February hit and it was a vision of groundhogs day in Sioux Falls. Everyone in Sioux Falls was talking about the relief ace that Sioux Falls just signed. However many bar patrons were confused when people were naming different names. Was it bringing back Ramon Ochoa or Masaki Kurota two favorites of Sioux Falls? Or were those rumors about Sioux Falls and Cameron Copeland true?

Luckily no bar fights were reported over people beliving they were more right than the other as they were all right. In fact in one week Sioux Falls spent just shy of 45 million dollars in contracts. Ochoa and Kurota are back to hold down the middle innings and giving Sioux Falls the lowest blood pressure CBU city in the league. Copeland was the biggest landing as he was a two time all star for Rapid City and added over 3 wins above replacement level each season. Copeland is a great addition to Sioux Falls who gets to move Garry Christian back to middle relief where he is likely better suited.

The Uber Giraffes last season had starters who had many issues even getting to the 5th inning in games, and although they revamped the entire rotation this off season, have the bullpen who can reliably get through 3 innings a night if needed.

Among the big spending week Sioux Falls signed back up infielder Zak Simpson who spent last season as a starter in Carson City. Simpson was looking for a starting job, but at his age of 35 signed with intentions of getting a CBU championship in any role he could find.

Also Sioux Falls added another reliable starter in Salvador Roman to a 3 year deal. Roman had a tough season last year in Colorado giving up 30 home runs, however is he projected to do much better than that, and as left-hander he was built for the ball park here in Sioux Falls. The Roman addition also allows Sioux Falls to give Conrad Jennings some more seasoning at East River (AAA) to hone in his control over his arsenal.

The Uber Giraffes were big spenders this off season via the free agent route and the trade route and they needed to be. Nashville now Honolulu got last years Cy Young and giraffe killer Domensco Corosi and resigned John Jewett making some major moves incredibly necessary.

Sioux Falls has serious depth at every position now and barring a major pandemic Sioux Falls is built to survive a 162 game season at a very high level. Not to mention that franchise player Bryan Wigmore is now 25 years old and likely just started hitting his prime as a player. He hit 41 home runs last season, does he have a shot at 50? Only time will tell, he shows flashes of that potential, if he can hone in his skills on a more consistent basis he may be the toughest player to get out in 2011.