The IBL's Chicago Iron Pigs

[gehrig38]

Thought it'd be cool to check out our numbers at 81 games, and where we were last year at this time as well.
First the offense. First thing I can't help but notice is the HUGE HOLE Jean Chartier leaves.
Donald Weaver saw a huge power increase over the off season and it's showing itself with a .159 pt increase in slugging. I also can't help but notice Ernesto Gutierrez huge drop off, about 100 pts in average, .083 pts in OBP andabout 110 in slugging. My guess is with his mindset of being a 'utility guy' I'm over exposing him.
Clearly Wes Morgan and Bill Alexander are the center pieces of this offense. Though amazingly for the 18 games Alexander was out of the lineup, we were 7-11 (35-28 when he is healthy) but our offense scored 108 runs (6.0 per game). Our offense was scoring 4.88 runs per game with him healthy? I'd thinking it's much more to do with young Raul Feliz and the maturation and progression of the lineup more than anything.
Wesley Morgan's increased playing time (he was hurt last year for awhile) has meant a nice jump in his RBI totals as well.
What I like is that OF is now rounding into something long term, with Feliz here, and Collins and Barbour (hurt right now) maturing rapidly, and Alexander and Gutierrez as fixtures.

[gehrig38]

Here's a look at the staff right now. The Davis regression and injury likely can't be overstated. What's helped is the acquiring and pitching of Will Butler and Mark Williams, though we don't have enough SP to get Flowers out of our rotation yet. Alfredo has dropped his walk total nicely and his WHIP has followed. The pen is in much better shape and Cruz, if it's possible, is having a better and more dominant year as well. The scary number is Jack Jackson sporting a 6.55 ERA with a BABIP of .236....
It's time to get him out of this rotation and off this staff.I like the pen, at least the parts I think are here for awhile.

[gehrig38]

On defense I'm loving the increase in caught stealing, both of these guys are very good. I'd probably tell you it's also got a lot to do with our pitching staff being good at holding runners (as it always does).
Interested to hear any followers thoughts on what they see here...

[gehrig38]

WEEK 13 and the half way mark!
3 vs Baltimore (35-41 5.5 GB East)
OFF DAY
3 @ Philly (41-36 +.5 East)

GAME 78
Bill Flowers (4-5) was awesome today 8-3-1-1-1-5 and Ernesto Cruz wiggled out of a jam in the 9th for his 18th Save. Rookie Raul Feliz hit his 4th HR in as many games and Hugh Collins stayed hot as well, moving into the leadoff spot and going 1-3 with his 11th HR. Bill Alexander was 2-4 in his return from the DL.
CHI 2 BAL 1 (41-37 9 GB) Tied in the WC

GAME 79
There are games you just don’t forget. This is one. Down 9-4 in the bottom of the 9th, after a miserable start (Jackson left in the 2nd hurt, Moore and Potts gave up 9 runs on 10 hits and 2HR’s over the next 4.1) the Iron Pigs did what they’d never done before. Alfredo Lozano led off by striking out. Gutierrez hit an 0-2 single, Don Weaver PH, drilling a single as well. Hugh Collins hit an 0-0 pitch into the gap for a double, scoring Gutierrez. Clinton Quinn comes out of the pen and Ferrer greets him with a 1-0 single, and Alexander follows with a first pitch single making it 9-7, runners on 1st and 2nd. Wes Morgan singles to load the bases and Raul Feliz pop’s up for the 2nd out. Massimiliano Lorenzelli makes all of Sicily proud as he lines an 0-1 pitch into the corner for a game winning bases clearing 3 run triple! Collins and Ferrer had 3-5 days, Collins driving in 2, Ferrer 3. Alexander went 2-4 with an RBI, Lorenzelli 2-4 with 4 RBI’s. Sib notched the win (1-1) with a scoreless inning
CHI 10 BAL 9 (42-37 8 GB) +.5 in the WC

Jackson is DtD over the next week or so.

GAME 80
Up against Ace Chris O’Slattery today (5-9 3.34, 121 K’s in 118.2 IP. 18-9 3.69 236 K’s last year)
Alejandrez (10-5) nurses a 2 run lead into the 7th before yielding A Feliciauo’s 4th HR, a 2 run shot, to lose the game. Alejandrez went 7-7-3-3-2-9 to O’Slattery’s (6-9) 8-7-2-2-0-7. C Quinn notched save 19. Gutierrez went 3-4 with a run in the loss.
BAL 3 CHI 2 (42-38 9 GB) .5 GB in the WC

The Knights were dealt a crushing blow today as lineup anchor Stephan Conway was lost for the next 7 months with a broken elbow. Conway was enjoying a monster season (313-30-80 in 313 AB’s) after a huge 2012 299-38-111 in 579 AB’s. NY is currently 43-36 and a half game up on Brooklyn.

GAME 81
Dan Lands 17th a 3 run shot, and Dave Ladd’s 22nd HR, a solo, in the 2nd inning were the margin in a 7-3 loss today. Mark Williams (8-3) went 4.1-7-7-7-3-4 giving up 3 HR’s in the loss. Wes Morgan went 3-4 with 2 runs and a double, and Gutierrez and Sotolo drove in 2 apiece.
PHI 7 CHI 5 (42-39 10 GB) 1 GB in the WC

HALF WAY MARK
Eric Coates was called up to Class A Denison after just 4 games, he’s pissed and likely rightly so, as his bat is way ahead of our short season guys. Scouts are telling me he should sit in Heavener all year, I disagree and being the GM, I win.

WOW! Cipriano Barron (254-6-38) of Edmonton and Sacramento River Cats Closer Hayden Howell (0-2 2.40 21 Saves) were suspended for 13 games today, for actually throwing punches in a fight.

Buffalo Bisons CL Francisco Flores (7-5 2.25 43 SV ’12, 3-2 3.86 17 SV ’13) will miss the next 7 weeks with a rotator cuff strain. Buffalo will go with 28 year old righty Carlos Bello (11-3 3 SV 2.11 in 2012 and 4-3 1 SV 5.18 in 2013) for the next 2 months.

Heavener RF Antonio Macias (drafted in the 152nd round of the entry draft) a 2012 Rookie League All Star (350-9-43 in 47 games) will miss the next 4 months with torn ankle ligaments.

GAME 82
Sib van Bodegraven comes into a 3-3 game, 2 outs runner on 1st, 4 batters and 4 hits later it’s 6-4 Philly. Pennington took the loss (1-2) but this was all Sib. Collins and Weaver had 2 hit days in the loss. Sotolo banged a knee and it’s looking like he’s out a week, to two. I’m going to need to do something.
PHI 6 CHI 3 (42-40 11 GB) 2 GB in the WC

ORG NEWS
SP Marc Bell (our “Flyer” out of The Governor’s School for the Art’s & Humanities) sustained a serious cuff injury in the 5th inning of his 1st pro start. He’ll miss at least the next year recovering from surgery.

GAME 83
5 Chicago double plays, including 2 with the bases juiced, were the margin, reason and sole factor in a 3-2 win today. Flowers (5-5) went 5.1-9-1-0-0-4 and the pen passed the baton to Cruz for the final 5 outs and Save 19. Lorenzelli was 3-4 with 2 runs, Collins 2-3, 2BB and his 12th HR and drove in 2 in the win.
CHI 3 PHI 2 (43-40 10 GB) 1 GB in the WC

WEEK 13 NEWS and JUNE ENDS!
Had a power glitch but because I save daily!!! I missed nothing, but awards will be short worded this month

White Caps Barton Roberts, 1B, won the FL PotW and FL PotM awards today. 12-23 4 HR 7 RBis on the week and a 443/505/845 month featuring 8 HR’s and 25 RBI’s, his second month in a row with 25 RBI’s.

Ben Hutchins, Riverhounds 1B, won the CL PotW honors going 14-30 with a HR and 9 RBI’s

Columbus Clippers C Dean Strong took home CL PotM honors going 30-88 with 10 HR’s and 27 RBI’s a slash line of 341/448/727

Walt Thompson (BRO) won the FL Pitcher of the Month Award for June after he went 5-1 1.59 with 36 K’s in 39.2 IP

Santiago Medina (FRE) took home CL Pitcher of the Month honors going 5-0 2.45 with a .94 WHIP

Tulsa Drillers LF Wally Reed won the FL Rookie of the Month award in June by going 35-105 with 5 HR’s and 19 RBI’s and scoring 16 runs.

Chicago Iron Pigs CF Hugh Collins won the CL Rookie of the month award after he went for a 366-7-17 month.

[gehrig38]

JULY Begins and Week 14
OFF DAY
3 @ New Hampshire (40-42 4 GB East)
3 @ Pittsburgh (45-39 Tied with Philly in the East)

Luis Ramirez of Belleview went 5-7 in a 5-4 13 inning win yesterday. On the year the 21 year old RF is hitting 265-7-29 in 166 AB’s.

