The Kernels won two of three games from West Michigan.  It was the first series victory since April 9-11 when the Kernels swept Clinton.  Statistically, the Kernels are towards the bottom of the 16-team Midwest League.  Cedar Rapids is 15th in batting average at .230 as a team.  Cedar Rapids is 15th in earned run average with a 4.30 as a team.  However, the team sits only one game under the .500 mark record-wise at 12-13.  To me, that is a good sign.  After watching the team for now 25 games, this team seems to be much better than the record would indicate.  The starting pitching typically keeps the team in every game, and the offense tends to knock in runners who are in scoring position. 

It is probably a bit early to talk about standings at this point, but on the other hand, we’re a month in, and the first half ends on June 17.  First and second-place finishers in each half advance to the Midwest League playoffs.

That being said, the next 14 games will probably tell a lot about the Kernels.  The next 14 games are against divisional teams who currently sit above the Kernels in the standings.

Beloit (14-11) 3 games in CR-May 2-May 4

Wisconsin (14-11) 4 games @ Wisconsin-May 5-May 8

Quad Cities (13-12) 4 games @ Davenport – May 12-15

Burlington (12-12) 3 games @ Burlington – May 9-11

Cedar Rapids (12-13)

Kane County (11-14)

Clinton (10-14)

Peoria (10-15)

After the rainout yesterday, the Kernels will play two games against the West Michigan Whitecaps this evening at Perfect Game Field.

Game One begins at 5:30 with Game Two starting 30 minutes after the completion on the first game.

The Kernels have made a roster move.  1st round selection (2010) Cam Bedrosian, a right handed starting pitcher, has been added to the Kernels roster.  RHP Jacob Negrete has been assigned to Extended Spring Training in Tempe, AZ.

Check out the transcript from an interview with Jamie Burke at:http://cedarrapids.kernels.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120430&content_id=30040094&vkey=news_t492&fext=.jsp&sid=t492

The Kernels have won their last two ballagmes, heding into tonight’s game at Dayton.  Here are some pictures from Fifth Third Field.

SERIES REVIEW AT PEORIA

The Kernels went 1-2 at O’Brien Field against the Peoria Chiefs, the Cubs minor leaguers.

MONDAY: Peoria 6 Kernels 2

Peoria’s Ryan Cuneo hit two home runs, and his teammate Oliver Zapata added another on a night with the wind gusting straight out to right.  Andy Workman had a big night offensively for the Kernels, going 3-3 with a HR.  Austin Wood (2-1) took the loss for Cedar Rapids in four innings of work.  Michael Jensen (3-0) was victorious for Peoria in six innings.

TUESDAY: Peoria 7 Kernels 6

The Kernels led 6-2 after the Top of the 6^th, but Peoria tallied one run in the Bottom of the 6^th, three runs in the 7^th, and one more in the 8^th to come back for the win.  Mike Clevinger started for the Kernels and went five innings.  Carmine Giardina (1-1) took the loss for Cedar Rapids in relief.  Yao-Lin Wang (2-0) pitched two scoreless in relief for the win for the Chiefs.  Kevin Moesquit and Gary Mitchell homered for the Kernels.

WEDNESDAY: Kernels 5 Peoria 2

Ryan Crowley (1-1) went 5.2 innings for the Kernels, allowing no runs on only three hits.  Stephen Tromblee pitched the final 1.2 innings for the save.  Ryan Jones knocked a two RBI double off the wall in the 5^th inning to give the Kernels a 3-0 lead, and the Kernels never looked back.  Jose Rosario (1-2) went 4.2 innings for Peoria and took the loss.

ON TO BOWLING GREEN:

THURSDAY AT 6:35 P.M.

CR: RHP Jairo Diaz (1-0, 3.09) vs. BG: LHP Ryan Carpenter (1-1, 5.25)

FRIDAY AT 7:05 P.M.

CR: LHP Mike Johnson (0-1, 6.00) vs. BG: RHP Roberto Gomez (0-0, 5.40)

SATURDAY AT 7:05 P.M.

CR: RHP Austin Wood (2-1, 2.57)  vs. BG: RHP Jake Floethe (2-0, 0.56)

BOWLING GREEN PLAYERS TO WATCH: 

Drew Vettleson, OF, Bowling Green: Ranked as #9 prospect in Tampa Bay organization. 1^st round selection in 2010

Jake Hager, IF, Bowling Green: Ranked as #12 prospect in Tampa Bay organization. 1^st round selection in 2011

Ryan Brett, IF, Bowling Green: Ranked as #14 prospect in Tampa Bay organization. 3^rd round selection in 2010.

