Season 10 review

There's no better way to say it -- Season 10 was a bitter pill to swallow for Sea Monkey Nation.

A free-agency spending spree and the arrival of some promising rookies had the fan base (and the front office) buzzing. Salt Lake City was dreaming of challenging for a division crown, a berth in the playoffs, and new-found respect.

Instead, we got kicked in the teeth. Again.

Murray O'Neil was barely a .500 pitcher in the first year of his five-year, $39 million contract, with a 4.93 ERA and a WHIP that soared to 1.62 -- hardly what we expected from our new ace pitcher. John Cho had a 12-6 record, but only pitched 163 innings in his 32 starts. We'll need him to go deeper into games to earn his $8.5 million a season. Pascual Frias struggled all season and lost his hold on the closer job midway through the season before finishing strong.

The offense, at least, was an improvement. Louis McCartin appeared in every game, pounding 38 homers and 127 RBIs with his .269 average. Deivi Tapies was also an iron man, and knocked 46 homers and 128 RBIs on his way to winning the American League Rookie of the Year award. Sean Pulsipher became a fixture in the leadoff spot, hitting .291 with 30 stolen bases and scoring 106 runs, winning a spot on the All-Star team in his rookie season and also taking home a Gold Glove. And Rule 5 pick Herman Holmes, helped by a blistering first half, shocked the front office by hitting .293 and adding 19 homers.

None of it translated on the field, however. The Sea Monkeys sputtered to a 72-90 record, a game worse than its Season 9 mark, and ended 40 games behind Honolulu. The disappointinig campaign is leaving onlookers to wonder what's next for this franchise, and anxious fans to wonder how long they'll be mired in the league's second division.

Down on the farm ...

With future all-stars Deivi Tapies and Sean Pulsipher now in The Show, loyal Sea Monkey fans wonder which minor league prospects are most likely to one day call Salt Lake City home. Here are the organization's top prospects:

1. Ricardo Candelaria. This slick-fielding shortstop appears destined for stardom. Snatched last season from the Dominican Republic, the 22-year-old Candelaria learned to play shortstop using nothing more than a milk carton for a glove. It's baffling how international scouts didn't come across him until he was 21, because Candelaria has the potential to be the best defensive shortstop in the league. Coupled with a decent bat (he's hitting nearly .400 in AAA), Ricardo is expected to join the Sea Monkey lineup in season 11.

2. Our first-round pick in Season 9, Miguel Armas is struggling to learn the AAA game. The 23-year-old native of Rochelle, Ga., is a nifty 3-1 through five starts, despite a 5.72 ERA and 1.76 WHIP. Batters are hitting .352 off of him. Pitching coach Carlos Diaz is working with Armas on his placement, convinced that he has electric stuff that will get hitters out on the big league level. If Diaz can turn things around, he has a shot of making the big league team in Season 11.

3. Stephen West. This second-round draft choice in Season 8 has been a surprise success in the minors, hitting .355 with 15 HRs and 15 SBs in Low A in Season 9. West is now in HiA, where he's showing great speed and a .300 average. If he keeps this development going, he could compete for a major-league job by Season 13.

4. Kordell Person is the forgotten man in the Sea Monkey system. Now 29, Person possesses all the skills for a major league role -- glove, range, bat, speed. But he just doesn't have a place to go.

Next time: the big league report.

Opening Day!!!

Hopes are high in Salt Lake City as opening day arrives for their beloved Sea Monkeys. From Temple Square to Capitol Hill, the city is decked out in Sea Monkey blue and white as fans dare to dream of the franchise's first .500 season.

Sad, but true: for these fans, mediocrity is something to celebrate.

The brass is pinning their hopes on the Sea Monkey rebuilt starting rotation, headed by young ace Rafael Morales, Murray O'Neil and veteran John Cho. Veteran Sea Monkey pitching coach Jed Fikac says the trio is the best trio ever to suit up for the franchise, and should help Salt Lake City keep games close. Lefties Jocko Lincoln and Quentin Gibson round out the rotation, each hoping to contribute 170 innings and a few quality starts.

