A Week to Forget

This is the first of what will be weekly reviews of Kinston's play until I go down there and see for myself. It will analyze the stats, games, players, and what the voice of the K-Tribe, Chris Hemeyer tells me in our many conversations.

A 1-5 start might not seem like the end of the world to some fan bases, but when it happens to a team that has won more games than any team in Minor League Baseball, it's more than a blip on the radar screen. The Kinston Indians lost 2 out of 3 to Fredrick, after their opening series against Winston-Salem was washed out and before being swept at Potomac. Three of the five losses were one-run games, and the K-Tribe had a lead in two of them.
The young pitching staff seems to be going through some growing pains, because Steven Wright, Kinston's opening day starter, is the only pitcher with any college experience. Hector Rondon was roughed up in his first two starts last week, giving up 12 runs in just 7 and one-third innings. Paolo Espino gave up 10 runs in the series opener against Potomac, taking the 12-5 loss. Wright picked up a no-decision in his only start of the year against Potomac, as Kinston blew a 7-0 lead to lose 8-7.
None of this is new for manager Chris Tremie, who managed many of these same players at Low-A Lake County last year. Tremie himself also 14 years of playing experience in the minor leagues, so he knows how fragile this situation is working with young players and a fairly new team. He also strives discipline, though, as Chris Hemeyer told me the team got an early wakeup call Sunday, in order to do some early batting practice before Sunday's matinée, a move not usually done for day games.
The hitting is coming from the usual sources; Beau Mills is hitting over .400 and the combination of Jared Goedert and Jered Head has both players in the top-five in on-base percentage on the team. The Indians have received a big spark behind the plate in free agent pickup Alex Castillo, who is hitting .417 with a homer and four RBIs.
Hemeyer thinks once the pitchers stop using the kid gloves and adjust to the new level of hitters, they will settle in. He feels that Fredrick and Potomac have two of the more stacked lineups in the Carolina League, plus the K-Tribe had to deal with Ross Detwiler of Potomac, the priced blue-chip draft pick of the Nationals farm system. I saw him pitch in person in college and in his September call-up with the Nationals. From watching the kid, he has talent that's ready for the Major Leagues.
This week the Indians finish out their first road trip in Wilmington against the Blue Rocks, before beginning an 11-game homestand on Thursday. Kinston will face Myrtle Beach for four games, Salem for three, and Lynchburg for four. Remember you can catch every Kinston Indians game on the Kinston Indians Radio Network or online at kinstonindians.com. To find your affiliate or listen online go to kinstonindians.com/radio.asp. That's this week's K-Tribe roundup, Let the comments roll on in.