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.