GM Josh Cornel
179-209 all-time, .461 winning percentage
Finished 2nd in 1998 (83-79)
No playoff appearances
1999 in Review
Record: 66-96, last in Pacific Division
Offense: 3.8 runs/game, last in Johnson League
Pitching: 4.8 runs/game, 8th in Johnson League
Attendance: 2,842,153
Payroll: $84,790,548
Balance: $-5,833,096
Offseason in Review
Key Losses: 1B David Smurf (retired), C Robin Larker (FA), P Angel Miranda (FA), P Leo Lopez (FA), RF Reddie Ray (FA)
Key Additions: P Robert Walton (trade), 1B Juan Longoria (Rule V), C Steven Tyus (Rule V), LF Scott Duran (FA), P Israel Martinez (FA), P Michael Shellenbarger (trade), C Riley Hinson (trade), RF Jose Aguirre (trade), MR Brian Fisher (FA), MR Cody Smith (FA), C John Behnke (trade)
GM Cornel was certainly busy this offseason trying to turn the struggling Tropics around. They now have a bonafide ace in Shellenbarger, but also one they have to hope to re-sign to a long-term deal some point this season. Hinson, also acquired from Las Vegas, will step in to fill Larker's shoes. The Walton and Martinez signings in free agency were solid and add some nice back half of the rotation depth. Duran and Aguirre could be a decent platoon, but both are atrocious defensively. Adding Longoria and Tyus in the Rule V were both shrewd moves, though Tyus is also pretty bad defensively despite his well-developed and solid offensive skill set.
The Offense
The offense will be centered around offseason acquisition C John Behnke. He likely will lead the Tropics in most offensive categories and is certainly the club's best all-around hitter. CF Silas Camarena, CF Mark Paul Gosselaar, SS Tim McGraw and 3B Robb Wells will be relied upon to provide Behnke with a little bit of support, but none are really a suitable second-fiddle to Behnke just yet. That guy could end up being OBP machine Tyus, but he plays the same position as Behnke, so ABs could be a problem. The Tropics' best bet to add more offense may be to play Behnke at first base and Tyus behind the plate. The defense up the middle with McGraw and O'Neill is solid, and O'Neill has the potential to hit .290. Camarena and Gosselaar take two of the outfield spots, with OBP machine Aguirre hopefully playing only against right-handers in the third spot. He and likely platoon partner Duran are both statues defensively.
The Pitching
Shellenbarger brings a true ace to the fold after the Tropics dealt young ace Freddy Bilbao to Des Moines last season. Martinez and Walton are ill-suited to be the club's second and third best arms, but without a true #2, that's going to be the case this season. P Dow Jones is horribly miscast as Hawaii's #2 starter. He wouldn't make the rotation on many clubs. P Chase Pack and youngster P Rene Moncada are solid options for the back of the rotation and should secure spots over Jones.
Unfortunately, the bullpen is in pretty rough shape. Since Jones is projected as a starter, along with "Wild Thing" P Remington Little, that probably adds some strength to the 'pen in the form o f Pack and Moncada. After that, it gets pretty dicey pretty quickly. P Ralph Desjardins is probably the most talented reliever in the bullpen, but the hope is that newcomers Fisher and Smith can eat innings on the downside of their careers.
Three Burning Questions
1. Can the Tropics ink Shellenbarger to a long-term extension?
2. How will the Tropics front office address the team's glaring bullpen issues?
3. Can the club find a way to get promising offensive talent Tyus meaningful at bats?
The Prediction
This Hawaii team is definitely better than it was a season ago. I think the starting pitching is better - especially if Little and Jones are sent to the bullpen in favor of Moncada and Pack. The bullpen desperately needs work and the offense needs to get another big bat or two or they will struggle to score runs. There are some big bats out there to be had, as well. It's going to be another long year in the islands, but definitely a step in the right direction.
72-90, last in the Pacific Division
