2034 Des Moines Kernels Preview

[Joshua Biddle]

2034 Des Moines Kernels Season Preview

The Des Moines Kernels are coming off of a 72-90 (.444) performance during the 2033 season, finishing 6th place of 7 teams. For their starting lineup, the main addition is left fielder Jack Bullock, who makes the jump from an all-star season in Class-AA, where he hit .291/.364/.576 with 77 runs scored, 27 home runs, and 77 RBIs. Bullock is expected to initially start in left field versus left-handed pitchers in a platoon with left fielder Howard Parrish. Below are the expected starters for Des Moines by position:

Catcher - Cisco Arreola (7/8/10/8/8 ratings; 7 catcher rating; 8/6 catcher arm/ability)
First baseman - William Moreland (8/7/10/6/6 ratings; 5 first base rating; 2/5/6/2 infield range/errors/arm/turnDP ratings)
Second baseman - William S. Hardy (6/5/3/7/6 ratings; 11 second base rating; 10/9/8/8 infield range/errors/arm/turnDP ratings)
Third baseman - Ernesto Chavez (5/6/4/6/8 ratings; 9 third base rating; 7/8/9/11 infield range/errors/arm/turnDP ratings)
Shortstop - Dong-soo Chon (5/6/7/8/4 ratings; 9 shortstop rating; 9/10/10/8 infield range/errors/arm/turnDP ratings)
Left fielder - Howard Parrish (5/6/5/4/8 ratings; 10 left field rating; 8/7/9 outfield range/error/arm ratings) / Jack Bullock (6/7/6/5/5 ratings; 5 left field rating; 4/6/10 outfield range/error/arm ratings)
Center fielder - Julio Gonzales (5/6/4/4/7 ratings; 9 center field rating; 9/11/6 outfield range/error/arm ratings)
Right fielder - Hector Cantu (7/5/5/5/6 ratings; 9 right field rating; 7/8/11 outfield range/error/arm ratings)
Designated Hitter - Dani Lopez (8/6/7/5/7 ratings)

Arreola, 31, is a reliable hitting backstop who also possesses a good arm. Moreland is a surefire star who had a down year – if you can consider 39 home runs, 93 RBIs, and a .280 average a “down” year. DH Lopez also posted a solid 2033 performance at the plate and can produce. There are question marks through the remaining of the lineup in terms of offensive production; defensively, the team should rank among the best. The team appears to be built with a defensive-minded mentality, with hopes the pitchers can benefit from strong defensive support and the big three can produce offensively. SS Chon shows some upside offensively with above average power and a very good eye; he’s hoping to improve upon a 2033 campaign where he showed significant power and on-base potential, but a poor batting average (.201/.336/.403, 28 home runs, 69 RBI). The remainder of the lineup shows league average at-best potential, so the hope for players like Hardy and Chavez is their defense can compensate to the tune of a positive WAR and some victories in tight, low scoring games.

Rotation

LHP Don Bird (7/6/5 ratings; 8 stamina; 8/7/9 fastball/slider/changeup ratings)
RHP Ramon Hernandez (9/7/5 ratings; 6 stamina; 9/1/8/7 fastball/changeup/cutter/forkball ratings)
RHP Patrick Patchett (6/7/8 ratings; 8 stamina; 7/8/6 curveball/changeup/cutter ratings)
RHP Julio Negrete (7/6/8 ratings; 10 stamina; 6/7/8/7 fastball/curveball/changeup/forkball ratings)
RHP Andre Jacobs (7/6/8 ratings; 5 stamina; 4/6/8/8 slider/curveball/changeup/cutter ratings)

Bird (8-7, 4.20 ERA, 4.17 FIP in 2033), Hernandez (14-9, 4.51 ERA, 4.90 FIP), and Negrete (12-13, 4.62 ERA, 4.18 FIP) all return as starters, with Patchett (1-4, 6.97 ERA, 4.60 FIP) making the full-time move to the rotation after spending the majority of the 2033 season in the bullpen (25 appearances, 7 starts). Andre Jacobs (6-9, 4.51 ERA, 4.83 FIP) signed a three-year, $5.7 million pact after he spent 2033 with Atlantic City. The rotation looks to be average overall, but their overall pitching could be enhanced thanks to the stellar defense almost every fielder possesses in the Kernels’ starting lineup. League average pitching is probably a stretch goal if the pitchers can keep the ball in the park and let the fielders do their thing; if not, could be a long season.

Bullpen

RHP Rio Underhill (7/7/7 ratings; 8 stamina; 7/2/8/7 fastball/curveball/changeup/cutter ratings)
LHP Jose Perez (8/7/6 ratings; 8 stamina; 8/3/8/5 fastball/slider/curveball/changeup ratings)
LHP Gustavo Fring (9/6/4 ratings; 6 stamina; 7/2/8 slider/changeup/sinker ratings)
RHP Gilberto Tovar (10/7/6 ratings; 5 stamina; 10/7 fastball/slider ratings)
LHP Enrique Vazquez (9/7/6 ratings; 8 stamina; 9/2/8 fastball/changeup/sinker ratings)
RHP Elwood Blues (10/7/6 ratings; 7 stamina; 9/8/5/6 fastball/slider/curveball/changeup ratings)
RHP Ragnar Lothbrok (8/7/8 ratings; 10 stamina; 8/6/1/9 fastball/curveball/changeup/forkball ratings)
RHP Colt Anderson (10/7/6 ratings; 6 stamina; 8/10/3 fastball/curveball/changeup ratings)

The Kernels’ bullpen looks to have a solid mix of youth and experience and plenty of talent. Colt Anderson returns as the closer after a solid 2033 season where he recorded 33 saves with a 2.66 ERA, a 1.11 WHIP, and a 3.43 FIP. Youngster Ragnar Lothbrok had a rough start to his career in 2033 (1-5, 6.12 ERA, 1.71 WHIP, 5.31 FIP), but has an amazing arm and potential; he’s expected to be the setup man, though he could get a future look as a starter in a similar fashion to Patchett. The others have shown mixed results at the major league level, but the scouting reports for most suggest talent that has underachieved versus the statistics. That could mean an improvement across the board with the bullpen this season if some of the guys can produce more in line with what one expects with their ratings.

Overall, the 2034 Des Moines Kernels look to, in my opinion, have a below average offense (save for a few big-time offensive threats); what could easily be a top five defense; an average at-best rotation; and an average bullpen. Given the aforementioned, it’s likely Des Moines will be in for their third consecutive losing season, though the season is young and you never know what will happen in the Brewster Baseball Association.

Prediction: 73-89

[Edward Murphy]

Joshua, thanks for your honest review of the Kernels, hoping to make .500 again.

[bcslouck]

I get the comment on Chon, but I'll take that slash line from my MIF with his power and glove. If he hits .240, his OPS will be around .800. That would of been only 21 more hits over the season, so chances are he'd be over 30 HR's as well. I'd be fine batting him 6th or 7th. Track record says he probably won't but I like him.