Magic Numbers Game, Gotta Hits, Timmons to VZL

Brent Honeywell

The Biscuits won the series in Mobile and on Wednesday hope to hold or extend their one-half game lead in the division. Brady Williams will send Brent Honeywell to the bump in the 'nally at seven pm against the Mobile Shippers John Omahen.

Unless the Rays dictate that Chase Whitley should skip his next start, this would be Honeywell's last regular season appearance. The Biscuits have deployed a six-man starting rotation since Hunter Wood returned from the DL.

 IN A NUTSHELL

 The playoff picture is muddy in the North Division as Montgomery tries to secure a playoff berth against the Jackson Generals, but in the South it looks like the MsBraves can secure the second half division title and face the first half champion P'cola Wahoos in the South Division Playoffs.

The Shuckers aren't out of it, though. If the Braves falter and lose their one-half game lead over second place Pensacola, Biloxi holds a commanding lead in the "wild card" full season record and would earn a playoff berth.

Mobile was trying to sneak back into the race but the Biscuits have put them in a tight spot, dropping them to four games back with six left to play.

MAGIC NUMBERS GAME

Tommy Coyle knows the Magic Number!

The Biscuits now have a magic number, any combination of six Montgomery wins or Jackson losses means the Skitz win the second half title.

Any combination of four Montgomery wins or Chattanooga losses eliminates the Lookouts from winning the second half, but the Biscuits are just a scant two games ahead of 'Nooga in the "Wild Card".


PLAYOFF HOPES
The earliest Montgomery could clinch a postseason spot would be Friday, on Fan Appreciation Night.

If the Biscuits win the second half, Montgomery would host game 3, and if necessary, games 4&5.

The Division playoffs begin on September 8th in Jackson Tn, home of the first half winners, the Jackson Generals.

If the Biscuits are going to win the league pennant, it will have to happen on the road. Should Montgomery advance to the Championship round, the Biscuits would host the first two games. The series would be completed at the site of the winner of the Southern Division playoffs.


TIMMONS TO COACH IN VENEZUELA

Timmons

Former Biscuits hitting coach now in Durham, Ozzie Timmons, will join Magellanes in the Venezuelan League to serve as hitting coach this offseason.

Magellanes president Ferrari was quoted:

Timmons knows our ball and knows what it means to wear the shirt of Magellan. We trust him to guide our batters and above all, to work with young players. It has 10 years as an instructor in the organization of the Rays, of which seven of them had been as hitting coach at Double - a, so has the necessary experience for the position the other hand, Ozzie has a desire to come, has a friendly relationship with Bronswell Patrick and Carlos Garcia liked. all I could talk to him. Alejandro Freire has also given us his opinion, its link with the Rays, and has very excellent references , "said the buccaneer executive. - See more at: https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?act=url&depth=1&hl=en&ie=UTF8&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http://el-carabobeno.com/deportes/articulo/130081/Ozzie-Timmons-nuevo-coach-de-bateo-del-Magallanes&usg=ALkJrhhCmxRJh-ZLeSeeedkCq79NiMQXQg#sthash.zAqaLZ0A.dpuf

 Timmons knows our ball and knows what it means to wear the shirt of Magellan. We trust him to guide our batters and above all, to work with young players. It has 10 years as an instructor in the organization of the Rays, of which seven of them had been as hitting coach at Double - a, so has the necessary experience for the position the other hand, Ozzie has a desire to come, has a friendly relationship with Bronswell Patrick and Carlos Garcia liked. all I could talk to him. Alejandro Freire has also given us his opinion, its link with the Rays, and has very excellent references , "said the buccaneer executive.

When I reached out to Timmons for confirmation he replied "I dont know where you saw it, but it is true". Timmons last joined the Magellanes Venezuelan team back in 2000, where he hit a huge home run to propel them to the playoffs in his final at bat with the team.

GOTTA HIT

Cade Gotta and Patrick Leonard each have nine doubles in August, good for third in the Rays organization.