Danny Thornton, GM of the Edmonton Trappers has proposed a trade. He’s offering 26 year old AAA 3B Simone Politti and a 4th pick in 2014 for MR Craig Frank and one of our top pitching prospects, Bill Sharp. Clearly that won’t work, but I’m gonna tinker and talk to see if there’s another possible deal here.

Columbus Clippers Manager Willie Ware was fired today. The “we’ve decided to go in a different direction” was used… Columbus has been beset by massive injuries, with 3/5ths of their rotation on the DL, their 1B, MR and an OF.

They’re currently 32-52 and 21 out of the CL Central. Owner Augusto Ramirez is livid, and apparently this stuff won’t stop in the Mangers office.

Dayton sent 29 year old Pat Padgett (238-12-50 in 79 games last year, 292-6-14 in 27 this year) to Buffalo for 25 year old Tanner Ashley (3-3 4.70 this year) and 19 year old Brian Milton, a super utility kid. Our scouts really like Ashley as a 3, but the huge prize here looks to be this Milton kid. A RH hitter who can play, 2nd, 3rd and Short, and all three OF positions he is an outstanding base stealer and at 19 our scouts believe his bat is a 16+ for contact, gap and strike zone discipline. He’ll hit 10-20 HR’s, won’t strike out too much if they’re right, but this is a 5 star prospect in their eyes. He was the NY Knights 5th round pick in the 2012 first year player draft, traded to Buffalo with MR Desi Davis for 2B Birger Kjorsvik last July. Padgett is apparently going to play RF and lead off for the Bisons, who are 41-43 and 4 games out of the FL East behind NY and Brooklyn.

GAME 84
Alejandrez (11-5) goes the distance 9-5-2-1-2-4 and Hugh Collins goes 3-5 with 2 runs and 4 RBI’s, Huddy goes 2-4 with an RBI, Alexander drives in a run, and Raul Feliz and Alfredo Lozano have 2 hits.
CHI 6 NH 2 (44-40 9.5 GB) .5 GB in the WC


GAME 85
Hugh Collins continues his strong rookie season going 3-6 with 2 runs and 3 RBI’s on a 2B and his 13th HR (and SB 12). Ian Ferrer goes 4-5 and scores twice to back Mark Williams (9-3) 6.2-5-1-1-2-9 day. Pacheco (H8) and Moore get the final 7 outs.
CHI 7 NH 1 (45-40 9.5 GB) +.5 in the WC

Fresno lost 1B Qi-Chen Jung again after breaking the same hand he broke back in April. He’ll miss another 6 weeks for this one. Jung (301-40-134 in ’12) was hitting 303-11-58 in 231 AB’s this year.

AAA SS Andrew Martin has hit in his 20th straight game for Tulsa. He’s hitting .487 (37-76 with 5 HR’s and 11 RBI’s).

Martin was called up after the game and Alejandro Sotolo was placed on the 15 day DL retroactive to the 30th of June.

Fresno shipped 26 year old SP Bob Park (2-2 5.31) to El Paso today for 20 year old SP Curt Daugherty and 21 year old SS Nori Hori.

Our scouts think Park’s a back end rotation guy at best, and Daugherty (7-4 3.20 in Class A this year) has decent potential, a higher ceiling than Park anyway, and Hori had hit 273-4-20 in A ball this year. A super utility guy that projects to be a career minor leaguer.

GAME 86
Will Butler (5-9) dominated today 8-5-1-1-0-2 but showed up in the 9th with nothing to show for it. That all changed when Andrew Martin singled with one out and Hugh Collins doubled him home to give Chicago a 2-1 lead. Ernesto Cruz promptly dropped a 1-2-3 9th for save 20.
CHI 2 NH 1 (46-40 9 GB) +1 in the WC

LEAGUE NEWS
Albert Luna (BAL) shut out Pittsburgh 9-0 on a 2 hit 8 K performance today.


GAME 87
Bill Flowers (6-5) tired into the 6th 5-8-2-2-1-4 and handed the game to the pen, who were up to the task. Potts (H4) Frank (H8) and Pacheco (H9) tossed 3 scoreless and Ernesto Cruz went 3 up 3 down for save 21 (his ERA now stands at .98) Collins, Gutierrez and Flores had 2 hit days with Feliz driving in 2, and Collins and Alexander 1 apiece.
CHI 4 PIT 2 (47-40 8 GB) +1.5 in the WC

GAME 88
You work and work and work, and it doesn’t work. Andrew Martin’s 2nd error of the game (and 9th on the year) turned a 1-0 lead into a 3-1 loss in the 8th inning. Jack Jackson went 5-4-0-0-6-2 and the pen held on into the 8 when 2 unearned runs turned a hard fought win, into a loss. Feliz and Weaver had 2 hit days.
PIT 3 CHI 1 (47-41 8 GB) +1 in the WC

ORG NEWS
Bakersfields Francisco Reyna went 5-5 in a 7-1 win today. On the year he’s hitting 302-2-42 in 309 AB’s.

LEAGUE NEWS
Roberto Villalobos (SAN) went 5-5 in a 7-5 win over the Knights today. For the year the 27 year old OF is hitting 276-4-28.

Railcats 1B Tim Holmes had his 2013 season cut short after straining his hip in todays game. One of Baltimores top power prospects the 23 year old was hitting 224-9-27 in 205 AB’s this year.

In a surprising move today, Buffalo traded 34 year old 1B Dave Norfleet (284-28-100 in ’12 and 282-17-61 ’13) to the team they trail by 6.5 games! They received 27 year old SP Spike Davis (3-9 7.05 this year, 9-5 5.44 in ’12) and 24 year old AA prospect Quinn Thomason (a combined 14 HR’s and 60 RBI’s between 87 AA and AAA games). Cyclones owner Juan Fernandez who wanted nothing more than a .500 run this year appears to be taking advantage of every angle. Fans have become enthralled with the supposed non-contender and are flocking to the park this summer to support their Cyclones.

GAME 89
Alejandrez had no gas in the tank again today, tiring after 5 (5-8-5-5-2-3) and he couldn’t protect a 3-0 and 6-2 lead. The pen got it ito the 8th but Riley Potts gave up K Wrights 13th to tie, and M Moore went 2 scoreless getting 2 DP’s before giving up the walk off 2B to catcher D Reed. Alexander went 2-5 with his 26th and Collins 2-5 with 2 RBI’s and his 14th. Hudson, Weaver and Morgan all had 2 hit days, Eric also drove in 2.
PIT 7 CHI 6 (47-42 9 GB) Tied in the WC

WEEK 14 NEWS, ALL STAR TEAMS ANNOUNCED!
Bob Barbour is coming off the DL, and no rehab will be needed, OF Alfredo Lozano was optioned back to Tulsa.

NY Knights 3B Mathew Moore took home FL PotW honors going 10-24 with 4 HR’s and 9 RBIs

Michigan Battlecats Fernando Rey (28) won the CL PotW award. He was 11-25 5 HR’s and 12 RBI’s on the week.

Bill Alexander leads the IBL in slugging at 678, 9 pts ahead of Michigans Bob Herman.

Chicago drops to 8th in the power rankings at 93.1

TRADE NEWS
Brooklyn had been hounding me to take 3B Robert McPherson off their hands for weeks, today they dealt him to Corpus Christi for 31 year old IF Clint Etheridge (289-14-52 in 329 AB’s after a 231-12-54 in 516 AB 2012) and 23 year old minor league C Grant Whitelaw. Whitelaw is not a prospect as far as our scouts go, and Etheridge is a 1B with the glove, and a marginal 3B at best. McPherson is hitting 285-18-51 in 87 games after a down 2012, but he’s a 5 star guy on many scouts radar, including ours (though we shied away because at 28 we think he is what he is. A Switch hitter who’s much better from the left side. He’s a very good 3B, and below average at 1st and in LF.

[gehrig38]

Here are the 2013 ALL STAR TEAMS, game to be played in 3 days.
Calhoun, Kelly, Romero, Thompson, Burrell, Melendez, Takahashi, Roberts, Orosco, Clifton, Bryant, Hill, and Maitani are all making their 2nd appearances for the Frontier League.

In the Coastal League Chicago sends 4 reps (only had 1 last year)
While Gonzalez, Jacobs, Ross, Suhayb, Strong, Johngmans, Wright, Stone, Soto, and Alexander make their 2nd appearances.

[gehrig38]

Results from the game

[gehrig38]

Columbus lost SP Will “Scotty” Cannon today for the remainder of the season. Cannon coming off a 13-15 4.71 2012 was showing promise at 9-7 3.77 in a tough year for the Clippers.

Brooklyn sends 36 year old 1B Scott Mclaren (303-12-61 in 466 AB’s last year, 355-4-23 in limited time this year) and 21 year old Class A SP prospect Simon Kamerman to Fresno for 30 year old LF Lee Allen (293-8-35 in 70 games this year after a 269-19-83 season in 139 games last year). Allen will hit leadoff in Brooklyn and play the corners in the OF.

