Happy New Year!

A new year is upon us, the Biscuits ready to start play and the fans clamoring for a playoff-worthy team. Many changes greet the new season, from the new uniform tops to the cooling air-movers on the concourse - the theme of the team this spring seems to be all about keeping cool.

Of course there are familiar things at hand, the coaches and many of the visible staff are back for more Biscuits. Big Mo has yet to eat Miss Gravy, though the pig is considerably larger than when she made her debut last year.

Usually the rosters come out on Sunday, this year it was held off a day but there were some players who tweeted that they were Biscuit-bound. The team is infield heavy, with two good first basemen in Seitzer and Leonard. I've added an asterisk by players who were on my early roster prediction list!

infield
Thomas Coyle - 30 stolen bases last year for Charlotte
Tyler Goeddel - 1st round 2011 pick had 60+ RBI last year
Patrick Leonard* - good power/speed combination
Leo Reginatto* - brazilian infielder returns
Daniel Robertson - the prospect shortstop we have been looking forward to seeing
Cam Seitzer* - returning 1b is a defensive wizard and rbi threat
Richie Shaffer* - second go round at double-A for the 1st round pick

outfield
Kes Carter* - looked good in a short stint with Skitz last year
Johnny Field* - hit .320 last summer, spent winter in Australian league
Boog Powell - hit .345 at two levels last year


Catchers
Jake DePew - good backstop spent time at two levels last year
Justin O'Conner* - prospect catcher poised for big year

Pitchers
Zach Cooper  - 24 yr old reliever had 5.27 era last year in A+
Garvin* - lefty, begins on DL
Bradin Hagens - In 2 games with Dbax last year, 25yr old starter has a 3.77 era in 52 double-A games
Jordan Harrison* - lefty, middle name Michael, versatile and stingy with baserunners
Matt Lollis, big dude is back for another dip
Reinaldo Lopez - tall Venezuelan starter isnt known for K's, needs to cut down on hits/walks
Jhan Martinez*- played against us in 2010, 11 & 12, southern league veteran pitcher
Parker Markel* -returning for second year
Jared Mortensen* - see Markel, above
Mikey O'Brien - selected in the rule 5 draft, TWICE!
Austin Pruett* - reliable pitcher made 25 starts last year
Colton Reavis* - in 3rd pro season, picked up 14 saves last year between two teams
Mark Sappington* - 42 games last year, 17 starts, spent time in the Texas League the last two years
Jaime Schultz - could be hidden surprise, skipping A+, '15 will be his 3rd pro season, in 104IP he has 134K career.
Robert Zarata - lefty, begins on the DL

So I picked 16 of the 25 or so Biscuits, not bad for January predictions!


BILOXI BLUES

Oh yes, the Biloxi team is at it again, gambling on when they can open the park. The team put up over $900k to try to get the park ready for the June opening, but its gonna be close. A major portion of that money went to "A-V equipment required" which likely means video for MiLB.tv as well as league and team access.

There is still a real possibility that the Biscuits series would shift to Montgomery. Even Biloxi team press releases don't mention when their home opener will be!

My friend Clarence Watkins sent me a pic he took at the park, and it looks alot like the one below that can be viewed on a stadium news report that details the progress.

That report also tells us they have just started putting in the seats and hope to begin adding grass in a few weeks. Meanwhile, every other ball field in North America is ready for opening week either this week or next. Can Biloxi be game-ready in 60 days?