2058.3 Iowa Ionizer

[joshd19]

Not all is looking well in Iowa, but let's keep our chins up. Though the team's opening week 1-5 record was outwardly cause for some concern, we have to keep strength of schedule in mind. After sweeping the Kernels in the opening weekend set, Omaha has continued to hold on to 1st place in the Heartland. The Kernels faced the defending champ Bluebirds in the back half of the week, taking one game and losing the other two by just one run in both instances. That is an impressive showing against the absolutely stacked Bluebirds. Results were improved for the second week of the season with two series wins over Yellow Springs and the Twin Cities.

Pitching needs to shape up as it trails the Frick League in nearly every stat category. This is skewed by particularly poor first-week showings from several starters, one of whom has since been spelled by a strong-looking Adam Barber. Barber, coming off a spring elbow injury, threw six one-run innings against the admittedly weakened Yellow Springs 9. Rookie SP Alonso Amaya choked in his major league debut against Omaha but bounced back against the 9, allowing one run over 7.2 IP before stalwart reliever Arnold Richmond, promoted on a trial basis to setup man, jumped in for the save. Richmond shined again against the Twin Cities, teaming with Garth Dobbs to throw three scoreless and secure the W in a nailbiter. Dobbs and Richmond are each sporting fetchingly low ERAs at this point.

Still, these outings are perhaps the only bright spots in what should have been at least a middling pitching staff on paper. Even ace-material Tommy Akers has struggled, following up a strong showing to get the W against Nashville with an embarrassing 2.2-inning, 5-run shellacking at the hands of the Twin Cities.

Though the stars of the Kernels' lineup look slightly diminished so far compared to last season, the order is proving clutch so far. The Kernals lead the Frick League in runs scored without a top-3 appearance in any other offensive category, indicating to this reporter that the hits are simply coming when they need to. Still, mid-.700s OPSs from LF Hashim Makin and 3B Felix Parreno will need to improve if this team is to have a shot at the postseason this year. Though Parreno could blame his increased time at 3B for his offensive mediocrity, Makin has no such excuse. The reality is that CF Hector Cano, Jr. may tire of carrying this team on his shoulders, though these shoulders are indeed broad, meaty, and worth a .988 OPS so far (also diminished from his MVP-caliber 1.047 last year, but who's counting?).

The rest of the lineup is graciously contributing, though it will still be the heart of the Kernels' order that needs to drive the ship. Sonny Bigalow is settling in nicely to his full-time role in RF, though if Jeremy Pickens continues to sink like a rock at 2B, then Bigalow might find himself splitting his time once again. New arrival Wilson Alomar is mashing, buttressed by strong pinch hitting appearances from platoon duo Yo Miyamoto and Pepe Madrid as well as IF Jeremy Webb, the latter of whom was not expected to contribute offensively but is certainly welcome to do so. Glove-first SS Elvan Masûkî has held his own at the plate, though nobody expects him to keep up there. C Andy Elmer, a late breaking re-signing, will need to do more than just walk, though his defensive contributions are welcome.

The Kernels bid a melancholy adieu to C Juan Molina and RF Chris Cota, both claimed off waivers this week. Both players should be a nice addition to any team's bench, and the Ionizer questions our GM's lack of foresight in letting them go via waivers without, according to league whispers, offering either for trade. The new GM has been totally inactive on the trading front thus far, preferring to concentrate on free agency, but BBA success demands a shrewd approach to interleague negotiations.

[Krathan]

whom was not expected to contribute offensively but is certainly welcome to do so.

I appreciate the way you put this.