The Brewster

The month of May was a true shit sandwich for the Des Moines Kernels. There was tasty bread on both sides but thick doo-doo making up the middle.

The Cornmen starting the month off 4-3 and ended on a 4 game winning streak, but that couldn’t make up for the 10-game losing streak that tool them out of the upper half of the standings.

Alas, it looks like the Kernel are regressing back to where the projections had put them. After briefly leading the BBA in home runs, the team OPS has dropped to .727 which is good enough to be last in the Heartland. It wouldn’t be last in any other division and in fact, would be respectable in some, but unfortunately for Des Moines, the Heartland is Elite.

Fortunately, the pitching stinks too. FIP and ERA area a division worst 4.68 and 4.81. Unlike last season where the bullpen could be accused of dragging the starters down, this year it is clearly the fault of everybody. But two standout as the ones crapping the bed,SP Timmy Karnes and Closer Jose Castro. Both haven’t benefitting from average fielding, but even after taking that out of the equation, their ERAs are still above 4 and 5.

Of greater concern, is the regression of SP Pedro Tanon. Originally projected to be an elite starter, rating 70 out of 80, Tanon now looks like he’ll be at best a back end starter (projected overall of 45 now). One of Tanon’s weaknesses is a lack of a third and fourth pitch. He induces a lot of groundballs with his fastball and curveball combo, but he could really use a change up to induce more strikeouts. Right now, he’s been a solid starter for Des Moines, but unless he figures out how to get more batters to strike out, its unlikely he’ll command a front end starter role or salary.

The Kernels do have something to look forward to. SP Greg Palmer has made his way back to the squad after a lengthy stay on the IR, followed by a rehab assignment with El Paso. Rumor has it, he almost stayed in El Paso for the Tex Mex alone, but decided that Lone Star beer was kinda horrible and he’d be better off hopping on the plane north to Iowa. Palmer is expected to start back in the Pen until a suitable slot opens up in the rotation. Could Karnes be pulled out? Time will tell.

Was expecting Tanon might wind up better as a upper-range reliever.

Good to see Palmer making his way back.

if palmer is hoping for better beer in Iowa, he is out of luck...

So Tanon. You do realize that he only has 2 pitches right? He can’t be a starter...

Good luck, I know what it’s like with withering and ageing starters lol