As the Honolulu Hawaiian faithful packed local bars and flipped on their TVs to watch the NASBL draft there was eager anticipation. Ryan Braun was slipping and the crowd was going wild. Rumors abounded of a possible deal to move up to the 9th spot to get Braun were abuzz in the crowd. While there was some smoke as an 11th hour deal was discussed, there was no fire as the asking price of Pat Burrell and the HHA first proved to be too much at the end of the day.
The second rated player on the Honolulu board was Alex Gordon and he was within reach as well but when the dust settled he was gone too. Sitting at 14 and without HHA Scouting's top two players on the board, Stan Pietruska knew he had to make a move. In fact it was the worst kept secret on the island.
The value in the pick was to take a highly coveted starter but the Hawaiians have their 5 man rotation set. While 6 general managers actually inquired about moving up for the pick, the final three teams standing were New Jersey, Lehigh Valley and the latecomers to the bidding, Troy. As Commisioner Stephen Beard stepped to the podium, he announced "with the 14th pick of the 1st round the Troy Haymakers select John Maine." He then announced that the Hawaiians had sent that pick and their 11th and 12th round selections in the entry draft to Troy for the Haymakers 2nd, 3rd, 7th and 9th picks. Now the Hawaiian faithful will have to wait another day for a glimpse at the team's future.
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