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.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Saturday, January 3, 2009
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.
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
