Prescription #375 - A Pitchless Win, A One Armed Pitcher, MLB Player Dies in MGM, Biscuits Notes

Well, its been a busy a couple weeks since the last post and there are a few things on topic to cover.

OUTGOING

Several players have shuttled between Montgomery and Durham while the Bulls decide which Biscuits they want to keep.

Kyle Bird seems to have stuck there, likewise Mike Franco who has moved into the Durham rotation. Sent back was Harrison.

Also packing north is utilityman Michael Russell, though who knows how long anyone will stay anywhere considering the current state of the parent club.

#BULLPENLIFE

The Biscuit Bullpen

INCOMING
The Biscuits welcomed David Rodriguez to the squad, adding a third catcher to the mix is standard Biscuit strategy, right along with slow trains on fireworks night. Batting .317 in 28 games gets him promoted and he quickly adds a few RBI for his new club upon arrival.

The Biscuits have badly needed a power boost in the batting order and D-Rod provided it with two hits in his first look at double-A baseball.


JUST WAIT FOR IT....
But it begs the question, if batting .317 in 28 games gets D-Rod promoted, how long before we see Nate Lowe and Jesus Sanchez?

First baseman Nathaniel Lowe has been detrimental to the development of FSL pitchers at a .370 clip. Yes, thats a .370 batting average. Then add ten homers, 40+ runs batted in and then explain to me how a 22 year old has anything left to prove after almost 300 at bats for the Stone Crabs.

Over the past month, Nathaniel Lowe has been one of the top hitters in all of minor league ball and is knocking at the door. Hopefully we have cleared a locker for this guy.

Also arriving soon should be Jesus Sanchez. The 20 year old outfielder hit .305 for Bowling Green last year and has simply improved that by fifty points upon his promotion to Port Charlotte this year. His six homers are equal to the Skitz team leaders, those 31 RBI's would be very helpful for a Montgomery club lacking in power.

We should make that two lockers, ready and waiting.

ROAD WARRIORS
Perhaps the best thing for Bradys Boys would be to stay on the bus. The Skitz are one of the hottest teams in the league when they are away from Riverwalk. Their latest winning streak has them sniffing the .500 mark for the first time in a while.

However they will return next week and have to figure out how to win in front of the home fans where so far it hasn't been pretty.

The rare "Biscuit Scorpion"

BOOK SIGNING
My good friend Clarence Watkins wrote a book about Montgomery baseball with a ton of fantastic pictures. He will be at the game on June 1st signing copies of said book, which features a literary high-five to yours truly in the fine print. Grab a copy and have him sign it, maybe ask him about the Rickwood Classic too, he knows all about Bham ball as well. Or ask him about the one-armed pitcher, Wing Maddox, who played for the Black Barons and Knoxville.... see below!


CIUFFO
By the time the Biscuits get back home, Nick Ciuffo's suspension will be over and the young catcher can get back to baseball.

It will be interesting to see where he is assigned, I have thought he might be back in double-A but a well placed source indicated he would not be here. However, its worth keeping an eye on, as he could displace someone from the Durham roster.

REBEL PASSES
TOM FLETCHER

Tom Fletcher

I found out that former Rebel and Major League pitcher Tom Fletcher passed away recently.

Tom was with the Rebels in 1965 and 1966, pitching rather badly the first year and very well the second, finishing with a 12-14 record for Montgomery.

Tom had pitched in just one single major league game for the Tigers in 1962 before developing a blood clot in his arm. Fletcher was then out of baseball for two years but returned to the mound for four more minor league seasons and it was during this time that he played in Montgomery.

Tom's son Darrin Fletcher was an AllStar catcher for the Expos, Dodgers and Blue Jays.

THIS WEEK IN MONTGOMERY BASEBALL

Two HUGE events in Montgomery baseball take place on the same date, twenty three years apart. The first is the death of a major league player in Montgomery, the other a baseball event so rare, few statisticians believe it even exists!


MAJOR LEAGUER DIES IN MONTGOMERY
MAY 24, 1918

Ralph Sharman

Outfielder Ralph Sharman drowned while swimming in the Alabama River at Montgomery near Camp Sheridan.

