Hannibal Davis (2-2, 2, 4.19, 21). I'd be happy facing both of them, as Win Lewis (6-7, 3.46, 68), Al Duster (10-5, 3.52, 62), and Charlie Gordon (7-5, 2.98, 53) are all seasoned, capable starters. The rotation changes could help, as their offense is up to third in runs scored. Ed Reyes (.388, 24) is cruising and Rip Lewis (.298, 2, 33, 3) has really turned things around. Billy Forbes (.301, 6, 42, 12) showed off his All-Star game and is looking like the top center fielder in the CA, showing no signs of diminished quality post-injury. He's a nice piece to build around, to it will be interesting if the Sailors decide to move some of their pieces and retool.

Minor League Report
CF Jerry Smith (A Lincoln Legislators): Best way to respond to a demotion in the prospect ranks?

A Player of the Week!

That's what Jerry Smith did in the Heartland League, as a 2-homer day secured the win for Smith. He went 4-for-4 with 6 RBIs in a 9-8 win over Springfield, putting the Legislators on his back. For the week, he hit .435/.458/.826 (248 OPS+) with 3 runs, 3 doubles, and 7 RBIs. I wasn't planning on it, but he's earned himself a promotion, finishing his Lincoln time with a .302/.368/.505 (137 OPS+) batting line. The former 5th Overall Pick had 24 doubles, 4 triples, 10 homers, and 61 RBIs, making 342 trips to the plate. Combined with last year, he's now appeared in 148 games at the Class-A level, and his .303/.378/.490 (136 OPS+) line looks eerily similar to last year. Add 39 doubles, 8 triples, 14 homers, and 91 RBIs and it's hard to find a weak spot in his game right now. Now ranked 22nd in FABL, the hopefully five tool player doesn't turn 22 until September, and he supposedly "has the swagger fans like." That's great news for a potential star, and I'm excited to see how he responds to his promotion. He'll share the outfield with Frank Reece, allowing Henry Norman to patrol center back in Lincoln. When you have so many talented center fielders, it's a fun puzzle trying to give them all time. A good problem to have!

ayaghmour2 · 03-24-2024, 03:05 PM

16th Round, 254th Overall: RHP Aloha Miller
School: Honolulu State-Hilo Vulcans
1950: 3-6, 97.1 IP, 5.64 ERA, 1.91 WHIP, 83 BB, 94 K
Career (COL): 14-21, 368.2 IP, 4.76 ERA, 1.69 WHIP, 254 BB, 363 K
Career (HS): 17-2, 2 SV, 259.1 IP, 1.94 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 87 BB, 341 K

If Tom Miller, more commonly referred to as Aloha Miller, wasn't a college senior, I don't think I'd even consider signing him. But as one, he'll join early on a below slot bonus. A three-time draftee, Miller played as much as you can, with four years of high school and four years of college. A native of Honolulu, Aloha spent his whole career on the island, first as Waipahu High School in Waipahu, before returning to Honolulu to attend Honolulu State. Our 16th Round Pick, it was the highest of his draft spots, as he was a 17th Rounder in High School and a 20th Rounder last year. Despite the "Fair" competition, Aloha never quite found his footing, as he struggled after a great freshman year.

Well, great by his standards, as the then 18-year-old went 5-4 with a 3.87 ERA in 18 games (14 starts). He threw 95.1 innings, struck out 103, and walked 58 with a 1.52 WHIP. Pretty much every subsequent entry was far less productive, and the senior went 3-6 with a 5.64 ERA and 1.91 WHIP this season. 22 in August, he'll soak up some innings in one of our pens, but there's a chance he doesn't last the summer. We have a lot of interesting pitchers in the system, and aside from name and birthplace, the five pitch righty doesn't stack up. He does sit in the 89-91 range, and there's actually a chance he can develop into a starter, but he'll need a lot of things to break his way to secure a role in our organization.

17th Round, 270th Overall: RHP Cal Boyd
School: Bryant Owls
Commit School: Henry Hudson
1950: 6-3, 81.2 IP, 2.64 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 34 BB, 102 K
Career: 6-3, 81.2 IP, 2.64 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 34 BB, 102 K

A Henry Hudson commit, Cal Boyd pitched just one season of high school ball, where he went 6-3 with a 2.64 ERA and 102 strikeouts. That's good numbers for FABL, but when it comes in high school, it's a tad bit underwhelming. A three pitch pitcher, Boyd can barely hit 85, and when you feature both a fastball and cutter, that's a definite concern. Add in his belief that's he's the best out there, and there's even more concern, as he might cause a rift in the clubhouse. College is a good spot for him, and unless things get really dicey, I don't envision Boyd throwing an inning for any of our minor league teams.

18th Round, 286th Overall: SS Dick Coffey
School: Maryland State Bengals
1950: .283/.349/.372, 249 PA, 10 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 29 RBI, 33 SB
Career (COL): .278/.345/.372, 763 PA, 29 2B, 10 3B, 5 HR, 98 RBI, 106 SB
Career (HS): .442/.512/.630, 376 PA, 42 2B, 6 3B, 2 HR, 79 RBI, 66 SB

The name of the draft, Dick Coffey was a three year starter at Maryland State following a selection by the Kings in the 19th Round out of high school. He got taken a full round earlier this time, and I fully intend to give Coffey a chance to stick as a bench piece. A light hitting shortstop, Coffey didn't homer as a freshman for the Bengals, and despite being pretty strong, he's not going to develop power when he ages. He's more of a put the ball in play if its in the zone, as he'll take tough pitches and work counts. I'm hoping he plays good shortstop too, otherwise is stay in our system will be short.

19th Round, 302nd Overall: RHP Vince Hudson
School: Prospect Heights Cardinals
Commit School: Hudson Raiders
1950: 7-2, 87 IP, 2.59 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 46 BB, 105 K
Career: 29-9, 398.1 IP, 2.44 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 177 BB, 460 K

A four year starter at Prospect Heights, Vince Hudson never managed an ERA below 2. In fact, his 2.26 as a sophomore was the only time it was below 2.40. Though if you're a fan of the wins, either in terms of decision or value above replacement, his best season was as a Junior, where he went 10-1 with a 2.45 ERA and 1.26 WHIP. Along with the record, his 4.1 WAR was a career best, just like the 144 strikeouts. He did walk 50 in 113.2 innings, which isn't too bad (9.4 BB%), but considering 9th Rounder Bill Owens struck out 12 in 55.2 innings (5.0%) and his 1.29 ERA was a full run lower then Hudson this year. Another guy who likes all that comes with being the best pitcher at your school, three years in college could do him well. He might get humbled, allowing him to work on the pitches that aren't his curve. It's about all he has to offer, but he does have a fastball, slider, and splitter that could be improved. Depending on how serious he takes his commitment, Hudson could be worth taking in the first ten rounds.

20th Round, 318th Overall: 2B Dick Howard
School: Central Kentucky Tiers
1950: .266/.311/.347, 293 PA, 11 2B, 3B, 3 HR, 43 RBI, 32 SB
Career (COL): .280/.323/.358, 889 PA, 32 2B, 3 HR, 9 HR, 135 RBI, 105 SB
Career (HS): .441/.486/.648, 104 PA, 52 2B, 7 3B, 8 HR, 113 RBI, 44 SB

Our second Dick of the draft, Dick Howard actually competed with Dick Coffey for three years in college, though Howard had his worst season in his draft year. It was the first time he hit below .280, and as a sophomore he slashed .292/.335/.367 with 3 homers and 45 RBIs. Funny enough, he hit three homers in each of his three seasons, so I'm wondering if he can pull off the four of a kind. 21 in August, he's got a decent swing, and a return to his regular form could allow him to sign elsewhere.

ayaghmour2 · 03-24-2024, 08:03 PM

21st Round, 334th Overall: RHP Mark Martin
School: St. Ignatius Wolfpack
Commit School: Pittsburgh State
1950: 6-3, 84 IP, 3.21 ERA, 1.56 WHIP, 59 BB, 71 K
Career: 27-10, 364.1 IP, 2.74 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 170 BB, 357 K

A member of a high school I considered attending, Mark Martin was a four year starter at somewhat nearby St. Ignatius, where he went 27-10 in 52 starts. He got off to a good start as a freshman, going 7-1 with a 1.71 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, and 109 strikeouts. The only issue is he never came close to that, and even had two seasons with an ERA over 3. Donnie Jones (2.77) and Pete Papenfus (3.04) currently have better ERAs then Martin did as a senior, so I'm sure you can understand why I'm letting him go to Pittsburgh State. He needs more time, as none of his three pitches stick out right now. He does hit 87, so a velocity boost could improve his fastball, and he's the type to focus on baseball. Three years at Pittsburgh State should do him well, as I have to imagine he'll be higher then 21st his next time around.

22nd Round, 350th Overall: C Bill Hampton
School: Brandenburg Green Waves
Commit School: Smithfield College
1950: .425/.518/.571, 110 PA, 9 2B, HR, 23 RBI, SB
Career: .415/.513/.571, 459 PA, 30 2B, 3 3B, 7 HR, 95 RBI, 15 SB

An impossible to sign guy! Not too many of those anymore, but whether he wanted to or not, we don't need another catcher. Ed Freeman barely has room now, so no need to have him get stuck when he could be playing every day. A four year starter with the Green Waves, he hit .415 with 7 homers and 95 RBIs. He'll now head to Smithfield College in Rhode Island, where he'll be able to improve his defense behind the plate. He has a decent swing but not much else, so he'll have to work at it to improve his draft stock.

23rd Round, 366th Overall: CF Al Payne
School: Middlesboro Yellowjackets
Commit School: North Carolina Tech
1950: .416/.473/.566, 132 PA, 9 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 27 RBI, 18 SB
Career: .420/.476/.599, 248 PA, 15 2B, 4 3B, 5 HR, 54 RBI, 39 SB

A two year starter at Middlesboro, Al Payne had an uninspiring run, though he played well enough to earn a scholarship at North Carolina Tech. One of the fastest players in the class, he's more interesting then a lot of the other AI picks, as he does a good job barreling the ball to all fields. With his speed, that's a huge plus, as any ball in play is a chance for him to make something happen. The only issue is he doesn't do that enough yet, and will get fooled by better pitchers. I don't plan on singing him, but I do see a scenario where a need arises, and he joins late in the summer.

24th Round, 382nd Overall: C Sam Moore
School: Pittsford Vikings
Commit School: Piedmont University
1950: .390/.484/.505, 125 PA, 6 2B, 2 HR, 27 RBI, 3 SB
Career: .412/.501/.600, 482 PA, 32 2B, 2 3B, 13 HR, 108 RBI, 20 SB

Our break glass in emergency catcher, Sam Moore was a four year starter at Pittsford. Unlike Bill Hampton, Moore would sign with us, and he could be a last resort catcher down in La Crosse. Aside for good discipline, he's not much of a hitter, and I believe his value lies in his defense. He's not the greatest player out there, but he could hit for some power if he fills out. There's a reason he lasted this long, so even if he signs he might not have much of a pro career.

25th Round, 398th Overall: CF Harry Hrubes
School: Carolina Poly
1950: .255/.278/.297, 249 PA, 5 2B, 3B, HR, 41 RBI, 34 SB
Career (COL): .263/.286/.327, 835 PA, 18 2B, 3 3B, 9 HR, 132 RBI, 107 SB
Career (HS): .412/.426/.512, 259 PA, 15 2B, 3 3B, HR, 61 RBI, 70 SB

Our 25th and final pick, Harry Hrubes looks like a typo, but instead he's a hard working outfielder who's been taken twice in the 25th Round. He was Mr. Irrelevant out of high school, and now the Carolina Poly center fielder was taken two spots earlier. He's fast and good and defense, and with a name like that, I'm really considering locking him up. He could be a gadget pinch runner type, and with his work ethic you never know what could happen. Though part of me would love to send him back to see if he could pull of the trifecta, being a 25th Rounder once again.

We'll continue to sign guys to make their season debut, but with most of the top guys signed we have three new top 100 prospects. Knowing baseball, someone outside will eventually join that mix, and with only four players signed I'm sure we'll have a few more additions to the top 500.

StLee · 03-25-2024, 07:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ayaghmour2

Weekly Record: 2-2
Seasonal Record: 44-41 (t-4th, 3.5 GB)

I know 44-41 and 4th place is not what you hoped for at this point of the season, but 3.5 games is just a few hot streaks away from eliminating. Hopefully the Cougars find their second half mojo.

Do you see any particular reason they are so far behind the preseason predictions?

ayaghmour2 · 03-25-2024, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StLee

I know 44-41 and 4th place is not what you hoped for at this point of the season, but 3.5 games is just a few hot streaks away from eliminating. Hopefully the Cougars find their second half mojo.

Do you see any particular reason they are so far behind the preseason predictions?

The fact they underperform every year? Pretty much all of our guys are underperforming. Just Donnie Jones and Leo Mitchell are playing at or above their level. Maybe you can lump Pete Papenfus in that group but he's really not dominating like he does

We have a top five player (OSA ranks) everywhere except 1B (6th) and 3B (13th), but it doesn't feel like it. Not much scoring and we aren't pitching too well. George Oddo (5-9, 5.18, 61) has been awful but usually your fifth starter doesn't make or break the season

ayaghmour2 · 03-25-2024, 09:41 PM

Weekly Record: 3-4
Seasonal Record: 47-45 (4th, 4 GB)
Stars of the Week
Red Bond : 26 AB, 8 H, 4 HR, 9 RBI, .308 AVG, 1.187 OPS
George Sutterfield : 26 AB, 8 H, 0 HR, 7 RBI, .308 AVG, .922 OPS
Billy Hunter : 27 AB, 9 H, 0 HR, 4 RBI, .333 AVG, .827 OPS

Schedule
7-17: Win at Wolves (7-6)
7-18: Win at Wolves (7-1)
7-19: Win Foresters (9-6)
7-20: Loss at Foresters (10-5)
7-21: Loss at Foresters (5-3)
7-22: Loss at Sailors (6-2)
7-23: Loss at Sailors (12-5)

Recap
This team man...

Yes, we swept the Wolves, as we should, but when you play against teams behind you in the standings, you need to keep winning.

Instead, we chose to drop two of three to the Foresters and both to the Sailors...

Yay, more long streaks!

Adding injury to the recent insult, it's time for the annual Billy Hunter injury, as just as he was heating up he sprained his knee in the 12-5 blowout that ended our troublesome road trip. Our longtime injury list placement had three doubles this week and a 123 WRC+ in the month of July. That's far better then the 89 in 215 plate appearances overall, as Hunter never really got going. He has a replacement ready and waiting, as Charlie Woodbury can return from his rehab assignment. He had some struggles at first, but the veteran hit an impressive .435/.460/.674 (209 OPS+) with 3 doubles, a triple, 2 homers, and 11 RBIs. Woodbury was great before he got hurt, slashing .324/.393/.510 (141 OPS+) with 12 extra base hits, 15 runs, 17 RBIs, and 13 walks. He'll get regular playing time the coming week as we look to improve our record.

We're actually stuck on Sunday, so technically "this week" Red Bond crushed four homers, going 8-for-26 with a double, 3 walks, 6 runs, and 9 RBIs. It seems like the slumbering slugger has started to wake up, with five of his fifteen homers coming in the last eight days. For the month he's hit an impressive .343/.397/.629 (172 OPS+) with 13 runs and 16 RBIs. Chubby Hall homered twice as well, but aside from homers by him and Otto Christian, we didn't do too much overall. Leo Mitchell (6-27, 2B, 2 RBI, 3 R, 2 BB) had a rare back week, and despite our middle infields best efforts (28-53, 4 2B, 2 3B, 8 RBI, 9 R, 3 BB, SB), there wasn't much run production.

Simply put, the pitching was awful, but Donnie Jones had one good start. That's where he allowed 9 hits, a run, and a walk with 8 strikeouts in the complete game win, as we cruised to a 7-1 victory. The second was too poor to mention, so he's still even at 9-9, but he was one of six pitchers with a weekly ERA above 5. Thankfully, David Molina wasn't the issue, as he picked up the win after striking out two in two perfect innings. Charlie Kelsey got the other win, throwing 5.1 scoreless innings with 4 hits and a strikeout. For some reason Max Wilder pitched him the next day, where he struggled mightily, but we wouldn't have won otherwise.

Looking Ahead
Off on Monday to start the week, where we'll host our absolute favorite team the Toronto Wolves. We've had the most success with them, though they are the only team not within six and a half games of first place. It's taking all my energy to not trade for George Garrison (7-12, 3.71, 59), as we don't really have room for him and I don't see a deal getting done without Bob Allen. That's a non-starter in any deal, and we don't really have enough pitching to make a run at a top arm unless a team is willing to take a bet on George Oddo bouncing back from his miserable seven game run that has seen him allow five or more runs in each start. If we had free agency, this would be the perfect time for us to get a rental arm, like if Jim Morrison (5-8, 3.88, 56) was in the last year of his deal. Hal Wood (.333, 3, 40) interests me in the same way, but the fan in me wants him to spend the rest of his days in Toronto.

Our week finishes with three against the Cannons, who are two and a half games ahead of us and a game and a half behind the Saints. There next win will be their 50th, despite their league low 337 runs scored. They've allowed thirty fewer, so they deserve to be above .500, as Rufus Barrell (11-7, 2.30, 68) and Mickey Mills (11-4, 2.42, 74) have become the All-Star duo that no one asked for or even expected. They've been dealt another injury too, with Jim Hensley (.214, 2, 23) missing five weeks with a severe hip strain. Clifton Smith (.213, 7) has been called on to replace him, and they've recently installed Reb McKiernan (.269, 6) and Buzz McIlwain (.214) in the corners. Denny Andrews (.226, 4, 26) has been demoted to the bench in favor of Nellie Waters (.316, 1, 15) as they look to spark the lineup in any way they can. They could be a team to watch as we approach the deadline, as their staff deserves a few boppers to give them the support they need.

ayaghmour2 · 03-26-2024, 08:24 PM

Weekly Record: 4-2
Seasonal Record: 51-47 (4th, 4.5 GB)
Stars of the Week
Red Bond : 19 AB, 7 H, 3 HR, 7 RBI, .368 AVG, 1.211 OPS
Sal Pestilli : 28 AB, 10 H, 1 HR, 2 RBI, .357 AVG, .884 OPS
Pete Papenfus : 2 Wins, 19.0 IP, 8 BB, 10 K, 1.89 ERA

Schedule
7-25: Win vs Wolves (2-5): 10 innings
7-26: Win vs Wolves (2-4)
7-27: Win vs Wolves (2-3)
7-28: Loss vs Cannons (4-3)
7-29: Loss vs Cannons (6-3)
7-30: Win vs Cannons (2-8)

Recap
I should be happy about a 4-2 week, but it's hard when it's just wins against the Wolves and another team taking two of three from us. We also lost half a game in the standings, and with just four left against Toronto, who we are 16-2 against, that may be too big a deficit to make up. Now at the deadline, it's our last chance to make a move, and it seems like we have to hope that our guys just start playing better.

Thankfully, that's been the case for Red Bond, who now has nine homers in July. The 37-year-old hit three homers in his four games this week, finishing 6-for-15 with 7 RBIs. Bond has slashed a robust .353/.393/.694 (188 OPS+) on the month, improving his season line to a more Bond-like .286/.358/.483 (124 OPS+) in 364 trips to the plate. He was most of the offense this week, though Sal Pestilli hit his second homer, going 8-for-23 with 2 RBIs, 3 walks, 3 steals, and 5 runs. The now healthy Charlie Woodbury picked up right where he left off, going 3-for-10 with 2 doubles, 2 runs, and a walk. Eddie Howard saved his week with back-to-back 4-for-4s against the Cannons, and his 4 RBIs in the finale helped us avoid the sweep. We need more offense, especially from John Moss (1-20...), who not only has a career worst 76 WRC+, but his 9.0 zone rating (1.035 efficiency) isn't anywhere close to his career norms. I'm not sure why he decided to stop being a good player after joining us, but there really is something about the trades we make with the Kings...

Speaking of Kings, Pete Papenfus probably didn't like me saying that he wasn't dominant enough, so guess what he did??? Dominated!!!
Our vet won both his starts, even if the first took an extra inning. He allowed just 4 hits, 2 runs, and 4 walks in his complete game win over the Wolves, that ended with a dramatic three-run walk-off blast from our best and most consistent hitter Leo Mitchell. Pap, with help from his catcher, then avoided the Cannons sweep, striking out 7 with 5 hits, 2 runs, and 4 walks in his 10th win of the season. He's the second Cougar to double digit wins, as Donnie Jones picked his up three days earlier. He went all nine against Toronto, allowing 6 hits, 2 runs, and 3 walks with 4 strikeouts. Johnnie Jones got the last win of the week, his 9th, allowing 8 hits, 2 runs, and 2 walks with 7 strikeouts in the complete game win.

Even though the month technically isn't over, we are done for July (15-13), so I'll have the monthly screenshots at the end of the post. More draftees have signed too, but rather interestingly, after being unranked, 5th Rounder Hal Lewis as surfaced on the top 500 list. He's up all the way to 370th, good for 36th in our system. 6th Rounder Gene Meeker might have the same fate, as he was just signed this week, but is not listed on the list. We still have three human picks left to sign, with the deadline August 18th. Currently four of our 1950 picks are on the top prospect list, with all but Lewis in the top 100.

Looking Ahead
Off again to start the week, and we'll look to get some revenge on the Philadelphia Sailors. At 48-49, they're in fifth place, two and a half behind us and half a game ahead of the Kings and Foresters. The Sailors have taken a new approach this year, scoring runs instead of preventing them, and after a slow start they've done well for themselves lately. July saw them go 19-9, led by strong efforts from Al Duster (11-6, 3.23, 72), who was 4-2 with a 1.80 ERA and 23 strikeouts, and Billy Forbes (.319, 7, 51, 13), who hit .361/.408/.521 (139 OPS+) with 7 doubles, 3 triples, 2 steals, 2 homers, and 17 RBIs. Lucky for us, we'll miss Duster who picked up the win in an 8-0 victory over the Stars, leaving us with Charlie Gordon (8-6, 3.48, 60), Joe Hess (7-8, 8, 3.62, 74), and ace Win Lewis (6-7, 3.41, 76). A solid group, we'll need to keep the lineup in check, which has recently saw top 100 prospect Jerry Keith (.261, 2, 9) get his first chance at regular playing time. Batting fourth and manning third, he has now replaced longtime third basemen Marion Boismenu (.338, 2, 31, 4) in a somewhat surprising decision. It's the next step on a youth movement for the Sailors, who's first five hitters are now 26 or younger. I'm hoping our experienced pitchers can take advantage of the inexperience, but considering it's not the Wolves, we'll be lucky to win one of these home games.