Cade Gotta

Biscuits manager Brady Williams has been putting Cade Gotta's name in the second spot in the batting order, in spite of my suggestion that Gotta is much stronger lower in the lineup. Its true that Cade has been one of the teams hottest hitters, batting nearly .300 over the last 30 days. However the strong outfielder has a paltry .194 average in about a dozen games batting second.

Still, Gotta is a dangerous hitter at the plate and has obviously broken out of the mini-slump he suffered in July. Cade is one of the most reliable Biscuits hitters with runners on base, earning 27 rbi with runners in scoring position.

One of the highlights of this years Biscuits team has been the great performance of the outfielders, and Cade Gotta has done his share. With five double plays and ten assists to his credit in just 60 games, word is going around the league that The San Diego Kid will gun you down if you don't respect him.

MISS GRAVY OFF TO THE FARM

The suidae mascot has decided to take herself out of the lineup, heading to the farm after the last game of the season.

Probably wise, as the whole pig-ness thing never quite seemed to take hold. And the plan had a few flaws.

To start with, the first Miss Gravy was too large and hard to control, tearing up the field in a preseason workout was a red flag.

Sure, shes cute as can be, but pigs are smart enough to be tough to handle!

A second, smaller (read: cuter) Miss Gravy quickly arrived before Opening Day and proved easier to wrangle but earned diva status. Several times I heard that the pig had bitten patrons, fans or employees at the park and she was generally grumpy when having to hang around in the heat of summer.

Definitely cute!

MISS GRAVY
Height: 26"
Weight:  ?

Scouting Report
cuteness 40/80
bite  60/80
aroma 80/80
speed 20/80
bacon 20/80

When speaking of Miss Gravy and her talents, one has to consider the aroma. Miss Gravy brought the vibe of a State Fair animal exhibit to the ballpark. Being a pig, funky smells come naturally and Miss Gravy definitely has All Star abilities in that direction.

All Star Appearance

 The opening game of 2014 saw the rookie Miss G in an enclosure near the Biscuits dugout. By the second inning she had cleared everyone out of the area with her first poop of the season, sending fans and players scurrying.

Sometimes she would appear on the field before the game but the team had to discontinue the pregame introductions, being a pig she was great at waiting until the camera was rolling and fans applauding before dropping a steamer at the on-deck circle.

One day a staffer brought the Duchess of Pork to visit near my seat and I got to hang out with her, up close and personal. Overall, I like Miss Gravy but I was less than thrilled to sit for the final innings with fresh dung in the aisle behind me after she left.

Another issue was that she was unable to refuse snacks and often would be offered very un-pig-like eats. One game in particular I recall she had to leave early due to "too many jellybeans". Like any kid at the ballpark, Miss Gravy thought cotton candy looked tasty but gave herself tummy aches by eating too much of it.

Once I had a suggestion of a "hit sign, win biscuit" billboard and was told such promos were kind of low brow. I had to bite my tongue to keep from saying "We have a PIG for a mascot, how much can we fear being called bush league?"


In a possibly related story, BBQ-Fest will be returning to the schedule in 2017.

Timmons knows our ball and knows what it means to wear the shirt of Magellan. We trust him to guide our batters and above all, to work with young players. It has 10 years as an instructor in the organization of the Rays, of which seven of them had been as hitting coach at Double - a, so has the necessary experience for the position the other hand, Ozzie has a desire to come, has a friendly relationship with Bronswell Patrick and Carlos Garcia liked. all I could talk to him. Alejandro Freire has also given us his opinion, its link with the Rays, and has very excellent references , "said the buccaneer executive. - See more at: https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?act=url&depth=1&hl=en&ie=UTF8&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http://el-carabobeno.com/deportes/articulo/130081/Ozzie-Timmons-nuevo-coach-de-bateo-del-Magallanes&usg=ALkJrhhCmxRJh-ZLeSeeedkCq79NiMQXQg#sthash.zAqaLZ0A.dpuf

