#BullpenLife - A Field Guide to Biscuits Relievers

Watching the Biscuits at home was torturous over the first three weeks. Chilly weather could be to blame for the cold bats and weak play.

If the Skitz can figure out how to post two or three runs in the early innings it won't be a tough task to get back to even in the win column. Everything else is there, good pitching, reliable defense and a knack for plating runs in the late innings.

The Montgomery team has played pretty bad so far, but they look good doing it.

Not just photogenic, though they are, the Biscuits have a good foundation to build on going forward. Perhaps the bad start is just that, a bad start. Lets hope so!
 

REDUS REPLY

Biscuits coach Gary Redus was a member of the Pirates team in that infamous playoff game seven that sent the Braves to the World Series with a Sid Bream slide.

Gary had three hits off of Tom Glavine a couple days earlier and batted .479 that postseason, but was not in the lineup for that fateful contest.

When asked why he wasn't in that game, not even used as a pinch hitter by manager Jim Leyland, Redus replied simply "I don't know".

CLOSE CALL

SEND REINFORCEMENTS!
There will be help for the Skitz, even if we can't yet see the flags over the hill.

Guys like outfielder Jesus Sanchez (.338ba 4hr in 18 games) will arrive, perhaps sooner than later. Shortstop Lucius Fox is hitting .353 and stealing bags. Reliever Roel Ramirez has been nearly unhittable in nine pitching appearances.

Several other Stone Crabs are pitching well or slugging the ball and could get promoted, but touted third baseman Kevin Padlo isn't yet among them. His .236 average is among the Charlotte teams lowest.



TOO THREE LOWE

Brandon Lowe

Players named Lowe could soon complicate Brady Williams lineup cards, Charlotte outfielder Josh Lowe is batting .362 and their first baseman Nate Lowe is flirting with .400 early on. Adding them to the Biscuits current Lowe, second baseman Brandon, would surely confuse everyone.

Truly it can be said that having those three in the lineup together would be a real Lowe point in Montgomery history! (ha-cha-cha-cha I gots a million of em!)

BULLPEN BLISS
This edition of the relief corps is a cut above most April issues. They work quickly, throw strikes and get the job done more often than not. If there isn't a barrage of changes or bouts of severely contagious suck-itis, we could even learn to love these guys. Once we learn who they are.

(l-r) Alaniz, Ott, Wright, Harrison, Karalus, Moats, Krook

That being said, at least one and maybe more of these dudes needs to start browsing a Durham apartment guide. The past few seasons, the reliever throwing the best at the end of April gets a promotion. Last year it was Jose Alvarado who went straight to the big leagues from Montgomery.

So on that note, lets get a look at those relief pitchers in this in-depth edition of #BullpenLife!

#BULLPENLIFE

(l-r) Ott, Wright, Bird, Harrison, Karalus, Krook

LEFTIES - WE GOTS EM

Tall Kyle Bird and sidearming Jordan Harrison have had the longest tenure in Biscuits raiment. Both these southpaws have been getting the ball in the late innings and are co-closers along with right-hander Mike Franco.


BIRD
Kyle Bird is a hard throwing lefty, kind of a country boy at heart and so far the team leader in bubblegum-dart tossing for distance.

K.B. got married in the offseason and also loves the Jaguars, according to the media guide. The Birds are expecting their first baby next month, a little girl, so be sure to give dad a break if he looks a little sleepy come June.



Bird is off to a very nice start, keeping hitters off stride and stranding baserunners. He has a nice pickoff move to first and a quick time to home plate with his fastball, which eliminates the running game.

Kyle locates his fastball well and has minimized his mistakes so far this year, looking much more dominant than in previous seasons.

He is friendly and easy to talk with, you can bet when Jags gameday rolls around, his place is a ton of fun!


HARRISON
Jordan Harrison has a wicked sidearm delivery and a sense of humor that cuts as well as his fastball. A Biscuit since 2015, Jordan is the longest tenured player and should oversee Kangaroo Court very capably.

Texas born, "Harry" was originally chosen by the Mets but refused to sign, getting drafted by Tampa three years later.

Harrison has good movement and last summer seemed to turn the corner in his development, holding opponents batting averages twenty points below his previous career average. He has shown the same so far this year and is likely to earn a promotion for his improved efforts. Until then he is welcome to keep tossing quality relief for the Montgomery bullpen as long as he likes!


OTT  
Also tossing from the south side is Travis Ott.

With a bright red beard and a leg kick over his head, Travis Ott has dazzled local fans with nine K's in six innings.

His leg kick is impressive but he also features a FILTHY slide step delivery with two strikes that crosses the plate before the surprised hitter can get his bat off his shoulder.

Ott told me he had just developed the leg kick last summer.

Last year he was a starter, getting knocked around until a trip to the bullpen and a new leg kick dropped opponents batting average against him from .239 in July to .123 in August.