Same goes for the three with the Foresters, who have at this point lost one more game then the Sailors. While they're still in it at 7.5 games out of first, a pennant defense looks unlikely, as the Foresters seem to be more comfortable with their record below .500. 20 games in their Lloyd Coulter (.300, 2, 11) experiment seems to have gone well, and last week their effort to get younger was continued to with the promotion of Frenchy Sonntag. Ranked as the 36th best prospect in the league, the former 7th overall selection has gone 3-for-13 with a double, run, and two walks, though his promotion was out of necessity not desire. He's replacing star Jim Adams Jr. (.283, 6, 40, 4), who just tore his meniscus and may miss the rest of the season. It's a huge blow for the offense, as while Sherry Doyal (.306, 11, 67) responded with a Player of the Week and an audition for Batter of the Month (.365, 5, 24), their lineup lost a lot of its length. Larry McClure (.342, 11, 57) continues to redefine good offense for a catcher, but unless Lorenzo Samuels (.243, 9, 37) or Orie Martinez (.244, 4, 32) come to life, we may actually be able to keep the bats in check. With an off day on Monday and before our series, they can do whatever they want with their rotation, but my best guess is John Jackson (7-9, 3.82, 67), Gordie Irwin (10-4, 1, 3.09, 33), and Larry Beebe (3-5, 3.56, 31). On paper, that may look tough, but it's three unproven guys who walk more batters then they strike out, which could be an avenue we can exploit to victory.

Or you know, we'll just lose two of three...

That's the Cougar way!

Minor League Report
SS Elmer Grace (AAA Milwaukee Blues): A common name in trade talks, Elmer Grace just lost himself a 20-game hit streak because the AI pinch hit him late in a game, where he ended up going 0-for-1 with a strikeout in the only at bat. Unphased, and perhaps unaware of the streak, Grace responded with back-to-back three-hit games, including a huge performance in the Blues' 3-1 win over St. Paul, where Grace doubled twice and both scored and drove in a run. That made the difference in the game, and the now 77th ranked prospect has continued to show that he deserves to play in Chicago. A natural shortstop, not only does Grace have a 14.4 zone rating and 1.091 efficiency at short, but he's hitting an excellent .305/.378/.518 (145 OPS+) with 20 doubles, 4 triples, 16 homers, and 51 RBIs through 90 games. As nice as that production would be in Chicago, he's not even Rule-5 eligible in the offseason, and the 23-year-old would need a 40-man and 24-man spot opened for him. Aside from recent waiver claims Frank Davis and Billy Brown, there really isn't a player worthy (or unworthy?) of being replaced, and with Charlie Woodbury back and hitting, I'm not ready to take at bats away from him or George Sutterfield. That means for now Grace is stuck in Milwaukee, though he's already making a push for a roster spot to open next season. A switch hitter with a sweet swing, Grace provides far more value then just the glove, and with his arm he's an easy convert to third. We'll be giving him a few reps there as the Blues finish the season, and he can challenge Sutterfield, Woodbury, Billy Hunter, and Otto Christian for time in the infield next season.

RHP Cliff Wallace (AA Little Rock Governors): That makes four! After allowing just 4 hits and 4 walks with 5 strikeouts in the Governors 6-0 win in Memphis, Cliff Wallace completed his fourth shutout in sixteen starts this season, improving to 11-5 on the season. Wallace owns an impressive 2.96 ERA (139 ERA+) in 130.2 innings, working to a 1.32 WHIP with 50 walks and 69 strikeouts. The 24-year-old from Ohio continues his remarkable campaign, as the almost no-longer-a-prospect Wallace may have just secured himself a 40-man roster spot in the offseason. Ranked as our 37th prospect and 376th overall, he's gone unselected twice in the Rule-5 draft, but I don't see a way he would make that three. Sure, Wallace isn't the most exciting prospect, but he's had little issues in the Dixie League, and his slider is enticing enough without the rest of the profile. He's hitting 91 this season with his fastball, even if it's his worst pitch, while the change has shown flashes of greatness between bouts of inconsistency. He's been on most of this year, but even in his great starts his command eludes him for innings at a time. He's still a work in progress, and maybe no more then a filler pitcher, but if we have taken notice, others may too, and the once 9th Rounder may have a chance to pitch a few FABL games if he keeps things up.

RHP Mike Emerson (C La Crosse Lions): C-ball has been a weird place early on, where walks, runs, and strikeouts have been way too easy to come across. That's why it's not overly surprising that Mike Emerson managed to strike out 15 hitters in a 147-pitch complete game against the Marshalltown Maples. The 4th Rounder allowed 9 hits, 4 runs (3 earned), and 5 walks, but picked up his first win in four starts. Now 1-1, his 5.13 ERA (109 ERA+) is nearly ten percent better then average, and I'm sure his 1.86 WHIP isn't half as bad as it looks. The 39 strikeouts in 26.1 innings are pretty nice even with all the crazy results, and with too many guys and not enough time, Emerson will get his first test in San Jose. A 21-year-old former 4th Rounder, he's spent the last three and a half seasons with La Crosse, though this season has been far different from the rest. He does strike guys out a fair amount, without many walks, as is pitches move well and are not easy to take. This has given him some love from the prospect people, as he's snuck into our top 30, now 27th in the system and 257th overall. He's got a developing four pitch mix that could be headlined by good off speed pitches, and this year he's throwing a bit faster in the 86-88 range. He's projecting as a spot starter now, but with a few adjustments as he challenges himself with tougher competition, and he could work his way into a full time rotation role.

03-07-2024, 10:23 PM	#1361
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,046	Week 2: April 24th-April 30th Weekly Record: 3-4 Seasonal Record: 6-7 (6th, 4 GB) Stars of the Week Leo Mitchell : 20 AB, 9 H, 1 HR, 2 RBI, .450 AVG, 1.122 OPS David Molina : 1 Win, 2 Saves, 4.1 IP, 2 BB, 2 K, 2.08 ERA Eddie Howard : 20 AB, 8 H, 0 HR, 2 RBI, .400 AVG, .955 OPS Schedule 4-24: Loss at Kings (3-5) 4-25: Loss at Kings (2-8) 4-26: Loss vs Stars (2-1) 4-27: Win vs Stars (2-3) 4-28: Win at Saints (7-4): 11 innings 4-29: Loss at Saints (6-8) 4-30: Win at Saints (4-1) Recap Yes, it's already "that" time of the year where the team with crazy expectations decides that the games don't matter, and they just tread in place as the rest of the teams start padding their leads. Add another one run loss to the tally, already three (all against the Stars...) in just seven tries, and just one of those seven losses was by more then two runs. No matter what I do, it seems this team can't win close games, but I just have to keep reminding myself: its still early. You can't win every game. Luckily, there's just guy called Leo Mitchell, and he always makes Cougars baseball exciting. Despite being the second oldest player on the roster (happy 37th birthday!), Mitchell has a hit in all of his 10 starts, coming off a 9-for-20 week with 3 runs, 3 walks, 2 RBIs, and a homer. Yeah, small sample and all that, but the surprise anchor of the offense has slashed .512/.556/.683 (237 OPS+) with a pair homers and equal walks (4) and strikeouts. The kid is a stud, plain and simple, and I can't believe I bought into two back-to-back average seasons as his downfall. I should know better, there are some guys who just show up and hit, and "Mitch the Metronome" is certainly that guy. Another guy who's always much-see TV, is good ol' Donnie Jones, who lasted 50.2 innings before his first (two) unearned runs. That's because Maurice Carter (.146, 3, 4) managed to elevate one of his pitches, taking Donnie deep for two in the 6th innings of his start. Now as good as he is, up 4-2 in the ninth, that was the perfect time to use David Molina, but instead, Max Wilder decided to bring our ace back for the ninth. It backfired, as there was the dreaded leadoff walk, and we could have lost had the most clutch defensive replacement ever in Don Lee was able to catch Sam Clay trying to reach third on a throw to the plate, as his throw was on line, Red Bond could cut it (not sure what a 1B is doing cutting throws from left, but that's baseball for you!), and find Otto Christian for the tag at third. Now the 10th would be a perfect time for Molina, but no, there's Donnie again! Again, he put runners on, but managed to escape, and finally after George Sutterfield gave us two in the tenth, Molina came out for the 11th. He was as advertised, striking out one in a perfect 11th, to secure his first save on the year. He pitched in the next two games too, though in the finale he threw seven pitches to finish Duke Bybee's start with a ground out, and picked up his second save. The middle outing was the first of his now five appearances where he ran into any troubles, with 3 hits, a run, and 2 walks in 2 innings. I'm not sure how, but I need to get Max Wilder using Molina more, as he's too valuable to sit around in clutch moments. Not too much else exciting, as most of the offense was non-existent for the second week in a row. One guy who made impact despite limited time was Chubby Hall, who was 3-for-9 with 2 doubles, 2 RBIs, and 3 runs. Eddie Howard had 2 doubles too, 8-for-20 with 2 walks, 2 RBIs, and 4 runs. George Sutterfield was 6-for-19 with a triple, 2 walks, and 6 RBIs. George Oddo was back to losing games he should have won, just 6 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks, and 3 strikeouts in a complete game, though with one run of support he was charged with the loss. Duke Bybee had an awful start, which I'll ignore, but in the game Molina finished off, he allowed 9 hits, a single run, and 2 walks with 8 strikeouts. Pap lost both his starts, and was hit uncharacteristically hard (16 H, 12 R, 11 ER), but in both starts he had three Ks and no walks. Johnnie Jones pitched well enough to win, 8 innings, 6 hits, 2 runs, 4 walks, and 4 strikeouts, as despite 13 hits, it took until the last batter, a Leo Mitchell walk-off blast, to emerge victorious. I'll never quite understand this team, but man wouldn't it be nice to just start the season on the right foot for once??? Is that really too much to ask!?!?!?! -- Best part is I got a scare today as when I went to look at my writeup from earlier as in everything above this part, I could not find it where it was supposed to be. I'm partially scared I accidentally sent this to someone and gave them the most confusion in their life, as I sometimes DM myself writeups if I don't save them as notepad files, but for my sake I'm just going to say I got too distracted by Jesse Santoro Luckily, I always type my dynasty report in the actual forum text editor. Not on word or anything like that, just straight into the webpage. Because there's this little saying I like to tell myself, when in doubt "Ctrl-T" Well what does that mean? You see, even though my computer wasn't on for hours, all I had to do was open up Chrome. And use the command. Ctrl + T. Ctrl + T. Ctrl + T. Ctrl + T. Ctrl + T. Ctrl + T. Ctrl + T. And like magic, there it was! (And two extra tabs after) My forums.ootpdevelopments.com/newreply/etc./etc.! With all my words just as I left them! That's the beauty of this handy little keyboard function, as it will open up any closed browsers it has in memory. Sometimes you can even use the back button! It's a true life saver! It's the only reason I continued with this! Losing my writing makes me sad...Ctrl + T can make it all better! Now if only it could make the Cougars win some games! Maybe, Ctrl + W? I'll try anything! -- Looking Ahead Back to your regularly scheduled program, we look forward to our first actual trip of any time, as we go from Montreal to Toronto. For hopefully the last time this season, they have a better record then us, 7-5 and the closest team to the first place Kings (11-4). The reason for that is the pitching, as Joe Hancock (3-0, 0.86, 10) has turned back the clock, George Garrison (2-1, 2.11, 8) is George Garrison, and with off days they haven't had to use much more then Jim Morrison (1-1, 3.21, 5). He's scheduled to start the series, followed by Jerry York (0-2, 6.55, 6) and the ace Garrison. Even if that trio keeps us in check, the lineup hasn't done much, scoring less then every CA team except the Cannons, who have played two less games. Fred McCormick (.233, 7) is still getting on base, but Hal Wood (.395, 5) is doing all the heavy lifting. Even at 35, the former Cougar first rounder is a force at the plate, as 1950 seems to be the eight consecutive above average offensive season for him. I should be confident for this, but I just can't be, though on paper this seems to be the start of our turn around. That's partly because the Cannons follow, as despite being half a game ahead of us in the standings (5th, 5-5), we should have no trouble with them. I'm not sure why Rufus Barrell (0-2, 4.80, 8) is disguising himself as Jim Anderson (1-0, 0.50, 9) and Charlie Griffith (2-0, 0.53, 6), and if we're lucky, two of them will pitch in New York. That leaves likely Griffith the #3, potential future ace Tony Britten (1-1, 2.12, 7), and 28-year-old Mickey Mills (1-1, 3.31, 4), who entered the season with just 51.2 FABL innings. All I care about is no Barrell, as with how little they've hit, I don't know what to do if we lose. Mike T. Taylor (.294, 2, 1) is the only guy hitting near .300, while Chuck Adams (.267, 1, 1) is the only other guy in the lineup hitting above .230. It's obviously a small sample, but I'm sure Cannons fans are nervous, and slow starts like this can diminish the value of the assets they may want to ship off. We'll finish the week in Philly for the first of a three game series. I'll cover them more tomorrow, but right now they're 6-6 and even with the Cannons. The pitching has struggled, 7th in runs and 8th in starter's ERA, though Al Duster (2-0, 2.40, 8), Slick Wesolowski (0-0, 1.76, 5), and reliver John Thomas Johnson (1-0, 1.42, 7) have stoodout early. Luckily they've hit, leading all CA teams in average and OBP, and they're tied for third in runs. 1950 is going to be an interesting season for the Sailors, and I'm hoping we can start our series with them on the right foot.

03-08-2024, 09:54 PM	#1362
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,046	Week 3: May 1st-May 7th Weekly Record: 5-2 Seasonal Record: 11-9 (3rd, 2.5 GB) Stars of the Week Billy Hunter : 22 AB, 11 H, 0 HR, 4 RBI, .500 AVG, 1.022 OPS Red Bond : 21 AB, 8 H, 1 HR, 4 RBI, .381 AVG, 1.042 OPS Otto Christian : 19 AB, 7 H, 1 HR, 8 RBI, .368 AVG, 1.013 OPS Schedule 5-1: Win at Wolves (9-6) 5-2: Win at Wolves (2-0) 5-3: Win at Wolves (6-1) 5-4: Win at Cannons (3-2) 5-5: Loss at Cannons (2-6) 5-6: Win at Cannons (3-2) 5-7: Loss at Sailors (1-7) Recap Hey now! We looked like a playoff team this week! I guess playing at home is overrated, as we built off the series win in Montreal with a sweep of the Wolves and two of three in Cincinnati. Sure, we lost the opener in Philly, but if we win the second two, we'll have won each of our last five three game series, and we're now back over .500 at 11-9. The only thing that stopped us this week was injuries, and they were all two related. Two days (out). Two weeks (DTD). Two weeks (out). They're all kind of shocking injuries, with the lone day-to-day injury going to Johnnie Jones, who has made 145 FABL starts before missing one. He left his start after two, and was given the unlucky loss, and it came right after one of the more interesting 2-hit shutouts. Johnnie scattered eight free passes, but considering he matched every walk with a strikeout, he was able to out-duel Jerry York (1-3, 4.15, 10) in a tight 2-0 win over the Wolves. Just as a precaution, we're IL'ing him, even his arm seems alright. It's just not worth him aggravating this, and when you have someone like Zane Kelley in AAA, there shouldn't be much of a drop. Add in an off-day before Johnnie's scheduled start comes up, and he may end up needing just one start covered. Still, it hurts losing Johnnie early in the season, where he's at his best. His 1.93 ERA (201 ERA+) and 1.29 WHIP are excellent, and even though he's walked 18 guys, he's struck out 18 too. I'll miss that production, but if he picks off right where he left off when healthy, it'll be worth the slight interruption. The next injury was to star outfielder Sal Pestilli, who is dealing with some chronic back soreness that's severe enough to keep him out of the lineup. It's his longest injury since 1939, the year after he won the Whitney as a sophomore. Pestilli was off to a nice start too, hitting .314/.388/.414 (119 OPS+) with a league leading 6 stolen bases. He hasn't homered yet, but he's got 3 doubles, 2 triples, 9 walks, 12 runs, and 4 RBIs. Assuming no setbacks, he should be easy enough to replace short-term, as we have Chubby Hall and Don Lee, both of which are good enough to play everyday. Hall will man right against righties, while Lee will get time against lefties, whether that's in the corner with Hall or Leo Mitchell. Most interestingly, is who will be replacing Pestilli on the roster, as GWL star Clyde Zimmerman will get a chance in the big leagues far earlier then he might have anticipated. The initial Player of the Week is hitting a strong .304/.341/.494 (123 OPS+) through 18 games, and he'll give us a reliable option off the bench in any of the three outfield spots. Though likely a short-term replacement, Zimmerman's stay should last the duration of Pestilli's IL placement, as he can be optioned as much as needed during the season. The only thing able to stop Leo Mitchell this year, seems to be patellar tendinitis, which cost him most of the week and likely the rest of the Sailors series. The injury came in the fifth when Mitchell scored from second on a Red Bond single. He was 2-for-3 with a double that game, upping his season line to an absurd 521/.558/.688 (238 OPS+) with 4 extra base hits, 7 RBIs, and 7 runs scored. Despite the good record, we did feel his absence, as the offense still isn't a well oiled machine. Bond looked good, 8-for-21 with a homer and 4 RBIs, though the top producer may have been Billy Hunter. He might have had his first six game week in, well, ever, as the oft-injured vet was an even 11-for-22 with 3 runs and 4 RBIs. Otto Christian more then doubled his season hit total, going 7-for-19 after a 6-for-46 start, adding a walk, homer, 2 doubles, and 8 RBIs. Don Lee was up for the task while Mitchell was hurt, 4-for-11 with a pair of doubles, a run, an RBI, and a steal. Losing Pestilli may weaken us a little, but I'm hoping his loss will be offset by some of our guys getting back on track, as John Moss has looked awful, Eddie Howard has been useless after his first week, and despite his patented elite defense, Skipper hasn't done much with the bat. Of course, offense isn't how we win games, it's the pitching, as we got the shutout from Johnnie, and another excellent start from Donnie Jones. Make him 4-0 four times through, as he went all nine with 6 hits, a run, 5 walks, and 4 strikeouts. The walks have been high, as he has 14 in 37 innings, and his even 10 BB% is almost a full percent higher then his previous high. Still, he's won all his starts, and has a 1.22 ERA (319 ERA+) and 0.84 WHIP, so if the price of that is a few walks he can erase with grounders, then so be it! Peter the Heater shook off his tough two-start stretch, picking up his first win of the season in a complete game victory over the Cannons. Pap struck out 6, allowing just 7 hits, 2 runs, and 3 walks in a tight 3-2 victory. Even George Oddo picked up a pair of wins, though he only deserved one of them. That was in another 3-2 win over the Cannons, where he went 8 with 6 hits, 2 runs, 4 walks, and 5 strikeouts. He then got lucky in Toronto, as 9 runs of support got him a win despite 9 hits and 6 runs in 6 innings. Despite the lucky win this week, he's been anything but, with near identical ERA+ (83) and FIP- (81) in his starts. In both of Oddo's starts, he was finished off by David Molina, who really showed what he could do this week. In that 6 inning affair, Molina got the last nine outs, with just a hit and strikeout to his record. He then had a little more trouble in Cincy, but he stranded both guys he walked to earn his fourth save in as many attempts. He's still low on innings, just 9.1 in 7 outings, but he's already finished off four close games for us in a row, which may be a Cougar first! Unfortunately, we did have some rough pitching outings, with the biggest blemish coming after Johnnie Jones' injury. That's when Charlie Kelsey made his season debut, and it did not go well in the slightest. Well, after the five strikeouts, but that may have been because so many other guys got on base! He allowed 7 hits, 6 runs, and 5 walks in 4.1 innings pitched. Duke Bybee was roughed up too, as the Cannons took him deep three times in 7.1 innings. He allowed 7 hits and 6 runs, though with no walks and 5 strikeouts, there's a lot to be excited about. I'm honestly stunned the Cannons took him deep so much in Cincy, and just like George Oddo, the ERA+ (85) and FIP- (88) are almost identical. Add in the near 5 (4.8) K/BB with 19 strikeouts and just 4 free passes (same as his homers!), and just like Pap and Oddo, I think it's only a matter of time before we have an epic run on the back of our arms! Looking Ahead We get two more with the Sailors, who are the only team between us and the Kings. At 11-7, they're a game ahead of us, and a game and a half behind the 14-7 Kings. The Sailors are starting to look like the team they should have last year, as evidenced by their 7-1 thrashing behind new ace Charlie Gordon (2-1, 4.45, 17). Scheduled after him our Al Duster (2-0, 2.45, 13) and Slick Wesolowski (0-1, 5.30, 7), who just got his brains beat in by Saints after keeping the Foresters in check twice. I'm liking the matchups, as we'll give them Donnie (4-0, 1.22, 15) and Pap (1-3, 4.65, 17), giving us the noticeable advantage on the mound. The lineup is loaded with .300+ hitters, led by CA batting leader Marion Boismenu (.441, 3, 1) and the if he was qualified leader, Ed Reyes (.538, 6), though the 37-year-old lefty hasn't been getting regular playing time. That hasn't hurt them too much, as Rip Lee (.356, 2, 11, 1) is looking to prove the doubters wrong, Al Farmer (.360, 1, 10) is off to a scalding start, and even former Cougar Solly Skidmore (.316, 1, 11) is hitting like the guy I once thought he could be. Even with our hot streak, I'm a little nervous here, but two wins to finish off the series would be perfect. Our long run of games ends with two in Cleveland, as we'll play our 23rd and 24th consecutive game without an off day. Cleveland does not look like a postseason team early on, 7-12 while allowing the most runs in the association. It's not reigning Allen winner Adrian Czerwinski's (1-4, 2.93, 9) fault, he's been amazing, nor John Jackson (1-1, 1.04, 6), who has excelled in three starts, but the pen has been hit hard and Ollie White (1-2, 6.52, 23) and Augie Hayes Jr. (0-1, 5.48, 8) have had issues with run preventions. Part can be blamed on the defense, which is also an association worst, though they're not really hitting as great as they could be. Still, rookie, first rounder, and 25th ranked prospect Jim Urquhart (.356, 8, 1) is off to a great start to his young career and rookie catcher Larry McClure (.360, 4, 15) has somehow managed to make the jump straight from A-ball. But Lorenzo Samuels (.219, 1, 8) is ice cold, Orie Martinez (.125, 3) might be frozen, and Jim Adams Jr. (.273, 4) is already dealing with another nagging injury. This may be the perfect time to play them, and it's looking like we'll luck out by missing Czerwinski and Ducky Davis (1-2, 3.09, 12), who both picked up losses in a double header to the Stars. Thankfully, we're finally off on Friday, and we'll use the travel day to return to beautiful, hopefully sunny, Chicago. We'll need all the rest we can get, as the first place Kings are in town, and they've been tough for us to beat since the start of last season. The Kings can out-hit anyone, led by reigning Player of the Week Ralph Johnson (.354, 7, 20). The almost 26-year-old was 11-for-22 with 4 doubles, a triple, a homer, 4 walks, and 6 RBIs. He's got plenty of protection in Ken Newman (.333, 2, 15), Dan Smith (.323, 4, 8), and Billy Bryant (.338, 5), and once the rest of the lineup starts falling into place, they could really start to be dangerous. Luckily, the pitching hasn't been great, aside from Joe Potts (4-0, 2.83, 15) and old friend Ron Berry (3-1, 3.09, 12), so if we can keep them in the park, I really like our chances here. The off day should work wonders, as the return to our home, but I'm most worried about their ability to hit the ball out of the park, as it's something we tend to struggle to prevent. Especially at home... Minor League Report CF Frank Reece (AA Mobile Commodores): No one decided to tell Frank Reece that he's not an important prospect, as the former second rounder won his second Player of the Week. This time he went 12-for-28, tallying 6 runs, 2 doubles, 2 homers, 2 steals, and 5 RBIs. Reece has managed a .392/.415/.709 (184 OPS+) triple slash in 82 trips to the plate, collecting 6 doubles, 2 triples, 5 homers, and 3 steals. He's scored 15 times and drove in 13, and with average numbers out in center he's been worth an impressive 1.4 in just 17 games. It's still way too early to start talking promotion for the 22-year-old, as even with the Zimmerman promotion there's still three starter worthy outfielders and Johnny Carlisle who can play anywhere. Now eligible for the Rule-5 draft, I wouldn't mind him ending up in the Century League, and if he keeps hitting like this I may have to make him a September callup. He's even jumped up the prospect ladder, now 9th in the system and 117th overall. It's been almost three seasons since he was last in the top 100 list, but the toolsy outfielder is trying to prove the experts were right in the beginning. LHP Dixie Gaines (A Lincoln Legislators): The prospect pickers may not like him much anymore, but Dixie Gaines hasn't let that get in his way. He's been excellent through three starts, allowing two or fewer runs and six or fewer hits each time out. He's one all three of them as well, working to a 1.27 ERA (328 ERA+) and 1.17 WHIP with 9 walks and 15 strikeouts. Yes, it's not as good as his absurd eight run stretch with San Jose last season, but the 22-year-old lefty has picked off right where he left off even if he's not getting many groundball outs. A five pitch pitcher, Gaines relies on his mid 80s sinker, which is up a tick to 85-87. That's going to make his change up that much better, and it seems like he's getting a lot of soft contact. The stuff has never been an issue, with the only question mark here his command. He's been hovering above ten and a half with the Legislators, which may be a bit too high against FABL pitchers. As I mentioned earlier, Donnie's never come close to that before, though that would actually be a good year for Pap. In that case, Dixie will have to strike out as many guys as Pap can, and that's no easy feat. I think the control may be what OSA doesn't like here, though I see a guy who just needs a good catcher to teach him how to pitch. And with guys like current catcher Johnny Hadley, last year's Garland Phelps, and Eddie Howard in Chicago, he's always going to have a guy who will help him.

