KT 62.41 - Keeping up with the Collinses (a glimpse at the DM pitching at the start of the 2nd half of the '62 season)

[JRamirez]

I mean, rly. How does he do it?
--I've heard he pays his daughter to write articles.

That's a joke. Anyway, back at the Kum & Go, Des Moines heats up for a long summer homestand against Portland, San Fernando, Vancouver, and Long Beach. This will be followed by four games at Yellow Springs, and then the schedule turns to August. The Kernels hope to capitalize on this 16-game homestand. For instance, by selling more popcorn than ever. We've even accumulated some dentists' testimony as to the healthy effects of popcorn. You probably won't see an ADA stamp on that.

The Kernels will start the "second half of the season," aka the post-ASG-break season, the remaining 72 games, with the top of its rotation:

1. G Dobbs
2. A Cantrell - could be his last season here, executed his TO for this season
3. S Clayton
4. T Akers
5. A Amaya

[Team page link]

The starters ERA is now 4.33, which is 8th in the FL, just about right for a potential playoff team. And that is a big difference from the ERA after a month of the season. The bullpen is currently at a 4.21 ERA (10th), which is also an improving trend. The pen has settled to:

1. rhp S Everard (STP) (2.87, 10 saves) -- no more goat award this season
2. lhp A Gonzalez (SET8+/CL) (0.66, 8 saves) -- acquired from Charm City
3. rhp E Sutphin (SET7+) (5.14 ERA but it was 1.74 in June and it was 12.10 in mid-May)
4. rhp H Phillips (MR) (5/6/6)
5. rhp K Haworth (MR) (6/5/7)
6. lhp M Mendoza (MR) (6/5/5)
7. rhp S Lufti (LR) (7/6/4) with a 9/6/5 POT

Youngsters Pedro Soto and Max MacNair are at El Paso trying to iron some things out.

That's the "fiercesome" pitching staff that Des Moines expects to use in July.

[RonCo]

If my daughter wrote the articles, you'd know. She doesn't make typos.