Timmons knows our ball and knows what it means to wear the shirt of Magellan. We trust him to guide our batters and above all, to work with young players. It has 10 years as an instructor in the organization of the Rays, of which seven of them had been as hitting coach at Double - a, so has the necessary experience for the position the other hand, Ozzie has a desire to come, has a friendly relationship with Bronswell Patrick and Carlos Garcia liked. all I could talk to him. Alejandro Freire has also given us his opinion, its link with the Rays, and has very excellent references , "said the buccaneer executive. - See more at: https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?act=url&depth=1&hl=en&ie=UTF8&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http://el-carabobeno.com/deportes/articulo/130081/Ozzie-Timmons-nuevo-coach-de-bateo-del-Magallanes&usg=ALkJrhhCmxRJh-ZLeSeeedkCq79NiMQXQg#sthash.zAqaLZ0A.dpuf

Southern League Intrigue Tempts Baseball Sins

Baseball Sins

or

When Losing Means Winning

Having a conversation with a well placed source, I learned there was a freak thing that could happen. A bad thing, a terrible temptation for gain that hearkens back to the early days, shaking the game to its core. Its something that every fan has been protected from over the years, sheltered in order to preserve the "best interests of baseball".

And the Biscuits could be the victim, even if justice prevails.


Its a rare occurrence, perhaps one of the rarest paradoxes in any form of baseball, ever. I could not find another reference to such an occult alignment in the annals of history. So rare, that bringing forth the possibility of its existence has resulted in the ultimate punishment, complete expulsion from organized baseball for the mere suggestion.

That is a fate that I personally wish to avoid. By writing of this now, I hope to avoid the fate of Horace Fogel.

You probably haven't heard of Horace Fogel, I certainly hadn't until I studied the MLB list of persons declared "Permanently Ineligible".

NL Prez Tom Lynch

Fogel was a sportswriter who penned words after the fact, hopefully my preemptive authorship excludes the damning burden of proof, or equally damning lack of it. When asked to substantiate his mentions of this nature, Horace Fogels failure to produce evidence confirmed his own expulsion - driven out by National League President Tom Lynch for having "undermined the integrity of the game."


I hope not to be accused of such an offense for pointing this out before it has a chance to occur, per MLB rules, as we shall see.

 THE SITUATION

The Chattanooga Lookouts could find themselves in a position to make the postseason by losing a game.

SOUTHERN LEAGUE RULE REGARDING "WILD CARD"
The league website defines what happens when a team wins both halves of the season thusly:

 "The runner-up club, which shall be the opponent if a club wins both halves, shall be defined as the divisional club with the second best overall record for the entire season"

IF
The Jackson Generals, who already won the first half, lead Montgomery by a half game in the division standings on the very last day of the season...

PLUS
The Lookouts are in third place but lead the overall Wins and Losses record, which is being called the wild card.


A LOOKOUTS WIN MEANS NO PLAYOFFS
A Chattanooga Lookouts win in the final game of the regular season means the Biscuits would take the second half championship, by virtue of the Generals being knocked out of first place in the division for the second half.

By winning the final game in that situation, the Lookouts would not make the playoffs and have a chance at back-to-back Southern League championship titles.
 
BUT A LOOKOUTS LOSS MEANS LOOKOUTS IN PLAYOFFS
However, and here is the ultimate baseball sin.... IF THE LOOKOUTS LOSE that final home game, they MAKE THE PLAYOFFS and the Biscuits finish in second place but without the best overall record and so get nothing.

WAIT, WHAT?
Let that sink in a minute. How does a team get into the playoffs by losing? Here it is, a total fluke but absolutely a flaw in the league tiebreaker rules, giving a third place team incentive to lose a game.





lets check the mlb book on that...