The bullpen is anchored by closer Pascual Frias, having signed a new five-year, $30 million contract to remain in Salt Lake City. Frias converted 67 of 77 save opportunities in the last two years. He'll be supported by setup men Rabbit Byrd, Quilvio Lima and Bronson Cooke.

The lineup also gets a major makeover this season, with the arrival of rookies Sean Pulsipher and Deivi Tapies. Pulsipher, the 11th overall pick in Season 7, is a line-drive hitting centerfielder with great speed and a bit of pop. He'll set the table for sluggers Tapies, Al Tavarez and future Hall-of-Famer Louis McCartin.

Tapies, the first overall pick in Season 8, arrives in Salt Lake City after crushing minor league hitting to the tune of a .356 average and .706 slugging percentage over two years. Tapies is a pure hitter with great power, an outstanding batting eye and the ability to drive the ball to all fields.

In all, it looks to be a memorable year in Salt Lake City.

Coming next week: a look at the organization's top prospects

Rule 5 draft results

Herman Holmes Salt Lake City Sea Monkeys Age: 23 B/T: L/R Born: Ironwood, MI Position(s): SS/IF/OF/DH View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Josias Picasso Salt Lake City Sea Monkeys Age: 25 B/T: R/R Born: Geneva, NY Position(s): 3B View Hardball Dynasty Profile

SALT LAKE _ Once again, nobody from the Sea Monkey organization was deemed good enough to be drafted by the competition. But the Sea Monkeys signed two infielders that have a chance to contribute in Season 10:

Herman Holmes was drafted with the sixth pick in the first round from the Chicago Humidors. Holmes, 23, is a left-handed-hitting shortstop who is more likely to see action in center field and second base for the Sea Monkeys. He has decent pop and is particularly deadly against right-handed pitching.


Josias Picasso, 25, is a third baseman drafted with the fifth pick in the second round from a conference rival, the Honolulu Dashboard Hula Dolls. Picasso had a .315 career batting average in the minors, but appears destined to be a utility player on the big league level. He'll likely struggle to stick with the big club this year, but we'll give him a long look in spring training.

Season 10 Sea Monkey preview

Murray O'Neil Salt Lake City Sea Monkeys Age: 28 B/T: L/L Born: Pryor, MT Position(s): P (SP2) View Hardball Dynasty Profile

John Cho Salt Lake City Sea Monkeys Age: 33 B/T: R/R Born: Sendai City, JP Position(s): P (SP3) View Hardball Dynasty Profile

SALT LAKE CITY _ The future is now in Salt Lake.

The league's most downtrodden franchise is is opening up the checkbook to two free-agent pitchers, with an eye toward its first .500 season and a possible playoff drive.

General manager psanders84 signed Murray O'Neil and John Cho, promising $68 million over the next five years. Added to young phenom Rafael Morales, management hopes the trio will anchor the Sea Monkey pitching staff.

"It's a huge gamble," psanders84 said. "Signing Murray and John will cost us two draft choices, and we'll have to dip into the prospect salary pool and forget about signing internationals. But our fans deserve a winning season now, so we're taking our shot."

O'Neil, 28, a seven-year veteran, has a career reocrd of 77-73 and ERA of 4.95, but possesses outstanding control and a sharp slider. Cho, 33, has an outstanding fastball and curveball, and has a career record of 96-68 and 4.28 ERA.

On offense, the Sea Monkeys will continue to count on star right fielder Louis McCartin and first baseman Al Tavarez for offense. Hotshot rookie center fielder Sean Pulsipher may be a rookie of the year candidate, and Deivi Tapies, the first overall draft pick in Season 8, won't be in the minors for long.

After nine seasons of futility, will Sea Monkey fans finally have reason to cheer? Only time will tell.