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The Sim: 3-3 (0-3 @ Long Beach, 3-0 @ Hawaii) Two 1-run losses stings but a .500 road sim while we work out the kinks is just fine at this point.
The Good: CF Hector Cano Jr. is on fire right now. He hit .353 this week after a .333 last week. He's only played 19 games so far but is currently pacing his best WAR season of his career. With Haney gone, he has really taken the mantle as the teams best player.
With the offense and defense struggling, the Kernel's added 3B Roberto Rivera. The 32-year-old makes his return to Des Moines after he was acquired at the deadline in 2053. He's been a steaky hitter throughout his career case in point, he hit .259/.816 in 2055 and just .202/.649 the season prior. However I think with the talent around him in the lineup he will do just fine. He will be the regular starter at 3B for the remainder of the season, which allows depth chart flexibility from incumbent 3B Felix Parreno, who can switch between 1B-2B-3B at a decent defensive efficiency.
The Bad: I'm a bit concerned about RP Susila Kartosuwiryo. The swingman started last season in the rotation but after moving to the pen, he became arguably our best RP. His morale is very good at the moment but he expects to be in the rotation and his performance has been lousy. Maybe it's the opposite this year and he will struggle in the pen but succeed in the rotation.
Did I mention my production at catcher? Although we plan to go defense first at that position, the platoon from Tsafento and Hall is currently producing a -1.0 WAR. With each at -0.5 WAR, they are the two worst performing players on the team.
The Ugly: With financial constraints, the Kernels had to let a few solid hitters depart in Free-Agency. Aaron Haney, Larry Barkin and Barney Miller, being the "main guys." Outside of Rule 5 utility player Dan Emerson, who has cooled off a bit but still hitting .279/.777, the "replacements" have been terrible. These are the other "new guys" who, while don't get the regular reps Haney/Barkin/Barney got, they were the only other hitters brought in"
Batting Average of the "new guys"
CF Kosho Kondo - .091
IF Will Lee - .077
C Loren Hall - .048
Don't get me wrong, they all provide defense and none were expected to light the world on fire, but I got to be able to get more than sub .100 averages from them.
The Minors: Had a rough week in Triple-A, as the El Paso Borderhounds dropped to .500, while AA and A are still putting up solid records.
#13 BBA Prospect, SP Dave Lachance got some run in Spring Training and six innings thus far for Des Moines, will be sent down to Triple-A. He was Rule 5 eligible and forced to the 40-man this off-season, and was mainly pitching mop-up in the show. He will actually make his AAA debut this next week after skipping that level entirely due to the roster situation.