Rule 21, particularly section (a) and (d) which states:

(a) Any player or person connected with a club who shall promise or agree to lose, or to attempt to lose, or to fail to give his best efforts towards the winning of any baseball game with which he is or may be in any way concerned; or who shall intentionally fail to give his best efforts towards the winning of any such baseball game, or who shall solicit or attempt to induce any player or person connected with a club to lose, or attempt to lose, or to fail to give his best efforts towards the winning of any baseball game with which such other player or person is or may be in any way connected; or who, being solicited by any person, shall fail to inform his Major League President and the Commissioner.

(d) Any player, umpire, or club or league official or employee, who shall bet any sum whatsoever upon any baseball game in connection with which the bettor has a duty to perform shall be declared permanently ineligible.

LAST DAY INTRIGUE
Montgomery plays at 12:05 that day, the Generals and Lookouts will know the outcome of the Biscuits game before they play each other at 3:05pm that day.

How are we to know if "best effort" is given on the field or in the dugout without cameras at the ballpark in Chattanooga?

Would Lookouts skipper Doug Mientkiewicz put his best lineup on the field if it meant a win would keep them from a chance to repeat as Southern League Champions?

Doug Mientkiewicz (left) vs Randy Johnson

IN THE HANDS OF THE LEAGUE
What kind of oversight can fans expect? Historically speaking, leagues let this play out and if proof is supplied (or often even it the suggestion is strong enough to establish a possibility) suspensions are handed out. However, it is incredibly rare that knowledge of such a situation is known beforehand.

And if it happens, what can the league prexie do, what are the options? Declare a forfeit in favor of the team that threw the game? Handing a Win to a team trying to lose sounds preposterous.

Even in Major League baseball such oversight required a complete rebuilding at the highest level, throwing games and fixing outcomes was beyond even the most experienced baseball authoritarians. An unimpeachable national figure was needed to handle such situations and the strength of office had to be redoubled before even Kenesaw Mountain Landis would agree to mete out baseball justice.

Can we expect Lori Webb to be a Judge Landis?
We have not a choice in it, and can only have faith that it will work out "in the best interests of baseball".

WHO WAS HORACE FOGEL?
Fogel was owner of the Philadelphia team in the NL, a sportswriter who found his way into leading the purchase of the team.

Fogel accused the Cardinals of not fielding their best team vs the Cubs late in the 1912 season, so as to allow the Giants to win the league title over the Phillies. He also railed against NL umpires for favoring New York and was called to the National League office carpet to provide proof. Fogel was unable to offer evidence of his accusations and was banished.


In my opinion Horace Fogel likely deserved banishment, not for his angry 1912 finger pointing but as a minor league manager in 1887 he tried to convince pitcher Christy Mathewson to switch positions to first base!

BISCUITS NOTES

Justin Williams

Outfielder Justin Williams returned to the lineup after a bout of the flu.

Alec Sole

Unfortunately he passed it off to infielder Alec Sole, who has it bad enough that he was put on the disabled list.

Infielder and part time left fielder Tommy Coyle was activated to fill the vacated roster spot.


Chris Kirsch has been working on his slide step.
Although he says he has been using it all season he felt it needed some work and spent time in the bullpen during the last homestand perfecting his mechanics.

It must have worked, the Lackawanna Lefty punched out six hitters in six shutout innings to complete the sweep against Bham.

Willy Adames Plays Serious, Skitz Notes, '17 Sked

There is much unknown in the world today, including the Southern League playoff picture. So instead of trying to pick apart what might be, today I will try to stick to the solid truths.

The Biscuits are very much in the playoff hunt. With just about a dozen games left it would be a good time for a hot Biscuit streak.


BARONS KNOCKED OUT
The Barons have been eliminated.
Monday nights loss took them out of the hunt, mathematically.

So if the Brummie bench seemed to take the loss hard, its because they knew they were just playing out the string after that one.


Barons infielder Marcus Lemon is the son of former White Sox AllStar outfielder Chet Lemon, who played for the Barons in 1974!