[Izz]

Enjoying the read so far! Your dynasty has joined Orcin's on my daily-check-for-updates list.

[gehrig38]

WEEK 15
OFF
OFF
ALL STAR GAME
4 vs Corpus Christi (44-45 12 GB Central ) Trailing us by 3 in the WC

Eric Coates got hurt…. Pending diagnosis.

4th overall pick (our #1) Gerardo Zamora is off to a great start. 4-0 1.93 in 28 IP, 33 K’s, 20 hits and 10 walks through 4 games at Class A Denison.

GAME 90
Mark Williams (10-3) goes 6-8-2-1-0-6 and Raul Feliz 5th inning 3R HR (5) breaks it open. Ian Ferrer went 2-3 with a triple and homer (1) driving in 2, Wes Morgan was 2-4 and Hugh Collins stole his 13th.
CHI 8 CC 2 (48-42 8 GB) +1 in the WC
Eric Coates will miss just a week..shew.

GAME 91
The roller coaster game. Will Butler went 6.1-7-3-3-2-6 but the offense was dormant all game. Out of nowhere we do it in the bottom of the 8th. Down 5-0 Martin singles, Collins singles, Eric Hudson singles and runners move up on an error. Bill Alexanders sac fly makes it 5-2. Another error puts runners at the corners and Raul Feliz greets Dave Barber with a 3R game tying homer (6). Ernesto Cruz (2-1) keeps it there for 2 more and instead of pulling him, he stays in a hitter too long. A E Rosa grand slam (16) in the 11th seals it for CC. Collins and Hudson had 2 hit days and Gutierrez stole his 19th in the loss.
CC 9 CHI 5 (48-43 9 GB) +1 in the WC

GAME 92
Alejandrez (12-5) goes strong into the 7th (6.2-5-2-1-2-7) and Pacheco (H11) and Pennington (H12) hand to Cruz a day after the granny debacle. Being the wily vet he is, he’s ice, saving his 22nd. Don Weaver hits #14, Collins and Ferrer get 2 hits in the win. Bill Alexander goes down again, this time running the bases. No word on the extent of th e injury yet…..
CHI 5 CC 2 (49-43 8 GB) +2 in the WC

INJURY NEWS
Alexander will be DtD for the next few with an ab strain. We’ll likely not push it and rest him.

Alejandro Sotolo was activated and glove man Mel Watson was optioned back to AAA.

ORG NEWS
Matthieu Cafasso (LV) punched out 6 and scattered 6 hits in a 5-0 shutout of Pittsburgh today. Cafasso moved to 9-3 3.50 on the year.

GAME 93
Meeting up with former Iron Pig SP Francisco Salazar today (0-3 7.23 since joining the Hooks). Flowers (7-5) and Salazar hooked up in a duel before the Iron Pigs plated 3 in the 5th and 2 more in the 6th to break it open. Flowers went 6-4-2-2-1-6. Raul Feliz 3-5 w/an RBI and Don Weaver 3-4 2 runs 2 RBI’s on a double and his 15th HR led the offense. Ernesto Gutierrez stole his 20th.
CHI 6 CC 2 (50-43 8 GB) +2.5 in the WC

WEEK 15 NEWS
Staten Island 1B Alejandro Villanueva takes home FL PotW after a 10-17 4 HR 9 RBI 4 game run.

Columbus All Star Dean Strong took home CL PotW with his 9-19 4 HR 10 RBI week.

Sacramento SP Dan Millman (acquired from the Diablos earlier last year (12-14 in 2012) was lost for the rest of the 2013 campaign. The 26 year old will have bone chips removed in surgery slated for today. The River Cats are currently tied with Edmonton atop the FL’s Western Division, .5 game up on El Paso.

ORG NEWS
Bakersfield SS Teddy Turner won Primal League Honors this week after his 10-24 4 HR 10 RBI week. On the year the 23 year old is hitting 293-12-41.

Omaha 1B Daniel Carlton went 6-8 with a HR and 3 RBI’s to win NYP league PotW

Chicago moves to 5th in the IBL Power Rankings at 102.8

Belleview is 1st in their rankings at 110.1

[gehrig38]

Here's a look at our farm system, and BBA's top prospects.
Quick refresher on how these players were acquired
#1) SP Anthony Martin-2012 1st round Amateur draft (IBL #17 in '13)
#2) SS Paul Riggs-Inaugural Draft 16th round draft choice (IBL #16 in '12, #21 in '13)
#3) SP Bill Sharp-Trade with Philadelphia Freedom 5/23/12. 2012 Rookie League All Star, 2013 Southern League All Star (#76 in '12, #85 in '13) Philly's 17th round pick in the 2012 inaugural draft
#4) OF Ralph Bradford-Trade with Pittsburgh Riverhounds 7/19/12 (IBL #98 in '13) Pittsburghs 33rd round pick in the 2012 inaugural draft
#5) SP Jeff Bentley-2012 4th round Amateur draft
#6) OF Raul Feliz-2012 2nd round Amateur draft. 2 AAA PotM Awards, 2013 AAA All Star
#7) MR Dave Winston-Trade with New Hampshire Fisher Cats 4/1/13 (NH's 33rd round pick in the inaugural draft)
#8) IF Jorge Sanchez-Inaugural Draft 50th round choice
#9) MR Jorge Sanchez-Inaugural Draft 48th round choice
#10) SP Jose Torres-Trade with Los Angeles Sky Sox 7/20/12. Sky Sox 20th round pick in 2012 Inaugural Draft
#11) IF Alberto Rivera-Discovered by Martin Cintron in Puerto Rico, signed in April 2012
#12) IF Anastasio Ayala-Discovered by Martin Cintron in the Dominican, signed in 2012

[gehrig38]

Midway through July and our fans have moved to "very good" loyalty, and our interest has hit 70, a new high.

Right now we project a 23-24mm profit on the season, which will hopefully be turned into more scouting, player dev and possibly an extension or two tactically placed.

Our budget is 13th, our payroll 15th and we have 4.7mm for extensions.

[gehrig38]

WEEK 16
3 @ Columbus (38-55 20 GB Central)
OFF DAY
3 @ Los Angeles (47-46 3.5 GB West)

We get Houston after the LA series, like to go in with health and momentum

GAME 94
Jackson (1-5) struggles again (2.1-6-7-7-3-3). Riley Potts slammed the door and the offense turned it into a game with Hugh Collins mashing #15 to lead off the 9th and bring us within a run, but CL Jose Lopez gets the final 2 outs for his 4th save. Collins HR was part of a 3-5 day. Eric Hudson drove in 3, Ernesto Gutierrez went 3-3 subbing for the injured Alexander.
COL 7 CHI 6 (50-44 8 GB) +2 in the WC

TRADE NEWS
Buffalo shipped 28 year old SS Ivan Gonzales to Brooklyn for 26 year old MR Jake Duncan and 23 year old prospect 2B Jim Harris. Gonzales is a career 223/332/312 hitter through 195 games with Buffalo. An excellent glove man his versatility is his value as he can play an above average 2B, 3B, SS left and right. He’ll move into the lineup and hit 8th at SS. Duncan is a sinker/slider guy who’s thrown 133.2 IP over 107 games the past 2 seasons posting a 8-7 1 SV record with a 4.04 ERA and 1.26 WHIP. Our scouting department looks at Harris as a potential 3.5 star player, with great gap to gap pop and decent HR power. His best position is 3B, but he can play second and short. It appears the Bisons are going to send him to SS and give him a shot in CF.

MINORS NEWS
Birmingham Champions (LA SS) SP Dave Combs tossed a no no yesterday. On the year Combs is 4-0 0.93 in 4 starts covering 29 innings. He’s allowed a staggering 7 hits total.

GAME 95
An ugly game that just got uglier. Williams (10-4) was erratic at best in 3-7-7-7-4-2 and a tired pen had to muster 5 innings and stem, or at least try to, the bleeding. Clipper SP S Mitchell (3-4) went the distance 9-5-2-2-2-4 and his only blemish was Hugh Collins 16th HR in the 5th.
COL 11 CHI 2 (50-45 9 GB) +1 in the WC

LEAGUE NEWS
SI Yankee SP Ron Pearce shut out San Antonio on a 5 hitter today. Pearce (17-11 3.62 ’12) is having another great year, moving to 10-5 3.03 with the win.

I am getting offers, almost daily, for Ernesto Gutierrez. I have room to move him, but with Alexander’s health a concern I don’t want to make a position of strength , a weakness.

TRADE NEWS
Houston has sent 28 year old OF Arturo Olivo (294-8-49) to Tulsa for 33 year old MR Donald Smith and 18 year old catching prospect John Potter. Olivo, a natural LF, hit 263-12-62 in 94 games last year and moves into the 2 hole in Tulsa’s lineup. Our scouts love the kid. Thinking he’s a 300-15-75 guy that makes good contact and plays good D. His arms’ a 20 on our 1-20 scale. Cy May’s return from the DL made Houston feel like he was moveable. Smith is 12-5 3 SV over 102 games with a 3.73 ERA from the right side with a 1.44 WHIP. Potter, to our scouts, is the prize here. An 18 year old 5 star blue chip according to Martin. Outstanding ability behind the dish, tick above average arm, with a bat that will hit for average (10-15 HR power) and a great eye. He was sent to Houston’s rookie league affiliate Cibolo. Potter was Houston’s 20th round pick in last years amateur draft.

