The Brewster

Aloha Ka Punahou 2005.17

Honolulu
July 2, 05

Hawai'i Tropics finishes the first half with a 35-46 record, for a .432 winning percentage. This
places them 23 GB first place Vancouver (which holds the MBBA's best W-L record over the
first half) and 4.5 games ahead of fourth place Valencia.

Hawai'i had hoped for a better June than 12-15, but it lost 7 of its last ten games.

Still, the .432 W% is the highest since 2002 (Al Hoot's inaugural year as GM) and the team
is pleased with its 2005 performance and second-half outlook.

The team ERA is 4.22 (7th, JL), lowest since 2000 and 0.60 lower than last season. And
overall, the team pitching has been improving as the season rolls along.

A great change from last season is the bullpen's performance; it sports a 3.96 ERA (5th in the
JL and greatly improved as compared to the last two seasons).


McKinley Washington

McKinley Washington, who played only a half season last year, is back to tip top shape and
has 18 saves in 35 games (with a conversion rate of 82%). His ERA is 2.52 but his WHIP is 1.01
and his KK/9ip is 11.36 and his KK/BB is 4.10 (45 Ks and 11 walks in 35.6 innings).

McWash is 12 shy of 400 career saves. He was selected to the 2005 ASG, his first selection
since 2002 (when he was also Fireman of the Year) and his 7th career selection.

Other well-performers out of the pen include Naji Mcnitt (36G/3.58 ERA); Carlos Talavera
(30G/3.86); Johnny Carter (27RA/3.89 ERA*--whose ERA has dropped from April's 9.95 to
1.32 in May and 0.69 in June, thanks in part to a 17 game streak of allowing no runs); Jorge
Estrada (25G/3.09 ERA). On the other hand Colbert (30G/5.29 ERA) and John Daniels (5.05
ERA in mixed starting/relief duties) have had mixed effectiveness. Daniels was Hawaii's
ASG representative last season and he has picked up his pace with a 4.32 ERA in June.

For starters, lefty Billy Wallace has been Mr Consistent, with a 4.01 ERA in 17 GS; Rene
Moncada (3.95 16GS); Rory West 4.22 in 15 GS and 4 RA; Ron, er Roy Paul (4.74 ERA in
13 GS and 5 RA); Paul's June ERA in 5 starts is 2.32; and Michael "Do or Die" Duran (4.50 ERA
in 29 games/9 starts, including a 2.32 June ERA in 5 starts).

The team looks for free-agent signee Jake Kestle to come off the DL in 1-2 weeks and hopes
he can be a mentor of consistency for the rest of the staff. West would most likely move to the
bullpen should Kestle be able to take a regular spot in the rotation.

"Private" Ernie Powell starts his second tour with the Tropics in July, having been claimed off
waivers. Other seasoned relievers in the minors could make their ML debuts during the
second half should the pen falter.


*

Daffy MacNeill, who was 21-1, 1.66 at Single-A Medford last season, was 2-3, 1.74 at Double-A
this year before being promoted to Triple-A Death Valley, where he is 2-2, 2.54 in 5 starts,
sandwiched around a sore shoulder which sidelined him for a month.

Other prospects Richter (8-1, 2.41 at Single-A) and Hartle (8-1, 1.99 at Double-A) have each
been promoted a level. Tim Jones, 10-3, 2.54 has stayed put at Single-A.

New draftees Miguel Rivera (0-2, 5.11 at Single-A) and the Dutch Oven Huigens (awaiting the
Rookie League to begin in a week) are just getting their feet, or arms, wet.

As for relief help, Richard Fox has a 3.52 ERA at AA; while 2003 pick Andres Campos begins his
third year in the RL and 2005 pick Victor Waller, his first.

*

The starting pitching has been effective overall, as has the bull pen. The team is 15-13 in
one-run games and 5-4 in extra-inning games. But when it is bad it is atrocious: Hawai'i
is near the bottom of the 8 is Enough List in effectiveness, and most of this season's games
have either been blow-out losses or close wins.