03-11-2024, 08:14 PM	#1363
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,046	Week 4: May 8th-May 14th Weekly Record: 0-6 Seasonal Record: 11-15 (6th, 6.5 GB) Stars of the Week John Moss : 20 AB, 7 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, .350 AVG, 1.000 OPS Chubby Hall : 27 AB, 6 H, 1 HR, 4 RBI, .222 AVG, .694 OPS Eddie Howard : 21 AB, 7 H, 0 HR, 1 RBI, .333 AVG, .745 OPS Schedule 5-8: Loss at Sailors (2-5) 5-9: Loss at Sailors (0-4) 5-10: Loss at Foresters (7-8): 10 innings 5-11: Loss at Foresters (6-7) 5-13: Loss vs Kings (3-2) 5-14: Loss vs Kings (5-3): 10 innings Recap Call it! Season over already... In one of the most pitiful weeks ever, we lost all six times we went out. Three in a row were by a single run. Two losses came in extras. All were by four or less runs. We. Just. Suck. I really hope I'm overreacting, but it seems like every time I get really hyped up for a team, they completely fall apart. We didn't do anything right, as David Molina (0-2, 3 IP, 6 H, 5 ER, 3 BB) lost three games himself, Duke Bybee (8.2 IP, 8 H, 7 ER , 2 BB, 4 K) completely collapsed in the ninth inning (5 ER), and pretty much no one did anything at the plate. The one bright side was John Moss, who was ironically awful the first three weeks of the season. He went 7-for-20 with 3 doubles, 5 runs, and 5 walks, the first time he's really like the type of hitter I was acquiring. Of course, the defense is always great, and no one comes close to his 4.2 zone rating, which is twice the next highest (2.0, Edwin Hackberry). His 1.060 efficiency is also best among both associations, and if "Johnny Reb" has settled into the plate. It was also cool to see a successful debut from a guy that played beside him in the outfield, Clyde Zimmerman, as he went 2-for-3 against the Sailors. The rest of his week wasn't great, hitless in four at bats, but he becomes the first player that competed in the Great Western League to play a game for a FABL organization. He's got one week left, as Sal Pestilli should be back next week, and we clearly need him back as soon as possible. Looking Ahead So obviously this week sucked, but I'm going to try to think on the bright side. We were without both Mitchell and Sal in the Sailors series, and without Sal the rest of the week, our lineup was seriously lacking length. And even though the off day didn't quite help, the team had to be gassed, as we played twenty-six consecutive games to start the season. Even worse, twenty of those were on the road, so perhaps I was thinking too much? We'll see how they perform this week, as we're stuck with the Kings, who we've lost to the previous four times. Lucky for us, Jake Roberts (0-2, 6.00, 5) is on the mound, and he's allowed five runs in each of his two starts. Even with his early struggles, Duke Bybee (1-3, 5.13, 23) and his 3.8 K/BB should be dominating teams instead of being left in the game too long because a certain manager refuses to listen. The rest of the week is at home too, as we'll host the Wolves (12-14) for three, the Sailors (15-10) for two, and the first of a pair with the Foresters (10-15). With all these games at home, we need to preform better, and it's crazy how ineffective the offense has been. Our staff still ranks second in the CA in runs allowed (100), and we've played three more games then the Cannons (73), who currently lead and are one of the few teams we have a winning record against (2-1).

03-12-2024, 10:22 PM	#1364
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,046	Week 5: May 15th-May 21st Weekly Record: 5-2 Seasonal Record: 16-17 (5th, 4 GB) Stars of the Week Leo Mitchell : 23 AB, 11 H, 1 HR, 5 RBI, .478 AVG, 1.127 OPS Eddie Howard : 24 AB, 11 H, 0 HR, 6 RBI, .458 AVG, 1.042 OPS Red Bond : 24 AB, 9 H, 1 HR, 6 RBI, .375 AVG, 1.000 OPS Schedule 5-15: Loss vs Kings (7-5) 5-16: Win vs Wolves (3-4) 5-17: Win vs Wolves (3-11) 5-18: Win vs Wolves (1-2) 5-19: Win vs Sailors (3-4) 5-20: Win vs Sailors (3-10) 5-21: Loss vs Foresters (13-3) Recap So what happens when you sandwich an 0-6 week with two, far more respectable, 5-2 weeks? Well, you're right back where you started, of course! The tales of our demise may have been exaggerated, though I wouldn't hold my breath yet, as some rest and a return home was exactly what the Cougs needed to get back on track. As has been the case for nearly a decade and a half, you can thank Leo Mitchell, as the captain, fan favorite, and most importantly, my favorite, veteran outfielder has just been nothing but perfect this season. Mitchell was 11-for-23 in his first full week post-injury, contributing a homer, 5 RBIs, and 7 runs scored. He now boasts a pristine .458/.505/.602 (201 OPS+) triple slash through 93 PAs, and had he not missed a full week, he'd lead all qualified hitters by over 50 points in the batting race. Most impressively, however, may be the walks and strikeouts, as Mitchell has nine each so far. If this holds, his 9.7 BB% would be the first time in his FABL career he struck out in less then 10% of his plate appearances! Combined with 3 doubles, 3 homers, 13 RBIs, and 14 runs scored, Mitchell has managed to be worth 1.6 WAR despite being nothing more then a glorified statue on the outfield grass. Part of the reason we had so much success this week, is because our Metronome actually had some help this week, with big weeks from Eddie Howard and Red Bond. Howard might have had the best week of his young career, as the first-year starter was 11-for-24 with 2 doubles and 6 RBIs. This brought his season line up to a far more respectable .302/.345/.358 (92 OPS+), and if he can start/keep hitting the ball with a little more authority, that OPS+ will be above 100 in no time. Bond, however, has no issues with hitting it hard, and he took Al Duster deep for his fifth homer in as many weeks. Bond finished the week a slightly worse 9-for-24, matching Howard's 6 RBIs, but contributing 3 runs and 5 walks, compared to his one of each category. John Moss had another strong week himself, 8-for-26 with 2 doubles, 3 walks, 4 RBIs, and 7 runs, with the highlight of his week a big 4-for-5 game in our 10-3 victory over the Sailors. Chubby Hall finally showed some signs of life too, as despite being 5-for-25, he did have a double, 2 homers, 6 runs, 6 RBIs, and 3 walks. It's nice seeing so many guys produce after very little involvement early on, and with Sal Pestilli's return to the lineup this week, it's hard not to be excited for tomorrow's slate of games! Like Leo Mitchell, Donnie Jones has been tremendous all season, and had Red Bond not dropped an easy throw from George Sutterfield at second, he would have had his third shutout of the season. Instead, he allowed an unearned run in the 8th, finishing his complete game with 3 hits, 3 walks, and 4 strikeouts. Jones is now 5-2 in his seven starts, snapping his quick two game losing streak and bringing his ERA back down to 1.71 (203 ERA+). His 0.86 WHIP is arguably more impressive, and Jones has struck out 27 in 63 innings. Brother Johnnie will be back to start the week, but his replacement Zane Kelley looked good in his absence, going 8 with 11 hits, 3 runs (2 earned), 3 walks and 2 strikeouts before Jim Kenny allowed a hit and walk with a strikeout in his scoreless ninth. Scoreless doesn't come near describing his other outing of the week, as the Foresters thrashed him for 5 hits, a walk, and 6 runs, with a bases loaded strikeout of Sherry Doyal the only out he managed. Pete Papenfus came two outs away from a complete game win, but it was the right call, as at 150 pitches in a one run game he was getting tired. Pap struck out 7 with 9 hits, 3 runs, and 3 walks, leaving with one runner on due to his own error. Lucky for him, David Molina looked like himself against his old team, getting a pair of his former teammates out to end the game. That was one of the three one-run victories we managed this week, and even though this was the only time Molina was needed, it was great seeing the team respond with the effort needed to close out a few close ones. Looking Ahead One more with the Foresters, who are one of the two teams behind us in the standings. Their domination against us is deserving of revenge, as Johnnie Jones (2-1, 1.93, 18) will take on either Ollie White (1-3, 6.21, 29) or Gordie Irwin (2-2, 3.07, 7) in the finale. Assuming he isn't rusty from his injury, he should have the advantage on the mound. All eight position players had a hit in their 13-3 win over us, though the game was close until an 8-run 8th blew us out of the water. Orie Martinez (.202, 1, 8) managed his first homer of the season, going 2-for-4 with a double and four RBIs. Production like that has been uncommon on the team, especially for Orie, but rookie backstop Larry McClure (.333, 4, 19) is playing like he wants to represent the CA at the All-Star game. Aside from the top two hitters in Jim Urquhart (.320, 9, 2) and Jim Adams Jr. (.272, 1, 8, 1), they haven't been producing many runs, and before beating us they lost four of their last five. This is a big game for us, as a win brings us back to .500. A mark I hope we never fall below again... Our nice homestand then ends with three against the Cannons, who have only played close games this season. They've allowed and scored the fewest amount of runs, and for their credit they're 17-13 and a game and a half out of first. Even though it doesn't really matter who we face, we're stuck with Rufus Barrell (3-3, 2.42, 26) in the opener, and I expect to face their top three with Jim Anderson (2-1, 2.22, 20) and Charlie Griffith (3-3, 2.04, 19) following. Optimistically, the law of averages would expect declines from Anderson and Griffith, and with Sal (.314, 4, 6) back in the lineup, we should be scoring some runs. The key is then preventing them, and with just two batters with a WRC+ above 100 in the lineup, our top three should really be able to shut them down. In fact, the top two are Chuck Adams (.287, 3, 9, 1) and Denny Andrews (.240, 3, 13, 1), and they're only at 101 and 105. Mike T. Taylor has been awful, hitting just .171/.246/.234 (28 OPS+), and the double play duo of Charlie Rivera (.213, 1, 11, 2) and Jim Hensley's (.214, 1, 6, 1) combined WRC+ (123) would be tied for 30th among qualifiers with Hal Wood (.316, 17, 1). All of this points to us coming away with a series win, but form is a real thing, and theirs is much stronger then ours. We'll then make a quick stop in Brooklyn, where we'll deal with the seemingly unbeatable Kings. Not only are they 21-14 and in first place, but they've beat us in each of the first five contests. As you might expect, we've had trouble with Ralph Johnson (.344, 10, 28), and despite a 23 point drop in WRC+ from last year, Pat Petty (.250, 4, 33) is leading the association in RBIs due to elite production with runners in scoring position. That's helped them outscore the other seven continental teams, which has made up for poor seasons from Bob Arman (4-4, 5.51, 30) and Leo Hayden (5-2, 4.55, 26), though they've gotten quality starts from our old draftee Ron Berry. He's won five of his seven starts, working to a 2.53 ERA (160 ERA+) and 1.32 WHIP in 57 innings. He has walked 30 batters while striking out just 22, so Kings will hope they can keep him in the zone more often. His emergence has been big for Brooklyn, as the cornerstone of the John Moss (.235, 1, 10) deal has outperformed the All-Star himself. Illinois native Charlie Rogers (.252, 1, 15, 2) hasn't been great, but the soon-to-be 21-year-old hit his first career homer in the second day of a double header to finish the week, and he's got 11 doubles in his first 168 trips to the plate. Earlier in the season, I would have thought a series like this would be a good one for us to steal on the road, but at this point a single win is enough to make me happy about the outcome of this series.

03-13-2024, 08:11 PM	#1365
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,046	Week 6: May 22nd-May 29th Weekly Record: 2-5 Seasonal Record: 18-22 (t-5th, 7 GB) Stars of the Week Pete Papenfus : 1 Win, 9.0 IP, 4 BB, 7 K, 0.00 ERA David Molina : 1 Win, 3.2 IP, 1 BB, 3 K, 0.00 ERA George Sutterfield : 27 AB, 7 H, 0 HR, 2 RBI, .259 AVG, .619 OPS Schedule 5-22: Loss vs Foresters (8-6): 11 innings 5-23: Loss vs Cannons (3-2) 5-24: Win vs Cannons (0-4) 5-25: Loss vs Cannons (3-0) 5-26: Win vs Kings (0-1): 12 innings 5-27: Loss vs Kings (5-1) 5-28: Loss vs Kings (4-3) Recap I guess we're just not allowed to have back-to-back good weeks... The offense just completely disappeared, as after scoring six in yet another losing effort to the Foresters, we couldn't manage more then four runs against the Cannons or Kings, who both took two of three from us where the only way we could win is preventing the other team from scoring a single run. Already seven games out, we might actually be in a hole that's going to be impossible to drag ourselves out. Especially considering how ineffective the offense is. Not a single batter who made more then 4 at bats had a OPS+ above 100 for the week, and Sal Pestilli's 81 was the closest to average. That alone is all I'm going to say about the bats, as at least some of our pitchers performed well! Peter the Heater has gotten as hot as his fastball, and he kept the Cannons hitters guessing all game, twirling a 5-hit shutout with 5 hits, 4 walks, and 7 strikeouts. George Oddo should have joined him with a shutout, but we couldn't solve Joe Potts (4-2, 2.61, 29). That caused Oddo to throw 10 shutout innings in a classic George Oddo no decision, as 3 hits, 4 walks, and 4 strikeouts without a run wasn't enough for a win. Somehow... Luckily, David Molina threw two perfect innings, and we were able to finally win on a Skipper Schneider go-ahead single in the top of the 12th. Aside from that, it was only pitchers in losses, as even though Duke and Donnie pitched well, there's not too much else worth noting. Looking Ahead While I don't care too much about the coming games, the draft pool is officially published tomorrow, meaning we'll get to see exactly how good our draftees did, and who we maybe should have grabbed with one of our ten picks. Dixie Marsh thinks we got the seventh best player at twelve, though his list makes me really wish I skipped a pitcher in the second. We still got plenty of talent, but we could have landed what may end up a top ten or fifteen target with our second rounder, so if we either got better lottery luck or Elmer Sullivan fell, we would have had a very good draft. We're actually off to start the week, and it's nice because we have a double header with the Stars (23-19) on Tuesday. That ends our homestand, as we'll use the off day after the double header to head to Toronto for three. Since we haven't lost to them all season, expect us to get swept here, before our Sunday is spent getting shutout by one of the four Cannons pitchers who are pitching out of their mind. I can't believe Jim Anderson (3-2, 2.33, 21), Charlie Griffith (4-3, 1.74, 21), and Mickey Mills (5-2, 3.09, 35) are pitching so well, and Tony Britten (4-2, 2.67, 19) may have emerged as an ace. This could be a very tough week for us, which I'm sure will lead to yet another short write up as the team has given me very little to work with. Minor League Report RHP Cliff Wallace (AA Little Rock Governors): Just because the major league team sucks, doesn't mean the minor league ones aren't doing extraordinary things, as from AA down we've got three teams with win percentages over .600! Cliff Wallace has contributed to that, as the 24-year-old Governor laid down the law in Chattanooga, holding the Reliables scoreless with a shutout victory. Wallace allowed 9 hits and 2 walks with 6 strikeouts, improving to 4-2 in his six starts. He's been effective in his first go at this level, owning a 3.88 ERA (110 ERA+) and 1.58 WHIP with 23 walks and 26 strikeouts. His recent improvements have earned him some respect from the prospect pickers, as he now ranks 40th in our system and 426th overall. A former 9th Rounder, Wallace is a sidewinding righty who can hit 90 with his fastball. His slider is the real treat, as at 6'5'' he has a huge wingspan, allowing him to disguise the ball well to same side hitters. Interesting enough, Dixie and OSA think the best pitch is the change, as their is no question about his stuff. The issue is command, as when he's not in the zone he's easy to wait out. Regardless, I'm happy to see a respectable 10.7 BB%, and I'll be keeping an eye on that number as the season progresses. RHP Jim Williams (AA Little Rock Governors): The second Governor to throw a shutout this week, Jim Williams should have won Player of the Week. Not just because of the shutout, but on Monday he threw a 12-inning complete game victory, allowing just 5 hits, a run, and 3 walks with 7 strikeouts in a 2-1 win. The shutout was impressive as well, a 4-hitter with 7 strikeouts and 5 walks, improving the 23-year-old to 4-1 in his 7 starts. The former 8th Rounder ranks as our 15th best pitching prospect and 442 among all prospects, though he went untouched in the recent Rule-5 draft. Part of that was due to just two starts at AA before this season, though he's looked capable so far this season. Williams owns a 3.05 ERA (140 ERA+) and 1.20 WHIP, though I am concerned with the 25 walks to 21 strikeouts. Normally a command oriented pitcher, his 10.2 BB% is higher then each of his four stints over the past two seasons. I'm not too worried, as there is so much more to like. The tall righty is comfortably in the low 90s with his sinker, and his stuff is probably good enough to fool FABL batters. He does a good job keeping the ball on the ground too, and with the amount of effort he puts in to improving his craft, there could be some more to come from him. I think he's been undervalued some, but it might be tough for the Boston native to get a shot here with us. RHP Bob Allen (A Lincoln Legislators): The Lincoln Legislators roster is absolutely loaded this year. You've got 36th ranked prospect Henry Norman out in right. Then there's 14th overall Jerry Smith lined up in Norman's natural center field position. But most importantly, there's baseball's #1 pitching prospect Bob Allen on the mound. Taken 10th Overall in 1946, the eventual Allen Winner has truly shined on the mound, consistently ranked among the top ten prospects in the game since the day he inked his first contract. He was off to a somewhat slow start, dropping three of his first four decisions, but the #7 overall prospect has kicked it up a notch. He didn't get a win, but his fifth start saw him allow just one hit and one run, striking out four in an 8 inning no decision. Realizing that even one run was too much, Allen took things in his own hands against the Terre Haute Brewers, twirling a 2-hit, 2-walk shutout in a 4-0 win. This brought his ERA down to 2.68 (147 ERA+) in 40.1 innings, with a strong 1.14 WHIP despite one more walk (19) then strikeout (18). Control has been the one real weak spot for our hopeful ace, who has yet to have a single digit walk rate. Interesting enough, Dixie and OSA have no concerns about him figuring out, and when you combine that with his electric stuff, you have all the makings of a future star. He'll turn 22 tomorrow, and as crazy as it sounds, he's actually eligible for the Rule-5 draft next offseason. Obviously he won't stay unprotected, but it really shows how close to a potential debut the enticing prospect is. We have no immediate need in the rotation, even if Duke Bybee is pitching like a pitcher who never threw an inning in AA, so don't get too excited about a Bob Allen debut. But it's getting closer and closer by the loss! LHP Joe Oates (B San Jose Cougars): Shutouts were the theme this week, even for the big league club, and San Jose's Joe Oates was one of the many pitchers of ours to throw a shutout! Like Allen, his shutout came after a one-run outing, as Oates improved to 3-2 by allowing just 2 hits and walks with 5 strikeouts in 8 strong innings. The follow up was actually a bit worse, as in his shutout he allowed six hits and three walks with six strikeouts. Oates now has an impressive 3.06 ERA (135 ERA+) to go with a near identical 3.12 FIP (75 FIP-), and in 47 innings he's gathered 18 walks, 35 strikeouts, and a 1.13 WHIP. Another former 9th Rounder, Oates is in his second season as a starter, and the hard worker seems on his way for a promotion. A five pitch pitcher, Oates is throwing a bit faster this season, has his stuff is really starting to come around. The slider is a tough pitch and 85-87 his fastball and sinker are becoming more effective. He's still not a high upside potential mid-rotation arm, but Oates continues to go deep into games, and he could work his way into an emergency role. And once you get that, you never know what could come next.

