Tampa Bay, FL - Before the season GM bjwilson04 apologized to the city of Tampa Bay.
"It's year 7 of our 5 year plan and I take full responsibility for that," bjwilson04 said in a press conference this past winter,"I promise that we will do what it takes to start a winning tradition here."
The Tampa Bay Waves had their best season last year, going 72-90.
Early indications show that the team is serious about changing its image.
The team went out and racked up the credit card bill this offseason, its biggest move was signing 1b Omar Lopez and his career .321 batting average to a $52 million over 4 year contract.
"We expect Omar to vastly improve our offense right from the start," said bjwilson04,"We finished 31st in runs scored last season and that is not acceptable."
The team also spent $28.4 million to sign lefty RP Frank Niekro to be the lock down lefty that they lacked last year.
The team also went out and made a big trade for closer Derek Harris. The team sent three players to the New York Moose Knuckles, cf Cookie Wilkinson, rp Jose Gabriel, p Bert Kaufman and $1.5 million. With the addition of Harris that moves last years closer, 23 year old righty, Douglas Nielsen, where he struggled last season, into a lead setup role.
With the continued development of two of the best young starting pitchers in the league in lefties Walter Russell and Red Hitchcock in addition to veteran lefty Earle Smart the rotation should be very good at the top.
With Neikro and Harris in the 'pen bjwilson04 hopes,"Waves fans won't be cursing (quite as much) and pulling their hair out at the end of games."
Is it all enough?
Bjwilson04 hopes so.
"My job depends on it."
Watch out AL South, there might be a new sheriff in town.
No comments:
Post a Comment