GAME 96
Wes Morgans 3-5 2 RBI day backed Will Butler’s (6-9) 6.1-7-2-2-1-5 and Pennington (H13) and Pacheco (H13) got the game to Cruz who nailed down his 23rd Save.
CHI 3 COL 2 (51-45 9 GB) +2 in the WC

LEAGUE NEWS
Philly CF Tom Byrd (297-6-42) will miss the next month with a strained rib cage. The 34 year old Byrd missed most of last year with a ruptured disc and was out with a sprained ankle earlier this year.

OFF DAY NEWS
Fresno dealt SS Tom Stuckey to Edmonton for 17 year old 3B prospect Rafael Panigua. Stuckey, acquired from Staten Island last year, was hitting 213-13-26 in 90 games after a 2012 season that saw him hit 245-21-76 between Fresno and SI, in 140 games. Our scouts don’t see Panigua as a high ceiling guy. Stuckey will be put in the DH role for the Trappers, who are 2 games behind West leading Sacramento in the Frontier League.

GAME 97
Alejandre (13-5) 7.1-4-1-1-2-6 outpitches Johnston (9-9) 7-4-2-2-1-8 and Pennington (H14) gets a big 8th inning out before Ernesto Cruz nails down his 24th save. Eric Hudson and Bill Alexander drove in back to back runs in the 3rd. Hudson was 2-4 on the day. CL league leader Vincente Soto went 3-3 in the loss.
CHI 2 LA 1 (52-45 9 GB) +3.5 in the WC

LEAGUE NEWS
With the win Alejandrez ties Houston’s Raul Gonzalez for the CL (and IBL) lead in wins at 13. Walt Thompson leads the FL with 13 as well. Soto is currently at .359, 28 pts ahead of Philly’s Antonio Vargas.

The trade deadline is looming and we have to seriously consider ourselves as post season viable given we’re 3.5 up in the WC and we’re seeing Houston after the LA series.

If I can either get a call up, or make a move to strengthen the pen or rotation I will.

Columbus got a 5-5 day from young Jesus Sanchez in a 14-9 win over Michigan. Sanchez (350-1-16) us just back from a 2 month hiatus on the DL.

Fisher Cats 2B Robbie Griffin (260-10-53) will miss the rest of the 2013 season with a broken arm suffered yesterday. An already ravaged roster suffered another big blow. New Hampshire is starting to face in the CL East, 7 games behind division leading Philly.

GAME 98
Flowers wilted again, but the pen came up huge. Frank (2-1), Pacheco (H14) and Pennington (H15) managed 5 scoreless innings after Cruz grabbed the final 4 outs for his 25th save. Collins, Alexander, Morgan and Gutierrez had 2 hit days with Alexander clubbing 2 doubles and Gutierrez driving in 3.
CHI 7 LA 6 (53-45 8 GB) +4.5 in the WC

TRADE NEWS
Teams are jockeying as the deadline looms. West Michigan sent 28 year old 3B Michael Ruffin and 24 year old OF prospect Bill Morrison to San Antonio for 30 year old CF Frank Goodman. A trade basically shifting backups and late inning guys. Ruffin, has only 29 games and 29 AB’s in 2013, serving as a switch hitting PH, and defensive replacement at 3B, while Morrison is a fringe prospect at best who runs exceptionally well and can man all three OF spots. Goodman has also seen very limited action this year but is a top tier defender across the OF who is a big time SB threat. San Antonio trails 3 teams (including WMI) in the FL Central, 8 games out while the White Caps are just 4.5 back of division leading Tulsa.

GAME 99
Sky Sox SP Ruben Cruz (9-8 4.20) never let us up. Going 9-8-0-0-2-6 for the CG shutout. Mark Williams (10-5) danced on a pinhead (4.2-12-4-4-1-2) all day before breaking in the 5th. Charlie Crowder went 3-3 with 2 2B’s and Vincente Soto went 2-4 to raise his avg to 359.
LA 5 CHI 0 (53-46 8 GB) +4.5 in the WC

WEEK 16 NEWS
Staten Island 1B Alejandro Villanueva took home week 16 PotW in the FL after his 12-24 3 HR 8 RBI week. It was his 2nd straight PotW award.

Michigan All Star Luis Manuel Osorio took home CL PotW honors after his 12-25 5 HR 15 RBI week! Osario is hitting 292-25-70 on the season.

Vegas is taking hold of the west, now leading by 8.5 over Michigan and Los Angeles.

Over in the FL West Sacramento leads El Paso by .5 game, Edmonton by 2.

Brooklyn has started to open up the FL East, leading NY by 6 at 56-44.

ORG NEWS
Dudley Williams returned from the DL to a 5-5 5 RBI day in a 9-2 Tulsa win.

Keith Todd took home the PL PotW award for Bakersfield this week. The 21 year old LF went 14-20 with a HR and 4 RBI’s to raise his average to 320-8-32 on the season.

Chicago dropped to 7th in this weeks IBL Power Rankings, at 97.4

[gehrig38]

WEEK 17
3 @ Houston (60-37 +8 in Central)
OFF DAY
3 vs Michigan (48-51 8.5 GB West)

GAME 100
Will Butler (7-9) gets the W even though he went 5.2-6-5-5-5-1. Squandering an early Alexander HR (27) and blowing an early 4-0 lead the offense got him off the hook. Alexander went 3-4 driving in 2, Collins and Gutierrez had 2 hit days and Feliz drove in 2. Chicago jumped on Brian Donahue (4-6 4.27) for 7 runs (4 earned) in 4.2 IP. Frank (H9) got the ball to Cruz who notched his 26th. Cy May drove in 3 with a bases clearing 2B in the 3rd.
CHI 7 HOU 5 (54-46 7 GB) +5 in the WC

LEAGUE NEWS
Buffalo Bisons MR Carlos Bello will be out of action for the next 10-11 months after tearing his UCL. Bello was 5-3 5 SV and a 4.62 in 43 appearances.

Philly OF Dave Ladd (328-23-77) will miss the next 6 weeks after suffering a broken bone in his hand today.

Greyhounds SS Thatcher Smith will miss the next 6 weeks after spraining his ankle today.

Phoenix then sent 26 year old MR Jorge Fernandez and 19 year old prospect SS Brian Milton to Dayton for 29 year old C Bryan O’Harte. On the year O’Harte hit 253-3-48 in 83 games after hitting 253-3-51 in 125 games last year. O’Harte is considered a decent backstop and is likely to take over primary catching duties in Dayton. The Dragons find themselves in 2nd place, 3 games behind the surprising Tulsa Drillers.. Fernandez had made 33 appearances with 2-0 2.31 ERA holding opposing hitters to a .183 average. Fernandez will join setupman Colton Courtney as the primary arms to closer Arthur Newton (3-1 18 SV 0.95 after a 3-6 39 SV 3.33 ’12). This will give Phoenix a deep pen heading into 2014. This deal was an easy one for Phx once Dayton tossed in blue chip prospect Brian Milton. Milton was taken by the NY Knights in the 5th round of the 2012 amateur draft, then traded to Buffalo in the Birger Kjorsvik deal last year. The 19 year old has received rave reviews offensively, though he has yet to make it happen on the field to any degree. A burner that will have his choice of positions, he was sent to SS Anaheim to get to work.

GAME 101
3 Iron Pig errors were not enough to foil Alfredo Alejandre (14-5) after he battled for 6-3-1-1-2-6. Ryan Pennington drilled Jeff Guy after Leonard Sizemore hit his 15th HR, and the benches emptied in a game that will surely ratchet up the dislike between these two clubs. Moore (H2) Pacheco (H15) Frank (H10) got the ball to Ernesto Cruz who retired the last 3 for his 27th save. Bill Alexander drilled his 28th in a 2-5 2 RBI day and Ernesto Gutierrez went 3-4 and stole 2 bases (22). Andrew Martin made his 12th error of the year and there was a closed door chat about his defense following the game. Loser Steven Garner (9-6) went 5.2-7-5-5-3-5 in the loss. A 2 game suspension on Randy Pennington was announced following the game.
CHI 5 HOU 2 (55-46 6 GB) +5.5 in the WC

LEAGUE NEWS
Riverhound OF Allen Hedden went 5-6 with 2 RBI’s in a 13-7 Pittsburgh win over LA.