03-14-2024, 08:40 PM	#1366
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,046	Week 7: May 30th-June 4th Weekly Record: 2-5 Seasonal Record: 21-25 (t-5th, 7 GB) Stars of the Week Leo Mitchell : 24 AB, 10 H, 1 HR, 5 RBI, .417 AVG, 1.065 OPS George Sutterfield : 23 AB, 9 H, 1 HR, 2 RBI, .391 AVG, 1.027 OPS Sal Pestilli : 19 AB, 6 H, 0 HR, 3 RBI, .316 AVG, .988 OPS Schedule 5-30: Loss vs Stars (2-1) 5-30: Loss vs Stars (5-4) 6-1: Win at Wolves (7-6): 10 innings 6-2: Loss at Wolves (2-7) 6-3: Win at Wolves (5-2) 6-4: Win at Cannons (7-2) Recap Thankfully, May is over, as we were 12-17 in that stupid month. June brought joy, as we won three of four, and that was enough to actually improve our position in the standings by a game and a half. We're still tied for fifth with the Saints and Wolves, and we beat the now first place Cannons! So maybe things are starting to look up! For starters, at least Max Wilder is starting to use David Molina right, as after a few more tweaks I think I'm going to have his usage perfect. It's good that Max is starting to catch on, as I was seriously considering firing him if he kept doing dumb stuff! Thankfully, he used our stopper four times this week, and even though one of the outings didn't go quite as plan, the decision to call on him made sense each time! One thing I was worried about was Molina taking away legit complete game opportunities from guys who deserved it, but Wilder made the right call in Johnnie Jones' start. We were up 5-2 going into the ninth, and Wilder made the right choice of letting Jones out for the ninth. When I saw he took him out with 8.2 innings, I was starting to worry, but fear not! It was the right call! It wasn't the "oh he got two outs he can't get the third," but it was Johnnie got the first two, put two runners on (one as an error), and Molina was brought in to stop the bleeding. That was the final of his 5 innings, as Molina allowed 3 hits, 2 runs, and 3 walks with 4 strikeouts, picking up a win and save for his efforts. I'm finally confident in us late in games, even if we lost some more one-run games! When it comes to the lineup, the only thing I'm confident in is Leo Mitchell showing everyone else up, as yet again, the veteran superstar is our top performer. Mitchell hit 10-for-24, which actually lowered his lofty average ever-so-slightly, adding a homer, 3 runs, 5 RBIs, and a triple. Mitchell has maintained a .429/.477/.571 (183 OPS+) triple slash, and is remarkably a tenth of a win away from the 2 WAR mark, the same total he had in 110 games last year. There was some support elsewhere, as George Sutterfield had a nice week, going 9-for-23 with a double, homer, steal, 2 RBIs, 3 walks, and 7 runs. Charlie Woodbury got a full slate of starts after crushing it on the bench, going a respectable 7-for-21 with 2 doubles, 2 runs, a walk, and RBI. Sal Pestilli went 6-for-19 with 4 doubles, 3 RBIs, and 5 runs, but through 136 PAs he's still searching for his first home run. He does have 9 doubles, 3 triples, 7 steals, and 17 walks, so it's not like he hasn't been useful, but just imagine how much better his .296/.381/.426 (118 OPS+) line would look without a missing value in the home run department. For a guy with 55 homers in the last two seasons, you think he'd have no trouble when he plays most of his games at Cougars Park, but the veteran has not been slugging like he used to. He did have a nice moment this week, as his 1,000th career RBI came in our 7-2 win over the Cannons, as Sal doubled home Sutterfield with a 108.1 MPH line drive in the four run fourth. The pitching wasn't great, but we got some decent outings from Pete Papenfus, who split his two starts. They were pretty similar outings, despite the different outcomes, as each time he threw 8 innings with 2 runs, 2 walks, 3 strikeouts, and a home run. There was a slight difference, as he allowed more hits in his win (9) then in his loss (6). That's baseball for you sometimes, as despite his 4-5 record, he's been as good as ever. Pap's 7.3 BB% is a clear best, and he owns a 3.25 ERA (123 ERA+) and 1.27 WHIP with 44 strikeouts in 80.1 innings pitched. If it wasn't for Donnie Jones, who was uncharacteristically awful (we aren't going into this...), Pap would be the clear ace and top preforming pitcher, but our fireballer will have to settle for the best-man this year, though I'm not going to tell him that. Let him keep pitching like an ace! Lastly, the initial mock draft was published today, and if the creator is worth his salt, we got the 4th best player in the pool. I do love Andy Robinson, who hit .542 with 4 homers and 37 RBIs as a senior, but the mock loves to change its mind almost as much as it likes to underrate pitchers. He's clearly skilled, and I'll cover him in more detail in a stand-alone amateur report with the other nine new members, some of which are on the mock themselves. Ike Soeur (2.10), Dave Hall (3.13), Ed Freeman (4.10), Ernie Tisdale (5.4), and Frank Hernandez (5.16) are all there now, and come draft day I'm sure the order will be completely different. Dixie Marsh is pretty happy with the draft, as Robinson is his 7th ranked player, and he has Tisdale (27th) and Soeur (28th) towards the end of his 32 player first round list. Plenty more rank on his longer ones, and this could be a better then expected class to restock some depth we traded away. Looking Ahead Despite being the seventh ranked offense, we managed to get seven runs off the top pitching staff in the CA. Holding a half game lead over the Stars, Cincinnati now leads the Continental Association, as the Cannons played just a little less bad then the Kings this week. Lucky for us, there's no worry of facing Rufus Barrell (5-4, 2.45, 36), as Cincinnati will send Tony Britten (4-3, 2.52, 21) and Mickey Mills (6-2, 2.81, 42) out to face us. I'm not too sure what to think of Mills, an inexperienced 28-year-old, as he might actually be good? It's a small sample, just 67.1 innings, but his 3.18 FIP (77 FIP-) is arguably more impressive then his 2.81 ERA (146 ERA+). Mills has a 15.3 K% and 1.6 K/BB, all while touching 99 with his fastball. I'm not sure where this guy was the past few seasons, as the Cannons had some less then optimal pitchers make starts, but the former 13th Rounder may have earned himself a permanent spot in the rotation. I'm curious to see if we can solve him, as the Cannons offense won't give much support, as they're the only team who's plated fewer runners then we have. Chuck Adams (.272, 7, 26) is the only guy they've been able to rely much on, though Denny Andrews (.232, 4, 15) and Fred Galloway (.230, 2, 13) have done alright, even if not at their regular levels. It's still shocking they're leading the CA in June, but if things go the way they should, we might be able to steal the series to start the week. The road trip then continues with three in Philadelphia, where we'll face off against the 4th place Sailors. They're just three back of first, so if we beat the Cannons and they beat us, there's a chance they finish the series in first place. Though at just 23-22, the reverse outcome could be lethal, sending the Sailors right back down to the second division. They're hoping to improve on their first last place finish since 1920, as even if they don't win the pennant, they could be lottery favorites with a large increase in wins. To do so, the defense will need to improve, as all of their starters have been let down more then they can count. That hasn't stopped Win Lewis from an impressive rebound campaign, going 5-3 with a 2.64 ERA (156 ERA+) and 1.08 WHIP with 19 walks and 39 strikeouts. Behind him Al Duster (5-3, 3.26, 39) and Charlie Gordon (4-3, 3.74, 30) have impressed, but the back of their rotation has struggled to keep them in games. The offense isn't good enough to outslug top teams, though they can put up runs if they're getting men on base. They lead the CA in batting thanks to Marion Boismenu (.359, 2, 14, 2) and Ed Reyes (.525, 14), while many regulars are hitting above .275. While that's not the only measure of a good hitter, guys like Billy Forbes (.307, 2, 17, 8), Al Farmer (.295, 1, 16), and old friend Solly Skidmore (.283, 3, 19) have offered plenty at the plate. It's going to be a tough series for us here, and I'm worried we won't come away with more then one win. Our week then ends with three games in two days out in Cleveland, where we'll look to beat the cellar dwelling Foresters. Despite their lack of wins against most of the association, they've beat us all four times, and that could forecast more of the same here. Especially considering they're playing a bit better then the record shows, likely more of a .500 team then one that is 19-26. Not everyone is doing great, but on the mound John Jackson (2-5, 2.80, 28) has looked good while Adrian Czerwinski (4-6, 3.94, 31) and Ducky Davis (2-5, 4.01, 19) have far better FIPs then ERAs. That's no surprise considering they rank last in both errors and efficiency, so however you slice it they've been the worst defenders in the Continental. One of the few plus defenders is one of their better hitters, young second basemen Jim Urquhart (.342, 19, 2), though no one is hitting better then fellow rookie Larry McClure. The 23-year-old catcher is batting .333/.382/.588 (151 OPS+) with 6 homers and 25 RBIs in his first 36 FABL games. With a double header, that means we likely see him in at most two of the three games, and last year's All-Star Mark Smith (.164, 6) hasn't looked like an All-Star in the slightest. That could be the difference in a close game, as depending on pitching matchups, there may not be too many runs to come about. In tight games, defense makes the difference, so you think we'd be able to come away with the series even on the road. Minor League Report 2B Roxy Hilts (AA Little Rock Governors): With the Cunningham brothers in the middle infield, Roxy Hilts has been working on his versatility, appearing in 18 games at first and 19 at third, with ten more at his natural second base. Despite the constant movement, Hilts has been great, and even came home with the Dixie League Player of the Month, even named the Player of the Week here too. 22 in three days, Roxy hit an impressive .349/.441/.578 (162 OPS+) with 15 doubles, 2 triples, 2 homers, 18 RBIs, 18 walks, and 14 runs. This combined for a 181 WRC+, as he made 127 trips to the plate in 29 games. On the season, he's now hitting .337/.423/.556 (152 OPS+), though the most impressive part is the 20 doubles in 44 games. If he played 140, that would give him 64, an outstanding feat at any level. Since I'm not used to Little Rock Stadium, my first instinct was to check the park factors, but the doubles (1.018) factor there is pretty neutral. He is the type to put the ball in play often, and with his discipline he's done a good job picking his pitches. Milwaukee's infield is jammed pack, so a promotion doesn't seem imminent, but he's positioned himself well for a promotion if a lineup spot opens. Last edited by ayaghmour2; 03-18-2024 at 12:00 PM.

03-16-2024, 12:04 AM	#1367
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,046	Week 8: June 5th-June 11th Weekly Record: 6-2 Seasonal Record: 27-27 (4th, 4.5 GB) Stars of the Week Sal Pestilli : 26 AB, 9 H, 1 HR, 6 RBI, .346 AVG, 1.105 OPS Duke Bybee : 2 Wins, 18.0 IP, 2 BB, 5 K, 1.00 ERA David Molina : 1 Win, 2 Saves, 3.0 IP, 0 BB, 1 K, 0.00 ERA Schedule 6-5: Win at Cannons (7-2) 6-6: Loss at Cannons (1-2): 10 innings 6-7: Win at Sailors (4-1) 6-8: Win at Sailors (5-3) 6-9: Win at Sailors (4-3): 10 innings 6-10: Win at Foresters (3-1) 6-11: Win at Foresters (5-3) 6-11: Loss at Foresters (2-5) Recap When I went to be last night, I really thought we were going to go 2-6 or 1-7 or maybe even ... 0-8... But fear not! I was way off! A 6-2 week that brings us two and a half games closer to first! You can thank the staff, as no one scored more then three runs against us until the final game of the week! Sure, that should be enough for a perfect week, but it's hard to complain about our best week of the season. Of course, it came with some downsides, as despite his first homer and best week of the season, we'll once again be without Sal Pestilli for two weeks. That's because shortly after hitting his first homer, he hit his head pretty hard, and will need another IL stint. Along with the homer, he was 9-for-26 with a double, 2 triples, 4 runs, 5 walks, 6 RBIs, and a steal. That upped his season line to .305/.394/.468 (133 OPS+), as despite the single homer, he has fifteen other extra base hits, and we'll again be without our best position player. The rest of the lineup didn't do much, though Chubby Hall was able to draw walks in four of his eleven PAs, and him and Don Lee will again see more time. Luckily, the pitching has hit the groove, as Duke Bybee's luck finally corrected. He was 1947/1948 Bybee, picking up a pair of complete game victories. Each time out just one run was earned, as he went to Cincinnati and Cleveland and handled business. The Cannons got an unearned run too, as Duke allowed 5 hits with 2 strikeouts. The Foresters got 6 hits and 2 walks, but Bybee struck out three. His ERA is down to a far more respectable 4.38 (91 ERA+) in 11 starts, and his 3.45 FIP (86 FIP-) expects more and more starts like the one he threw here. I hope he's finally in the groove, as George Oddo's 3.70 ERA is the next highest, and that's good for a 108 ERA+. He also made two starts, both good enough to win, but as he tends to often, he doesn't get those wins. He split his starts, with the loss a game that should have been for David Molina. He went out for the 10th, where he allowed a walk-off single to Sam Brown. We couldn't solve Mickey Mills, so 5 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks, and 3 strikeouts ended in a loss. That was better then the win, where we went 8 with 8 hits, 3 runs, 2 walks, and 5 strikeouts. Molina finished that second start, giving him his second save and eighth of the season. He picked up a win against his old team too, finishing the week with three separate scoreless innings. He did allow four hits, but no walks, and he picked up another strikeout. He finished starts for Johnnie Jones (save) and Pete Papenfus (win), where both went 8 with 3 runs. Johnnie walked 8, but allowed 6 hits with 4 strikeouts, while Pap allowed 9 hits with 5 walks and strikeouts. Donnie Jones made a pair of starts, and like Oddo, split his starts. He went nine against the Sailors, allowing 9 hits, 5 walks, and a run with 4 strikeouts. The Foresters, however, got to him for 11 hits, 5 runs, and 3 walks with 2 strikeouts in his 8 innings. Despite a 2.85 ERA (140 ERA+), he's an even 6-6 in his 12 starts, which is the only thing getting in the way of an Allen campaign. We need him to go on another run, as he's dropped four of his last five starts after starting the year 5-2. I'll always have faith in our durable ace, and it's started to trickle off to the rest of the squad. Going into the week, we have a new player, acquiring off waivers a player I targeted multiple times in the past. While not the same player, it's nice getting two-time All-Star Frank Davis, who had a decade long run as a plus defensive shortstop. While not the same defender at 33, Davis is a 14-year vet who has appeared in a game for the Dynamos, Saints, Chiefs, and most recently, Keystones, as he's been involved in trades with notable players such as Ray Calfee and Hank Barnett, as well as Miners starting catcher Dino Robinson. He's appeared in 1,792 FABL games, and when considering his defense, a .268/.323/.336 (86 OPS+) career line is pretty respectable. Same can't be said for this season, hence why he was waived, as the Keystone shortstop was hitting just .154/.186/.169 (-3 OPS+), and his defense (-0.2, .982) is not nearly good enough to make up for it. Lucky for us, we have one Skipper Schneider (though his 42 WRC+ leaves plenty to be desired...), and since Al Clement (24 G, 8 PA) has pretty much played an inning a game, there's room on the bench for a veteran like Davis. He's not the only one returning to Chicago, as we're again replacing Pestilli with Clyde Zimmerman. I don't expect either to play too much, but both should be useful pieces of the bench for the coming weeks. Looking Ahead Can't remember the last time I was happy to do one of these, so it's fitting that we'll have to wait until Monday before more Cougars baseball. In-game, it's a wait until Tuesday, as after our double header we'll use an off day to return to the Windy City. Surprisingly, we've been a bit better on the road then at home, two games over versus two games under. The first guest is the still first place Cannons, who we again put up seven runs against. They're off after a double header too, one that saw Rufus Barrell (7-4, 2.34, 43) and Mickey Mills (8-2, 2.40, 49) pitch, which is huge news for us. I covered Mills a bit yesterday, but after besting us and Brooklyn, he now has made five consecutive starts with one or fewer earned run. Him and Rufus are 1-2 in the ERA race, with Charlie Griffith (6-4, 2.51, 26) #3. He's set to start the middle game, though since we started against us this week, he's saw his ERA jump up nearly a full run from 1.65. We'll then get Jim Anderson (3-3, 3.09, 33) in the opener and Tony Britten (4-5, 3.32, 27) in the finale, which could help us take the series. I'm not worried about their offense, which has scored fewer runs then we've allowed, and they're now missing Mike T. Taylor (.250, 1, 10, 6) for the next five weeks. After a dreadful start, he was really starting to pick things up, and I expect his spot in the order to go to Sam Brown (.305, 9), who beat us in Cincinnati. Assuming no surprises, I can see a few nailbiters, and with how well they've played, a strong showing from the visitors could make a big difference in the standings. We'll then finish our week with three against the Wolves, who finally beat us for the first time on June 2nd. They've dropped down to 24-30, in part because Fred McCormick (.262, 1, 23) is starting to look his age. The same can't be said for Hal Wood (.337, 1, 28) or Joe Hancock (6-2, 2.76, 38), who are still having strong seasons late in their 30s. Looking towards some of the youth, the Wolves have gotten a lot at the plate from Harry Finney, who's hitting .346/.399/.471 (127 OPS+) with 10 doubles, 2 triples, a homer, and 12 RBIs. That's impressive considering in 424 FABL plate appearances, he still has just a .265/.316/.347 (79 OPS+) line. Still, the 149 this season are his most in a season, and at just 26, it may have taken him a bit longer to develop the bat. Then at the keystone, 23-year-old Joe DeMott (.317, 1, 20) has looked comfortable, quickly making Wolves fans feel better about losing Charlie Artuso (.246, 2, 23). But since we've had so much success against them so far, it's hard to expect anything other then a series win, as we seems to be the more talented team. Even if they are scoring way more often then us right now... The draft then is on Monday, which means we'll either get our draftees Monday, or I'll have one last chance to finalize my list. Right now Dixie Marsh has been consistent with Andy Robinson as his #7, same with OSA at 4th. There are some changes, most notably Ike Soeur checks in as the final pick of the first round. Plenty of other ups and downs, but it's nice seeing plenty of future Cougars on the list! And I forgot to take the monthly screenshots, so we get them today: Attached Images Last edited by ayaghmour2; 03-18-2024 at 12:00 PM.

