Biscuits vs BayCity Bears, What to Look For, History Lesson!

Hey who was that getting a start for the Biscuits yesterday? Why it was Drew Smyly, rehabbing major leaguer!

Smyly joins the ranks of those who have appeared in Biscuits uniforms but not seen in Montgomery. For whatever reasons, the Rays seem more likely to send a big league talent to any facility other than Riverwalk. The Rays hope Smyly will be back in the Tampa rotation by Friday's tilt vs Toronto.

Catcher Justin O'Conner

In his Biscuits debut, Drew Smyly tossed one hit ball with his 70 pitches, Hagens relieved and got the win. Jhan Marinez notched his second save. The scoring largely came on Justin O'Conner's third homer of the young season. 


BISCUIT ACTION
The Skitz on the road in Jacksonville turned out a series victory with wins in nearly every possible combination. One game was a 12 run slug fest, one low scoring contest almost got away and one saw a pitcher from the bigs leading us in a shutout.



AND NOW....

Back by request, the forecast for the upcoming series. We don't often get requests but when it happens I try to accommodate, and this one was due to return - so enjoy!

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

The Mobile BayBears make their first visit to Montgomery laden with prospects and lofty expectations. Touted pitchers Blair, Shipley and Sherfy will be a challenge for the hot Skitz hitters.

Look for tough pitching from the Mobile Shippers hurlers. Bats like Drury and Haniger provide the Bay-city pop. Alex Glenn leads the league in runs batted in.

Ex-Skit G-man

Familiar faces are found on this team as well, former Biscuits Mark Thomas and Todd "Rain Turtle" Glaesmann return to Riverwalk for the first time in 2015.



PEN WOES
Look for the Biscuits bullpen to be under scrutiny - the late innings have been a weakness even in games Montgomery wins. Biscuit closer Marinez picked up his first save on Friday but didn't exactly slam the door, giving up three hits and a run while getting a four out save. Relievers Markel and Lollis both took losses on the roadtrip, though Markel is one of just two Skitz bullpen tossers to possess a sub-6 ERA.

Montgomery hit an anemic .170 with runners in scoring position over the last five games (8 for 47).

Johnny Field had the only sacrifice on the trip to Jacksonville.

Richie Shaffer is tied for league lead in strikeouts.

Tyler Goeddel leads Rays minor leaguers in OPS (1.009) and is in the top 5 in BABIP (.471)

Zack Cooper's FIP is the highest in the Rays organization at 19.70, not a good thing.



History Lesson!

APRIL 20 1893 

McGinnity

 Future HOF Pitcher Joe McGinnity is signed to play for the Montgomery Colts by skipper John McCloskey and gets off the train just in time to make his first start. McGinnity beats Nashville 10-4, the future Iron Man holding Ted Sullivan's Nashville Tigers to just five hits literally arriving at the train station just before the game.
 Ted Sullivan will manage Montgomery in 1899, our only Irish-born manager!




APRIL 20 1908 
The Nashville Vols and Montgomery Senators battle for 15 innings without a run before darkness ends the contest.



APRIL 20 1920 

Negro Southern League is Formed 

- Montgomery Team Will Play Exhibition Game With Crack Indianapolis Club -

The local negro baseball team known as the Grey Sox will open the Negro Sourthern League season in Montgomery on Friday, April 30, May 1 and 2 with the Birmingham Giants. The league is composed of eight clubs, Knoxville, Atlanta, Birmingham, Montgomery, Pensacola, New Orleans, and Jacksonville. The opening dates are Birmingham at Montgomery, New Orleans at Pensacola, Knoxville at Nashville, Jacksonville at Atlanta.

President Staples of the local club has gathered together one of the strongest aggregations of ball tossers in the South, having returned from a scouting trip Wednesday with three new pitchers. He assures the public of clean baseball and is out for the first pennant of the new league. No games will be played in any town when a Southern League team is playing.

ABC's star O.Charleston

On Tuesday, April 20, the Grey Sox will entertain the strong A.B.C. club of Indianapolis, Indiana, the strongest negro club in the country. The game will give the local fans an opportunity of seeing just what kind of club the Grey Sox will be. The game will be played in Southside park on South Holt street, just one half block from the car line. The new park has a special grand stand for white patrons.