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Overview:
The Honolulu Monk Seals coasted into the playoffs for the fourth time in five seasons last season, securing the # 1 wild card spot well before the season was over. They were eliminated by the Baltimore Orioles in the second round. In Honolulu, however, their sights are set higher for Season 5. They want to retake the AL West Division Pennant as they did in Season 4 and are looking to make it further than the second round of the playoffs for the first time in team history.
Changes from Last Season - The Honolulu squad is an amalgamation of returning veterans and hot young stars. Most of last years squad is returning with exception of grizzly vets Morgan Tyson and Archie Houston who were both signed in Free Agency by Washington D.C. (The Monk Seals were awarded the 19th, 35th and 43rd overall picks in the Amateur Draft for these signings.) Other than those two, the core of the Monk Seals squad will be returning with the addition of hot prospects slugging left fielder Julio Pena and set-up pitcher Placido Cordero who are currently in the minors but will be brought up to the ML squad in the coming weeks.
Key Players:
Season 4 Rookie of the Year, Glendon Carter, will be returning to play his first full major league season, he is looking to improve on his stellar .385 avg, 40 HRs and 128 RBIs in 390 at bats last season. Rookie of the Year finalist, Melvin Zhang is also looking to improve on a fantastic rookie year and to round out the young core of offensive talent, the Monk Seals are guessing that left fielder Julio Pena will be in the running for ROY this year as well.
The pitching staff for the Monk Seals looks very much the same with the starting 5 of last year returning for another season. Jumbo Cruz, Benj Purcell and Tony Jackson all won 15+ games last year and are looking to repeat those successes. The most questionable part of the Monk Seals squad last season was the bullpen and they are looking to bolster it with the addition of hot young pitching prospect Placido Cordero, an international signing who will be making his Major League debut in the coming weeks.
Season Outlook:
Season 6 looks to be another successful one in Honolulu as the team seeks to improve on its 98-64 record last season. The core squad remins the same with a couple of additions that should help them improve on this record and take them to their second division title in 6 years.
Prediction: 102 - 60 -- 1st place AL West -- Advance to AL Championship Game
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