How will Kernels fare in playoffs?
September 2nd, 2010 | Published in Kernels
CEDAR RAPIDS — So where is this team?
The smart-guy answer, of course, is four games from the end of the regular season. But with the Midwest League playoffs next week, how are the Cedar Rapids Kernels playing and what are their postseason chances?
Let’s give the wishy washy answer in both cases of “so-so.”
The Kernels beat the Burlington Bees last night, 4-1, to go 2-0 in September. On the other hand, both wins came again a Burlington club that has the second-worst record in full-season minor league baseball.
And the Kernels’ August record was a less-than-awe-inspiring 13-18.
“It is what it is,” said Kernels Manager Bill Mosiello. “We’ve been where we’ve been, and now we’ve got to play better.”
Against whom is yet another good question. Cedar Rapids has home-field advantage in the first round because of its first-half championship, but doesn’t know what Western Division club it will face in a best-of-3 series that begins on the road Wednesday night.
It could be Clinton, Kane County or Beloit. Quad Cities also is in the playoffs via its second-place division finish in the first half, and has all but wrapped the best overall record, which is significant because that’s worth home-field advantage in the second round.
But there’s a LONG way to go before that.
“I never want to be ordinary, so that’s the problem,” said Mosiello, whose club is 35-31 in the second half. “We’ve had a chance to have an incredible, special year … The big plus is nobody else is (significantly better), either. You know what I mean?”
The Kernels are the MWL’s leading hitting team and have a lineup that is championship caliber, for certain. But there are five new starting pitchers from the beginning of the season, and that’s been the second-half Achilles heel.
Closer Johnny Hellweg also has struggled late in the season, which is another concern. Mosiello said the playoff rotation likely will be Ariel Pena, Buddy Boshers and Stephen Locke, in that order.
“Our offense is going to be there,” said outfielder Terrell Alliman. “We’re going to hit the ball and score runs. We’ve just got to play defense and pitch well, and we should be fine.”
Mosiello said relying solely on the offense is not a good recipe for playoff success.
“You would think we would (hit),” he said. “But when you go into something believing that you are going to win because you outhit someone, that’s scary.”
The Kernels play their final regular-season game tonight at 6:35. Retiring longtime General Manager Jack Roeder will be honored before the game.