Tyler Goedell, IF, Bowling Green: Ranked as #18 prospect in Tampa Bay organization. 1^st round selection in 2011

Tonight marks the beginning of a 9-game road trip for the Kernels. (3 games each at Peoria, Bowling Green, and Dayton).

Quad Cities took 3 of 4 from the Kernels over the weekend.  Here are the probables for the Kernels:

MONDAY:

CR: RHP Austin Wood (2-0, 0.90) vs. PEO: RHP Michael Jensen (2-0, 2.45)
Wood has dominated in his first two starts. At Wisconsin on April 5, he struck out 10 over five innings while allowing one run. He also went five innings vs. Clinton last Wednesday and did not allow a hit or run. He currently has a 5:1 strikeout to walk ratio. Jensen picked up wins at Beloit and at home vs. Quad Cities. On April 5 at Beloit he went five innings and allowed no runs on two hits. His previous start was last Wednesday vs. Quad Cities as he went six innings and allowed three runs on five hits.

TUESDAY AT 6:30 P.M.
CR: RHP Michael Clevinger (0-0, 2.77) vs. PEO: P.J. Francescon (0-1, 3.48)
Clevinger has gone at least six innings in both of his two starts this season. He went six innings at Wisconsin on April 6, allowing one run on four hits. He went seven innings vs. Quad Cities last Thursday, allowing three runs on five hits. Francescon started April 6 at Beloit, going 4.2 innings and allowing one run on two hits. He took the loss last Thursday at Wisconsin, going 5.2 innings and allowing three runs on six hits.

WEDNESDAY AT 6:30 P.M..
CR: LHP Ryan Crowley (0-1, 5.00) vs. PEO: RHP Jose Rosario (1-1, 5.23)
Crowley went four innings in his first start on April 7 at Wisconsin, allowing one run on five hits. His last start was Friday vs. Quad Cities. He took the loss, going five innings and allowing four runs on seven hits. Rosario picked up the win at Beloit on April 7 as he went 5.1 innings and allowed two runs on two hits. He picked up the loss last Friday at Wisconsin as he went five innings and allowed four runs on seven hits.

The Kernels are off to a hot start.  They sit at 5-1 with their only loss coming at Wisconsin on April 7 when they held a 3-run lead in the 9th inning.

Coming off a sweep of the Clinton LumberKings, here’s the rotation for this four game set against Quad Cities:

THURSDAY AT 6:35 P.M
CR: RHP Michael Clevinger (0-0, 1.50) VS. QC: LHP Hector Hernandez (1-0, 0.00)
On paper, this is the best matchup of the series. Clevinger is ranked as the #16 prospect in the Angels organization. Clevinger was strong in a no decision effort at Wisconsin last Friday. Hernandez defeated Kane County last Friday, going five innings and allowing no runs.

FRIDAY AT 6:35 P.M.
CR: LHP Ryan Crowley (0-0, 2.25) VS. QC: RHP Todd McInnis (0-0, 3.60)
Crowley was solid is his first outing of the season on Saturday at Wisconsin. He went four innings and allowed one run. . McInnis recorded a no decision on Saturday vs. Kane County, going five innings and allowing two runs on seven hits.

SATURDAY AT 5:05 P.M.
CR: RHP Jairo Diaz (0-0, 7.71) VS. QC: LHP Kyle Hald (0-0, 0.00))
Diaz pitched in Cedar Rapids at the end of 2011 and went 4.2 innings in his start on Monday night. He allowed six runs (four earned) against Clinton. Hald started against Peoria on Tuesday and only went one inning, allowing one unearned run

SUNDAY AT 2:05 P.M.
CR: LHP Mike Johnson (0-0, 3.60) vs. QC RHP Sam Gaviglio (0-0, 3.86):
Johnson went five innings and allowed two runs in a no decision effort against Clinton on Tuesday night. Hald started against Peoria on Tuesday and only went one inning, allowing one unearned run. Gaviglio went 4.2 innings in his first start against Peoria on Monday. He allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rp3Atui0gPg&list=UU0Ch9PvdTNdaPbz79enE1yA&index=1&feature=plcp

The Kernels open up the home portion of schedule tonight at 6:35 p.m. vs. the Clinton LumberKings.

