Blowing in the Wind 2057.7: Jacksonville Looks to Next Year

[aaronweiner]

The Jacksonville Hurricanes have had three straight playoff appearances since 2055, the year after Aaron Weiner took over as GM, but one wonders whether that run is about to end in 2058. A lot of cracks are showing in the facade, and it remains to be seen whether the Hurricanes can hold the line for one more year or not.

"We've got a lot of talent on this team," said Weiner. "The question isn't how talented we are, but whether we're dancing a bit on the knife's edge."

A lot of issues exist for the Hurricanes going forward. The core of the lineup, second baseman Daniel Pepper and right fielder Donald Miller, are aging quickly, though neither is likely to be on the payroll after the 2059 season, and potential tentpole player Pedro Hozven's has proven to be far more unstable than previously thought. The Hurricanes' 11th place finish offensively might have been more real than mirage.

Then there's the pitching staff, which is the crown jewel of the team; the Hurricanes' rotation was outstanding last season. However, issues loom even over this superior unit; both Bernie Stuart and Juan Marroquin have opt-outs this year, and Marroquin, one of the Association's best bargains last year, is likely to exercise that clause. Finally, the farm system, greatly improved, is still in the bottom third of teams in the BBA.

We haven't even gotten to the finances yet, though team owner Tuck Friar has: he cut the budget $12 million this season, down to $138 million from $150 million . Jacksonville still has to pay Gerald Sizemore $11 million this year, even though he's retired. Fortunately, the team is likely to get a large infusion of cash from outside investors, but the team is pretty cash-strapped.

"We've got a lot of things to think about, including maybe rebuilding," said Weiner. "But what we really want to do is take one more crack at this - we love our guys."

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