Ralph Sharman was only 23 years old and had temporarily left a promising big league career with the Philadelphia Athletics to join the Army.

"Bally" Sharman was a rookie with the Athletics, batting .297 in just over a dozen big league games in 1917. He had spent three seasons in the minors and was among Connie Macks young prospects as the war broke out. He was quickly made captain of the Camp Sheridan baseball team.

1918 Camp Sheridan baseball team, four months after Sharmans death

Sharman

He is described as fleet footed with a high batting average and a desire to improve his game. “Better to have another year in the minors and be sure of success in the big show afterwards,” he told the Cincinnati Times-Star, “than to go into the majors too green and score a failure.”

It appears that Sharman was with Battery F in the 136th Field Artillery. On Friday, May 24, 1918, Corporal Sharman tragically drowned in the Alabama River, adjacent to Camp Sheridan during a training exercise . His body was not recovered until Sunday, May 26, and on May 28 it was placed on a caisson and brought through the streets of Montgomery followed by members of Battery F.

Ralph Sharman is one of just a handful of big leaguers to die in service during WW1 and the only to die in the USA, the others were in the European theatre.


A PITCHLESS WIN
May 24th, 1941

Hal Toenes

Selma Cloverleafs (Southeastern League)

Pitcher Hal Toenes relieves in the top of the ninth inning against the Jackson Mississipians with a runner on first base and two out (as noted by historian Bill Hickman).

Without throwing a pitch, he picks the runner off of first base.

The Selma Cloverleafs, four runs down, go on to score six runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to give Hal Toenes the pitchless win.
("baseballlibrary/chronology/1941MAY")

One of the rarest of rare baseball feats!


 MAY 26 1905 
New Orleans P Dygert shuts out Montgomery on one hit.


MAY 26 1920 
"Grey Sox Home as Second in League -
Fast Negro Baseball Team Will Meet Knoxville Here for Three Game Series.

The Montgomery Grey Sox are back at home after two weeks on the road and will play the Knoxville Giants today, Saturday and Sunday.

The one armed pitcher Mattox will pitch the game Saturday and all who have seen him play say that he is a wonder and he is the only one armed twirler that has ever appeared in this city.

On Sunday, Steel Arm Smith will pitch and will be opposed by Montgomery's south paw Streeter. Smith has not lost a game this year and Streeter is by far the strongest pitcher on the Grey Sox staff, so this game should prove very interesting to the fans."


MAY 26 1908 
Mgm Outfielder Reagan has four hits in four trips from Little Rock Pitcher Eyler.


MAY 27 1908 
After pitching 27 consecutive innings without allowing a run, Montgomery finally beats Little Rock starter Buchanan.


May 27 1911 

Frosty Thomas

CHATTANOOGA, TENN..
Two successive wild throws past first by Frosty Thomas and Gribbens led to four runs and a victory for Chattanooga over Montgomery this afternoon.

The game was long drawn out, full of hits and errors with some phenomenal fielding In between.'

After the close of the eighth Inning Gribbens and Bills had a fight on the Montgomery bench and It took team- mates, Umpire Hart and several policemen to quiet the row. 

MAY 27 1920 
"Grey Sox Defeat The Bessemer Boys -
In one of the prettiest games played here this season, the Montgomery Grey Sox team defeated the Bessemer Stars Thursday afternoon by a score of 2 to 1. Streeter and Harper engaged in a pitcher's battle, both having beautiful control and kep their hits well scattered."

Quick Hits, New Guys

Just a mid-series update with info gleaned from this weeks games against the Shuckers, with the 'nally on Friday. Saturday the Jacksonville Suns, errr Shrimps, come to town and we will go over them on the next post, probably Monday. But for now, this is what I gots...

HARRY HAS COMPANY
Southpaw Jordan Harrison earned a promotion to Durham, but he isn't alone.

Also said to be headed north to the Bulls bullpen is reliever Mike Franco, who was not seen at the park on Thursday.

As I understand it, the pair traveled separately, with one guy flying ahead. What that means, your guess is as good as mine. Maybe he is scouting apartments.



 PAPA BIRD
Also absent is Kyle Bird, away from the team for a few days to become a parent.