03-16-2024, 09:57 PM	#1368
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,046	Amateur Report 1st Round, 12th Overall: 2B Andy Robinson School: Fredericksburg Chargers Commit School: Alabama Baptist 1950: .542/.590/.822, 134 PA, 15 2B, 3 3B, 4 HR, 37 RBI, 18 SB Career: .527/.574/.814, 499 PA, 64 2B, 15 3B, 10 HR, 139 RBI, 83 SB Depending on the way you look at it, you could argue that Andy Robinson saved his best season for last, as he hit a career high .542 with 4 homers, 18 steals, and 37 RBIs. He was rewarded for his efforts by the staff at TWIFS, as our first rounder was named as one of the three middle infield All-Americans. Robinson tallied 22 extra base hits and scored 49 runs, and his .590 OBP, like his average, was one point higher then his previous best as a sophomore. I've also touched on it a bit, but it's been awesome to see our 12th Overall Pick check in at 4th on the mock, and with Biff Tiner recently promoted to San Jose (7-22, 3 2B, RBI, BB, SB), there's a wide open second base spot available at La Crosse. Robinson is demanding a hefty sum, a full $21,000, but that's an easy to meet demand for a potential top 50 prospect. Robinson is loaded with talent, and as you might be able to tell from his well above .500 batting averages, he's got an outstanding, maybe even elite, contact tool, and with his keen eye, I see .300/.400/.500 triple slashes in his future. Add in great speed, and the ability to handle second, short, and left, it's hard not to get a bit giddy when thinking about Robinson's future. OSA and Dixie are just as enthused as I am, with OSA declaring him "a potential elite second basemen on a contending team," while Dixie thinks if he reaches his potential, that Robinson "could make multiple trips to the All-Star game." As with any prep prospect, there's a ton of risk and a huge gap between currents and potentials, but Robinson is one of the surer things I've seen, and potentially are most advanced high school draftee since we made Skipper Schneider the 7th Pick of the 1939 draft. 2nd Round, 20th Overall: RHP Ernie Tisdale School: Oklahoma City Bible College Dusters 1950: 8-4, 108.2 IP, 2.65 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 39 BB, 136 K Career: 18-7, 231.1 IP, 2.61 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 93 BB, 285 K There's always nerves when you take a pitcher early, and even if Rod Shearer is going to be a legit center fielder for the Chiefs, I'm still happy with Ernie Tisdale a few in-game months later. "Big E" matched his excellent sophomore season with a great junior season, going 8-4 with a 2.65 ERA and 136 strikeouts in his 16 starts. That gave him 34 collegiate starts, where he went a strong 18-7 with a great 2.61 ERA and 1.23 WHIP for the Dusters. An intimidating, 6'4' righty, Big E has a deep five pitch arsenal, headlined by an above average sinker and change. Those pitches are pretty solid already, and he projects to have a few more plus offerings with his fastball, splitter, and slider. He's not the hardest thrower right now, sitting in the 85-87 range, but with his length it may look almost 90. When you put this all together, you have the tools for a major league starter, and with the amount of movement he gets on his pitches, assuming regular development he should be at worst a reliable back-end guy who can give you innings. Like with many draftees, control is the final hurdle, though he maintained a K/BB above 3 in his college innings. With how good we've been at developing pitchers, I think Tisdale should turn into yet another quality rotation member who's first transaction was our selection of them. 3rd Round, 46th Overall: C Ed Freeman School: Marcus Hook Roadrunners Commit School: Rainier College 1950: .449/.524/.685, 105 PA, 11 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 24 RBI, 10 SB Career: .441/.500/.633, 455 PA, 41 2B, 4 3B, 8 HR, 103 RBI, 29 SB One of the guys who's bounced up-and-down the mock, Ed Freeman completed his four years at Marcus Hook with a decent .441/.550/.633 batting line. His best season was as a senior as despite his average being two points lower then his previous best, his .524 OBP and .685 slugging were personal bests. As a catcher, the offense isn't as important, but Freeman has the tools to handle the bat as well as any non-catcher. Dixie thinks he'll hit around .310, and after a impressive 52-to-19 walk-to-strikeout ratio, he's expected to draw a large number of walks against FABL pitchers. Even better, he has projectable power, with OSA going as far as saying its "the kind that could generate 25 homers a season in the future." That may be a bit too optimistic, but Freeman does a good job squaring up the ball and hitting it hard. Even with average defense behind the plate, he has the making of an above average big league catcher, and there are plenty of at bats waiting for him down in La Crosse after he signs. Garland Phelps is still the catcher of the future, but you can never have too many quality catching prospects, as truly All-Star level catchers are few and far between. 4th Round, 62nd Overall: CF Ike Soeur School: Walla Walla Warriors Commit School: Daniel Boone College 1950: .505/.579/.856, 116 PA, 13 2B, 6 3B, 3 HR, 33 RBI, 23 SB Career: .499/.566/.792, 493 PA, 43 2B, 22 3B, 11 HR, 127 RBI, 85 SB As touched on yesterday, Ike Soeur managed to sneak his way into the first round of the mock, claiming the sixteenth and final spot. That's excellent news for us, as the Mississauga native was rewarded for his personal best .505/.579/.856 triple slash. This wraps up an impressive four year career for the week-away-from 18-year-old, who finishes his prep career just shy of a .500 career batting average. If you ignore this season, we've had plenty of success with Walla Walla high schoolers, as slugger Otto Christian spent his four seasons with the Warriors as well. Ike couldn't be any more different as a player, as he's a quick and not-so-powerful outfielder, and he could surprisingly end up as the more valuable player. Both Dixie and OSA have quickly changed their tune on Ike, with Dixie commenting on his potential to "unleash his obvious talent on the field and at the plate." OSA goes a step further, declaring he has the "dynamic tools needed to make an impact in the majors." That would be a huge steal in the fourth round, giving us yet another exciting center field prospect from the prep ranks. I don't think he'll pass five-tool outfielder Jerry Smith, but Soeur has a similar hit tool and speed, and even though he hasn't quite shown it yet, he's expected to hit for at least average power. The defense is a question mark, but with his speed I'm hoping that means good range, and I'll find someway to get him in center to see how he can do. 5th Round, 78th Overall: RHP Hal Lewis School: Tallmadge State Terriers 1950: 8-7, 132.1 IP, 3.67 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 63 BB, 114 K Career (COL): 22-21, 370.2 IP, 3.79 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 179 BB, 335 K Career (HS): 38-9, 492 IP, 1.35 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 115 BB, 665 K I'm a big fan of Hal Lewis, but he may be the first "miss" as the first four guys are all pretty highly rated by OSA, Dixie, and his list. He checks in at 18 on Dixie's pitcher list (Big E is 3! Which honestly surprises me!), but I see plenty of guys above him I wouldn't want instead. Even better, Hal was throwing a tick harder, as his three fastballs sat in the 86-88 range during his junior season. As hoped, it was a return to his freshman year form, as "Happy" dropped his ERA, WHIP, and walk rate while finishing on the right side of .500. The Tallmadge State starter cracked the 130 inning mark again, though he has had to throw more pitches then he should due to his command. I think part might have to do with the fact that he throws five pitches, and since he hasn't settled on a go-to pitch, he may be trying a bit too hard to throw instead of pitch. Despite the lack of an out pitch, he's shown a propensity for whiffs, as he keeps batters on their toes. The kid has the energy you want in a project prospect, and I really think the Brooklyn native should at least fill a pen, if not earn a starting spot with an organization that needs some help on the mound. 6th Round, 94th Overall: SS Gene Meeker School: Glendora Tartans Commit School: Glendora 1950: .443/.500/.670, 130 PA, 13 2B, 5 3B, HR, 31 RBI, 24 SB Career: .443/.500/.670, 130 PA, 13 2B, 5 3B, HR, 31 RBI, 24 SB I'll be honest, I was a little worried about this pick. It's tough gambling on a guy with no stats, and after the draft, Dixie Marsh didn't have the greatest things to say about Gene Meeker. That's changed a bit recently! On the older side for a high schooler, Meeker will turn 19 in September, and he's not the type who goes went to Glendora to play school. A baseballer through and through, Dixie thinks he "can be penciled in for a lion's share of starts at his position," while believing he can hit up to .330. That's a bit surprising considering he hit just .443 in 26 games, but Dixie is a fan of his above average hit tool. OSA seconds that, even if they don't see him as much more then a bench guy, but I think that's more of his floor then a ceiling. Along with a strong hit tool, the LA native has a keen eye and his speed is an asset. Not necessarily game changing, but any slow roller on the infield could spell trouble, and he's not afraid to take the extra base. I'm curious to see how the glove is, as it could be a make-or-break factor in his progression. Even being an average defensive shortstop gives you a huge advantage, and with Meeker's ability to put the ball in play and swing at mostly pitches he can hit, there's all the makings of a capable every day player. But if the glove is secondary, he can't hit enough for third base, and even second base tends to be a position where a premium is put on defense. 7th Round, 110th Overall: RF Frank Hernandez School: Houma Barons Commit School: St. Magnus 1950: .445/.527/.700, 132 PA, 14 2B, 4 3B, 2 HR, 27 RBI, 14 SB Career: .444/.529/.730, 485 PA, 50 2B, 18 3B, 9 HR, 103 RBI, 100 SB Rather surprisingly, Frank Hernandez checks in as the first pick of the third round on the mock, behind just Andy and Ike among our picks. A four year starter at Houma, Hernandez didn't even have the greatest senior year, though the only real concern was the drop in steals. He went from 27 or more his first three seasons to just 14, and that came in a career high 132 trips to the plate. On the other side, he did strike out just four times, the lowest in any of his four seasons. 18 in August, Hernandez is supposedly an elite runner, if you believe OSA, though they don't think he's much of a base stealer. This seems to agree with that huge drop this season, but one thing all three of us agree on is that he's going to draw a lot of walks. That's probably his best tool, as the part-Venezuelan outfielder is one of the more disciplined hitters. Because of that, he may hit around .300, and if the speed is legit, when he's on base you have to pay attention to him. Though as a corner outfielder only, it's going to be tough for him to fight his way into the lineup, and lucky for us that shouldn't get him down. He's one of the hardest workers there is, and that should help him approach his potential. I expect him to be one of our last guys to sign, as I'll need to make room for him, and the more I look at him the more I think he's going to be an everyday player. This class has really grown on me! 8th Round, 126th Overall: SS Bruce Thomas School: Sandy Valley Cardinals Commit School: Georgia Baptist 1950: .443/.518/.639, 116 PA, 13 2B, 2 HR, 24 RBI, 6 SB Career: .443/.515/.627, 241 PA, 25 2B, 4 HR, 54 RBI, 15 SB Committed to the prestigious Georgia Baptist that produced both Barrell brothers we drafted, it actually might be best if we let Bruce Thomas go to college instead of meeting his $1,800 bonus. A two year starter at Sandy Valley, Thomas had near identical seasons, where most of his stats would be considered within the expected deviation of a random sample. He hit some doubles, doesn't strike out much, and isn't fast, but his athleticism is what excited me. He has a great eye, and he makes good adjustments when swinging, where if he's fooled by a pitch, he can get enough to foul it off. Yet when he makes hard contact, the ball will go far, and I think there's at least average power in his bat. What I don't think is that he'll stick at short, so even though he's the third shortstop in our final five picks, I think he's going to end up at third. Granted, all he's ever known is shortstop, so perhaps my fears are unwarranted. But if the choice is between him and Meeker for short, it's going to Meeker, and the two may end up moving up our system together. Unlike Meeker, I think Thomas is more suited for a bench role, but if the power fills out, they could end up playing on the left side of the infield together. 9th Round, 142nd Overall: LHP Bill Owens School: Prospect Heights Cardinals Commit School: Eastern State 1950: 4-1, 55.2 IP, 1.29 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, 12 BB, 85 K Career: 4-1, 55.2 IP, 1.29 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, 12 BB, 85 K Despite not pitching a single high school inning before the January draft, I rolled the dice on lefty Bill Owens, who Dixie Marsh isn't the biggest fan of. Even after seeing his senior year stats, I'm not sure how I feel about the 6'3'' lefty, as while the results were good, he didn't pitch too much. He started just 7 of his 13 appearances and threw 55.2 innings, about four and a third innings per appearance. Even if all his relief outings were a single inning, that's just over seven innings a start. It's something we may need to work on for Owens, or he could end up in the pen quick. Like our other arms, Owens is a five pitch pitcher, and his fastball and sinker sit in the 86-88 range just like Happy Lewis. The command still needs work, but I like the stuff, and his change could be a good out pitch. There's a lot of work here, and Owens may spend a few seasons in the pen, but he has the build of a legit big league pitcher. The odds of him developing into one aren't something you want to bet on, but we hadn't taken a prep pitcher yet, and Owens had some of the more exciting tools. 10th Round, 158th Overall: SS Dave Hall School: St. Blane College Fighting Saints 1950: .286/.343/.396, 254 PA, 8 2B, 3B, 5 HR, 48 RBI, 39 SB Career: .281/.339/.393, 825 PA, 25 2B, 5 3B, 16 HR, 144 RBI, 110 SB Rounding out my portion of the class is Dave Hall, who actually ranked as a 5th Rounder on the initial mock. They quickly took him out, but like Happy, he matched his better freshman year as opposed to his down sophomore year. Hall hit .286 with 8 doubles, 5 homers, and a career high 39 steals, and it came in a somewhat significant low 254 trips to the plate (301 and 270 his first seasons). A speedy switch hitter from New York, Hall almost profiles as a designated runner. Only one player who stole more bases then him did in fewer plate appearances, and his speed has given him rave reviews at short. I have a sneaking suspicion he can handle the outfield too, and I may start Hall in San Jose getting starts all over the diamond. The bat is respectable too, as he has a quick swing that allows him to hit most pitches, but he doesn't have the greatest swing. OSA thinks that's because he tinkers with it too much, so he may just need the right hitting coach to find what works for him. Regardless of if he hits or not, I can see Hall spending a few seasons on our bench, as he's the perfect high floor utility guy that I can never get enough of. Last edited by ayaghmour2; 03-24-2024 at 01:31 PM.

03-18-2024, 08:32 PM	#1369
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,046	Week 9: June 12th-June 18th Weekly Record: 5-1 Seasonal Record: 32-28 (t-2nd, 1.5 GB) Stars of the Week L. Mitchell : 26 AB, 11 H, 1 HR, 7 RBI, .423 AVG, 1.060 OPS C. Hall : 24 AB, 7 H, 2 HR, 5 RBI, .292 AVG, 1.013 OPS R. Bond : 23 AB, 8 H, 1 HR, 2 RBI, .348 AVG, .988 OPS Schedule 6-13: Win vs Cannons (2-3) 6-14: Win vs Cannons (1-2): 10 innings 6-15: Win vs Cannons (2-16) 6-16: Win vs Wolves (5-13) 6-17: Win vs Wolves (0-2) 6-18: Loss vs Wolves (9-4) Recap Oh boy! Oh man oh man oh MAN!!! THE CHICAGO COUGARS AREEEEEEEEEEEEE BACKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!! !! I don't know why it took us so long to resemble a competent baseball team, but after throttling the "best pitching staff in baseball" for 16 runs before piling on another 13 to our next visitor, I am back to where I was when the season began: this team is going to win a pennant. June has been everything May wasn't, as not only did we crush a few teams, we have played eleven games that ended in a save situation. Cougars teams of the past would be lucky to win three of those games. And that's being optimistic. We won nine of them! After winning 13 of our last 15, the Cougars are 14-4 in June, 32-28 overall, and just a game and a half behind the now first place Stars. Just like every week prior, we can thank Leo Mitchell for anything that went right, though this week even our starting pitchers (especially Duke Bybee and his double and base clearing triple!) were hitting the ball with authority. Mitchell was rewarded for another impressive week, as after going 11-for-26 with 2 doubles, a homer, 4 runs, 7 RBIs, and a steal, our veteran slugger was named Player of the Week, something he's now done 14 times since his 1935 debut. Now qualified for the batting title, no player in either association has a higher average then Mitchell, who's slashing a picturesque .407/.455/.548 (167 OPS+) with 6 doubles, 2 triples, 5 homers, and 27 RBIs. Among qualifiers, he leads in average, OBP, OPS (.993), OPS+ (167), and wOBA (.453), while third in slugging. And despite just 191 trips to the plate, he's top five in WAR (4th, 2.6) and hits (4th, 72). At this point, he has to be the favorite for the Whitney, and he's been our most valuable hitter by a landslide. It was nice seeing him receive plenty of help from his teammates, especially the struggling Chubby Hall, who was thrusted back into a starting role. He hit two more homers, going 7-for-24 with a double, triple, 2 walks, 5 runs, and 5 RBIs. His triple slash is an adjusted league average .203/.317/.428 (100 OPS+) with an even better 110 WRC+. Obviously the average is low, but he's been hitting plenty of extra base hits, contributing 8 doubles, a triple, and 7 homers while driving in 23 runs and walking 23 times. He's tied for the team lead in homers with Red Bond, who hit one himself this week, finishing 8-for-23 with a triple, 2 RBIs, 3 walks, and 6 runs. He's hitting a below average .254/.335/.380 (93 OPS+), as he's hit just .230/.319/.344 (79 OPS+) in June despite a nice week. Same for Eddie Howard, who did all his June hitting this week, a nice 8-for-22 with 4 doubles, 3 runs, and 4 RBIs. Charlie Woodbury continues to hit in regular playing time, going 6-for-21 with a double, homer, 4 walks, 4 runs, and 2 RBIs. John Moss is staying hot, 6-for-19 with 2 doubles, 5 walks, 5 runs, and 6 RBIs. If these guys can keep it up, our season will quickly turn, as our staff continues its great run. Add a third shutout for Donnie Jones, who's now tied with Wally Reif and Juan Tostado for the FABL lead, giving him a shutout in 42.9% of his wins and because we can't give him run support, he's allowed one or fewer runs in six of his seven starts. His win over the Wolves was quite impressive, just 4 hits and a walk with 6 strikeouts to jump back over .500 at 7-6. That's not a record worthy of a guy with a 2.62 ERA (154 ERA+), 1.05 WHIP, and 3.1 WAR, but our ace is making a really good case to start the All-Star game yet again. Peter the Heater matched him with 4 hits in nine no decision innings, but he allowed a run and 4 walks with 5 strikeouts. Duke Bybee has caught fire, as along with his double extra base night, he allowed 5 hits, a run, and 3 walks with 4 strikeouts. Johnnie Jones picked up a complete game win, though he also got the only loss. In the win, he went all nine, allowing 8 hits, 2 runs, and 6 walks with 3 strikeouts. Aside from one less walk and one more strikeout, the Wolves hit him much better then the Cannons, as Toronto got 8 hits and 7 runs in just 6.2 innings. George Oddo got a rare undeserved win, up to 5-4 after allowing 10 hits, 5 runs, and 2 walks with 5 strikeouts. David Molina finished that start, striking out one in a perfect ninth. He also picked up the extra inning win after a John Moss walk-off single, walking one in a scoreless ninth. That's now 5 wins, 8 saves, and 17 total games finished for Molina, who despite one poor week, has been as good as expected since his acquisition. Looking Ahead Can we stay hot?!?!? We'll find out! Well, after a day off... Granted, that didn't slow us down this week, which again is two, three game series before another Monday day off. Our first task is Cleveland Foresters, who are back up to six at 28-31. They're 3.5 games behind us and 5 behind the Stars, improved by their 12-7 June. They're off too, but after a double header sweep of the Stars, they won't get to adjust their rotation. The opener will be must-see baseball, as fellow Allen Winners Pete Papenfus (4-5, 3.05, 54) and Adrian Czerwinski (7-6, 3.56, 42) will square off in the opener. After that star-studded matchup, we'll look to keep young rookie Larry Beebe (0-2, 4.24, 10) out of the win column in his third big league start. Not only was he on my super shortlist for the 1946 draft, but the former 4th Overall Pick is currently ranked as the 13th best prospect and both Dixie and OSA expect him to one day lead a rotation. A polished four-pitch pitcher, he projects to have excellent command, and aside from Bob Allen and Les Ledbetter, I don't think there's an unproven pitcher that can match his upside. After that, we'll get Ducky Davis (2-7, 4.10, 24) to wrap it up, which could be a series where our offense struggles. The hard part is that theirs has been great, even with sluggers Lorenzo Samuels (.250, 3, 25) and Orie Martinez (.213, 1, 17) have struggled. Young outfielder Sherry Doyal (.297, 6, 40) has really heated up for them, slashing .400/.476/.529 (161 OPS+) in 19 June games. I always trust our pitching, especially against a team that doesn't hit many home runs. Then it's three with the Sailors, who have fallen back to last place, now 25-35 and 8.5 games out of first. That's still not too far out, I mean, we were further out then that just a few weeks ago, but the Sailors stopped scoring and stopped preventing runs. Yes, Ed Reyes (.446, 18) is hitting .400 in limited time, and yes, they're still leading the CA in average, but it's almost ten points lower then it was a few weeks ago and now just Marion Boismenu (.329, 2, 19, 2) is qualified and hitting above .300. Rip Lee (.253, 2, 26) has cooled since his hot start, Solly Skidmore (.262, 3, 24) has had a rough June, and after avoiding a sophomore slump, Joe Scott (.254, 1, 12) has had a brutal third year. Now just Boismenu and Billy Forbes (.294, 4, 28, 10) are putting up above average offensive production, and with rough years from Art Hull (2-6, 5.75, 31) and Slick Wesolowski (1-5, 6.71, 25), the Sailors are not going to be winning more games unless something changes. It's crazy to see how quickly they've dropped off, but perhaps all they need is a quick reset this Summer to get back to regular contention that they're used to. Then there's the draft tomorrow, which of course coincides with a super busy day for me, so we may not get any update on the draftees until Wednesday. The final mock holds Andy Robinson at 4th, though Ike dropped to 2.16. Other entries include Ed Freeman (4.4), Ernie Tisdale (4.13), and Frank Hernandez (5.1), which is somewhat of a good sign. There is one guy I left I really want, who I was considering taking towards the end of the draft, but I'm not expecting too many late gems, as most of what's left should be scooped up early. Minor League Report RHP Jim Williams (AA Little Rock Governors): It's been an excellent season for Jim Williams, who's now thrown a shutout in two of his last four starts. The most recent was a 6-hitter, where he walked and struck out 3 in a nice 5-0 win over the New Orleans Showboats. That's improved him to 6-2 in his 10 starts, and he has an impressive 2.66 ERA (160 ERA+) in 88 innings pitched. As good as that looks, he has walked (39) more hitters then he's struck out (31), and while a 1.32 WHIP isn't bad, it's actually third among Governors with six or more starts. Not one of the more exciting prospect in our system, he's towards the back of our system, ranked 41st among our prospects and 419th overall. The former 8th Rounder has a decent three pitch arsenal and does a good job keeping the ball on the ground, but the command could use some work. He doesn't strike too many guys out, with more effort put on getting batters to role over his sinker, and I don't think he's going to develop a true out pitch. He's really just "try to hit my low 90s sinker" with the occasional curve or circle change to keep batters off balance. OSA and Dixie don't think he can be a FABL starter, but there's something to be said about a 6'4'' guy with a great sinker and the stamina to throw 178 pitches in a game. That came in an 11 inning effort, and he's thrown 107 or more pitches each time out so far. There's something to be said about being a reliable innings eater, and that's exactly what Williams is. RHP George Carter (AA Little Rock Governors): Jim Williams wasn't the only Governor (I was so good at writing this until I accidentally wrote Little Rock Commodores...) to throw a shutout, as the surging George Carter picked one up in a 2-0 win over Atlanta. This was his fourth consecutive win, allowing 8 hits and 4 walks with 4 strikeouts. A big strikeout arm, Carter now has 57 in 92.1 innings pitched, even better then our very own Peter the Heater (54 in 97.1), who's tied with Cougar draftee Ron Berry for third in the CA. In his 10 starts, Carter is now 6-3 with a 3.51 ERA, but his 1.55 WHIP is inflated due to 48 walks. As you might guess, as good as the stuff is, part of what makes it so is the wildness, though I'm worried better batters will be able to work him into trouble. Ranked a bit higher then Williams (37th, 391st), I'm still a big fan of Carter, even if we aren't able to solve his command issues. His change is impressive, and when located, his sinker, slider, and fastball are decent offerings too. That will work well in the pen, where he can eat a lot of innings. Even if that means 238 pitches in a 15-inning complete game! He hasn't thrown fewer then 125 pitches in a start, so if there is a plus on his lack of command, it's that it doesn't tire him out. This guy is the definition of a rubber arm, that should allow him to stick around with us so long as no one decides to take a risk on him in the Rule-5 draft. 3B Lou Jackson (B San Jose Cougars): Pitching didn't get all the fun this week, as Lou Jackson had himself a perfect end to an eventual Player of the Week, hitting for the cycle in San Jose's 15-2 thwacking of the Bakersfield Bears. Along with the basic parts, Jackson added another single, 5-for-6 with 3 runs and 6 RBIs. A natural outfielder, I've pretty much used Jackson exclusively at third, just as a way to get him in the lineup. A natural speedster, the 6th Rounder is an awful base stealer, 2-for-10 last year and 5-for-15 this year, but lucky for us he more then makes up for it with extra base hits. He has 17 doubles and 10 triples in 251 trips to the plate, slashing .283/.382/.514 (142 OPS+) in his second stint in San Jose. I've been dying to promote him, but there's absolutely no room in Milwaukee or Mobile, and Lincoln is pretty full. But, with a 1-day injury to Johnnie Love, I decided "hey let's IL him and hope someone else gets hurt later," allowing Jackson to move up a level as he rightfully deserves. Ranked 48th in our system and 469th overall, I don't think the 22-year-old gets nearly enough credit. He has a strong hit tool and a good eye, and I just can't get over how many triples he hits. Is that enough to start in the majors? Maybe not, but it's surely enough to earn a roster spot as a utility player, and I'm really hoping the switch hitter can keep hitting his way to Chicago. He just has to work a little harder... RHP Steve Davis (B San Jose Cougars): I guess the new thing for San Jose is to have a pitcher who starts the year on a crazy run. Last year it was Dixie Gaines, this year it's Steve Davis. Sure, he has two no decisions this season, but Steve Davis is a perfect 7-0 and has allowed one or fewer runs in eight of his nine starts. And the season high? A terrible three! Taken in the 7th Round of the 1945 draft, Davis has an awe-inspiring 1.18 ERA through 68.2 innings, and while obviously he needs a promotion, I think I'm going to let him hang out here until he inevitably loses, as "Scuff" is on an impressive run. His 1.19 WHIP isn't as dominant, partly due to his 31 walks, but he's struck out an impressive 56 batters so far. Not generally known for his stuff, Davis is one of those kitchen sink guys who throws six pitches, with Dixie not thinking they're good enough to make him anything more then an emergency starter. Perhaps this run of dominance is more due to his age and competition level then his overall skill, but for a guy who's never really projected as much of a big league candidate, I'm hoping he's enjoying every second of his crazy stretch.