O RETURNS

Justin O'Conner

Justin O'Conner is back. Healed up and ready to get back to playing, I noticed him in uniform for game one.

Sure enough, he entered game action on Tuesday and quickly gunned down a would-be basestealer in the first inning. "Welcome back, Justin!" echoed across the yard. I think I yelled it loud enough for everyone to hear!


Pitcher Taylor Guerrieri is happy to have Justin O join the Skitz, and not just for his catching skills. It means Taylor has a new victim for videogame golf. Beware, Justin, Taylor G is a beast on the virtual links!


ONE JUSTIN BACK, ONE JUSTIN DOWN
Justin Williams was a late scratch from Mondays game. So late that even stadium announcer Rick Hendricks stumbled, "now batting... Justin Will..... uh, Granden Goetzman!" Williams is out due to a stomach bug, he should be good for game action in a day or two.


GO HARD

rhp Mark Sappington

These Biscuits give maximum effort, even when they aren't in the game.

Last night I saw Mark Sappington run in a full sprint from the bullpen just to pick up an errant baseball he felt he was responsible for corralling.
Had it all the way.

PIG FARMED OUT
Miss Gravy, the Suidae mascot pig for the past three seasons has announced her retirement.

It was sudden and not expected, though the video tribute was shocking - Big Mo was given a voice! Freaky, since we never heard Big Mo say a word before.

The fans were split on Miss Gravy, some liked her and some didn't. Lately she hadn't been making many appearances, so I guess we should have realized. She will be around for a swan song in the final weekend of the regular season, before heading out to the farm.

Dang, I miss this place!

WILLY ADAMES PLAYS SERIOUS BALL
Willy Adames loves baseball.
He loves to play the game and its fun to watch him enjoy playing shortstop. He has been having an excellent summer both at the plate and in the field, but he brings so much more to the squad than just numbers and skills.

His smiles and antics have added a lot of emotion to Biscuit baseball this year, entertaining everyone in so many ways.

Willy give a pregame lip-synch serenade to Kean Wong

elaborate pregame high fives!

Willy gets kids worked into a frenzy with the fake ball toss

However, once on the diamond he takes the game of baseball seriously. 

Seriously.

like VERY seriously....

Sometimes, the playful and the serious Willy Adames show up at the same time.

SERIOUSLY PLAYFUL
Here he is pregame, playing catch to warm up the honorary batkid who throws the first pitch.

Looks pretty normal, right? Very cool that kid gets to play catch with the Biscuits top prospect infielder!

But when the kid lets loose with a bad throw, Willy doesn't just let it go by.
No, he can't, thats not Willy Adames style.

He goes after it like its game seven of the World Series.

Seriously Playful!

BISCUITS OPEN 2017 AT HOME
SCHEDULE CLUES ABOUND
The Biscuits home opener will be on Thursday, April 6th, 2017 against the Biloxi Shuckers starting a five game set.

If you are desperate for next years Biscuits already, this is what I know.

Just announced is the Brummies sked for next summer. On April 12th the Biscuits make their first road trip, though its a short one, to Birmingham for five games. It will be the Barons home opener. The Biscuits host the Barons at the end of April, from 4/27 to May 1st.
 
The Wahoos have also released their sked for next summer and it shows them visiting at Montgomery on July 19th thru the 24th. The Biscuits visit Pensacola at the end of June and into the start of July.

The Smokies '17 dates tell us that the Biscuits visit TN from May 13-17th. The Smokies first visit to MGM is May 30 through June 3rd.

The Smokies host the Skitz for a short four-game set July 9th to the 12th and then AGAIN host the Skitz just twelve days later for a regular five game series. The BabyCubs then visit Montgomery for the final time August 21-25.

Montgomery visits the Jackson Generals twice, April 17-21 and again in July. The Biscuits host the Gens twice, May 18-22 and August 10-14.

Did you get all that? It might appear on the final!

#BULLPENLIFE