Speaking as an old-school baseball guy, this is one thing that has changed for the better in the game. In the past only the most superstar of players were allowed to leave the team for family reasons. Its comforting to know that organizations have learned what is important to players as people, no matter what level.

ALANIZ CLOSE TO RETURN

Ruben Alaniz (photo by Mac the Camera Guy, thanks Mac!)

Studly hurler Ruben Alaniz was awesome in his first four games with Montgomery, blowing by hitters and striking out eight in five and two thirds innings. He took himself out of the game on April 17th with a sore wrist and has been on the DL since.

When I spoke with him this week he said he was feeling much better and would be ready to take the hill "probably next week."


NEW GUYS
ROEL RAMIRIEZ

Roel Ramirez

Roel Ramirez and Colin Poche arrived dealin heat, both made their Riverwalk debuts with excellent outings.


Right-handed Ramirez did allow an earned run, his first of the season, he was unscored upon as a Stone Crab this year. When I met him, I said "ah, you pitched your way out of Port Charlotte". He just smiled and nodded.

Roel throws a fastball in the low-90's, splitter and slider. He pitched in the Arizona Fall League in 2017.

COLIN POCHE

Colin Poche

When I met the lefty Poche, I said "ah, you left your car in the home team parking lot." He also smiled and nodded.

Colin got a bit of notice on social media for his ride, which may be a van - it was hard to tell under the mountain of TP that was covering it, left for him as a parting gift from his teammates. An internet search for the image is probably worth the effort.

Both these guys have live arms and bring good numbers into the bullpen, we can probably count on these guys to have more good days than bad. Also, they are both pretty easy to talk to, excited to be where they are and usually able to tolerate my repeated pestering.

from 1943

 ANOTHER NEW GUY

Curtis Taylor

As the middle innings of Thursty Thirsday played out the newest Biscuit arrived, suited up and was ready for action by the time Take Me Out to the Ball Game echoed across the stands.

CURTIS TAYLOR
Curtis Taylor comes to town fresh from Port Charlotte where he punched out 23 batters in just eight relief appearances. He earned two saves there and could see more chances following the Biscuits bullpen shakeup.


Notes on the new guy:
He is not the Curtis Taylor who played for the SF 49'ers and LSU.
He is not the Curtis Taylor who won a Grammy Award for his trumpet playing.
He is not the Curtis Taylor who appeared in the films Bad Santa and RoboCop 3.
He is not the Curtis Taylor who appeared in the tv show Wild Wild West.

He is the Curtis Taylor acquired by the Rays via trade with the Diamondbacks straight up for Brad Boxberger.
He is Canadian. 
He is right-handed.
He is every bit of six-foot-six, just as it says on the back of his baseball card.
He throws a nice mid-90s heater with a hard slider and a changeup.
He made 13 starts last year in the Arizona organization.

Shout-out to my man @bubba36109, who was the first on my twitter timeline to share the info on his promotion!

I went down to the bullpen to snap a shot of Curtis, It's great to see someone getting their first taste of double-A, even if it comes after a ten hour road trip. Hows it feel, Curtis?

#BULLPENLIFE

Biscuits Welcome Back Shuckers, We Got That

The Biscuits return for the first home series in May, facing a familiar foe in the Biloxi Shuckers. The two teams have already locked up for five games at Riverwalk and five games in Biloxi, fully one-third of games the Biscuits have played are against the Shuckers.

it is BS

Biloxi isn't in our division and we don't host division-rival Birmingham in the first half, so OF COURSE we need to see another five game series against the Biloxi Shuckers.

The upside is that it is a ten game homestand, so we will get a look at the Jacksonville team, currently led by former Biscuit Cade Gotta. But thats later.

SHUCK IT
First the Biscuits have to face the Shuckers, who lead the South Division in large part on the backs of the Biscuits slow start. Brady's Boys have to turn away the Biloxi crew or risk being further mired around the .400W-L mark.

For his part, Brady hasn't appeared happy while watching. The Biscuits skipper has been tossed from two contests, which would put him on pace for somewhere between six and twenty ejections this season.

On the road in Jackson it appeared that catcher Brett Sullivan disagreed with being charged for a mound visit after a sacrifice bunt and was ejected.

This action prompted Brady Williams to continue the discussion and his opinion was also met with the arbiters thumb.