03-19-2024, 06:43 PM	#1370
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,046	Week 10: June 19th-June 25th Weekly Record: 2-4 Seasonal Record: 34-32 (5th, 3 GB) Stars of the Week Red Bond : 22 AB, 10 H, 1 HR, 4 RBI, .455 AVG, 1.227 OPS Charlie Woodbury : 19 AB, 8 H, 1 HR, 5 RBI, .421 AVG, 1.184 OPS Skipper Schneider : 22 AB, 7 H, 2 HR, 8 RBI, .318 AVG, 1.032 OPS Schedule 6-20: Loss vs Foresters (7-6): 11 innings 6-21: Loss vs Foresters (6-5): 11 innings 6-22: Loss vs Foresters (5-3) 6-23: Loss vs Sailors (8-5) 6-24: Win vs Sailors (3-4) 6-25: Win vs Sailors (4-7) Recap After a stretch of so many wins, especially close ones, I can't really be too upset about a 2-4 week. Sure, losing back-to-back one-run games in 11 innings super sucks, especially considering the first loss was Max Wilder's first pitching blunder since his beratement. He flew too close to the sun, letting Pete Papenfus try to finish off a complete game, which instead led to 4 ninth inning runs, partly because he went to Molina too late, and he allowed a hit and walk before getting a strikeout to end the game. It stayed tied until the 11th when Jim Kenny blew his first of two consecutive games, almost calling his roster spot into question. Dropping the next two, again both close, hurt as we continue to be an annoyingly streaky team, making it no surprise the next two games were close wins to start our next 4+ game streak! We got some bad news on the injury front, as not only will Sal Pestilli not be rejoining the club this week, but Charlie Woodbury will hit the IL for the next two weeks with an oblique strain. It couldn't have come at a worse time, as the now 32-year-old was coming off another great week, 8-for-19 with a triple, homer, 3 runs, 3 walks, and 5 RBIs. "Mad Hatter" has slashed a healthy .324/.393/.510 (142 OPS+) in 119 trips to the plate, and losing that level of production is tough. Yeah, he's not a good defender (-1.7, .984), but he's also not terrible, and with Skipper at short all you really have to do is look pretty and turn double plays. The injury gives a chance for Billy Hunter (.243, 1, 6) and Otto Christian (.173, 2, 12) to not suck, though I'm not sure how optimistic I should be. I think the plan is for both at third, Otto against lefties, Hunter righties, with Otto playing every third against righties. And while Al Clement is the obvious replacement, he's only been down for a few weeks, and I want to let him settle in more with the Blues. That means former 7th Rounder Rupert Heinbaugh has a chance to make his debut across the next two weeks. He's hit a productive .282/.359/.392 (107 OPS+) in 59 games, tallying 5 doubles, 4 triples, 4 homers, 4 steals, 27 runs, 27 walks, and 20 RBIs in a well-rounded effort. Like Clement, he can handle second, third, and short, giving us a little versatility late in games now that Hunter will be playing more. I think the funny part about this week is we actually hit well, getting production up-and-down the lineup. Skipper Schneider looked like a FABL hitter once more, going 7-for-22 with a double, triple, steal, 4 runs, 8 RBIs, and most surprisingly, two homers, as he didn't have any his first 62 games. The homers came in the wins over the Sailors, with the first giving us a lead we'd hold the rest of the way. That's because Leo Mitchell homered a few batters earlier, giving him two on the week as well. The reliable outfielder is only hitting .397 after going 7-for-22, but he drew 4 walks, drove in 4, and scored 7 times. Red Bond homered as well, 10-for-22 with 3 doubles, 4 runs, 4 RBIs, and 2 walks. George Sutterfield was 9-for-26 with a double, 3 runs, 3 walks, and 3 steals. John Moss was 9-for-26 too, even with a double, just 2 walks, 3 RBIs, and 5 runs. Even though the overall results on the week weren't good, it was a relief to not be let down by the offense, and it makes me excited for what's to come next. Not all the pitching was bad of course, this is the Cougars we are talking about, a team that's highest ERA of the 1940s was 3.61 in our awful 7th place season, and we got plenty of quality starts. Duke Bybee's stretch of complete games wins was broken, as he left after 8 against Cleveland. He allowed 6 hits, 3 runs, and a walk with 3 strikeouts. As always, it was the homers that got to him, as even though the Foresters don't hit many of those, Lorenzo Samuels (.244, 5, 29) does (at least against the Cougars...), with a two-run homer and solo shot accounting for Bybee's only mistakes. David Molina held the lead in the ninth, but allowed two runs in the top half of the 10th before we tied the game back up, finishing with 2 hits, a walk, and 2 strikeouts. As mentioned before, this game was blown by Jim Kenny, who allowed 2 hits, a run, and a walk in the 11th. He was better in the previous loss, as despite the run allowed, he struck out two while allowing two hits. After two really solid years in our pen, he's now allowed 22 hits, 14 earned runs, and 10 walks with 8 strikeouts in 18.2 innings. I'm confident he'll turn things around, but 0-4 with five meltdowns is anything but ideal. Johnnie Jones picked up one of our wins, scattering 10 hits, 3 runs, and 4 walks with 3 strikeouts in a complete game win. As crazy as it sounds, he's our only starter with a winning record, as Johnnie is 6-3 in his 11 starts. Sure, he's prone to blowups and walks, but the recently turned 32-year-old is great early on and he can eat innings. He's allowed three or fewer runs in eight of his starts (one was the 2 innings he got hurt for what it's worth), and even with our 7th ranked offense, that's on average (4.1 runs per game) enough to secure the win. Granted, Donnie tends to hold teams to three or fewer, and that would have been the case had Charlie Woodbury and Red Bond not made errors. Instead, he allowed 5 runs (3 earned), leaving with two outs in the 8th. Donnie was charged with 9 hits and 2 walks with 5 strikeouts, dropping back to even at 7-7. Pap evened his record at 5-5, but he didn't really pitch that great. He got a no decision too, but in the win he allowed 12 hits and 4 runs in his complete game. It was a rare start too, as he almost never allows double digits and even more never (if that's allowed?) walks just one guy. He struck out 4, finishing his week 9. Interesting enough, he's on pace for career lows in both K% (13.1) and BB% (8.1), as perhaps with age he's working more on getting outs then overpowering. Of course, overpowering isn't tough when you hit 101, and our co-ace is on track for another excellent season. The draft is also officially completed, and after checking if I got the guy I really wanted, Reggie Woodis, who went to the Keystones nine picks I quickly met Andy Robinson's $21,000 signing bonus. A hefty sum that's probably (I'm not doing the math...) more then everyone expect Ike Soeur combined, it should be money well-spent, as he should crack the top half of the top 100, if not even up in the 20-30 range ahead of Garland Phelps (36th) and Henry Norman (39th). Class C doesn't start until July 5th, so I don't expect to sign too many guys early, but I want Robinson ready for Opening Day. We have 36 guys already in La Crosse, so I have some work to do. I hate cutting guys, especially in this league, but there are 15 or so guys I have to make room for, leading to some hard decisions in the coming weeks. I might cover some of the AI picks today, just depends on how exhausted I am tonight, though I expect to get to all 15 AI picks no later then tomorrow. But I have to start with an All-Time name: 18th Rounder and shortstop Dick Coffey. That's straight out of a vulgar coffee shop menu! Oh yeah, he's getting signed! Looking Ahead A lot of games in advance of the upcoming All-Star game, which will take place on July 9th, but we start the week with our last off day of the first half. Plenty of Cougars will be looking to improve their stock, starting with the end of our lengthy and successful homestand. They've been equally impressive in June, going 17-9 to find themselves in second place and a game behind the Cannons (36-28) for the lead. Second is where I expect the Saints to be, as they're a very good team that can both hit and pitch. They're lucky to have eventual June Pitcher of the Month Wally Reif (7-6, 2.76, 52), as he has three shutouts and a four with no earned runs. The only team to get to him was the leading Cannons, who got 9 hits, 4 runs, and 3 walks in 7.2 innings. That made him 4-1, though I don't think that's enough to stop a 0.82 ERA (490 ERA+) and 0.92 WHIP with 21 strikeouts to just 9 walks. This run has dropped his ERA from 4.01 to 2.76 (147 ERA+), and we'll have our work cut out for us if we want to knock it up a bit. He's scheduled in the opener, followed by Pete Ford (4-5, 3.69,36) and Bert Cupid (6-6, 3.35, 57). That's a tough group to face, and it's made tougher knowing they will be well protected. Maurice Carter (.291, 12, 45) has quickly made Saints fans forget about Red Bond, and the now healthy Gordie Perkins (.359, 3, 20) would be a legit Whitney Candidate if he could play a full season. They didn't miss a beat without him, as center fielder Bill Elkins (.209, 2, 28) was surprisingly effective at short, and while none of the supplementary pieces are having superb seasons, Joe Austin (.263, 5, 24, 17), Otis O'Keefe (.266, 5, 29), Luke Weaver (.284, 1, 21), and Bill Greene (.247, 3, 16, 5) have all been average or better at the plate. Those guys are more then capable of kicking it up enough, and someone like Austin causes so much trouble on the basepaths. This team is legit, and has finally recovered from their awful 3-14 starts, and if we don't get back to our winning ways, they could leave us and the rest of the association in their dust. It doesn't get easier, as our road trip starts with four games in three days with the New York Stars. A consistent team, who usually goes 4-3, the Stars have a decent chance of ending the week in first, especially considering Bill Barrett (.286, 6, 45) hit three home runs after just three total in his first 58 (!!) appearances. Guys like him don't have off years, so I think the vet is finally awake, giving another threat to us trying to break our annoying drought. Lucky for us, Ed Cornett (7-2, 2.88, 42) is the only Star who's pitched really well, which is absolutely absurd, though Jack Wood (7-4, 3.57, 41) continues to do his thing. What's insane is how bad Vern Hubbard (5-7, 6.02, 31) has been, as thee 35-year-old was coming off a stellar year. Eli Panneton (9-5, 4.24, 53) hasn't quite been himself either, and rookie Dan Atwater (0-3, 8.15, 7) has looked overmatched in his first three starts. We'll have to face all but one of these guys, so if the offense does what they did at the end of last week, we could steal a series from our hosts, even after Barrett, Bill Barnett (.267, 16, 44), Mack Sutton (.269, 14, 49), and Jack Welch (.279, 16, 48) get their regular home runs on us. Might add a minor league report later, we'll see! Busy day with traveling. Got most of this done at the airport and wanted to get this in now in case I have time to take a look at some of our draft picks tonight, and I'm not sure if there's anything worth mentioning from the week. Minor League Report LHP Ben Clough (AA Little Rock Governors): Ha! There was something notable! And it only took one day! Ben Clough was cruising in Mobile last year, working to a 2.86 ERA (140 ERA+) and 1.34 WHIP in his first four starts. The only issue was that he tore his UCL. There's no Tommy John in this universe, so it's a pretty sever injury, and Clough missed a full nine months. This came after his starts in Mobile and 16 more in Lincoln, where he went 10-5 with a 3.03 ERA (130 ERA+) and 1.08 WHIP, and his 104 innings saw 77 strikeouts to just 25 walks. He made his season debut on the first of June this year, and despite two wins, his first three starts looked like a guy who hadn't pitched in almost a year. But when he got a second crack at the Atlanta Peaches lineup, Ben Clough looked like the pitcher he was last season, and he spun a 3-hit shutout with 4 walks and 3 strikeouts. Despite being a 14th Rounder, Clough was always a guy I kept an eye on, and I was excited when we were able to get him in the AI portion. A four pitch pitcher, Clough was able to pitch deep into games, and he struck out a ton of batters. Unfortunately, that hasn't been the case this year, as he has just 13 in his 31.1 innings. Never one for command problems, he's actually walked 23 hitters, just two away from his total last season. His 16.5 BB% is more then double his measure in Lincoln last season, and aside from his one appearance in the Cuban Winter League, he's never had a walk rate in the double digits. I'm really hoping it's rust and not the injury, but I know all too well that arms are fragile, and Clough did not get the treatment his arm needed. Lucky for him, he's the most intense and competitive guy out there, and he's going to work his but off until he feels like his old self. The deck may be stacked against him, nut he's the guy that doesn't falter when he's cornered. I really want him to succeed, but unfortunately I just see minor league fodder, those he's the ultimate clubhouse guy and will probably earn himself a pen role. And once you get a shot, you never know what's going to happen. Last edited by ayaghmour2; 03-19-2024 at 11:05 PM.

03-20-2024, 09:19 PM	#1371
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,046	Week 11: June 26th-July 2nd Weekly Record: 4-3 Seasonal Record: 38-35 (3rd, 4 GB) Stars of the Week Leo Mitchell : 28 AB, 8 H, 3 HR, 4 RBI, .286 AVG, .940 OPS Billy Hunter : 23 AB, 9 H, 0 HR, 5 RBI, .391 AVG, .962 OPS Chubby Hall : 27 AB, 8 H, 2 HR, 7 RBI, .296 AVG, .840 OPS Schedule 6-27: Loss vs Saints (2-4) 6-28: Win vs Saints (5-6) 6-29: Loss vs Saints (10-7) 6-30: Win at Stars (7-4) 7-1: Loss at Stars (4-9) 7-2: Win at Stars (7-3): 11 innings 7-2: Win at Stars (5-3) Recap The Saints have jumped everyone, in first after their awful start, and even though they took two of three from us in Chicago, we're the only team to beat them in their last ten games. Despite the home series loss, we rebounded quickly in New York, winning three of four after sweeping the double header. That moved us up to third, and we're one of four teams within five games of Montreal. As always, it was a great week for Leo Mitchell, the eventual June Batter of the Month (.368, 7, 21), who wacked three balls into the seat, becoming one of three Cougars to reach ten homers this week. He was just 8-for-28, so his average dropped a bit to .383, but he drew two walks and scored six times, with a fourth RBI on his week. The other two to join him were Chubby Hall and Red Bond, who each hit two homers in a slug-filled week. Of these two, Hall had the better overall week, 8-for-27 with with 3 runs and 7 RBIs, though with Sal Pestilli's return, he'll play a lesser role in the coming weeks. Bond was just 5-for-22, but he drew two walks and both scored and drove in five runs. We got a lot from Billy Hunter, who replaced Charlie Woodbury, going 9-for-23 with a double, triple, 2 runs, 2 walks, and 5 RBIs. George Sutterfield hit well too, 9-for-29 with a triple, homer, 3 walks, 3 RBIs, 8 runs, and a steal. It's nice to see the offense starting to pick things up, as we're now 6th in runs scored, and our staff is starting to get the support it deserves. Unfortunately run support did not happen for Donnie Jones, who picked up a loss and no decision despite just 7 total runs in 17 innings. He allowed 10 hits, 6 walks, and 10 strikeouts, and will have just one more chance to improve his All-Star chances. His 7-8 record will be held against him, but behind that are a 2.81 ERA (143 ERA+) and 1.06 WHIP. His 3.14 FIP (78 FIP-) is third in the CA, and he has 64 strikeouts and 39 walks in 134.2 innings pitched. He's going to be on my ballot, and if he doesn't end up on the final roster, I'm going to be quite disappointed. He deserves it most on our team, but that's not to say there aren't others deserving candidates. I'm upset that Andy Robinson didn't sign yet, with 9th Rounder Bill Owens the first to join. We needed a 15th pitcher in La Crosse, and since he was our only high school pitcher from the human portion, he's the guy that gets the first call. He didn't crack the prospect rankings, though I'm not surprised there, He'll start out pitching in the pen, but if a rotation spot opens, he'll probably be one of the first to take advantage of it. I think the two week point is where I'll start to add players from the class, but if spots open up the process will be accelerated. This doesn't apply to guys ticketed for San Jose, as I sent 2nd Rounder Ernie Tisdale his check and I'm getting a closer look at some of our college picks. Seniors always get priority, though I see a few juniors in the AI portion I might give a shot. Finishing off the week I had to make some procedural moves, as we'll actually have two outfielders joining the roster this week. The first is expected, as Sal Pestilli is healthy and will rejoin the lineup, but we also welcomed a new member to the organization. He came from Chicago, as we claimed former top 50 prospect Billy Brown from the crosstown Chiefs. A former 5th Rounder, "Big Bad Billy" has been awful, hitting .095/.269/.119 (6 OPS+), but at one point there was a really solid hitter. At 24 he hit .252/.327/.431 (114 OPS+), and in his four largest samples he has WRC+ of at least 97. I'm not sure he's going to be happy on the bench, but a change of scene could do him well. Leo Mitchell is on the older side, and if Brown can do well enough in a reserve role, he could eventually compete for a spot in a platoon. Down to Milwaukee is Clyde Zimmerman and Rupert Heinbaugh, and the young infielder did manage his first career hit! It was a memorable one, as it came in the middle of a four run 11th inning. He finished his stint 1-for-2, and will now return to every day playing time with the Blues. Zimmerman, however, has not hit very well, and this may be his last trip up. He was just 2-for-15, with both hits coming in his debut. Looking Ahead What's the best thing to do after a double header? While three games in two days with the first place team! Lucky for us, they also dealt with a double header against the Kings, so we're on equal footing. I have no idea how they're going to set up their rotation, but my best guess is Bert Cupid (6-6, 3.69, 58) on short rest in the opener, followed by Pat Weakly (5-3, 3.15, 38) in one of the halves of the double header. Wally Doyle (8-6, 3.78, 67) could go on three days rest, though that's tough for any pitcher. Andy Lyon (0-1, 3.79, 23) is an option for a spot start, as he hasn't pitched in five days. Lucky (?) for us, George Oddo (5-6, 4.78, 49) pitched just 59 pitches in his second of two season worst starts, so he's actually good to go! This will save us a spot start against a very good Saints lineup, and in the opener Duke Bybee (6-6, 4.13, 50) is fully rested and Peter the Heater (6-5, 3.37, 67) could have started today on three days rest if it was absolutely necessary. Being on the road could be an advantage, as it will suppress Saints power and keep our pitchers in the park. This is where John Moss (.251, 1, 28) can really make his paycheck, as I expect him tracking down multiple potential hits in the spacious Parc Cartier. The remainder of our games our at home, as we start with two against the Brooklyn Kings. Part of the reason they've slumped is because they haven't played us, as they've won seven of the eight contests. I'm hope the Jones Brothers can stop their potent offense, but Ralph Johnson (.325, 11, 46) is as good as it gets. You have to almost pencil the Kings in for three from him alone, but surprisingly the rest of the offense hasn't followed. I couldn't believe they were now seventh in runs scored, as Pat Petty (.235, 4, 43), Chuck Lewis (.277, 6, 40), Billy Bryant (.288, 1, 15), and Charlie Rogers (.265, 3, 25, 8) have all cooled off. This is a good chance for us to take advantage of them, and at 37-35 they could enter our series below .500. That would be due to the New York Stars, who we play to finish the season. They have dropped to 39-37, though with the Kings and Saints to play against they'll have a tough time. The Stars had their first losing month (13-16, .448) in June, though Bill Barrett (.306, 8, 50) homered in both halves of our double header win. I'll remained worried about their sluggers at Cougars Park, though with double headers of their own there are plenty of question marks on who pitches. I'm happy with whoever, especially since the staff has to be tired. There are very few David Molinas (6-3, 10, 2.80, 19) out there, and some of the lesser relievers may get tested in the final week of the first half. I can't believe a bad George Oddo start (3 IP, 7 H, 8 ER, 2 BB, K) actually helped us! Well, assuming we win the games of course! Minor League Report RHP Tommy Seymour (AA Little Rock Governors): He may not have won Pitcher of the Month, but Tommy Seymour finished off his impressive June with a 9-strikeout shutout. Our former first rounder walked just one, improving to 7-5 on the season. In June, he won four of his five starts, allowing just 6 earned runs in 44 innings. This equates to a 1.23 ERA (336 ERA+), and he had a nice 1.11 WHIP with 14 walks and 24 strikeouts. While not quite this dominant all season long, he has pitched well, with a 3.06 ERA (135 ERA+) and 3.58 FIP (86 FIP-) in his 12 starts. That's one Dixie League start more then last year, as the then Commodore really struggled. He was just 1-7 with a 5.33 ERA (75 ERA+) and 1.73 WHIP, walking and striking out 43 batters. This year he's walked just 36, striking out 57 as his BB% and K% improved. 25 in August, he's looking to earn a promotion to Milwaukee, and as a pitcher eligible for the Rule-5 draft he's on audition for all sixteen teams. Part of me wants to protect him, but I don't see an easy way to any role on the team right now. Dixie still thinks he could end up filling a back-end role, but as long as we are in competition we need more upside then that. Attached Images Last edited by ayaghmour2; 03-20-2024 at 09:45 PM.

