crash landing

Kenshin Kawakami’s career — at least in the U.S. — appears to be nearing an end. The Mississippi Braves right-hander and erstwhile big leaguer was rocked again on Friday night and now has an 8.31 ERA in 14 Double-A appearances this season. In 39 innings, mixed between starts and relief appearances, he has yielded 52 hits and 15 walks. In each of his last two outings, he has allowed four earned runs in an inning of work. Atlanta still owed the former Japanese leagues star almost $7 million for this season and didn’t want to just release him. But he’s shown no signs of being able to pitch in majors again. There was some interest from Japanese teams in the spring but reportedly Kawakami didn’t want to return home. Perhaps it’s time now.

P.S. Tommy Hanson’s rotator cuff injury is bad news for the Braves. But it could open up September starting opportunities for ex-M-Braves Julio Teheran and Randall Delgado. Fellow former M-Braves Brandon Beachy and Mike Minor have certainly risen to the occasion in recent outings. Atlanta has an embarrassment of riches in young arms. … Former Mississippi State star Ed Easley got the game-winning hit in the bottom of the ninth for Mobile on Friday night as the BayBears clinched the second-half title in the Southern League South.