The Brewster

Aloha Ka Punahou 2004.04

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March 01
Catalina island, CA
Hawaii Tropics STHQ

"2004 Spring Injury season is upon us; may the gods protect our players."
—Don Ho, 73 years young, closing words of annual spring luau address.

Al Hoot enters his third season as general manager of the westernmost MBBA team; he seems
to have mellowed. No big trades; no gargantuan free agent signings. Offseason trades have
been high-cost veterans for prospects. Of 17 nonpitchers reporting to spring training, 11 are 28
or younger; 10, 26 or younger.

The new uniforms, arriving a year late due to a failed federal investigation into alleged
mistreatment of Vietnamese boat people as button sewers, signify the focus on youth.

"We are trying to grow from within," says Hawaii Tropics team spokesperson Stitch Lilo.
The minor league system opens March ranked 4th; it was ranked 1st in the offseason.

Here's a rundown of who Tropics fans will see on the field as Spring Training opens. With a
focus on the newbies.

*


C Hurley Reyes

Captain Hurley Reyes, 34, opens his 15th MBBA season, and fourth with Hawaii, 29 home runs
short of 400. Which is the number he hit last season.

A crowdpleaser since he arrived from Madison three and a half years ago, he has become the
voice and presence (he is 250 lbs) of the Tropics on the islands. He won his 3rd Diamond Glove
Award in four seasons.

Mum is the word on who will back up Reyes this year: Hawaii has five catchers at Triple-A, all
eager to vacate Death Valley for Paradise.

Durkin Turrell, born on an island west of England, heads up the squad of first basemen. Turrell
bats from the left side.

Joe Sullivan, who is perhaps only one of two U.S citizens whose birth certificate has not been
released to the public (no one knows where or even if he was born in the US) bats from the
right side.


Justin Hausman

Justin Hausman, 26, often plays third; his hits often fall into the gap.

. .
Félix Mendoza. .Jason Vanega

Félix Mendoza and Jason Vanega are both 24, talented and Rule 5 picks.


Tex Whitaker

At second, Robert Cullison, 32, will be challenged by 25-year-old Tex Whitaker. Tex is from
Germantown, Maryland, but his folks hail from Central Texas, which boasts multi-generational
German-Texan families from before the Alamo.


Pat Sims, FW2

SS Pat Sims, 26, is from the prairies of Minnesota and a year older than Tex. The Tropics
again acknowledge the generosity of the Dallas Cowboys for the new uniforms.


Jeff Mueller

Jeff Mueller, 25, enshrined as the first graduate of the Tropics TYYCAA (Turn-your-young-
career-around-academy), is of Wisconsin German descent. He will share time with veteran
Robb Wells at the hot corner.

*


Ignacio Ramos

Ignacio Ramos, 23, whose given name means Lively or Fiery, is the first amateur player
drafted by Alan Hoot. Pictured above in his Double-A Champion Carson City Gamblers uniform,
he will see Spring Training action.


Albert Hughes

Al Hughes, 26, the only free agent signee, has played in the minors for seven years. No one
knows why Al Hoot signed him. Some say that the GM liked the kid's first name. Others point
to his gazelle-like speed and prodigious fielding capabilities in center field. Yet his 2003 fielding
stats were lost on the way from New York.


Johnny Davis

Johnny Davis, 26, is the only right handed batter of the six spring training outfielders. The
lefties include Sad Sam Jones, Double-A Doyle Aastrom, and All-Star outfielder Liao Kuan.


Liao Kuan

Mr Kuan, 26, set single-season Tropics records for home runs and total bases, has applied for
American citizenship and a higher credit card limit.