03-20-2024, 10:53 PM	#1372
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,046	1950 Draft: Rounds 11-15 11th Round, 174th Overall: SS Chief Raffa School: Phoenixville Phantoms Commit School: Eastern State 1950: .404/.466/.629, 104 PA, 8 2B, 3 3B, 2 HR, 23 RBI, 35 SB Career: .413/.472/.602, 474 PA, 33 2B, 10 3B, 8 HR, 101 RBI, 93 SB I was pretty sure I was going to get Reggie Woodis, so I didn't adjust this pick. Chief Raffa was Dixie Marsh's shortstop pick, but I'm not as fond of the four year starter. He never hit above his .423 average as a freshman, same for his .487 OBP, and neither are all that impressive. Despite that, Dixie thinks he has a "good knack for barreling the ball" and he addresses his ability to hit to all fields. OSA thinks he's a solid defender, which does give him some additional value, and he is a plus runner on the base paths. Add in a solid work ethic, and I can see why the scouts are willing to overlook his modest numbers. I doubt he'll play much in our system this year, but I will not be allowing him to fulfil his commitment to Eastern State. 12th Round, 190th Overall: RHP Don Vincent School: Southington Generals Commit School: New Haven State 1950: 5-1, 64.2 IP, 2.09 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 24 BB, 92 K Career: 9-3, 134.1 IP, 1.94 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 50 BB, 193 K The 12th Round was the one where Dixie wanted a pitcher, and he took the 5'7'' righty Don Vincent. A two year starter at Southington, he split time between the pen and the rotation, going 9-3 with a 1.94 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and 193 strikeouts. That's not the most impressive stat line, but he does have an interesting five pitch arsenal that could be refined. His command isn't great, and could get in the way, but I think I can overlook that for now. It's definitely something that can be improved on, and Dixie likes his change, slider, sinker, and cutter. We do have a lot of guys that need innings, but my guess is most pitchers after this aren't going to have stuff that comes close to his. 13th Round, 206th Overall: 3B Bubba Holland School: Chester Presidents Commit School: Federal University 1950: .426/.491/.653, 118 PA, 11 2B, 4 HR, 32 RBI, SB Career: .426/.496/.647, 469 PA, 38 2B, 4 3B, 14 HR, 114 RBI, 21 SB If name quality translated to baseball quality, Bubba Holland would be a top prospect, but instead the four year grad from Chester projects to be nothing more then a bench piece. This is a pick based on athleticism, as he's a strong kid who can hit the ball hard, even if he's a bit too aggressive at the plate. This may prevent him from being anything more then an average contact hitter, so he'll either have to improve or discipline or hit enough homers where it doesn't matter. Both is preferred, but he needs playing time for that, and I'm not sure we have that for him. OSA does view him as a decent supplemental piece, so I am leaning towards offering him a contract and giving him a chance to hit work hard on the bench, and take advantage of what time he receives. 14th Round, 222nd Overall: RHP Slim Foster School: Laclede Trappers 1950: 7-7, 131.1 IP, 4.18 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, 43 BB, 112 K Career: 17-19, 348.2 IP, 4.54 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, 155 BB, 291 K The first AI pick from the college ranks, I think I'm letting the junior go back to school. I've never heard of Laclede, which tells you something about the quality Foster is facing, so his 4.18 ERA and 1.48 WHIP leave plenty to be desired. Especially considering both were personal bests, he doesn't seem to be much of a legit prospect. Working to his advantage is his height, as he stands 6'3'', and his 3.89 FIP is actually three percent better then average. He does have a nice slider, but his fastball sits in the mid-80s and there's not much else. I'm not sure what I'm going to do hear, and he may be one of the last guys I decide what to do on. 15th Round, 206th Overall: 3B Abas Abaghian School: Tipp City Bees Commit School: Central Ohio 1950: .424/.495/.750, 111 PA, 11 2B, 2 3B, 5 HR, 30 RBI, 2 SB Career: .405/.488/.616, 492 PA, 39 2B, 5 3B, 13 HR, 115 RBI, 16 SB Another four year starter, Abas Abaghian is committed to Central Ohio, where former Cougars Freddie and Al Jones attended college. He does show impressive extra base power, hitting five homers with 18 extra base hits in 22 games, It was a career high for homers and he matched his previous bests for doubles and triples. Both OSA and Dixie think he can hit his way into a lineup, as along with the power he has a good eye and make hard contact. He won't hit for a high average, but if the power develops, there's a chance he could find his way into a big league lineup. Even though it may be best for him to hit the campus, I'm leaning towards bringing him along, allowing him to use our facilities and hopefully develop his power. Last edited by ayaghmour2; 03-26-2024 at 10:27 PM.

03-21-2024, 09:58 PM	#1373
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,046	Week 12: July 3rd-July 9th Weekly Record: 4-4 Seasonal Record: 42-39 (4th, 4 GB) Stars of the Week Eddie Howard : 23 AB, 11 H, 0 HR, 5 RBI, .478 AVG, 1.129 OPS Pete Papenfus : 2 Wins, 17.0 IP, 4 BB, 7 K, 0.53 ERA Leo Mitchell : 30 AB, 9 H, 2 HR, 10 RBI, .300 AVG, .944 OPS Schedule 7-3: Win at Saints (7-5) 7-4: Win at Saints (5-2) 7-4: Loss at Saints (1-7) 7-5: Loss vs Kings (11-5) 7-6: Win vs Kings (2-4) 7-7: Loss vs Stars (3-1) 7-8: Win vs Stars (0-6) 7-9: Loss vs Stars (5-2) Recap While not an ideal week, can't really complain with 4-4, and we remained four games behind the first place Saints (47-36). Sure, we're down to fourth, but just half a game behind the Cannons (41-37) and Stars (44-40). This isn't where I expected us to be at this point in the season, but we have five All-Stars representing us, and plenty of time to return to the top of the association. Two were rather obvious, as Donnie Jones (7-8, 2.86, 65) made the staff and Leo Mitchell (.374, 12, 45) will start in left, but one guy I thought that would be there, wasn't. That was David Molina (6-4, 11, 3.65, 20), though he was roughed up in his last outing, allowing 4 hits and 4 runs with a walk and strikeout in his shocking 7th blown save of the season. I guess even the best struggle in close games if they're a Cougar, as he's blown 9, 9, 3, and 10 saves in his last four seasons. I'm hoping we can get him back on track, but I guess I should have known better! One guy who really earned his All-Star nod, however, was Pete Papenfus, who's on an absolute tear. He's won each of his last four starts, and he hasn't lost since May 30th. His most recent start was the best, as Pap spun a 2-hit, 0-walk shutout of the New York Stars. Pap is now 8-5 with a 3.02 ERA (133 ERA+) and 1.24 WHIP with 74 strikeouts and just 47 walks. His 8.1 BB% is a full point lower then his dominant 1946 Allen season, and I'm excited our hard working star will represent us for the fourth time. He'll be joined by Sal Pestilli (.300, 1, 16, 10), who I didn't think would get in with all the time he missed, but the overall body of work still impressed. Then there's backstop Eddie Howard (.298, 27), who really only got in because there's not really a second worthy catcher in the CA. His 98 WRC+ and 1.1 WAR isn't too shabby, and gotta love a catcher hitting almost .300! He's the lone first timer, as Sal is making his 9th trip, Mitchell his 7th, and like Pap, Donnie is making his 4th. For the rest of us, we'll spend time regrouping, so we can hopefully get our season back on track! We can't let this year get away from us like we did last year! Charlie Woodbury is healthy, but with so few games he's going to head to the minors to rehab. I'm going to be working him out at first, as he's never really played anywhere but second and could use some added versatility. That'll cost Billy Biggar a few starts, but I don't yet know who I want him to replace. Good thing I have the weekend for that! We did get some exciting news on the prospect front, as 1st Rounder Andy Robinson exceeded even my lofty expectations, checking in at 19th on the prospect list. This trails just Bob Allen (10th), as Jerry Smith has been pushed to 22nd. Most of the top round picks around the league have signed, so I don't expect the top three to move. Offers are out to Ernie Tisdale, Ed Freeman, and Ike Soeur, so we could add a few more top 100 prospects to FABL's third ranked system. We have seven in the top 100, with Biff Tiner at 79 the lowest. That seems comfortable enough to stay worth of points, so we shouldn't go down. The Minutemen (204) and Foresters (179) both have great systems, so unless there's a major graduation or a surprise jump for one of our guys, we aren't nearly close enough with just 133, and three teams are pretty much a back end prospect away from passing. Craziest part? Dixie Marsh thinks Andy Robinson is going to be better then Skipper Schneider. Better then Skipper! Hype level 1,000! Gosh the 4-1 Lions are so lucky to have Andy! Why couldn't he have signed right away! Jack Moore (.423, 1, 6) is cool and all, but there's something special about a guy who's a top 25 prospect right out of the gate! Looking Ahead While the five mentioned above play Tuesday, the rest of the squad waits until Thursday, where we'll be hosted by the Cannons for three. Cincinnati has played pretty evenly at home (21-19) and on the road (20-18). I'm psyched Mickey Mills (9-4, 2.47, 64) was rewarded for his dominance this season even if Dixie isn't a fan. This guy can hit 99 and his 1.14 WHIP best all our guys not named Donnie Jones. He's a max effort guy who can overpower, and as long as he stays around the corners he's going to be tough to hit. As much as I want it to be a flash in the pan, the Cannons could have unearthed a potential long-term piece, as besides the always awesome Rufus Barrell (10-6, 2.06, 59), there's no other dominant arm. The Cannons defense has been amazing all season, even if at the expense of the offense. It has been dealt injuries with Sam Brown (.340, 15) the next member of the IL, right after Mike Taylor (.250, 1, 10, 6) was added last week. Fred Galloway (.295, 3, 26) has missed time as well, so the outfield has seen numerous alignments since the season began. Chuck Adams (.270, 13, 50) has provided home runs as he always does, but he hasn't gotten much help. A recent bright spot, however, is Dan Scurlock (.316, 3, 27), who hit . 344/.423/.492 (138 OPS+) in June and started July 8-for-22 with 2 doubles, a triple, a homer, 2 runs, 3 walks, and 3 RBIs. If he played more earlier in the season, there's a chance he could have been the All-Star instead of Eddie Howard. It will be interesting to see which finishes the season better, and if OSA had a pick, they'd go with Eddie (5th to 14th). Perhaps that'll be the key this series! Next stop is Toronto, where we'll play the first of a three game series with the last place Wolves. It's been tough sledding for them, dropping eight of their last ten while losing shortstop Harry Finney (.310, 1, 18) to a sprained wrist. That's a tough injury for a shortstop to play through, and they've made the decision to call up #3 prospect John Wells. At least until Finney is healthy once again, that is. That's not to say Wells will be the casualty, as if I was ranking prospects I'd put him #1 (I'm not sure you can guess my #2!), as the former lottery prize has superstar potential. I'm not sure he's quite ready, but I can see why they want to give it a shot. The 19-year-old pretty much does everything right, but he's looked overmatched in AAA. His .263/.298/.309 (63 OPS+) line is not indictive of his eventual talent, I'm hoping he does well for them, but for now he may be an easy out. I'll dive deeper into them tomorrow, but I have to recognize our former first rounder Hal Wood (.331, 2, 35). Part of the Donnie Jones trade, Wood has been named to his third consecutive All-Star game, and he's hitting an impressive .331/.407/.445 (121 OPS+). He's now in his 10th season with the Wolves, and the team leader (and probably captain!) seems set for an 8th consecutive season with a WRC+ (138) above 100. I'm hoping he finishes his career with the Wolves, but Toronto has announced that they are open for business, and I have to imagine that no one is untouchable. Minor League Report RHP Cliff Wallace (AA Little Rock Governors): Are there awards for minor league pitchers? Or at least can there be? And can I give them out!?!? Cliff Wallace certainly deserves one, as he threw third shutout in 13 games. This one was a 4-hit shutout with 1 walk and 4 strikeouts, improving him to 9-4 with a 2.41 ERA (148 ERA+) and 3.68 FIP (88 FIP-) through 105.2 innings. As much as he deserves a promotion, I want to let him stick it out, as the Governors are leading a tight four team race. This might be the closest he gets to a real pennant race, and with so many arms in AAA it wouldn't really make sense to force him where there isn't a spot. Pretty tired today, so potentially no Amateur Report. We had so many Player of the Weeks that I don't think I'll be able to cover them all. Frank Reece (11-25, 3 R, 2B, HR, 5 RBI, 3 BB), Charlie Harvey (6-8, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 3 BB), John Price (10-23, 7 R, 2 2B, 3 HR, 9 RBI, 4 BB), and Joe Marshall (8-15, 6 R, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 2 BB). Yes, that's every league except the Century League. Well and the CA of course, the one that really matters. All five of our affiliates have a higher winning percentage then us, three are in first, and a fourth is in second. Too bad these wins don't count!

03-22-2024, 07:20 PM	#1374
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,046	Week 13: July 10th-July 16th Weekly Record: 2-2 Seasonal Record: 44-41 (t-4th, 3.5 GB) Stars of the Week Red Bond : 15 AB, 6 H, 1 HR, 3 RBI, .400 AVG, 1.038 OPS Duke Bybee : 1 Win, 9.0 IP, 2 BB, 2 K, 1.00 ERA Eddie Howard : 14 AB, 5 H, 0 HR, 1 RBI, .357 AVG, .971 OPS Schedule 7-13: Win at Cannons (3-1) 7-15: Loss at Cannons (3-4) 7-15: Loss at Cannons (1-3) 7-16: Win at Wolves (3-1) Recap The All-Star game didn't go well for the Continental Association, though offense as a whole was hard to come by. No runs came until the last swing of the bat, where our Donnie Jones allowed Red Johnson to hit probably his first ever pinch-hit grand slam. It would have been nice if Donnie didn't pitch almost two innings and throw 35 pitches, but despite that loss he did win when he put his trusty Cougar jersey back on. It wasn't his finest start, as he walked six guys, but he finished 8 innings with 5 hits, a run, and 6 strikeouts. He wasn't needed for the ninth, as while David Molina did walk two, neither scored, and he held the 3-1 lead. Our other win came from Duke Bybee, who allowed just 5 hits, a run, and 2 walks with a pair of strikeouts. Believe it or not, his 3.95 ERA (101 ERA+) is now above aver age. This is impressive considering his ERA was over 5 when June started, and we may need him to step up if we want to make up the now three and a half deficit we face. Peter the Heater didn't get a win, but he outperformed Donnie Jones in the All-Star game, as he allowed just one hit in a scoreless seventh. A Billy Hunter error ended up being the difference in a 4-3 game, as Pap allowed 10 hits and 3 walks with 5 strikeouts in an eight inning loss. Like Pap, Johnnie Jones pitched well in a loss, allowing just 5 hits, 3 runs, and 2 walks with 3 strikeouts in 8 innings pitched. Neither got run support against Jim Anderson (6-5, 3.09, 54) and Charlie Griffith (9-7, 3.19, 48). Red Bond tried, 6-for-15 with a homer and 3 RBIs, and both Eddie Howard (5-14, 3 2B, RBI, 2 R, BB) and George Sutterfield (4-13, 2B, 3B, 3 R, 2 BB) made the most of their at bats. I'm giving Charlie Woodbury one more week to get acclimated to first, but I'm hoping someone else can step up before he provides a jolt to the offense. We got two new additions to the top 100 list, with 2nd Rounder Ernie Tisdale (94th) and 4th Rounder Ike Soeur (88th) ending up in the bottom half. 3rd Rounder Ed Freeman isn't ranked, but he's 17th among all catching prospects. Ike is one of 24 listed center fielders in the top 100 alone, so it really shows you how difficult it is to be a ranked catching prospect. We might add a few lower ranked prospects, but when it comes to top 100 prospects, we're far more likely to lose one then gain one. Looking Ahead Two more against the Wolves, who we have beat in eleven of our thirteen contests. Considering they're almost further from the Sailors (7 GB) then the Sailors are from first (8 GB). Toronto has recently announced everyone who isn't Fred McCormick is available, and I am really tempted to inquire on George Garrison (7-10, 3.69, 54) even if it doesn't make much sense. They want young pitchers and, well, I don't want to trade Bob Allen, so I don't really see any deal getting done. As much as I'd like him, I also wouldn't go after Joe Hancock (7-4, 3.38, 56), as it just wouldn't seem right having him on any team that wasn't the Wolves. Looking at the younger generation, John Wells had a nice debut (2-3, 2 R, 3B, 2 RBI) but has gone hitless sense, and this coming week could be his last in the pros for a while. It's not quite his time yet, but this kid is gong to be feared one day, so our pitchers might want to get a head start on their head-to-head numbers. Next stop is Cleveland for three with the Foresters, who are an even 42-42 after their surprise pennant last season. Their offense has been the strength this season, ranked second in runs scored. This is rather surprising, but not as surprising as their newest third basemen. After being taken in the 2nd Round this June, Lloyd Coulter went straight to the majors, and has gone 9-for-33 with 3 doubles, a homer, and 7 RBIs. This shifted Jim Adams Jr. (.277, 6, 40) to second and Jim Urquhart (.306, 1, 36, 4) to left, with Paul Porter (.256, 25) now on the bench. Coulter is a very exciting prospect, don't get me wrong, but I'm surprised he didn't get some seasoning first. The power is there, he hit 16 homers in his single season of college ball, but he has some makeup issues and the jump from the minors to the majors is hard enough already. I'm curious to see how he does against us, and the Foresters could be awarded for their aggression. Our road ends with two in Philly against the seventh place Sailors, who are the highest placed team below .500. They've made a few changes to their rotation, with recent starts given to Joe Hess (5-8, 8, 3.98, 61) and Hannibal Davis (2-2, 2, 4.19, 21). I'd be happy facing both of them, as Win Lewis (6-7, 3.46, 68), Al Duster (10-5, 3.52, 62), and Charlie Gordon (7-5, 2.98, 53) are all seasoned, capable starters. The rotation changes could help, as their offense is up to third in runs scored. Ed Reyes (.388, 24) is cruising and Rip Lewis (.298, 2, 33, 3) has really turned things around. Billy Forbes (.301, 6, 42, 12) showed off his All-Star game and is looking like the top center fielder in the CA, showing no signs of diminished quality post-injury. He's a nice piece to build around, to it will be interesting if the Sailors decide to move some of their pieces and retool. Minor League Report CF Jerry Smith (A Lincoln Legislators): Best way to respond to a demotion in the prospect ranks? A Player of the Week! That's what Jerry Smith did in the Heartland League, as a 2-homer day secured the win for Smith. He went 4-for-4 with 6 RBIs in a 9-8 win over Springfield, putting the Legislators on his back. For the week, he hit .435/.458/.826 (248 OPS+) with 3 runs, 3 doubles, and 7 RBIs. I wasn't planning on it, but he's earned himself a promotion, finishing his Lincoln time with a .302/.368/.505 (137 OPS+) batting line. The former 5th Overall Pick had 24 doubles, 4 triples, 10 homers, and 61 RBIs, making 342 trips to the plate. Combined with last year, he's now appeared in 148 games at the Class-A level, and his .303/.378/.490 (136 OPS+) line looks eerily similar to last year. Add 39 doubles, 8 triples, 14 homers, and 91 RBIs and it's hard to find a weak spot in his game right now. Now ranked 22nd in FABL, the hopefully five tool player doesn't turn 22 until September, and he supposedly "has the swagger fans like." That's great news for a potential star, and I'm excited to see how he responds to his promotion. He'll share the outfield with Frank Reece, allowing Henry Norman to patrol center back in Lincoln. When you have so many talented center fielders, it's a fun puzzle trying to give them all time. A good problem to have! Last edited by ayaghmour2; 03-25-2024 at 03:51 PM.

