Kernels lose, drop closer to playoff elimination

CEDAR RAPIDS – They assigned a pair of interns Sunday afternoon to clean up whatever mess was left in the grassy berm area of Veterans Memorial Stadium by “Bark In The Park Day.”

It was undetermined who was going to clean up the mess on the field.

Let's just say this was not one of the better played games this season for the Cedar Rapids Kernels, who were dropped by Lansing, 12-6. In fact, it may have been the worst.

The Kernels (29-34) crept closer to playoff elimination in the first half with a performance that included four errors, 18 hits and 23 baserunners allowed. Their official elimination number is two, with a week to go in the first half.

“My patience is wearing thin,” said Kernels Manager Brent Del Chiaro, perhaps the least talkative he has been following a game.

You can't blame him. Del Chiaro has harped a lot lately about his team continuing to make mental mistakes, yet they continued Sunday.

For instance, second baseman Wes Hatton ran out to catch a short fly to right field but was called off the ball by right fielder David Harris, who came up short on a diving attempt. Gift single.

In the fifth inning, Harris stole second on a pitch that ended up to the backstop. He hesitated rounding the base, then tried for third, being thrown out by a hefty margin and not even bothering to slide.

And those were just a couple of examples, not meant to indict Harris, and don't include the physical errors.

“Possibly, possibly,” Del Chiaro said, when asked if he anticipated the club having personnel changes when the Midwest League's second half begins in a week and a half. “There needs to be, to send some messages. Guys have to learn that they are always being evaluated. They're just a little too comfortable right now.”

The Kernels have Monday off before beginning a series at Beloit. Del Chiaro was asked if that was good timing so players could reflect on their respective games.

“I don't think there's a whole lot of reflection going on in there right now,” he said, nodding toward the clubhouse.