IMO it was a crappy call followed by a bad decision to argue and compounded with a worse move to eject the catcher, leaving Brady little choice but to get tossed as well.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

This is the same team that was here a few short weeks ago, rehabbers from the Brewers have come and gone, so it will be basically the same roster that has won seven of ten games from Montgomery last month.

Jake Hager

Look for former Biscuit Jake Hager, punishing pitchers with a .292 average for the Shuckers.

Be sure to look for Nick Solak, batting .311 and providing excellent defense, Biscuits fans may not get to see Nick for long before he earns a promotion.

We will all get a look at the new guys, Colin Poche and Roel Ramirez. Two new arms for the bullpen, one lefty in Poche comes from the Souza trade, the other has earned a spot after pitching great for the Stone Crabs.

Look for me to be trying to get a picture of the new guys, as well as Matt Krook who has somehow eluded my lens so far this season.

Moats may juggle roles too

The last game of the Generals series was started by Dalton Moats, manager Brady Williams may again look to the bullpen on game five. Doling out about two innings for each relief arm is a common strategy for the Biscuits in the month of May.

The Biscuits look to face their foe head on, with a chance to redeem both their home record and save face from a pair of series losses to the Angry Clams. They will play hard to set the tone at home and put the month of April behind them.


Look for a cool flyover after the anthem on Saturday. The Biscuits have done a great job getting impressive aircraft flyovers lately, this weekends Military Appreciation Night offers a great opportunity for another. It's not technically this series, but its something that has become worth watching!

ROAD WARRIORS
Brady has the team playing well on the road. During that game in Jackson he probably knew how the team has played at Riverwalk this year and really would have liked to put that game of the roadtrip in the W column. Losing that one meant the road record went from one game over to one game under.

At home the 'Skits are just five wins against ten losses so far this year. It resembles a trend that plagued the Montgomery club for several seasons before Brady Williams took the helm. With Montgomery, playing well on the road but having a noticeably bad home record wasn't unusual.

Brady Williams turned that around to become the winningist manager in Montgomery baseball history, marking his 300th victory with Montgomery earlier this year.

BRADY ON ROAD GAMES
A couple seasons ago I asked manager Brady Williams about what causes a club to have a bad home record, pointing out some of our past teams struggles. "Too many distractions" was his first response, "with road games, there's nothing to do but play baseball."

I doubt that is the cause of this teams poor showing at home in April, but I do agree with that logic as applied to some of the past teams home woes. As the downtown grew and more entertainment became available, the teams home record indeed suffered.

 WE GOT THAT

Lowe and Palacios

Some have claimed the Biscuits lack a power bat, but Brandon Lowe enters the homestand tied for the league lead in circuit clouts at six and runs batted in with twenty-one.

Others have complained that the Biscuits strike out too much, but no Montgomery players are in the top twenty in the K category. In fact, only two teams whiff less than the Biscuits, Biloxi and Chattanooga.

As one would expect from a Brady Williams team, Montgomery leads the league in stolen bases.

THIS WEEK IN MONTGOMERY BASEBALL

the real slim sallee

MAY 8 1906 
Pitcher Salee of Birmingham two-hits Montgomery but loses due to his own wildness.

MAY 8 1920 
"Jacksonville Stars Lose to Montgomery"

 - Grey Sox Win Before Large Crowd; Moss is in Fine Form -

Grey Sox Pitcher Jim Moss

In one of the prettiest games played in the city this season the Montgomery Grey Sox team defeated the Jacksonville Stars by the score of 4 to 2, Saturday afternoon before a large crowd. Both Moss and O'Neal pitched good ball, the latter after the third inning had the Grey Sox batters at his mercy.

Moss allowed only six scattered hits and was given almost perfect support by his team mates. Williams was the batting star for the game, his long double with two on bases clinched the contest for the Grey Sox. After the third inning, it was three up and three down for both teams, players on both clubs making several beautiful plays.

The two teams will clash again today, the games starting at 3 o'clock.


MAY 10 1908 

Montgomery and Shreveport play 15 innings to a tie, 3-3

MAY 11 1908 
Montgomery and Shreveport AGAIN play 15 innings to a tie, 1-1