After the previous campaign where owner Crystal Mussman had forgone a rebuilding plan to plug away through an injury-filled season, the
Tazmanian Devils entered 2010 in not much better shape than they had been going into their rookie season. The main returning star was ace starter Roy Halladay ($42), a surprising keeper for the
Devils in the eyes of many in the league due to his inflated price tag. But Halladay would earn his keep, winning both the HCBB Cy Young Award and the
Devils’ MVP honors for the second year in a row. But it wouldn’t be a one-man show for the franchise, as Crystal’s team would be powered all year by a host of top-performing pitchers – many of whom would be acquired either for cheap at the end of the draft or during the HCBB’s best reserve draft performance. Mat Latos ($2) would establish himself as one of the best young pitchers in the game, while Francisco Liriano ($9) would rebound to become one of the top contenders for HCBB Comeback Player of the Year. Reserve selections Carl Pavano, Ricky Romero, and Dallas Braden would all pitch at a high level for most of the season, helping the
Devils to an all-time league-record for single-season WHIP. The
Devils were held back in the middle of the pack, however, by an offense that struggled all season, as once again (as in 2009), injuries to Kevin Youkilis ($42) and Mike Cameron ($10) and disappointing years by Adam Lind ($11) and Brad Hawpe ($18) kept the team’s offense mired for most of the summer. After dishing off Ricky Nolasco ($22), Pavano, and Romero in trades for offense, the
Devils slowly climbed up to contention. A hot streak by Hunter Pence (acquired from
Hotel California for Nolasco) helped fuel the team’s second half surge, but the offense hole the Devils had dug themselves into was too much to overcome. Still, while the
Devils finished just short of the money in 6th place, it would be the best finish ever for a second-year franchise since 2000.
As good as the rest of their pitching staff was last season was as bad as the two Devils’ closers were in 2010 – and it would be that failing that would cost the franchise their first money finish. Crystal had invested heavily in a pair of high-risk, high reward closers; while Hoffman was headed to the Hall of Fame, his advancing age made him a concern, while injuries had always been a lingering problem for Gonzalez. In 2010, both investments would implode spectacularly, as the pair would record a measly 6 saves combined with a total ERA of 6.30 over 50 terrible innings. The Devils would end up missing out on a money finish by only 5.5 points – and effectively dumping saves after her two closers flamed out would end up being the costly difference.