Aloha Ka Punahou 2005.10
Hawai'i looks to 2005 for a rebound year
Tropics brass hopeful for better team pitching
Team set MBBA all-time high in walks last season
March 1
Catalina Island
Al Hoot, GM, and Al Chavez, manager, with the backing of A&B and new
CEO Charlie Hough, are confident 2005 will be a turn around year for Hawai'i.
"But I dunno if that means turn around as in a 180 or a 360," said team spokes-
person Stitch Lilo.
The Tropics staff last season allowed an MBBA all-time high 779 walks (4.87/game).
That's 82 more than the hapless Chicago Black Sox allowed in 2002.
Hawai'i allowed 863 runs in 2004, 198 more than the team scored. The club skidded
to an embarrassing halt last year, losing its last 18 games. A performance of such
piquant ineptitude that cries arose that the team had orchestrated its doleful Sep-
tember skid in hopes of attaining a higher draft ranking.
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"Well," said pitching coach Tim Helton, "All hell just broke loose and no matter what we
did, we lost. Including 8 of those 18 games by one or two runs."
The good news is that all the same crew of pitchers is back for 2005—except for last
season's best performer, Oscar Funke. Funke demanded a reported $9m to stay on the
team after last season's debacle.
"Funke? Bunk." said Al Hoot. "I tell y'all what: that East Coast swinger led our team
in walks [in 2004]." Funke placed second in the JL with 118 base balls (15% of the
team's total). He was signed last month by the Washington Bobwhites to a six-year
contract. "Kinda strange."
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"It's that damm Duran Duran fan, Michael Duran, who needs to decide what type of
pitcher he wants to be," Hoot said.
Duran allowed 33 home runs last year in 27 starts for a combined 7-11, 5.43 record.
"And that after we all thought he had gotten his head together after '03." [When Duran
started 28 games and allowed 25 home runs but was 9 and 10 with a 4.03 ERA.]
Duran won the 1999 Newcomer of the Year in the JL when with California he fired off
a 14-8 record with a 2.86 ERA. He led the league that season with a 1.01 WHIP.
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Washington, Wallace expecting better things
CL McKinley Washington, who had an ERA over 5.00 in September last year, is one
hurler the team is counting on for 2005.
Washington's 2004 season got off to a disastrous start when he ruptured a tendon in the
index finger of his pitching hand at the close of Spring Training. The injury sidelined
the premier closer until after the All-Star Game. Washington, 8th all time, and 2nd active,
leader in saves in the MBBA, put together a 6.00 ERA in 29 games after returning.
"We had high hopes for Mickey [McKinley]—we still do," Helton said. Washington was
almost unhittable in 23 games in 2003 (1-1-11, 1.54) after arriving in Hawai'i on the
trading deadline. The 6'3" pitcher continued his dominance in a Tropics uniform, posting
imposing numbers in Spring Training—until the injury occurred in a game that the
Tropics were losing badly and Washington should not have appeared in, Alan Hoot said.
Also expected to have a better 2005 is Billy Wallace, who began 2004 with a sub-4.00
ERA in his first four starts before being sidelined the remainder of the season with a torn
labrum.
"We're gonna bounce back," Helton said, "And we got 19+ pitchers fighting for a chance
to pitch in Hawai'i."
That may be too few, said team spokesperson Stitch Lilo," We sent 21 pitchers to the mound
in 2004."