As the Cedar Rapids Kernels begin a stretch of seven consecutive "commuter" games (those where they bus to the away game and back home again after the game each day/night) this week, they are off to a 7-4 start to their Midwest League Season, good enough for second place in the MWL's West Division, a half-game behind Kane County.

(This article was originally posted at knuckleballsblog.com)

Early on, the Kernels' offense was riding on the shoulders of LaMonte Wade and Chris Paul. Paul was promoted to Ft. Myers, but Wade has continued to rake, hitting an even .400 on the season and putting up a 1.119 OPS. The 22-year-old former Maryland Terrapin has hit safely in each of Cedar Rapids' 11 games this season.

With Paul no longer around, the club needed others to step up their games and Luis Arraez has done exactly that.

Arraez had back-to-back games this week in which he led off the bottom half of the first inning with a home run. That's remarkable enough, but then consider that they were the first two round-trippers of the infielder's career. He has raised his batting average to .346 and his OPS to 1.008.

As the starting pitchers complete their second time through the rotation, Sam Clay has led the crew with a perfect 0.00 ERA, while striking out 13 batters in 11 innings of work. Relievers C.K Irby and John Curtiss have equaled that perfect 0.00 ERA out of the bullpen. Curtiss had K'd 8 in 4 innings on the mound and Irby has set down 7 batters in 6 2/3 innings.

The first home series of the season last week was more than a little chilly, though that did make for a couple of interesting pictures. With a couple of sunny day games this past weekend, there were more opportunities for decent photo shooting. I wish I had at least one of every player, but I didn't quite manage that. I'll get there eventually.

• http://knuckleballsblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Arraez16a-600x400.jpg
  
• Luis Arraez squeezes a pop fly
  

With the kind of week Arraez had, he deserves a couple of pictures, don't you think? Let's add one of the infielder at the plate.

• http://knuckleballsblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Arraez16f-600x400.jpg
  
• Luis Arraez
  

• http://knuckleballsblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Cavaness16e-600x400.jpg
  
• Christian Cavaness
  

• http://knuckleballsblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Clay16g-400x600.jpg
  
• Sam Clay
  

• http://knuckleballsblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Curtiss16a-600x400.jpg
  
• John Curtiss
  

• http://knuckleballsblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Cutura16c-600x400.jpg
  
• Andro Cutura
  

• http://knuckleballsblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Fernandez16a-600x400.jpg
  
• JJ Fernandez
  

• http://knuckleballsblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Gibbons16c-1-600x400.jpg
  
• Sam GIbbons
  

• http://knuckleballsblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Guzman16h-600x400.jpg
  
• Manuel Guzman
  

• http://knuckleballsblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Hayman16a-600x400.jpg
  
• Bryant Hayman
  

And, in case you're now wondering whether Bryant actually made contact with that pitch, yes, yes he did.

• http://knuckleballsblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Hayman16b-400x600.jpg
  
• Bryant Hayman
  

• http://knuckleballsblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Lombana16f-600x400.jpg
  
• Logan Lombana
  

• http://knuckleballsblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Miller16f-600x400.jpg
  
• Sean Miller
  

• http://knuckleballsblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Murphy16d-600x400.jpg
  
• Max Murphy
  

• http://knuckleballsblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Murray16h-400x600.jpg
  
• AJ Murray
  

• http://knuckleballsblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Nordgren16a-429x600.jpg
  
• Miles Nordgren
  

• http://knuckleballsblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Palacios16a-400x600.jpg
  
• Jermaine Palacios
  

• http://knuckleballsblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Paul16a-1-600x400.jpg
  
• Chris Paul (just because he's not currently with the Kernels doesn't mean we shouldn't see his picture!)
  

• http://knuckleballsblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Rodriguez16h-600x400.jpg
  
• Dereck Rodriguez
  

• http://knuckleballsblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Valera16b-600x400.jpg
  
• Rafael Valera - I'm not sure this is the fielding position they teach, but then the coaches don't typically assume you'll be trying to keep your throwing hand warm in 38 degree temps, either.
  

• http://knuckleballsblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Wade16b-429x600.jpg
  
• LaMonte Wade
  

If anyone has earned getting two pictures in this post, it's LaMonte Wade.

• http://knuckleballsblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Wade16z-600x400.jpg
  
• LaMonte Wade
  

• http://knuckleballsblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Wiel16b-1-600x400.jpg
  
• Zander Wiel models the cold weather hoodie most players made use of the first week.
  

That's what I've got uploaded so far. I thought I had a few more, but can't put my fingers on them at the moment, anyway. I'll load up some more next homestand.