Tropic Times Vol. II.II (April 01 - April 10 '99)

[EchoesIE]

Honolulu, HA -- Despite having high hopes after a remarkable spring training, the Tropics motivation and eagerness was dashed after a 2-8 record to start the 1999 season. GM Josh Cornel was speechless after dropping 4 in a row, simply tweeting to all Tropic followers "We have to get better, its plain and simple. Need to play better baseball." How the Tropics are going to do this is beyond us here at the 'Times. The Tropics were outscored 36-18, yet it wasn't really the pitching as the Tropics didn't allow more than 6 runs in a game and averaged 3 Earned Runs throughout the stretch. We don't want people jumping ship after only 10 games (afterall, there's 152 more to play), but I wouldn't be surprised to see people start abandoning the team after a short cruise out of the harbor.

April 1, 1999
California 4, Hawaii 2
Opening day in Honolulu saw the game go into extra-innings and fans received 2 innings of free baseball which saw the Crusaders score 2 runs in the top of the 11th and the Tropics unable to respond. 3B Robb Wells put up a great performance, going 3 for 5. Both C Robin Larker, and 1B David Smurf were held hitless in the game and both sluggers left 3 runners on base. SS Tim McGraw went yard in the 2nd innings, scoring the first run of the season. After much confusion and secrecy, P Steven McCullough got the start (to reasons still not known to the times). McCullough wasn't horrible in his surprise start, pitching 7.2 innings allowing 6 hits, and 2 Earned Runs while striking out 7. CP Leo Lopez didn't even show up to the game mentally, allowing 3 hits and 2 Earned Runs while earning just 1 out as he obtained the loss.

April 02, 1999
California 1, Hawaii 2
The 2nd game of the season saw the Tropics post their first win. They squeeked out 2 runs on 6 hits with C Robin Larker finding his bat and swinging it for 2 hits. The game was relatively low key for an opening series. SP Dow Jones showed people why he was signed, after pitching 8 innings, allowing 4 hits and striking out 5. CP Leo Lopez decided to show up for the game and recorded a hitless 9th inning to earn his first save.

April 03, 1999
California 5, Hawaii 2
Both teams combined for 21 combined hits and was generally a much more active game than the series had seen so far.RF Silas Camarena found his groove and went 2 for 4 with an RBI, and OF Jorge Abad added his own 2 hits in 3 at-bats. The ultimate story of the Tropics offense however, was the insane 13 runners left on base. SP Angel Miranda got off on the wrong foot, pitching 5 innings while allowing 9 hits and 4 Earned Runs.

April 04, 1999
Vancouver 3, Hawaii 2
The 2nd extra inning setup in 4 games again saw the Tropics on the wrong side of the scoreboard. CF Clark Devereaux went 2 for 4 with an RBI, both hits being doubles. 1B David Smurf finally snagged his first hits of the season in a 2 for 4 day, including a solo shot in the 4th. SP Felix Pan went 8 innings, giving up 2 ER on 7 hits allowed while striking out 6. With the game tied 2-2 going into the 9th, MR Chase Pack came into pitch and the 26 year old learned the hard way. Pack pitched 1.2 innings, giving up 2 hits and the fatal homerun.

April 05, 1999
Vancouver 4, Hawaii 1
Despite scoring only 1 run, the Tropics posted a season high 10 runs. RF Silas Camarena went 2 for 4 with a run. While SS Tim McGraw also went 2 for 4 with an RBI and a double. SP Remington Little showed up ready to itch, going 9 innings but wasn't on top of his game. Little struck out 11 on his way to allowing 10 hits and all 4 runs.

April 06, 1999
Vancouver 2, Hawaii 0
An utterly horrible game for Hawaii. 3 Hits and 0 runs was the game for the the Tropics. No one on the offense is worthy of a mention, but SP Freddy Bilbao saw his stellar first start go to waste. Bilbao pitched 8 innings, allowing just 1 hit and striking out 11. MR Chase Pack was almost booed out of Hormel Field after giving up a first-pitch homerun in the top of the 9th.

April 07, 1999
Vancouver 3, Hawaii 4
The strongest offensive showing of the season for the Tropics. A total of 6 starting Tropics managed a hit, while 3B Robb Wells, RF Silas Camarena, and OF Jorge Abad each had multi-hit games. SP Dow Jones was on top of his game, going 8 innings, 7 HA, 3 ER and 7 K's. CP Leo Lopez saw his single inning of work go to good use and earned his 2nd save of the season.

April 08, 1999
Hawaii 3, California 4
California's first road game of the season saw them out hit the Crusaders by 5 hits, and geneally have an excellent game. RF Silas Camarena was on it again, going 3 for 5 with 2 runs. George Gutowsk finally erupted for his first hits of the young-season and made it worth it. Gutowski went 2 for 4 with 3 RBI and a double. SP Angel Miranda went 7 innings, allowing 4 runs on 8 hits and struck out 5.

April 09. 1999
Hawaii 2, California 3
Once again, Hawaii had twice as many hits as the Crusaders, but couldn't capitalize. George Gutowsk added 2 more hits while being moved up to the 5 spot in the lineup. C Kevin Bulder hit his 1st homerun in the 7th inning as part of his 1 for 4 day. SP Felix Pan went 8 innings, allowing only 5 hits yet couldn't get any support as he earned the loss (0-1).

April 10, 1999
Hawaii 0, California 6
Another game where no good happened. Only 4 starters earned a hit, with C Robin Larker's hit being a double in the 4th inning. SP Remington Little was tricky again, striking out 8 in 7.2 innings pitched, and had only 3 Earned Runs.

~~~

Offensive Player
RF Silas Camarena - Camarena was stupid in the opening stretch, hitting a remarkable .429 while going 15-35, 3 RBI, 5 Runs, 2 Doubles and 2 BB. Camarena occupied this spot almost exclusively towards the end of last year and has plans to keep his name appearing here.

Pitcher
SP Dow Jones -- Exactly the kind of performance GM Josh Cornel wanted when he signed Jones to a 3 year deal worth just over $10 Million. Jones posted a 2-0 record with a 1.69 ERA in 16 IP. Jones struck out 12, and has an OAVG of only .200

[bschr682]

I'm very happy to get wins in the division nice and early. This could be a very strong division this year and in the future. I'm pleased i got in on the ground floor as the whole league in general seems to be on a great upswing.