EDMONTON (AP) - Five years ago, the ownership of the Edmonton Orcas declared a "rebuilding process" as they moved across the Pacific from Taegu and into the SeaDome. Future Hall of Famer Mel Ott was the first to feel the shove of the youth movement. Soon, nothing but young faces from the minor leagues took the field. It was as if the movie Major League was filmed in Edmonton. What followed were back to back seasons of 18 and 17 wins. After that talent was sorted, the checkbook was opened. Todd Walker became the first free agent signed by the Orcas and led the team to nearly double their win total of those combined years. A few more free agents, some prospects and a couple key trades later, the Edmonton Orcas finally look primed to be competitors.

"We started with pitching," remarked Orcas GM J.J. Wurz when asked how the team was looking. "It has always been the priority. Now we might have one of the best starting staffs in the league." The Orcas rotation this year has Pete Alexander, Lee Valdez, and newly signed veteran free agent Jim Keener as the dominant trio. The fourth starter, 23 year old Gene Aspromonte has amazing stuff with a killer knuckleball while Rube Hall gets the nod in the fifth rotation spot, just beating out Gus Beattie and Don Brett in Spring Training.

Pitching Coach Jimmy Key was brought in this year to help the young bull-pen flourish. "Hell, I think our oldest guy in the pen could be my kid," said Key. "Sure there's things to learn and things I'll be teaching, but all these guys throw hard, which can overcome just about anything."

Though the pitching is solid, the offense is what will fill the stadium this season. Manager Robin Yount had this to say about his lineup, "It has to be the best and deepest lineup I've seen in a long time. Granted, the New York Nukes had a killer one back in the day, and the Long Beach Lobsters came out of no where with theirs a few seasons back. But I've got to tell ya, this could be it. I mean, we got speed, we got power, we got crafty contact hitting veterans, and we got four kids who are starting to crush everything in sight."

Indeed, things look up for Edmonton this year. If last season was any indication, where they climbed to a 75-87 record, the best in over a decade, then things can only improve. The only questions remaining are if the veteran leaders have enough left to make it all happen and if the youngsters can put it all together.