GAME 102
Donald Weaver went 2-5 and drove in 3 with his 16th HR and the pen gave tired CL Ernesto Cruz the day off with 4 scoreless innings behind Jack Jackson (2-5) who went 5-2-2-2-6-2. Potts (H5) Moore (H3) van Bodegraven (H9) turned it over to Jose Pacheco who notched his first save on the season. They limited the Houston offense to 2 runs on 5 hits. Collins, Alexander, Weaver and Ferrer all had 2 hit days.
CHI 4 HOU 2 (56-46 5 GB) +5.5 in the WC

STUFF
Well a 3 game sweep will do a body good. With 6 days before the trade deadline I am receiving offers like mad, and now on the lookout for help.

CC Hooks OF Justin Ryan went 3-5 in a 14-8 loss to Baltimore yesterday to extend his hitting streak to 20 games. Ryan is hitting 315-8-27 in 146 AB’s this year.
I just received an offer I may not be able to walk away from. Knights GM Tomas Hernandez has offered 26 year old 1B/3B Tom Walker (257-7-42) a switch hitter (better from the right side) who’s an outstanding defender AND 19 year old 5 star prospect OF Luis Rodriguez. Luis was the 20th round pick of the Knights in the 2012 amateur draft. The more I think about it the more I wonder why I am in a hurry to trade Gutierrez? He’s coming off a .318/277/434 season in which he had 211 hits and 44 doubles. Plays a great OF, and can run. This would be a trade to acquire a potentially VERY good hitter, and a mediocre corner IF for a guy that IS a very good hitter already.

OFF DAY NEWS
Ernie Kelly (DAY) threw a 4 hitter at Buffalo yesterday to move to 14-5 2.85 on the season.

El Paso sent 27 yr old OF Mario Orosco to Staten Island for 27 yr old OF David Torres and 19 year old 2B Bernie Joyner. Orosco was at 287-4-47 this year and Torres (acquired by SI from LA in 2012) was at 252-13-48 in 94 games with 14 steals. Torres will move into the leadoff spot for the Diablos while Orosco will take over at 2nd (outstanding glove) and hit 2nd for SI. The prospect El Paso acquired was the Yanks first pick (8th overall) in the 2012 amateur draft and was hitting 271/405/365 in 29 games at short season Shrevport. El Paso is currently 52-51 and a game back of Sacramento in the FL west. Staten Island is 49-55, 8 games behind Brooklyn in the FL East.

San Antonio (47-55 11.5 GB FL Central) sends 30 year old 3B Derek Wilson and 22 year old SP prospect Luis Rodriguez to New Hampshire (46-55 9 GB CL East) for Fisher Cats catching prospect Bryan Barnes. Wilson is hitting .254 in very limited playing time this year and Rodriguez is 8-8 4.56 in 21 Class A starts. Barnes joins the big club after bouncing back and forth between the IBL and AAA, hitting 265 in 23 IBL games after a 321/421/526 run in 53 AAA games. Barnes hit 243-9-62 in 132 IBL games last year.

In what can only be described as the leagues first ‘blockbuster’, Houston sent 36 year old OF Carlos Arredondo (307-23-74 in 96 IBL games last year but was optioned to AAA to being the season and has been unhappy every since) to Philadelphia for former Freedom CL Jose Torres (3-4 21 SV 1.87 ’12, 0-2 2 SV 2.81 ’13 after losing the CL job) and 19 year old OF prospect Orlando Reyes. Reyes was the 19th round pick for Philly in the 2012 Amateur draft. A speed burner who can’t take a pitch, but has a swing to hit 350+ if he gets it all together. His ability to put the bat on the ball, and his legs are huge reasons he’s a 4 star projection. In what can only be AS shocking news, Houston has told Closer Michael “Headgame” Ross that he and his 38 Saves will move into a setup role for the newly acquired Torres. This potentially gives Houston a lock down pen, but only if all parties involved accept their roles. The 36 year old Ross and 34 year old Torres are saying all the right things.
Philly has been ravaged by injuries but remained on top of the CL East, Arredondo will immediately move into the 3 hole for them while Dave Ladd sits another 5 weeks on the DL.

GAME 103
Bill Flowers (8-5 4.92) worked 7 strong (7-5-3-3-2-3) and the offense pounded out 9 runs on 12 hits led by Raul Felizs’ 2-4 2 RBI day which featured his 7th HR and 4th double. Collins, Alexander and Weaver also had 2 hit days with Alexander and Weaver driving in 2 each. Alexander also scored 3 times. All that came against Michigan SP G Kelly (10-10 5.57) who went 2-9-7-7-0-1 for the loss.
CHI 9 MICH 3 (57-46 4.5 GB) +6 in the WC

LEAGUE NEWS
Houston’s Raul Gonzalez brought home win 14 with a 6 hitter versus Philly today. The righty struck out 5 and walked 1 in the 4-0 win.

Baltimore lost the services of 21 year old MR Jose Martinez for the next year after ligament reconstruction today. The young Martinez was poised to move into the back of their bullpen after his brief stint (2-0 2.70 in 10 IP)

Pittsburgh (51-53 5 GB CL East) sent 33 year old OF Kenneth Cleveland (310-24-84 ’12 and 261-9-53 ’13) to the Sacramento River Cats (54-50 +2 FL West) for 25 year old IF Roberto Morales and 24 year old minor league 1B Josh Harris. Morales went 279-15-66 in 112 games in ’12 and was hitting 228/291/353 in 73 games this year while Harris is considered more an OF’er than a 1B but is a fringe prospect at best, according to many scouts.

Fresno (48-55 11.5 GB CL West) sent 25 year old RP Cy Cannon (5-3 2 SV 3.33 in 59 games in ’12 and 4-1 1SV 3.18 in 38 games this year) to El Paso (52-52 2 GB FL West) for 21 year old minor league 1B Orlando Diaz and 20 year old prospect IF Ed Gassaway. Canon has, well, a canon, striking out 181 IBL hitters in 129.1 IP. Diaz is considered one of the Diablos top prospects as either a first or second baseman and Gassaway appears to be a guy destined to play AA or AAA.

Michigan (49-53 10 GB CL West) sent 31 year old 1B Henry Wilson (264-11-41 in 277 AB’s in ’12 and 316-13-36 in 136 AB’s in ’13) to LA (49-55 11 GB CL West) for 25 year old SP prospect Enrique Yan and 24 year old minor league C Pepe Segura. Yan had a brief cup of coffee last year (1-1 5.84 in 24.2IP and was recently recalled by LA and had made 1 appearance, but will move into the Battlecat rotation and start today (versus your Chicago Iron Pigs btw!) as SP Al Stroud and Bill Stevenson are both on the DL. Segura was one of LA’s top prospects and a kid regarded as a gold glove catcher in the near future. His bat projects nicely as a quality 6’ish’ type hitter.

GAME 104
Mark Williams (11-5) went the distance (9-5-1-1-2-5) and the Iron Pig offense gave Enrique Yan a rude 12 hit welcome to Michigan. Led by Bill Alexanders 3-5 HR (29) 2 RBI day. Eric Hudson went 2-4 2 RBI’s, and Anthony Sotolo went 2-2 with a run and 2 RBI’s.
CHI 6 MICH 1 (58-46 4.5 GB) +6 in the WC

LEAGUE NEWS
Chris O’Slattery (8-10 3.31) continued to grind through a challenging season by tossing a 2 hit 10 K shut out in LA yesterday. Chris has 173 punch outs (leading the CL) in 166 innings.


GAME 105
It took 16 innings but the Iron Pigs manage to find a way. Gutierrez led off with a single, Sotolo singled, a 1-2 WP put runners on 2nd and 3rd and Ferrer was then intentionally walked, Hugh Collins line a single for the game winner. Collins drove in 2 with a 2-6 day, Sotolo went 4-6 with a 2 doubles. Bill Alexander went 1-6 with 3RBI’s drilling his 30th HR. The entire pen showed itself today after Alejandrez couldn’t get out of the 6th (5.1-5-6-6-5-3) surrendering 3 HR’s. The pen totaled 10.2 IP, 6 hits, 12 K’s and 5 walks in the win.
CHI 7 MICH 6 (59-46 3.5 GB) +6 in the WC


WEEK 17 NEWS
Mike Davis was put on the roster, Jack Jackson was optioned to AAA Tulsa. I could be making a mistake not giving him a few rehab starts, as long as he's been out, but he assures us he's ready to roll.

Martin Cintron brought 18 year old Victor Galvez to the organizations attention, the young pitching prospect, Martin believes, has promise so we offered him a minor league deal.

Phoenix OF Leonard Burks took home FL PotW honors with a 12-24 1 HR and 4 RBI week.

Rich Stone, back off the DL, wasted no time in winning the CL PotW Award. Stone went 14-28 with 9 RBI’s and 8 runs and is now at 320-16-58 on the year.

Ralph Bradford of Denison took home Pacific League PotW honors. He went 11-24 with a HR, 8 RBI’s and 7 runs.

