Honolulu, Hawaii-
Hawaii Tropics fans began the season with questions about how this team would do after making just one signing of note with the one-year deal with Barney Lindsey for $8.1 million. This brought the Tropics to within a little over $5 million of the $115 million salary cap and just $400k of the 2062 cap of $110 million.
Hawaii GM Jim Walker said, “That left us with room to make moves if we were in position to make the playoffs but not leave us in a bad cap situation for next season.”
The BBA Far Too Early Predictions had Hawaii finishing next to last at 71-91 hitting .254 with 161 HR 70 SB Scoring 700 runs. Pitchers were to post a 4.39 ERA allowing 4.39 ERA with 1057 Ks and walking 437.
The BBA Final Predictions had the Trops finishing 85-77 and earning a playoff berth. Predicting a .251 BA with 192 homers and scoring 692 runs while pitching putting up a 4.06 ERA and allowing 702 runs.
The BBA Media Guide had the Trops finishing at 78-84 and 17 games back of the Mad Popes.
In reality, the Tropics finished 72-90 with 160 homers with a .249 BA while stealing 92 bases and scoring 684 runs. On the mound, pitchers gave up 773 runs, a .263 BA, 169 HR and put up a 4.59 ERA.
“We were 38-43 at home and 34-47 on the road. We were 15-22 in one-run games and struggled against righties.”, explained Walker. He went on, “What could go wrong did go wrong. Injuries hurt us but not with volume just the timing of the injuries.”
In April the Trops were 14-13 going 4-2 over slow starting Vancouver.
In May, Hawaii fell off the pace going 10-19 and struggling against Heartland teams going 6-8.
The Trops heated up in June with a sweep of Chicago and big series wins against Madison and Louisville. They finished the month going 17-11 and was 41-43 overall.
Hawaii finished a series win over the Yellow Springs Nine that began in June but struggled in the second trip through the Heartland. The only success was at the end of July with a series win over Madison but finished the month 10-16.
The Trops continued to struggle in August going 11-18 but did have a series win over the Sacramento Mad Popes.
Hawaii limped through September going 10-13 with a series win over Bikini in Honolulu.
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