Looks like strong pitching again for Kernels

Pioneer League Pitcher of the Year, with its MVP apparently on the way later this month.

They've got 10 guys who have played at this level before. They've got last year's

On the surface, that looks pretty good. But the proof for the 2009 Cedar Rapids Kernels, as they say, is in the 140-game pudding. 

"I think we had our whole team probably only 40 to 50 percent of the time (in spring training)," said first-year Kernels Manager Bill Mosiello, whose team hosts Beloit in its Midwest League season opener tonight at 6:35. "So I have no idea ... It's a big question mark in all regards. The one thing is we've got a chance to pitch. We've got some good pitchers. And obviously that's where you want to start. That doesn't change."

Good pitching and defense wins games, as Mosiello was quick to point out. He believes those are the strengths of this Kernels team.

Big right-hander Michael Davitt gets the opening-night start. He had 17 of them last season for the Kernels.

Then it's 19-year-old lefty Will Smith on Friday night, followed by hard-throwing right-hander Manuarys Correa and left-handers Jayson Miller and Manuel Flores. Smith and Correa are the only two Kernels ranked among the parent Los Angeles Angels' top 30 prospects, according to Baseball America.

Miller was the Pioneer League's top pitcher last season for Orem, going 8-2 with a 2.33 earned run average. He and Smith combined to walk only 13 guys in 154 innings. Pumping strikes like that helps keep your defense on its toes.

"We had a pretty good starting rotation last year. I think this one's going to be about the same, if not better," said Davitt, who went 6-9 with a 4.68 ERA last season for Cedar Rapids. "We've got some good lefties. Will Smith and Jayson Miller, all they do is throw strikes. They can throw a strike on any pitch, any count.

"I definitely think the fans are going to enjoy what they're going to come out and see."

The expected most-days lineup will include returning Kernels Anel De Los Santos (catcher), Gabe Jacobo (first base), Hector Estrella (third base), Alexi Amarista (second base), Angel Castillo (outfield) and Carlos Colmenares (utility). Jacobo hit .320 in 34 games a season ago after being promoted from Orem.

He'll hit somewhere in the middle of the batting order.

"I always put high expectations on myself, so I want to go out and compete hard every day," Jacobo said. "Just do my best and hopefully put up some good numbers and help the team wins some games. Hopefully help the team win a championship. That would be nice."

Estrella is a surprise returnee to the City of Five Seasons, considering he hit .302 in 87 games for the Kernels last season. In fact, he spent most of spring training with the high-A Rancho Cucamonga club.

"They told me they wanted me to play every day, so that's why I had to come back here," Estrella said. "So that's a positive thing. It shows that the organization cares. They want me to get my at-bats, so that's why I'm here."

Estrella's former University of Southern California buddy Roberto Lopez was scheduled to be with the Kernels but is back in extended spring training with a minor injury. Lopez was the Pioneer League's Most Valuable Player last season, hitting .400 in 67 games with 14 home runs and a league-best 72 RBIs.

He is expected to come to Cedar Rapids at some point in the  next month.

"I'm really just starting to meet these kids," Mosiello said. "What they did last year, I'm sure everyone has checked. I'm sure you guys have been excited a lot of times about those Orem numbers, thinking this guy is going to be the greatest hitter.

"I look at those numbers, too. But then all of a sudden you look at the player and it's like 'Well, he's not that good of a player.' I would love it to be, but I just know the reality. The track record of you guys seeing the numbers (sometimes). No one's been more surprised than you guys: 'Well, he hit .350 last year and he hit .250 here.' That's been the normal rate. When I was with the Yankees, we had a team in Staten Island. That was a college league ... But this is a whole different world."

Whether they're able to hit or not, if they can pitch and play defense, these Kernels should have a chance.

"It's an exciting group," Mosiello said. "I'm not going to put (out) expectations one way or the other ... That's why they play the games. That's the exciting part. But it is a good group of kids. They play hard and they're athletic. I think we're a pitching and defensive type of club. That's where consistent winning teams are built, in my mind. And that's where I see us."