Angels' exec in town to assess Kernels

CEDAR RAPIDS - Though they've played better in recent days, there's no doubt this has been a poor season for the Cedar Rapids Kernels. They know it, their fans know it.

Their boss knows it.

“Absolutely disappointed. No doubt about it,” said Los Angeles Angels Director of Player Development Abe Flores, before Wednesday night's 7-3 loss to Clinton at Memorial Stadium.

Flores was in town to observe the Kernels and conduct end-of-the-season, one-on-one interviews with each player. Cedar Rapids is 57-71, on pace to have its worst season since the 2001 team went 60-77 overall.

This will likely break the club's string of consecutive Midwest League playoff appearances at four. Its elimination number has been whittled to four.

“They know what the expectations are,” Flores said. “They're disappointed, the staff is disappointed, they know it's not OK. That's just how we think. We expect every team to get in (to the playoffs).”

Flores pointed out that injuries prevented the Kernels from having leadoff hitter Drew Heid and middle-of-the-order guy Randal Grichuk most of the season. Infielder Kole Calhoun was originally slated to play here but was double jumped to high-Class A and is having a monster season.

Cedar Rapids went into Wednesday night's game next to last in the MWL in hitting and the bottom half in pitching. Simply put, the overall talent has lacked.

“I don't want to make excuses for them,” Flores said. “You drop those players, and it does change the complexion of this team offensively. Pitching has kind of struggled, but maybe they would have been in the hunt for the last playoff spot, a wildcard spot.”

The early scouting report for 2012 is favorable, particularly offensively. Orem, the team directly below Cedar Rapids in the Angels' minor-league hierarchy, features 2010 first-round draft picks Taylor Lindsey and Kaleb Cowart.

C.J. Cron, the Angels' top pick in the 2011 draft, also was on that team but recently dislocated his kneecap on a swing and may or may not have surgery.

“I personally think it's the best group of position players we've had there in 10 years. One of the top three, without a doubt,” Flores said. “Pitching we'll piece together and see as we get here (next season). The guys from Tempe, the guys from Orem, we'll piece them together.”

It'll be interesting to see if any of that trio ends up being double jumped, a la Calhoun. That's a decision that obviously won't have to be made until next spring.

“I think there's a lesson to be learned by playing here in this league,” Flores said. “I think this is a tough league, it's not a gimme. It humbles you, especially coming from the ballpark we play in (at Orem), which we call Williamsport. It's the smallest ballpark we play in, so there's a false sense of confidence at times ... If you do something here, you've done something. You've got the chance to really be something.”