Bass back in Midwest League pond

CEDAR RAPIDS - He just smiled when asked the question. That wide, infectious Justin Bass smile.

"What the heck are you doing here?" a local reporter wanted to know.

Yeah, really, what the heck is he doing here? Bass was hitting .289 at high-A Inland Empire in the California League, a number that usually gets you promoted to the next level of the minor leagues, not demoted.

But there he was Friday night, hitting in the fifth hole for the Cedar Rapids Kernels. He was there again Saturday night in a 6-5 win over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

"I'm here to work on my defense," Bass said. "Get experience, get reps. I wasn't really in the mix up there (at Inland Empire), so I'm here to get a fresh start, a second chance. I'm coming down here to help contribute, hopefully be a spark ... Be a good team contributor."

He always has been that. Bass hit .251 with 14 stolen bases in 110 games last season for the Kernels.

The switch-hitting son of former big leaguer Kevin Bass always has been able to hit and get on base. But it's his outfield defense that apparently needs some work.

Hence, he's back in the Midwest League.

"JB was struggling defensively," said Kernels Manager Brent Del Chiaro. "Unfortunately it had gotten to the point where he wasn't getting a lot of outfield reps. So if he can come down here and do what he did offensively there and play a consistent outfield, he'll be back up there. But for him to be successful, he's got to be a reliable defender."

As you'd expect from as good a kid as you'll find in pro baseball, Bass is taking his demotion in a positive vain.

"Everything happens for a reason," he said. "Sometimes the way up is down. It's no big deal. I'm just happy to be playing the game of baseball. It's a gift."

"Build his confidence defensively and get him back on out of here," Del Chiaro said. "He could have taken this in a negative way, but he's not. He's a positive kid, always has been. He'll work hard. Some of our players can learn from that."

The Kernels (32-37) won for the second time in a row, elimating Wisconsin (37-32) from the first-half playoff chase. Jean Almanzar broke a 5-5 deadlock with a two-out RBI single up the middle.

The teams finish the first half Sunday afternoon at 2.