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Corn Crop in Cedar Rapids is looking good.


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It was baseball road trip BONUS time this past weekend with buddies Steve-O & TJ as the Cedar Rapids Kernels wrapped up their series with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers on Sunday, August 20.   During our intitial road trip to Cedar Rapids at the end of June, one of our games was suspended due to rain after three innings.  Despite seeing the completion of said game the following day, followed by the regularly scheduled contest, we were told we could exchange the suspended game tickets for another Kernel's game.  So we did.   This time we made it a day trip, and in case you ever wondered, "Of course" I would drive seven hours (round trip from Red Wing, MN) in one day to catch 3 hours of baseball. 

 Zebby Matthews toted the rubber for the home team and really stood out on the mound touching 95 MPH several times.  He pitched 4 2/3 innings, allowed 5 hits, striking out 5 and walking 2.  Matthews is listed as the #25 Twins prospect on the MLB.  Former Twins Daily top 20 prospect Noah Miller displayed his MLB ready glove multiple times at shortstop and paced the offense with two hits.   Miller is batting .219 on the season, but the team has had him leading off regularly since infielder Tanner Schobel was promoted to AA on July 18, and this Kernel is beginning to pop.  After struggling intially at the top,  Miller is now hitting .266 for the month of August, with nearly half of his 17 hits of the extra base variety (6 doubles and 2 HRs.)  And remember...the kid is just 20 years old.  The decisive blow in the game for Cedar Rapids was struck by #13 TD prospect Kala'l Rosario who broke open a 1-0 game with a 3-run HR in the fourth, his 18th of the year to go along with 77 RBI.  No runs were scored over the last five innings.  4-1 Kernels was the final score. 

A couple of notes from a very hot Sunday where it was mostly sunny and 96.  Kernel leftfielder Carson McCusker , who was promoted from Fort Myers on August 3, had one of the toughest defensive innings I've seen in quite awhile.  In the top of the 4th inning on a single hit out to left, McCusker picked up the ball and then dropped it...and then picked it up again...and dropped it...then picked it up a third time and dropped it, allowing the runner Hendry Mendez to move up to second base (and later score.)  He was not given an error for playing hot potato this time, but two batters later in the SAME inning, on a base hit to the gap, the exact same thing happened, and this time he was given an error.    We were left wondering if he has forgot to wipe some sunscreen off his hands or something during that one inning.  It was just very odd.

Twins Daily #3 prosect Emmanuel Rodriguez had the day off.  The good guys silenced the Rattlers in the series winning 5 of their 6 meetings.  It was Team Photo Day #2, which paired perfectly with the players signing on the field after a Sunday game (see pic below.)   Twenty-seven autographs in twenty minutes (without pushing or shoving any kids.)  I also caught a quick selfie with pitching prospect Andrew Morris, because I just knew he was going to be chosen as the Minnesota Twins Minor League Pitcher of the Week this week.

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The Cedar Rapids Kernels are winding down their regular season with just one home series left, August 29 - Sept. 3 vs. Lake County, split between two series on the road at South Bend and at the Wisconsin Timer Rattlers.  If you've never been down to Cedar Rapids, they have a nice facilty, terrific fans, and a very good baseball team.  The Kernels will open the playoffs on Tuesday, September 12, at an opponent TBD, before hosting game two on Sept. 14, and game three if necessary on the 15th.

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10 Comments


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HrbieFan

Posted

11 hours ago, davidborton said:

A game at Cedar Rapids is Americana at its best.

Does CR still have their illegal speed traps up on the interstate? I will go back when they are gone. 

Stadium and the atmosphere was very enjoyable the last time we went.  Hope to be back some day 

MMMordabito

Posted

Great blog entry.   I enjoyed reading it.  Fun day for you!

I grew up in the area.

If you're looking for a bite down there, I recommend the Starlite Room for a Super Burger or Leonardo's for pizza/atmosphere.  When you go to Leonardo's you might feel like you're gonna get whacked by a Joe Pesci-type, but it's a good time.

nclahammer

Posted

6 hours ago, HrbieFan said:

Does CR still have their illegal speed traps up on the interstate? I will go back when they are gone. 

Stadium and the atmosphere was very enjoyable the last time we went.  Hope to be back some day 

I don't think so, I use the maps on my phone and they give me a heads-up when there's a speed trap ahead.

nclahammer

Posted

5 hours ago, MMMordabito said:

Great blog entry.   I enjoyed reading it.  Fun day for you!

I grew up in the area.

If you're looking for a bite down there, I recommend the Starlite Room for a Super Burger or Leonardo's for pizza/atmosphere.  When you go to Leonardo's you might feel like you're gonna get whacked by a Joe Pesci-type, but it's a good time.

Thank you, always looking for recommendations for a good place to eat.

HrbieFan

Posted

4 hours ago, nclahammer said:

I don't think so, I use the maps on my phone and they give me a heads-up when there's a speed trap ahead.

Wonder if maps would do it for camera informed? I use it quite often, but have never noticed if it notifies for camera enforced speeding 

strumdatjag

Posted

Great place to catch a game.  But bring back the original Mr. Shucks mascot  (like Mr Peanut, only an ear of corn).  

On the way down, Minnesotans should try an Iowa Favorite - The Tenderloin Sandwich (it’s pork tenderloin but true afficianados never say “pork”). It’s also big in Indiana (The Bierstube in Hastings has a Weinerschnitzel sandwich which is really the same thing ).  
The Susie Q Restaurant in Mason City (pretty much on the way)  has a different variety called the Spic and Span (more beer battered instead of cracker crumb).   It was once named #2 Tenderloin Sandwich in the nation.  
The restaurant is in a classic 10 stool Valentine Diner (about 1/4 the size of Mickey’s Diner). The owner has been known to do magic tricks.  
The Iowa pork producers have also set up a Tenderloin Trail at their website. Susie Q is not on the map,  but other restaurants featuring top tenderloins on the way to Cedar Rapids (with a slight detour) are right there on the map. 
Joensy’s Restaurant in Cedar Rapids claims to have a famous Jumbo Tenderloin Sandwich.   
Then after partaking in Iowa’s finest cuisine, enjoy the game.  Walker Jenkins should be there in high A-Ball next season. 

mahocraf

Posted

It was nice to meet you.  I was the host dad that talked to you during the game.  Look us up the next time you are in town.

Great rendition of the Sunday game.

And the speed cameras on the s-curve are still there.

Mark 

nclahammer

Posted

21 hours ago, mahocraf said:

It was nice to meet you.  I was the host dad that talked to you during the game.  Look us up the next time you are in town.

Great rendition of the Sunday game.

And the speed cameras on the s-curve are still there.

Mark 

Thank you Mark, good to know about the cameras, and very nice to meet you as well.  I would love to do an article on the host families and plan on talking to some team officials too.  If you'd be interested and have a few minutes some time, shoto me a message.

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