03-24-2024, 03:05 PM	#1375
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,046	1950 Draft: Rounds 16-20 16th Round, 254th Overall: RHP Aloha Miller School: Honolulu State-Hilo Vulcans 1950: 3-6, 97.1 IP, 5.64 ERA, 1.91 WHIP, 83 BB, 94 K Career (COL): 14-21, 368.2 IP, 4.76 ERA, 1.69 WHIP, 254 BB, 363 K Career (HS): 17-2, 2 SV, 259.1 IP, 1.94 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 87 BB, 341 K If Tom Miller, more commonly referred to as Aloha Miller, wasn't a college senior, I don't think I'd even consider signing him. But as one, he'll join early on a below slot bonus. A three-time draftee, Miller played as much as you can, with four years of high school and four years of college. A native of Honolulu, Aloha spent his whole career on the island, first as Waipahu High School in Waipahu, before returning to Honolulu to attend Honolulu State. Our 16th Round Pick, it was the highest of his draft spots, as he was a 17th Rounder in High School and a 20th Rounder last year. Despite the "Fair" competition, Aloha never quite found his footing, as he struggled after a great freshman year. Well, great by his standards, as the then 18-year-old went 5-4 with a 3.87 ERA in 18 games (14 starts). He threw 95.1 innings, struck out 103, and walked 58 with a 1.52 WHIP. Pretty much every subsequent entry was far less productive, and the senior went 3-6 with a 5.64 ERA and 1.91 WHIP this season. 22 in August, he'll soak up some innings in one of our pens, but there's a chance he doesn't last the summer. We have a lot of interesting pitchers in the system, and aside from name and birthplace, the five pitch righty doesn't stack up. He does sit in the 89-91 range, and there's actually a chance he can develop into a starter, but he'll need a lot of things to break his way to secure a role in our organization. 17th Round, 270th Overall: RHP Cal Boyd School: Bryant Owls Commit School: Henry Hudson 1950: 6-3, 81.2 IP, 2.64 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 34 BB, 102 K Career: 6-3, 81.2 IP, 2.64 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 34 BB, 102 K A Henry Hudson commit, Cal Boyd pitched just one season of high school ball, where he went 6-3 with a 2.64 ERA and 102 strikeouts. That's good numbers for FABL, but when it comes in high school, it's a tad bit underwhelming. A three pitch pitcher, Boyd can barely hit 85, and when you feature both a fastball and cutter, that's a definite concern. Add in his belief that's he's the best out there, and there's even more concern, as he might cause a rift in the clubhouse. College is a good spot for him, and unless things get really dicey, I don't envision Boyd throwing an inning for any of our minor league teams. 18th Round, 286th Overall: SS Dick Coffey School: Maryland State Bengals 1950: .283/.349/.372, 249 PA, 10 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 29 RBI, 33 SB Career (COL): .278/.345/.372, 763 PA, 29 2B, 10 3B, 5 HR, 98 RBI, 106 SB Career (HS): .442/.512/.630, 376 PA, 42 2B, 6 3B, 2 HR, 79 RBI, 66 SB The name of the draft, Dick Coffey was a three year starter at Maryland State following a selection by the Kings in the 19th Round out of high school. He got taken a full round earlier this time, and I fully intend to give Coffey a chance to stick as a bench piece. A light hitting shortstop, Coffey didn't homer as a freshman for the Bengals, and despite being pretty strong, he's not going to develop power when he ages. He's more of a put the ball in play if its in the zone, as he'll take tough pitches and work counts. I'm hoping he plays good shortstop too, otherwise is stay in our system will be short. 19th Round, 302nd Overall: RHP Vince Hudson School: Prospect Heights Cardinals Commit School: Hudson Raiders 1950: 7-2, 87 IP, 2.59 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 46 BB, 105 K Career: 29-9, 398.1 IP, 2.44 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 177 BB, 460 K A four year starter at Prospect Heights, Vince Hudson never managed an ERA below 2. In fact, his 2.26 as a sophomore was the only time it was below 2.40. Though if you're a fan of the wins, either in terms of decision or value above replacement, his best season was as a Junior, where he went 10-1 with a 2.45 ERA and 1.26 WHIP. Along with the record, his 4.1 WAR was a career best, just like the 144 strikeouts. He did walk 50 in 113.2 innings, which isn't too bad (9.4 BB%), but considering 9th Rounder Bill Owens struck out 12 in 55.2 innings (5.0%) and his 1.29 ERA was a full run lower then Hudson this year. Another guy who likes all that comes with being the best pitcher at your school, three years in college could do him well. He might get humbled, allowing him to work on the pitches that aren't his curve. It's about all he has to offer, but he does have a fastball, slider, and splitter that could be improved. Depending on how serious he takes his commitment, Hudson could be worth taking in the first ten rounds. 20th Round, 318th Overall: 2B Dick Howard School: Central Kentucky Tiers 1950: .266/.311/.347, 293 PA, 11 2B, 3B, 3 HR, 43 RBI, 32 SB Career (COL): .280/.323/.358, 889 PA, 32 2B, 3 HR, 9 HR, 135 RBI, 105 SB Career (HS): .441/.486/.648, 104 PA, 52 2B, 7 3B, 8 HR, 113 RBI, 44 SB Our second Dick of the draft, Dick Howard actually competed with Dick Coffey for three years in college, though Howard had his worst season in his draft year. It was the first time he hit below .280, and as a sophomore he slashed .292/.335/.367 with 3 homers and 45 RBIs. Funny enough, he hit three homers in each of his three seasons, so I'm wondering if he can pull off the four of a kind. 21 in August, he's got a decent swing, and a return to his regular form could allow him to sign elsewhere.

03-24-2024, 08:03 PM	#1376
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,046	1950 Draft: Rounds 21-25 21st Round, 334th Overall: RHP Mark Martin School: St. Ignatius Wolfpack Commit School: Pittsburgh State 1950: 6-3, 84 IP, 3.21 ERA, 1.56 WHIP, 59 BB, 71 K Career: 27-10, 364.1 IP, 2.74 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 170 BB, 357 K A member of a high school I considered attending, Mark Martin was a four year starter at somewhat nearby St. Ignatius, where he went 27-10 in 52 starts. He got off to a good start as a freshman, going 7-1 with a 1.71 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, and 109 strikeouts. The only issue is he never came close to that, and even had two seasons with an ERA over 3. Donnie Jones (2.77) and Pete Papenfus (3.04) currently have better ERAs then Martin did as a senior, so I'm sure you can understand why I'm letting him go to Pittsburgh State. He needs more time, as none of his three pitches stick out right now. He does hit 87, so a velocity boost could improve his fastball, and he's the type to focus on baseball. Three years at Pittsburgh State should do him well, as I have to imagine he'll be higher then 21st his next time around. 22nd Round, 350th Overall: C Bill Hampton School: Brandenburg Green Waves Commit School: Smithfield College 1950: .425/.518/.571, 110 PA, 9 2B, HR, 23 RBI, SB Career: .415/.513/.571, 459 PA, 30 2B, 3 3B, 7 HR, 95 RBI, 15 SB An impossible to sign guy! Not too many of those anymore, but whether he wanted to or not, we don't need another catcher. Ed Freeman barely has room now, so no need to have him get stuck when he could be playing every day. A four year starter with the Green Waves, he hit .415 with 7 homers and 95 RBIs. He'll now head to Smithfield College in Rhode Island, where he'll be able to improve his defense behind the plate. He has a decent swing but not much else, so he'll have to work at it to improve his draft stock. 23rd Round, 366th Overall: CF Al Payne School: Middlesboro Yellowjackets Commit School: North Carolina Tech 1950: .416/.473/.566, 132 PA, 9 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 27 RBI, 18 SB Career: .420/.476/.599, 248 PA, 15 2B, 4 3B, 5 HR, 54 RBI, 39 SB A two year starter at Middlesboro, Al Payne had an uninspiring run, though he played well enough to earn a scholarship at North Carolina Tech. One of the fastest players in the class, he's more interesting then a lot of the other AI picks, as he does a good job barreling the ball to all fields. With his speed, that's a huge plus, as any ball in play is a chance for him to make something happen. The only issue is he doesn't do that enough yet, and will get fooled by better pitchers. I don't plan on singing him, but I do see a scenario where a need arises, and he joins late in the summer. 24th Round, 382nd Overall: C Sam Moore School: Pittsford Vikings Commit School: Piedmont University 1950: .390/.484/.505, 125 PA, 6 2B, 2 HR, 27 RBI, 3 SB Career: .412/.501/.600, 482 PA, 32 2B, 2 3B, 13 HR, 108 RBI, 20 SB Our break glass in emergency catcher, Sam Moore was a four year starter at Pittsford. Unlike Bill Hampton, Moore would sign with us, and he could be a last resort catcher down in La Crosse. Aside for good discipline, he's not much of a hitter, and I believe his value lies in his defense. He's not the greatest player out there, but he could hit for some power if he fills out. There's a reason he lasted this long, so even if he signs he might not have much of a pro career. 25th Round, 398th Overall: CF Harry Hrubes School: Carolina Poly 1950: .255/.278/.297, 249 PA, 5 2B, 3B, HR, 41 RBI, 34 SB Career (COL): .263/.286/.327, 835 PA, 18 2B, 3 3B, 9 HR, 132 RBI, 107 SB Career (HS): .412/.426/.512, 259 PA, 15 2B, 3 3B, HR, 61 RBI, 70 SB Our 25th and final pick, Harry Hrubes looks like a typo, but instead he's a hard working outfielder who's been taken twice in the 25th Round. He was Mr. Irrelevant out of high school, and now the Carolina Poly center fielder was taken two spots earlier. He's fast and good and defense, and with a name like that, I'm really considering locking him up. He could be a gadget pinch runner type, and with his work ethic you never know what could happen. Though part of me would love to send him back to see if he could pull of the trifecta, being a 25th Rounder once again. We'll continue to sign guys to make their season debut, but with most of the top guys signed we have three new top 100 prospects. Knowing baseball, someone outside will eventually join that mix, and with only four players signed I'm sure we'll have a few more additions to the top 500.

03-25-2024, 09:41 PM	#1379
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,046	Week 14: July 17th-July 22nd Weekly Record: 3-4 Seasonal Record: 47-45 (4th, 4 GB) Stars of the Week Red Bond : 26 AB, 8 H, 4 HR, 9 RBI, .308 AVG, 1.187 OPS George Sutterfield : 26 AB, 8 H, 0 HR, 7 RBI, .308 AVG, .922 OPS Billy Hunter : 27 AB, 9 H, 0 HR, 4 RBI, .333 AVG, .827 OPS Schedule 7-17: Win at Wolves (7-6) 7-18: Win at Wolves (7-1) 7-19: Win Foresters (9-6) 7-20: Loss at Foresters (10-5) 7-21: Loss at Foresters (5-3) 7-22: Loss at Sailors (6-2) 7-23: Loss at Sailors (12-5) Recap This team man... Yes, we swept the Wolves, as we should, but when you play against teams behind you in the standings, you need to keep winning. Instead, we chose to drop two of three to the Foresters and both to the Sailors... Yay, more long streaks! Adding injury to the recent insult, it's time for the annual Billy Hunter injury, as just as he was heating up he sprained his knee in the 12-5 blowout that ended our troublesome road trip. Our longtime injury list placement had three doubles this week and a 123 WRC+ in the month of July. That's far better then the 89 in 215 plate appearances overall, as Hunter never really got going. He has a replacement ready and waiting, as Charlie Woodbury can return from his rehab assignment. He had some struggles at first, but the veteran hit an impressive .435/.460/.674 (209 OPS+) with 3 doubles, a triple, 2 homers, and 11 RBIs. Woodbury was great before he got hurt, slashing .324/.393/.510 (141 OPS+) with 12 extra base hits, 15 runs, 17 RBIs, and 13 walks. He'll get regular playing time the coming week as we look to improve our record. We're actually stuck on Sunday, so technically "this week" Red Bond crushed four homers, going 8-for-26 with a double, 3 walks, 6 runs, and 9 RBIs. It seems like the slumbering slugger has started to wake up, with five of his fifteen homers coming in the last eight days. For the month he's hit an impressive .343/.397/.629 (172 OPS+) with 13 runs and 16 RBIs. Chubby Hall homered twice as well, but aside from homers by him and Otto Christian, we didn't do too much overall. Leo Mitchell (6-27, 2B, 2 RBI, 3 R, 2 BB) had a rare back week, and despite our middle infields best efforts (28-53, 4 2B, 2 3B, 8 RBI, 9 R, 3 BB, SB), there wasn't much run production. Simply put, the pitching was awful, but Donnie Jones had one good start. That's where he allowed 9 hits, a run, and a walk with 8 strikeouts in the complete game win, as we cruised to a 7-1 victory. The second was too poor to mention, so he's still even at 9-9, but he was one of six pitchers with a weekly ERA above 5. Thankfully, David Molina wasn't the issue, as he picked up the win after striking out two in two perfect innings. Charlie Kelsey got the other win, throwing 5.1 scoreless innings with 4 hits and a strikeout. For some reason Max Wilder pitched him the next day, where he struggled mightily, but we wouldn't have won otherwise. Looking Ahead Off on Monday to start the week, where we'll host our absolute favorite team the Toronto Wolves. We've had the most success with them, though they are the only team not within six and a half games of first place. It's taking all my energy to not trade for George Garrison (7-12, 3.71, 59), as we don't really have room for him and I don't see a deal getting done without Bob Allen. That's a non-starter in any deal, and we don't really have enough pitching to make a run at a top arm unless a team is willing to take a bet on George Oddo bouncing back from his miserable seven game run that has seen him allow five or more runs in each start. If we had free agency, this would be the perfect time for us to get a rental arm, like if Jim Morrison (5-8, 3.88, 56) was in the last year of his deal. Hal Wood (.333, 3, 40) interests me in the same way, but the fan in me wants him to spend the rest of his days in Toronto. Our week finishes with three against the Cannons, who are two and a half games ahead of us and a game and a half behind the Saints. There next win will be their 50th, despite their league low 337 runs scored. They've allowed thirty fewer, so they deserve to be above .500, as Rufus Barrell (11-7, 2.30, 68) and Mickey Mills (11-4, 2.42, 74) have become the All-Star duo that no one asked for or even expected. They've been dealt another injury too, with Jim Hensley (.214, 2, 23) missing five weeks with a severe hip strain. Clifton Smith (.213, 7) has been called on to replace him, and they've recently installed Reb McKiernan (.269, 6) and Buzz McIlwain (.214) in the corners. Denny Andrews (.226, 4, 26) has been demoted to the bench in favor of Nellie Waters (.316, 1, 15) as they look to spark the lineup in any way they can. They could be a team to watch as we approach the deadline, as their staff deserves a few boppers to give them the support they need.

03-26-2024, 08:24 PM	#1380
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,046	Week 15: July 23rd-July 30th Weekly Record: 4-2 Seasonal Record: 51-47 (4th, 4.5 GB) Stars of the Week Red Bond : 19 AB, 7 H, 3 HR, 7 RBI, .368 AVG, 1.211 OPS Sal Pestilli : 28 AB, 10 H, 1 HR, 2 RBI, .357 AVG, .884 OPS Pete Papenfus : 2 Wins, 19.0 IP, 8 BB, 10 K, 1.89 ERA Schedule 7-25: Win vs Wolves (2-5): 10 innings 7-26: Win vs Wolves (2-4) 7-27: Win vs Wolves (2-3) 7-28: Loss vs Cannons (4-3) 7-29: Loss vs Cannons (6-3) 7-30: Win vs Cannons (2-8) Recap I should be happy about a 4-2 week, but it's hard when it's just wins against the Wolves and another team taking two of three from us. We also lost half a game in the standings, and with just four left against Toronto, who we are 16-2 against, that may be too big a deficit to make up. Now at the deadline, it's our last chance to make a move, and it seems like we have to hope that our guys just start playing better. Thankfully, that's been the case for Red Bond, who now has nine homers in July. The 37-year-old hit three homers in his four games this week, finishing 6-for-15 with 7 RBIs. Bond has slashed a robust .353/.393/.694 (188 OPS+) on the month, improving his season line to a more Bond-like .286/.358/.483 (124 OPS+) in 364 trips to the plate. He was most of the offense this week, though Sal Pestilli hit his second homer, going 8-for-23 with 2 RBIs, 3 walks, 3 steals, and 5 runs. The now healthy Charlie Woodbury picked up right where he left off, going 3-for-10 with 2 doubles, 2 runs, and a walk. Eddie Howard saved his week with back-to-back 4-for-4s against the Cannons, and his 4 RBIs in the finale helped us avoid the sweep. We need more offense, especially from John Moss (1-20...), who not only has a career worst 76 WRC+, but his 9.0 zone rating (1.035 efficiency) isn't anywhere close to his career norms. I'm not sure why he decided to stop being a good player after joining us, but there really is something about the trades we make with the Kings... Speaking of Kings, Pete Papenfus probably didn't like me saying that he wasn't dominant enough, so guess what he did??? Dominated!!! Our vet won both his starts, even if the first took an extra inning. He allowed just 4 hits, 2 runs, and 4 walks in his complete game win over the Wolves, that ended with a dramatic three-run walk-off blast from our best and most consistent hitter Leo Mitchell. Pap, with help from his catcher, then avoided the Cannons sweep, striking out 7 with 5 hits, 2 runs, and 4 walks in his 10th win of the season. He's the second Cougar to double digit wins, as Donnie Jones picked his up three days earlier. He went all nine against Toronto, allowing 6 hits, 2 runs, and 3 walks with 4 strikeouts. Johnnie Jones got the last win of the week, his 9th, allowing 8 hits, 2 runs, and 2 walks with 7 strikeouts in the complete game win. Even though the month technically isn't over, we are done for July (15-13), so I'll have the monthly screenshots at the end of the post. More draftees have signed too, but rather interestingly, after being unranked, 5th Rounder Hal Lewis as surfaced on the top 500 list. He's up all the way to 370th, good for 36th in our system. 6th Rounder Gene Meeker might have the same fate, as he was just signed this week, but is not listed on the list. We still have three human picks left to sign, with the deadline August 18th. Currently four of our 1950 picks are on the top prospect list, with all but Lewis in the top 100. Looking Ahead Off again to start the week, and we'll look to get some revenge on the Philadelphia Sailors. At 48-49, they're in fifth place, two and a half behind us and half a game ahead of the Kings and Foresters. The Sailors have taken a new approach this year, scoring runs instead of preventing them, and after a slow start they've done well for themselves lately. July saw them go 19-9, led by strong efforts from Al Duster (11-6, 3.23, 72), who was 4-2 with a 1.80 ERA and 23 strikeouts, and Billy Forbes (.319, 7, 51, 13), who hit .361/.408/.521 (139 OPS+) with 7 doubles, 3 triples, 2 steals, 2 homers, and 17 RBIs. Lucky for us, we'll miss Duster who picked up the win in an 8-0 victory over the Stars, leaving us with Charlie Gordon (8-6, 3.48, 60), Joe Hess (7-8, 8, 3.62, 74), and ace Win Lewis (6-7, 3.41, 76). A solid group, we'll need to keep the lineup in check, which has recently saw top 100 prospect Jerry Keith (.261, 2, 9) get his first chance at regular playing time. Batting fourth and manning third, he has now replaced longtime third basemen Marion Boismenu (.338, 2, 31, 4) in a somewhat surprising decision. It's the next step on a youth movement for the Sailors, who's first five hitters are now 26 or younger. I'm hoping our experienced pitchers can take advantage of the inexperience, but considering it's not the Wolves, we'll be lucky to win one of these home games. Same goes for the three with the Foresters, who have at this point lost one more game then the Sailors. While they're still in it at 7.5 games out of first, a pennant defense looks unlikely, as the Foresters seem to be more comfortable with their record below .500. 20 games in their Lloyd Coulter (.300, 2, 11) experiment seems to have gone well, and last week their effort to get younger was continued to with the promotion of Frenchy Sonntag. Ranked as the 36th best prospect in the league, the former 7th overall selection has gone 3-for-13 with a double, run, and two walks, though his promotion was out of necessity not desire. He's replacing star Jim Adams Jr. (.283, 6, 40, 4), who just tore his meniscus and may miss the rest of the season. It's a huge blow for the offense, as while Sherry Doyal (.306, 11, 67) responded with a Player of the Week and an audition for Batter of the Month (.365, 5, 24), their lineup lost a lot of its length. Larry McClure (.342, 11, 57) continues to redefine good offense for a catcher, but unless Lorenzo Samuels (.243, 9, 37) or Orie Martinez (.244, 4, 32) come to life, we may actually be able to keep the bats in check. With an off day on Monday and before our series, they can do whatever they want with their rotation, but my best guess is John Jackson (7-9, 3.82, 67), Gordie Irwin (10-4, 1, 3.09, 33), and Larry Beebe (3-5, 3.56, 31). On paper, that may look tough, but it's three unproven guys who walk more batters then they strike out, which could be an avenue we can exploit to victory. Or you know, we'll just lose two of three... That's the Cougar way! Minor League Report SS Elmer Grace (AAA Milwaukee Blues): A common name in trade talks, Elmer Grace just lost himself a 20-game hit streak because the AI pinch hit him late in a game, where he ended up going 0-for-1 with a strikeout in the only at bat. Unphased, and perhaps unaware of the streak, Grace responded with back-to-back three-hit games, including a huge performance in the Blues' 3-1 win over St. Paul, where Grace doubled twice and both scored and drove in a run. That made the difference in the game, and the now 77th ranked prospect has continued to show that he deserves to play in Chicago. A natural shortstop, not only does Grace have a 14.4 zone rating and 1.091 efficiency at short, but he's hitting an excellent .305/.378/.518 (145 OPS+) with 20 doubles, 4 triples, 16 homers, and 51 RBIs through 90 games. As nice as that production would be in Chicago, he's not even Rule-5 eligible in the offseason, and the 23-year-old would need a 40-man and 24-man spot opened for him. Aside from recent waiver claims Frank Davis and Billy Brown, there really isn't a player worthy (or unworthy?) of being replaced, and with Charlie Woodbury back and hitting, I'm not ready to take at bats away from him or George Sutterfield. That means for now Grace is stuck in Milwaukee, though he's already making a push for a roster spot to open next season. A switch hitter with a sweet swing, Grace provides far more value then just the glove, and with his arm he's an easy convert to third. We'll be giving him a few reps there as the Blues finish the season, and he can challenge Sutterfield, Woodbury, Billy Hunter, and Otto Christian for time in the infield next season. RHP Cliff Wallace (AA Little Rock Governors): That makes four! After allowing just 4 hits and 4 walks with 5 strikeouts in the Governors 6-0 win in Memphis, Cliff Wallace completed his fourth shutout in sixteen starts this season, improving to 11-5 on the season. Wallace owns an impressive 2.96 ERA (139 ERA+) in 130.2 innings, working to a 1.32 WHIP with 50 walks and 69 strikeouts. The 24-year-old from Ohio continues his remarkable campaign, as the almost no-longer-a-prospect Wallace may have just secured himself a 40-man roster spot in the offseason. Ranked as our 37th prospect and 376th overall, he's gone unselected twice in the Rule-5 draft, but I don't see a way he would make that three. Sure, Wallace isn't the most exciting prospect, but he's had little issues in the Dixie League, and his slider is enticing enough without the rest of the profile. He's hitting 91 this season with his fastball, even if it's his worst pitch, while the change has shown flashes of greatness between bouts of inconsistency. He's been on most of this year, but even in his great starts his command eludes him for innings at a time. He's still a work in progress, and maybe no more then a filler pitcher, but if we have taken notice, others may too, and the once 9th Rounder may have a chance to pitch a few FABL games if he keeps things up. RHP Mike Emerson (C La Crosse Lions): C-ball has been a weird place early on, where walks, runs, and strikeouts have been way too easy to come across. That's why it's not overly surprising that Mike Emerson managed to strike out 15 hitters in a 147-pitch complete game against the Marshalltown Maples. The 4th Rounder allowed 9 hits, 4 runs (3 earned), and 5 walks, but picked up his first win in four starts. Now 1-1, his 5.13 ERA (109 ERA+) is nearly ten percent better then average, and I'm sure his 1.86 WHIP isn't half as bad as it looks. The 39 strikeouts in 26.1 innings are pretty nice even with all the crazy results, and with too many guys and not enough time, Emerson will get his first test in San Jose. A 21-year-old former 4th Rounder, he's spent the last three and a half seasons with La Crosse, though this season has been far different from the rest. He does strike guys out a fair amount, without many walks, as is pitches move well and are not easy to take. This has given him some love from the prospect people, as he's snuck into our top 30, now 27th in the system and 257th overall. He's got a developing four pitch mix that could be headlined by good off speed pitches, and this year he's throwing a bit faster in the 86-88 range. He's projecting as a spot starter now, but with a few adjustments as he challenges himself with tougher competition, and he could work his way into a full time rotation role. Attached Images