Marching Out

Following a rather drab offseason, spring camps are open and the glacial thaw of Biscuits news has begun to flow again. Now back after a hiatus, we can get back to the business of watching some baseball!

SCHEDULE A LETDOWN
When asked about the Sktz promotional schedule, I can sum it one word = disappointed.

I honestly believed there would be significant change in the promotions this year. Dollar Dog Tuesday, Military Wednesday, Thirsty Thursday, Bark in the Park Sundays, Weekend Fireworks.... stop me if you have heard this before. Pumping up the same schedule is not working hard to create a new one.

Maybe there is some life in it that wasn't there before, but it looks like more of the same with a few tshirt and hat giveaways. No risks were taken in the planning of this seasons events.


Also, the only time in the cities history we have TWO players newly elected to Baseballs Hall of Fame and there is zero recognition planned.

Former Montgomery Rebels Alan Trammel and Jack Morris

The touted throwback uniform is a fauxback for Forrest Gump, a movie that glorifies a fictional Alabamian and ignores our actual history. Added to the three other movies that will be honored (star wars, harry potter, sandlot) it appears that the stewards of our cities team care very little about our rich baseball legacy.



MORE NEW TOGS
The Skitz will don sky blue jersey tops on Sundays this year, giving the team a new alternate top.

ON A.M. IN THE A.M.
What is new is the Biscuits radio show, which could bring a trove of information to the masses once a week at nine in the morning on saturdays. This is part of the new radio home on sports radio 740. Hopefully the station comes in at the park after the sun sets or it will continue to be largely ignored by fans at the home games.

MOBILE TO MOVE

I think we knew that, but its progression is moving along. Now we have a timetable, location and plan to view, all that is left is the approval of the baseball brass and the shovels will start turning dirt near Huntsville.

The biggest takeaway from the info on the new ballpark in Madison, for me at least, is that the feasibility study suggested a 6-thousand seat capacity and the new owners increased it by a thousand. That will guarantee plenty of empty seats, making the park look vacant even for well attended games.


CHATT NEEDS NEW PARK?
The Lookouts want to move and the city would like to use the space they currently occupy for other things, so it looks like this should happen. Montgomery fans might want to keep an eye on this move, as it could be a blueprint for the Biscuits should they ever decide to relocate within the Montgomery area.

The Chattanooga ballpark being discussed among city leaders and developers would be one of those evil alliances between money and municipal powers. The new park would "anchor" development that includes housing and retail.

I am not sure they need a new park, but I could easily see how developers would drool over the location of the current stadium for their own uses.

FORMER SKITZ
Former Biscuits Stephen Vogt and James Shields have both been slowed in their respective spring camps due to shoulder injuries. For Vogt it could mean losing his job in Milwaukee, for Shields it means losing time at the start of the year for the White Sox.

James Shields with Montgomery at the 2006 Rickwood Classic rain-out

Jhan Marinez

NRI's
Several former Montgomery players are non-roster invitees to spring training camps.

Shawn O'Malley is in camp with the Rockies.
Jose Lobaton is taking spring with the Mets.
Reid Brignac is encamped with the Nationals.
Jhan Marinez is working out with the Orioles.
Richie Shaffer is with Cleveland for spring camp, along with Melvin Upton.
Mike Broadway is trying to catch on with the Royals.
Ryan Garton is hoping to make the Mariners club.
Curt Casali is in camp with the Rangers.

CHAPMAN HANGS IT UP
Former Biscuits closer Jaye Chapman called it a career after sustaining an injury to his pitching arm this offseason.

Technically its a stress fracture to the olecranon but for Chappy its an opportunity to begin a new chapter in life following surgery to put his soup bone back in working order.

Chappy promised to get back with me and catch us up on his progress as well as share a few baseball stories "once I get on the other side" of the recovery.

1918 Baseball Team of the 46th Infantry regiment at Camp Sheridan in Montgomery

R.I.P. MARCOS CARVAJAL

In late January former major league pitcher and ex-Biscuit Marcos Carvajal passed away in his native Venezuela at the age of just 33 years. He had been hospitalized in December with pneumonia, recovered somewhat but relapsed a few weeks later and fell victim to a very treatable ailment due to a lack of antibiotics and medicine in his home country.

REMEMBERING MARCOS
In 2005 Marcos Carvajal was a young Colorado Rockies bullpen arm, finishing up big league games and making 39 MLB appearances at just twenty years of age. By 2007 he would be back in the bigs with Florida for a few games, wrapping up his major league service.

photo courtesy of the Mike Harders Collection

But sandwiched between his two major league gigs, Marcos pitched for the Biscuits.

In 2006 Carvajal matched his previous seasons total exactly with 39 appearances for Montgomery. Marcos finished 18 games and sported a nice 3.86 ERA out of the Biscuits bullpen. Carvajal pitched well for the Skitz, earning a championship ring with Montgomery's first Biscuits-era title.

Where Waldo Marcos? Carvajal celebrates the 2006 Biscuits victory with teammates

Marcos Carvajal was remembered fondly by long time Biscuit supporters as well as players from the '06 team. "Sad." was the only comment Biscuits fan and Montgomery baseball enthusiast Michael Harders could muster. Harders said he often enjoyed sitting behind the Biscuits bullpen during the early years due to the camaraderie and hi-jinks among the pitchers, including Carvajal.

Brian Henderson

HENDU REMEMBERS CARVAJAL
Carvajal was a hard working pitcher known for his affable personality and bright smile.

Former Biscuits pitcher Brian Henderson, Marcos Carvajal's teammate during the '06 season, offered this response when asked:
"I do remember him, that was really sad to hear about. He had a great time pitching and was a very happy person all around."


The New York Post article on Carvajal states that he was working as a youth coach in his native Bolivar. Surely he will be missed by many.

THIS DAY WEEK IN MONTGOMERY BASEBALL

This time of year is a hotbed of history for our area, hosting spring training for major league teams and barnstorming games between MLB teams as well as minor league clubs.

MARCH 2 1905 
In Montgomery, future Hall of Famer Clarke Griffith starts along with part of his NY Yankees team in a game vs Montgomery.

1905 New York Americans (Yankees)

MARCH 2 1908 
A stock company bought the Montgomery Southern league franchise and players from the Montgomery Traction Company. The price was about $16,500. The new company is to be incorporated for $25000.

The traction company is the main streetcar provider for the city and had much invested in getting people to ride their trolleys to get to and from games in the city, owning the team added to the profit as well as helped generate more ridership.

 

MARCH 6 1906 
The Philadelphia A's beat Montgomery in exhibition game behind pitcher Eddie Plank.

Yanigans = Scrubs, the "B" team, not the regulars!

The Athletics are the reigning American League champions, managed by Connie Mack and led by star pitchers Eddie Plank and Rube Waddell. Waddell has quite a fine time in Montgomery, building a huge fan base with legendary antics such as singlehandedly lifting a streetcar back onto its tracks, being a one-man fire department and getting himself kidnapped.

MARCH 7 1905 

Hal Chase

The NY Highlanders, later known as the Yankees, start spring training in Montgomery.

Controversy is stirred when batting star Hal Chase jumps contract to join New York in a questionable signing.