TOP 5 in FIP in IBL (Career)
Colton Courtney (PHO) 2.68
Ernie Kelly (DAY) 2.73
Walt Thompson (BRO) 2.93
Alex Browne (ED)3.06
Shawn Calhoun (WMI) 3.07

Chicago’s hot streak has pushed us to #2 in the power rankings at 115.1, behind the Tulsa Drillers.

LA fires 2012 Coastal League Manager of the Year….
The Sky Sox have fired manager Pedro Perez. Just 1 year after taking them to the CL West playoffs, and winning manager of the year, they fired him. LA is at 49-57 12 GB. LA’s huge market and rabid fan base were relentless in their anger over the clubs terrible season in light of huge expectations. Owner Antonio Rodriguez, who’s generally a tolerant and understanding guy, is said to be furious after being overheard “Well I can’t fire the whole damn team now can I?”.

July is coming to a close and I'll update the league in 2 days, standings and what not, but a 6-0 week, not 3.5 back of Houston and in firm control of the wild card with 57 games to go, our#2 returning as well. Could be interesting.

Lots of trade offers coming my way, not really looking actively though.

[gehrig38]

WEEK 18
Off Day
3 vs Fresno (49-56 11.5 GB West)
3 vs Las Vegas (61-45 +11 West)

Michigan (49-55 11 GB CL West) OF Fernando Rey will miss the next 5-6 weeks with a torn meniscus. Rey anchors a Battlecats lineup that is first in the CL in HR’s with 155. The 2013 All Star hit 277-31-85 in 157 games last year, and was hitting 306-21-56 in 76 games this season.

Pittsburgh (52-55 5.5 GB FL East) has traded OF Barry Meyer (271-8-56 in a combined 163 games over the past 2 seasons with a 271/357/398 line) to Edmonton (51-54 3 GB FL West) for 29 year old SP Domingo Martinez (13-12 5.75 ’12 and 5-9 5.94 ’13) and 24 year old IF prospect Alex Lopez. Lopez was Edmonton’s 2nd round pick in the 2012 amateur draft and in 151 combined games between he has hit 286-18-84 with a line of 286/386/464. Lopez looks to be a 2B/3B who won’t hit for any power but should be a high average, high OBP 1 or 2 hitter. Meyer, surprisingly, will hit leadoff for Edmonton. He’s got a bat that could carry a 330+ average but has no speed what so ever. He does not strike out and has a decent eye.

The Rookie League All Star Rosters have been announced
Omaha sent the following players: SP Bruce O’Keefe 2-1 3.24, MR Manuel Gallardo 3-0 2.45, C Jim Ford 276/423/461, 1B Vic Arellano 305/438/661, 2B Anastasio Ayala 366/453/620,

GAME 106
Down 6-2 Chicago scores 4 in the 7th and 2 in the 8th to win it. Bill Alexanders 3-5 with a double (14) and HR (31) and 5 RBI’s paced Chicago’s 11 hit attack. Morgan, Feliz and Ferrer had 2 hits apiece. Will Butler left after 6 (6-10-4-4-1-4) and after Craig Frank gave up 2 on 3 hits the pen put up zeroes with Ryan Pennington (2-2) getting the W and Ernesto Cruz nailing down his 28th save.
CHI 8 FRE 6 (60-46 4 GB) +6 in the WC

GAME 107
Up against Ace and All Star Santiago Medina (11-8 2.65, 141 K’s in 166 IP) Mike Davis makes his return.
Well Davis is a no show for the pitchers duel, going 4.1-4-3-3-6-4. I am thinking rehab would have been the right move, I won’t make that mistake again. But the offense manages to get to Medina 7.2-11-4-4-3-8 (11-9 2.74) led by Don Weavers 3-4 day. Bill Alexander continues to heat up with a 2-4 day hitting his 32nd HR, Sotolo drives in 2 and Felix has 2 hits and scores twice with his 3rd SB. The pen once again (now 1st in the league in ERA BTW) picks it up going 4.2 IP yielding 2 hits with 5 K’s, Pacheco (3-4) wins and Cruz notches his 29th save.
CHI 4 FRE 3 (61-46 3 GB) +7 in the WC

JULY NEWS AND NOTES
Alejandro Villanueva (SI) took home 2 PotW awards this month and now he can add the PotM award to the pile. The 1B hit 360-12-28 while scoring 26 runs in July.

All Star Catcher Dean Strong (COL) took home the Coastal League PotM Award after a 347-6-22 month while also scoring 20 runs. For the year Strong is hitting 283-21-70.

Esteban Valdez, the 27 year old Tulsa Driller right hander, went 4-0 0-92 in July to take home the Frontier League Pitcher of the Month Award. For the year Valdez is 12-6 3.70.

All Star Closer Anbar Suhayb if the Las Vegas 51’s took home the Coastal League’s Pitcher of the month award after a 1-0 9 Save monthin which he went 10.2 IP and had a 0.00 ERA. Suhayb has 27 Saves and a 0.40 ERA for the season.

Sacramento River Cats rookie Jason White won the FL Rookie of the Month for July. He hit 342-4-13 with a 411 OBP.

Michigan CF Walt Bell won the CL Rookie of the Month award after a 362-5-12 month for the Battlecats.

JULY ORG NEWS
Tulsa right Carlos De La Torre won United League Pitcher of the Month for July after going 5-0 2.72. In 43 IP he k’d 39 and held opponents to a .231 avg.

[gehrig38]

Here's a peek at the Frontier League, today, versus 2 months ago, June 1. So about 50+ games, and then 100+ games later.
Brooklyn goes 27-26 and loses 2.5 games on their lead with NY going 29-23. Staten Island is crazy hot going 34-18, picking up 7.5 games.
San Antonio falls off the cliff, going 18-34 to move from 2.5 up to 12.5 out! Tulsa makes them pay with a 33-19 run. Dayton stays in the mix going 29-24 but losing 2 games in the race. The White Caps go 26-25 to get into the WC race.
El Paso came back to earth by going 19-32 which allowed 2 teams not playing well to not just stay in it, but move ahead as Sacramento has gone 25-28 and Edmonton 24-30.
The WC has Dayton still st the top, and some room between them and the group.
Villanueva's 12 July HR's vaulted him ahead of Conway who was out for awhile.
Bill Hill has hit 16 HR's and driven in 47 in the past 2 months to move into the mix in both categories.
Walt Thompson has gone 8-3 in the past 2 months to enter into the W's race.
Walt is also about a lock to win his 2nd K crown in 2 years.
Seems Thompson and Calhoun feel the need to manhandle the K's and ERA category, and will likely be battling for the Koufax award again this year. Ernie Kelly has straightened himself and enters into the mix again as well.

[gehrig38]

The same look at the CL shows Philly on fire, going 31-21 to go from 2.5 back to 3.5 up over a very hot Railcats club. Baltimore went 30-22 in the same stretch to enter into the conversation. New Hampshire went 19-33 and plummeted from 1.5 up to the bottom of the division.
Houston's 27-27 run means after a 25-2 April they've gone 39-41 since. Allowing us to pickup 10 games by going 49-31 since.
Vegas has been as good as anyone going 34-17 in the past 51, and from 1.5 back to a dominating 11 up on Michigan. Michigan's 21-29 has cost them 12.5 games to Vegas in that run. LA's 23-30 has pushed them out of it as well. Fresno has made some deals and actually had a great run at 31-22.
In the races, were it not for an injury last year I'm guessing Soto would be working towards his 2nd batting title.
My own Bill Alexander is hot right now, and that's helped him get back in charge of the HR race, moving RBI title discussions, and peek his head in the Avg race, and locally stir up far too many Triple Crown articles. I need the focus on W's.
Funny to see no change in the top 3 win names, just an order shuffle. And I am still baffled at the move in Houston, with Ross going into a setup role after an insane start to the season. Very nice to see our own Ernesto Cruz enter into the save race. Same 3 guys punching people out too. O'Slattery's used 7 10K+ games to take a strangle hold on that one.

[gehrig38]

WEEK 18 Con’t

GAME 108
Bill Flowers (8-6) was pounded going 4.1-8-6-6-3-3. Potts and vaN Bodegraven had to fall on the sword to get the pen some rest. Joe Rowe went 4-5 2 RBI’s, and hit one of three Fresno HR’s (Rich Stone, Orlando Rios the others) in a 12-5 beating. Hugh Collins went 3-5 4 RBI’s hitting #17 and Dan Weaver went 2-2 in the loss.
FRE 12 CHI 5 (61-47 3.5 GB) +6 in the WC

ORG NEWS
The short season all star teams were announced and Heavener sent the following players: SP Mike Ablett (2-1 2.54) SP Anthony Tate (2-1 2.20) 3B Michael Miller (243/384/423) and RF Mark Hill (277/366/446)

GAME 109
Mark Williams (12-5 4.23) continued to mature in a 6-7-4-4-2-2 outing. A tiring pen, that desperately needs a SP to step up and throw a CG, held the fort over the final 3 yielding 3 hits, 3 K’s. Pacheco (H16) Moore (H4) Pennington (H16) to Cruz for Save 30. Wes Morgan and Dan Weaver had 3-4 2 RBI days with Weaver hitting his 17th homer and Morgan doubling twice.
CHI 5 LV 4 (62-47 2.5 GB)

LEAGUE NEWS
Justin Ryan (CC) had his 21 game hitting streak snapped today vs New Hampshire.