KROOK-DADDY
If Matt Krook looks like he feels a little out of place in the Biscuits bullpen at times, there could be many reasons.

no photo yet but its kinda like this

Maybe the former Oregon Duck is still recovering from the shock of being traded, or perhaps because he is in his first April with a new organization. Also the California lefty is a long ways from home, having played last summer in San Jose, just a short drive from his home near San Francisco. Culture shock, y'all.

Matt was chosen by the Marlins when first drafted, then later signed with his hometown Giants. However fate was determined that he should play for a team in Florida and he was dealt to the Rays in the Longoria trade.

Its easy to see why the Rays wanted him, Krook-Daddy throws hard and misses bats. A former starter, Matt is about four years removed from TJ surgery and last year moved to the bullpen where he found renewed success.

Matt Krook features four pitches, highlighted by a lively fastball and nice sinker. He especially tough on lefthanded batters. The lanky hurler is a funny and friendly guy to talk to, adding to the chemistry among the relief staff.

Krook is one of the few current Biscuits with their own Wikipedia entry.

MOATS

Dalton Moats brings another port-sided delivery and some great nickname options to the Biscuits bullpen.

Moatsy was a three sport star in highschool and originally chosen by his hometown KC Royals. Instead he chose to go to Delta State University in Ms. and became a legend there, leading the team to conference championship and deep into the the NCAA tourney.

The Moat-monster isn't overwhelming, his heater sits about 90mph, but his command of three pitches make each offering a more effective combination than the sum of their parts. Location is everything for Moats, who is very effective against lefthanders and usually able to keep the ball in the park.

Submit your own Dalton Moats nickname now!


WRIGHT

doing the Wright thing

Austin Wright is a professional and brings all business to the park, every day. A double-A level veteran, Wright bounced around the Phillies and Dbax affiliates, often at double-A and now seeks to hone his craft in the Tampa system.

Wright simply needs to throw strikes, as he doesn't allow many base hits. The Biscuits would like him to figure that out quickly so he can throw quality innings in the first half and mentor the younger guys in the pen.

Austin's early numbers aren't pretty, but lets face it, there haven't been many good nights to pitch for the Biscuits this season. There is plenty of time for him to Wright the ship (ha-cha-cha-cha I told ya!)

RIGHT SIDE RELIEF
we gots them too!

ALANIZ

Reuben Alaniz, currently on the DL with a wrist strain, was throwing well when injured. His eight strikeouts in five and two-thirds innings were stellar, a couple tough luck runs scored bumped his ERA up but hopefully he bounces back quickly.

Reuben, formerly in the Astros and Tigers organizations, comes to Montgomery after signing as a free agent with Tampa. He has bounced around for about eight years, but he is probably better suited to triple-A based on his age and experience level. Once he proves he is healthy he will only need a few good outings to earn a promotion.

Texas native Alaniz throws hard and mixes his pitches well, fooling hitters into swings and misses with good movement as well as simply throwing the ball past them.


FRANCO
Mike Franco returns to the Biscuits bullpen, throwing hard and pitching important innings.

I would like to say more about the friendly righthander, but can't, as I am still waiting for his reply to the questions I sent him back in January (sorry, bro, you get that tablet working yet?haha). I do know he is currently reading Jason Kendall's book. Also a Texas native, he attended Florida International U. and isn't afraid of some good natured ribbing about not replying to his email.

Pitching really well in relief this year, Franco looks in fine form and is seeing plenty of action in important situations. It does not appear that a return to the rotation is in the works.


KARALUS

Reece has been with the team since the meet and greet event, lurking in wait for a roster spot to open that he could vulture. That opportunity came and now he takes the ball in mop-up situations, giving manger Brady Williams a chance to bawl out other players while Reece tries to limit the damage.

Karalus has good life on his fastball and locates well, more importantly he doesn't offer many free passes. He will graduate from mop up duty to middle relief once the team decides to play better and needs less triage pitching.

The Washington native is enjoying his time in Montgomery, curious about local eats and activities. An 8th round choice, Karalus is a relief pitcher all the way, earning kudos for his sinking fastball and abilities in the closers role at Santa Clara.

He is an amateur astronomer and would like to someday experience leaving Earth's atmosphere.

THIS WEEK IN MONTGOMERY BASEBALL

APRIL 24 1976 

Steve Trella

Montgomery pitcher Steve Trella no hits Jacksonville 1-0

APRIL 25, 1966 
Southern League/ Michael D. Kilkenny of the Montgomery Rebels had 5 wild pitches v the Macon Peaches.

APRIL 26 1906 

Ike Durrett

Montgomery manager Ike Durett, in a game at Birmingham, assaults umpire Buckley. This would be a factor two days later, when Durett is refused permission to sit in the dugout during the game and results in a forfeit when Durett refuses to leave.

APRIL 27 1956 
The Rebels host the Augusta Tigers in Sally League play, losing 6-4 in a game that takes a whopping 4:24 to play, finishing at 12:09 am.

APRIL 28 1906 
Montgomery forfeits the game to the Barons after Manager Ike Durett is refused permission to sit in the dugout by the umpire he attacked two days before. Durett will be fined $300 by President Kavanaugh and eventually released by Montgomery due to his behavior issues.