Kennedy struggles in AAA

Ian Kennedy pitched two innings for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre before rain forced the game to be called.

When he was pitching, he wasn't pitching well. He allowed one run on two extra-base hits (a home run and a double), walked two batters and didn't strike anyone out.

Tim Bontemps has quotes from a scout on hand:

"He wasn't very good," said a scout who saw the game. "His velocity was 87-90, and his fastball was straight. He didn't have good command, and his curve was loopy and it hung a lot, but he had a plus change."

"To me it didn't look like a rehab start, and (then) you'll put him back," the scout said. "He's got to work his way back up. . . . His command is what makes him what he is, and you'd like to see the velocity pick up a little. I'd like to see some more sharpness on the breaking pitch, and a little better command."

We know that Kennedy is just one of the "other 175 players in the minors," so he will not be getting any preferential treatment. As such, starts like these - even though it didn't count in the books - are troublesome.