Michigan (50-58 12 GB CL West) added yet another name to their DL today, the 7th. All Star slugger Luis Manuel Rosario (283-28-76) went down with a broken foot and will be sidelined for the next month.

Baltimore (56-53 1.5 GB CL East) lost OF Ben Wellman for the remainder of the 2013 season with a broken arm. Wellman (287-17-49) was an integral part of the Railcats surge this year and they’ll need a ton of guys to step up as their DL continues to fill.

GAME 110
A leaky pen and bad D gave J Murdock (11-5 4.45) his 11th win. Alejandrez (14-6) battled through a 6.1-7-4-3-2-5 outing and Ryan Pennington and Riley Potts gave up 5 over the final 2.2 IP in the 9-3 loss. Raul Feliz (8) and Hugh Collins (18) homered in the loss.
LV 9 CHI 3 (2.5 GB) +5 in the WC

GAME 111
Up against Ace Matthieu Cafasso (10-4 3.87).
Cafasso (11-4 3.84) wasn’t his best, but he battled. 8-11-3-3-1-5 and a hand off to All Star Closer A Suhayb (SV 29). Will Butler (7-10 4.78) went 8.2-9-4-4-2-2 pitched his butt off. Bill Alexander went 3-5 with a HR (33) and 2 RBI’s and Raul Feliz went 2-5 in the loss.
LV 4 CHI 3 (62-49 3.5 GB) +5 in the WC

WEEK 18 NEWS AND NOTES
Staten Island 1B Rick Williams took home FL PotW honors after going 12-28 1HR and 5 RBI’s.

Pittsburgh All Star Ross Tunstall took home the CL PotW award going 11-22 with 4 HR’s and 8 RBI’s.

ORG NOTES
Bakersfield OF Todd Keith won the Primal Leagues PotW award after a 12-24 1 HR 6 RBI week. Todd’s great 2013 campaign continues as he’s hitting 340-9-41 in 247 AB’s.

Belleview’s Phil Taylor took home the Midwest league honor this week. Taylor went 11-25 with 3 HR’s and 5 RBI’s. On the year he’s hitting 270-11-41 in 241 AB’s.

Chicago is 4th in the power rankings this week at 102.5

[gehrig38]

WEEK 19
3 vs Pittsburgh
Off Day
3 @ Baltimore


GAME 112
Mike Davis (2-3) gets into the 7th 6.1-5-2-2-3-4 and Frank (H11) gets to Cruz who gets the final 4 outs for save #31. Don Weaver goes 1-3 with a HR (18) and 3 RBI’s and Bill Alexander is 1-1 with 3 walks and his 34th HR of the year. Chicago scratches out 5 runs on 5 hits and 9 walks.
CHI 5 PIT 2 (63-49 3 GB) +6 in the WC

ORG NEWS
Siu-chng Chiang of Belleview threw a 1 hit SHO vs the Garland Artillery yesterday. Chiang (the 160th pick in the 2012 inaugural draft) is a 23 year old SP coming off a 10-5 3.58 season in Belleview last year, and is 9-8 5.47 this season.

Cody Young will miss the next 4 months with a broken ankle. The Belleview OF has had trouble staying healthy, but hits when he does. The 22 year old has compiled a 275/355/520 line over 192 games in the past 2 seasons with 52 doubles, 34 HR’s and 119 RBI’s.

LEAGUE NEWS
HOLY CRAP! Michigan, for whatever reason, was trying to pass Drew Leduc through waivers. My claim was denied but damn, this kid is a 27 year old bat, huge bat. He is a DH, and DH only, who can’t run, but he’s a triple crown threat from the right side. I turned around and asked them what it would take and they’re willing to swap 1st rounders AND take Bill Flowers off my hands. I can’t fathom this kid will clear, but we’ll try.

GAME 113
Flowers can’t get out of the 5th but van Bodegraven gets out of a bases loaded 0 out mess to keep it close. Down 3-2 in the 7th we manage 4 runs and Pacheco (4-4) and Pennington (H17) get it to Ernesto for the last 4 outs for save 32. Hugh Collins hits a leadoff HR in the 1st (19) and Raul Feliz drives in 2.
CHI 6 PIT 4 (64-49 2GB) +6 in the WC

STUFF
Well here we are. 2 games is 48 hours, 48 hours from 1st place. I certainly didn’t expect to be seriously in a race this fast, but I really do have a good squad. Only Morgan and Alexander are even NEAR their peaks, and we’ve managed it without our best bat honestly, or best potential bat, in Chartier (who’s 2 weeks out btw after missing pretty much the entire season). We’re 4th in runs, 5th in avg, 7th in OBP, 6th in HR’s and SB’s, 3rd in runs against, 3rd in starters ERA, 1st in bullpen ERA and 9th in def eff. The D worries me and needs to be addressed, but the rotation has surprised the hell out of me so far this year. Collins and Barbour are both HUGE ceiling guys and Weavers HUGE increase in power last winter could be a game changer, especially when Chartier returns. The hunt for a solid young up the middle combo is half over when Chartier returns, and I’ll keep working on the other half. Williams and Butler are viable rotation guys, but bottom end would mean I am deep, right now I am relying on them too much. Davis is an enigma, scouts had a huge swing in opinion him coming into this season versus where he was, and he’s pitched like crap. Last 7 weeks are going to be interesting.

MINOR LEAGUES
Modesto Black Snakes SS Alfonso Elfas became the 1st player in IBL history, at ANY level, to record 7 hits in a game. The 25 year old went 7-8 in a 7-6 15 inning loss to the Ford Tourists. Elfas isn’t considered a serious prospect, given he’s 25 and still in A ball, but a great day none the less.

GAME 114
Mike Williams goes 6-7-5-5-2-3 in a game we blew a 4-0 lead after 3. Bill Alexanders 2-4 day included a Grand Slam (35) and 4 RBI’s. Feliz and Barbour added 2 hit days, with Feliz stealing his 4th and Collins his 16th in the loss. We managed to tie it back up by Eric Hudsons error allowed 2 unearned runs to score off Riley Potts (2-2).
PT 8 CHI 6 (64-50 3 GB) +6 in the WC

TRADE NEWS
Dayton and Fresno made a waiver trade today. Dayton sent 18 year old catching prospect Arturo Lopez to Fresno and received SP Thomas Savary (1-7 8.14 in 9 starts, 4-8 6.04 in ’12). Savary is a 28 year old who’s bounced around the past 2 seasons between AAA and the IBL. Savary will move into the Dragons rotation. Dayton is currently 61-52 and 3.5 back of Tulsa in the FL Central.

OFF DAY NEWS


GAME 115 (Baltimore is the team 2nd in the WC, 6 games back of us)
A Jon Davis grand slam (7) in a 6 run 1st is bad, but Alfredo Alejandrez (14-7) ‘settled down’ and prevented a drubbing of an overworked pen by going 6-7-7-7-5-2. The pen held Baltimore to 3 hits over the final 2, and scoreless, and we managed to get it to 7-5 thanks to two 2 run homers, Gutierrez (6) and Morgan (14), but that was all we could muster. Ferrer, Hudson and Gutierrez had 2 hit days. Lando Jongmans went 3-5 and drove in 2 for Baltimore.
BAL 7 CHI 5 (64-51 3.5 GB) +5 in the WC

GAME 116
Walks and unearned runs. Will Butler (7-11) walked 6 over 6.2 innings (6.2-5-4-3-6-2) and Ernesto Gutierrez’s 5th error was the margin for Baltimore. Chicago managed only 7 singles (2 by Alexander and Feliz) in a 4-3 loss.
BAL 4 CHI 3 (64-52 4.5 GB) +4 in the WC

LEAGUE NEWS
Tulsa OF Arturo Olivo has responded to his new team (297/354/429 since coming from Houston) and today he put a stamp on the trade by going 5-6 with 3 RBI’s in a 12-10 Tulsa win over Dayton. Tulsa is currently 67-50 and 3.5 up on Dayton in the FL Central.

The Houston Roughriders will be without the services of All Star slugger Millard O’Reilly for the next 4 weeks. The 28 year old 3B (292-22-80) jammed his shoulder today and will miss the next month recovering.

GAME 117
Going up against Baltimore ace Chris O’Slattery again (9-10 3.16 190K’s 27 BB in 182 IP).
The game was hitless into the 4th, and O’Slattery held us hitless into the 7th. 3 straight singles plated the 1st run and a passed ball and another hit made it 3-0. Those were all the hits and runs Davis (2-4) would allow, but it was enough. O’Slattery (10-10) went 8-3-2-2-1-7, his only blemish Don Weaver’s 19th HR, a 2 run shot, in the 8th. C Quinn came in to garner his 30th save.
BAL 3 CHI 2 (64-53 3.5 GB) +3 in the WC (swept… dammit)

WEEK 19 NEWS AND NOTES
Rich Stone (FRE) will miss the next 3 weeks with a strained ab. Stone, the 2012 CL Batting champ is currently hitting 323-19-71 for a 56-61 Fresno team that is 11.5 back of Las Vegas.