Here are the pitching probables:

Monday:      Cedar Rapids:   RHP Jairo Diaz (1st start) vs. Clinton: RHP Trevor Miller (1st start)

Tuesday:     Cedar Rapids:   LHP Michael Johnson (1st start) vs. LHP Cameron Hobson (1st start)

Wednesday:  Cedar Rapids:  RHP Austin Wood (1-0, 1.80) vs. RHP Ambioris Hidaldo (0-0, 1.80)

The day the players arrive in town is always an exciting time.  For those of us who work for the team in the offseason, it really hits you that the time is finally here.  We’ve been working extremely hard this particular offseason to bring you non-stop entertainment at the ballpark, and now it’s go-time.  We are only a couple days away from the start of the season.  The Kernels open up on Thursday night at the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.  Our Home Opener is April 9th vs. Clinton.

Make sure to follow the Kernels official fan page on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/CedarRapidsKernels

On Twitter: @CRKernels

And our YouTube page: www.youtube.com/partyatthepark

Tomorrow night is Meet the Players/Media Night at the ballpark.  It’s free and open to the public.  The festivities start at 5:00.  A Meet & Greet with the players will happen at 6:00, and the team will have an open practice after a quick program at 7:00.  Come on out to Perfect Game Field!

The team arrived this afternoon to pick up their uniforms and get settled into the clubhouse.  Tomorrow is a day full of meetings and team pictures before the evening’s event.

Check out the Opening Day Roster here: http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=t_ros&cid=492&stn=true&sid=t492

Today was a bit more relaxed for me at the Angels complex.  I began the day at 8:00 in the Angels clubhouse.  I talked with Angels top prospect Mike Trout.  He’s excited about our Opening Night promotion on April 9^th: a Mike Trout bobblehead giveaway.

Mike’s been battling an illness that has caused him to lose a little weight, but he’s starting to feel better while getting into the swing of spring training.  At this point during the spring, it looks like Mike will start the season at Triple-A Salt Lake.  Mike is just concerned with improving his game.  His time will come.  He’s only 20 years old and won’t turn 21 until August 7^th.

This was my first time in a big league clubhouse with players inside.  I’ve taken tours of the clubhouse at Wrigley Field, but it was pretty neat to see the interaction between players within their quarters.

Some players were there working out before I got there.  Jeremy Moore and Daniel Tillman were two of them.  Other players strolled in and helped themselves to the breakfast spread.

Ken Rosenthal, baseball reporter for Fox Sports, was one of the reporters on hand today.  He is incredibly small.  After a quick Google search I found out he is 5 foot 4, which is accurate based on my observation.  All of the players knew who he was.  He and CJ Wilson spoke to each other like they were long-lost best friends.

The clubhouse lockers are somewhat separated by position and seniority.  Catchers are tucked away in their own corner.  One wall of lockers houses the star position players: Bobby Abreu, Albert Pujols, Torii Hunter, Vernon Wells, Howie Kendrick, Alberto Callaspo, Mark Trumbo, Erick Aybar, etc.  An adjacent wall of lockers is for the pitchers.  The opposite wall includes players who have played in Anaheim, but will probably start at a lower level: Garrett Richards, Jeremy Moore,  Alexi Amarista, etc.  Lastly, tucked away in a corner, are the lockers for the remainder of the spring training roster.  These guys shared lockers with one another.  Included here were Daniel Tillman, Matt Long, and others.

A few observations:       Torii Hunter is full of energy, even at 8:00 in the morning.  Hunter seems like a fun guy that keeps the locker room loose.  Vernon Wells is a bit quieter.  All of the reporters seem to like Peter Bourjos.  He’s a guy that will give them a good quote and is a pretty easy interview.  Bobby Abreu is one jacked dude.  He’s listed at 220 pounds, but his muscles pop out of his chest.  Today was actually his 38^th birthday, but still looks like he’s in a great shape.  CJ Wilson looks like a really chill guy, pretty easy-going.  Jered Weaver is skinnier than I expected.  He’s 6-7, 215 pounds and seems like an eccentric man that one wouldn’t want to get on his bad side.  LaTroy Hawkins, 6-5, 220 pounds, looks like he plays in the NBA and not MLB.  It seems like it’s a very close clubhouse.  That’s due in large part to the fact that the majority of the players came up through the minor league system, playing together for many years.

For players comp tickets for family, friends, girlfriends, they simply sit down at a computer in the center of the locker room and type their ticket requests into a computer program.

The atmosphere isn’t much different than the Kernels locker room.  These are just regular guys that are very good at playing baseball and get paid very well to do so.

Today was a split-squad game for the Halos.  Half the team hosted the Indians at Tempe Diablo while the other half of the team traveled to take on the Reds.

Garrett Richards got the start on the hill for the Angels against the Indians.