Hooks SP Cecil Watts moved to 14-7 3.11 on the year after his 4 hit shutout of Fresno yesterday. He walked none and punched out 9.

New York Knights All Star Mathew Moore won his 3rd PotW award in 5 weeks today after his 13-23 2 HR 5 RBI week. The 33 year old was 2nd in the FL in walks in 2012 with 135.

All Star Dean Strong continued his torrid 2013 with another PotW win. Strong was 10-22 with 5 HR’s and 16 RBI’s.

Phoenix Greyhound closer Arthur Newton has pitched in 42 games, with 22 saves and a 3-1 record to go with his 0.89 ERA. All of those numbers are amazing, but the best one is 0.00, his home ERA. To date he’s pitched 30 innings in 26 games at home, and has yet to give up a run.


ORG NEWS
Belleview 2B Jorge Sanchez went 5-5 with 4 RBI’s in a 12-5 win over the Oakland Terror.

Chicago drops to 12th in the Power Rankings, at 90.5

OFF DAY NEWS
Corpus Christi Hooks 1B Francisco Hernandez (266-11-69) went 5-6 with 2 RBI’s in a 10-9 win over Michigan today.

[gehrig38]

WEEK 20
OFF DAY
3 vs Philadelphia (63-55 +1 CL East)
3 vs Los Angeles (59-61 10.5 GB CL West)

STUFF
Bill Alexander is now tied with Vincente Soto for the CL batting lead, up 6 on Bob Herman (MICH) in HR’s and 6 behind Jorge Garza (LA) In RBI’s. He’s riding an 18 game hitting streak right now that’s raised his average from .317 to .340 going 32-75 (.427) with 9 HR’s and 28 RBI’s.

Ernie Kelly (DAY) is 6-0 in his last 9 starts dropping his ERA from 3.16 to 2.82 to move his record to a IBL best 16 wins and 5 losses. Walt Thompson is second in the IBL at 15 wins.

O’Slattery (197) and Thompson (192) are lapping the field in K’s.

Dayton has closed to within 2.5 of Tulsa in the past 2 weeks.

All 4 teams in the FL West are now below .500 with El Paso leading at 59-60. They’ve gone 7-4, Sacramento has gone 3-8, Edmonton 4-6. The Diablos lead the River Cats by 1.5.

The wild card is Dayton by 3 over NY, 3.5 over West Michigan.

In the CL Baltimore has closed on Philly, going 8-3 while the Freedom are 5-5 in that stretch to make it a 1 game difference. Pittsburgh is still 5.5 back.
Houston has gone 4-6 but we are 3-7 over the same period.

Vegas is 10.5 up and I think poised to lock this one up early this year.

We are 2.5 up on Baltimore in the WC, LA is 6.5 and Pittsburgh 7 back.

ORG STUFF
Tulsa is 65-57 4 GB
Bakersfield is 61-61 2 GB
Denison is 55-67 16 GB
Belleview is 71-51 +9
Heavener is 21-23 +2
Omaha is 25-19 3 GB

GAME 118
Flowers struggles again (4.2-5-3-3-6-6) but the pen goes 4.1 IP giving up 2 hits, 4 K’s and Frank (3-1) wins, van Bodegraven (H10) holds and Cruz (33) saves. Bill Alexander hits his 36th HR in the 1st, Hugh Collins hits #20 in a 2-4 2 run day, and Ian Ferrer hits his 2nd. Philly starter R Rosales (3-5 5.79) throws a CG in the loss going 8-6-4-4-1-6.
CHI 4 PHI 3 (65-53 4 GB) +3.5 in the WC

LEAGUE NEWS
LA’s Vincente Soto is hurt again! The CL batting leader lost out on a title last year due to failing to qualify. He’s got enough to qualify this year but won’t be getting any AB’s this week after diving for a ball and hurting his elbow.

Phoenix Greyhound OF Luis Rios went 5-5 in an 8-7 win over Tulsa yesterday. The 33 year old Rios is coming off a monster 2012 (285-37-111) and is on pace for another good season (259-22-66).

Teammate Leonard Burks went 1-4 yesterday to extend his hitting streak to 20 games. Burks is currently hitting 299-8-62.


GAME 119
Alejandrez (15-7 3.79) outpitches Philly SP Dan Hill (11-10 5.63) going 6-5-2-2-3-6. Pennington (H18) Pacheco (H17) get the ball to Cruz who saves his 34th. Chicago has just 1 RBI (Hudson) on 7 hits. Ferrer has 2-4 day.
CHI 4 PHI 2 (66-53 3 GB) +4.5 in the WC

GAME 120
Mark Williams (13-5) battles for 6-6-4-4-5-3 and the pen holds on by it’s fingernails. Cruz get his 35th save in a 3 run 9th, striking out Dan Land with the tying run on 3rd and 2 outs. Bill Alexander goes 3-4 with 3 RBI’s hitting his 37th HR (and getting RBI 100), Hugh Collins goes 2-5, scores twice and drives in 3 with his 21st HR and Raul Feliz goes 2-3 with his 10th HR, and steals his 7th base.
CHI 8 PHI 7 (67-53 3 GB) +5 in the WC

GAME 121
CL ERA leader Tommy Hobbs gets the ball in this game (10-9 2.80)
Hobbs gets LA into the 7th with a 4-2 lead and things appear to be going as planned (for LA), until the 9th. Leading 4-2 CL Julio Gonzalez k’s Alejandro Sotolo, then walks PH Bob Barbour. Hugh Collins follows with a 410 foot 2 run game tying bomb (22). Eric Hudson then reaches when 3B Eric Jackson kicks the ball. This sets up Bill Alexanders walk off HR on an 0-1 pitch (38) for a 6-4 win. Collins went 3-4 with 2 runs and 2 RBI’s, Raul Feliz doubled twice.
CHI 6 LA 4 (68-53 3 GB) +6 in the WC

NY Knights (61-61 4.5 GB) slugger Mathew Moore (341-28-98) is going to have to play through some pain over the next 2 weeks as he’s DtD with a sore shoulder.

Greyhound OF Leonard Burks had his 21 game hitting streak halted today.

West Michigan White Caps (63-58 4.5 GB FL Central) OF Roger Goodman (272-21-65) will miss at least the next 5 weeks after breaking his hamate bone today.

GAME 122
Mike Davis circa 2012 showed up today. Davis moved to 3-4 with a 4 hit shutout going 9-4-0-0-3-7. Wes Morgan (15) and Hugh Collins (23) homered. Collins drove in 3 and Bill Alexander went 3-4 to move into 1st for the Coastal League batting race, Ian Ferrer went 2-2 with 2 runs and an RBI. The shutout came at the expense of Nick Johnston (10-11 5.12) who went 3.1-7-6-6-2-2 for the loss.
CHI 8 LA 0 (69-53 3 GB) +6 in the WC

LEAGUE NEWS
New Hampshire Fisher Cats 20 year old MR Andrew Tuttle will miss the next 4 months after having surgery to clean out his shoulder. The 20 year old was 5-5 with 2 saves and a 1.96 ERA in 59 games this year after a 2012 campaign that saw him go 2-2 5.31 in 53 games. The future Closer is expected to make a full recovery.

GAME 123
Down 5-4 with an out in the 9th Hugh Collins singled, then stole second and took third on a throwing error by catcher B Newell. Ernesto Gutierrez hit a sac fly to tie it. Wes Morgan then led off the bottom of the 10th with his 16th HR for a Chicago win. Collins was 3-5 with a 3 run triple in the 2nd. Morgan ended the day 2-5 with a run and an RBI. Sib van Bodegraven (2-1) picked up the win in relief.
CHI 6 LA 5 (70-53 2 GB) +7 in the WC

WEEK 20 NEWS AND NOTES
Roughrider OF and 2012 CL MVP Cy May will miss the next week with a sore knee. May is currently hitting 275-19-58.

Luis Rios (PHX) took home FL PotW honors after his 13-26 week that featured 3 HR’s and 7 RBI’s.

Columbus All Star Dean Strong took home his 3rd PotW in the past 5 weeks today. Strong went 12-23 with 5 HR’s and 9 RBI’s and now sits at 305-31-96.

ORG NEWS
Bakersfield SS Tony Sanchez won the Primal League PotW award after he went 10-15 with 7 RBI’s. Sanchez is hitting 316-7-41 in 190 AB’s this year.

Belleview 2B Jorge Sanchez won the Midwest League PotW with his 10-18 2 HR 8 RBI week.

We rocketed back up to #2 in the power rankings at 110.4, Vegas is #1