Skitz on the Road vs JVL

The ten game homestand went well, the Skitz taking both series and making up ground in the standings and playing well.

At this moment, the league is divided into two teams, those with twenty wins or more and those with twenty or more losses. Teams with 20+ wins should be considered contenders and the others are probably just pretenders.

Montgomery is currently just a game behind Jackson and has made a habit of only losing on days the Generals decide to lose as well, a trend that is sure to come to a grinding halt when Jackson arrives at Riverwalk for a huge SIX game set starting May 25th.

However even if the Biscuits sweep the Generals there is no guarantee that seals the division, the Skitz have to run the gauntlet of South Division powerhouses in back to back series. Hosting Biloxi then on the road at P'cola could be the ten games that decide the first half champs in both divisions.

The first half closes out with Montgomery hosting the Chattanooga Lookouts, who took three of five games from the Skitz in April. If the Biscuits want to seal the first half title for the first time in franchise history, it will not be an easy path.

BUT FIRST THE SUNS
Instead of looking ahead, the Biscuits play each game one at a time.
Roght now they are one day at a time-ing in Jacksonville, the Suns having the worst record in the league. Of course that means they beat the Biscuits in game one and it looks to be a tough series.

NEW GUY!
The bullpen got a new arm, Kyle Bird arrived and got into one game vs the Smokies. Bird will fit into the Biscuits bullpen easily, as the roster was two men short after the promotions of Markel and Kolarek. Kyle looked great in his first outing and could share closer duties with Brad Schrieber and Jeff Ames or work in short relief.

pitcher Kyle Bird

 In 11 games at Port Charlotte Kyle Bird had a nice 0.50 ERA, tossing 18 innings and striking out 22 while allowing just 12 baserunners.

NET RUMORS

Fans and staff still expect the Biscuits to have extended netting next year, resulting in rampant rumors though no one can confirm it. I was told at the start of the season that unless the wording changed, we would see the same netting in place that we have always had.

Any change in that wording would likely have to be a publicly announced league-wide policy directive, hopefully not anywhere near happening at Biscuits games.


SAD NEWS, JOHN YOUNG GONE
Former Rebel and Detroit Tiger John T. Young passed away this month, as noted by a commentor. He is also the founder of RBI, Reviving Baseball in InnerCities, and was a fantastic man to meet and talk to. I had that pleasure a few seasons ago when the Biscuits held their "Montgomery Baseball History" night - which was a rain out.

Sadly it also means that both the former Rebels at that event are no longer with us, Buddy Lively having passed away last July.

A fave story of Young's Rebels days happened during a doubleheader against Mobile - John scored the second games only run by walking, stealing second and scoring when the catcher overthrew second and the centerfielder uncorked a wild throw of his own. The win pushed Montgomery into first place.

John Young was a big man with an even larger smile and a beautiful family. I am blessed to have had the opportunity to meet him and hear a few of his memories about playing for Montgomery.

The numbers are excellent for the big first baseman, 31 Hrs, 150 RBI, 44 stolen bases in John Young's three seasons for Montgomery in 1970, '71 and '75.

SMOKIES SERIES RECAP
The Smokies were kinda surly and got rewarded for it with four losses at the hands of the Biscuits.

I get that there are Cubs fans everywhere, but it is usually easier to be nice than it is to not. Its a trend the Smokies players have shown for a few years now, since Theo took over. Perhaps its just me, but that team has a larger percentage of those guys who don't want to sign an autograph, smile at a joke or toss a ball into the stands at the end of an inning.

I grew up watching the Cubs and have been a fan a long time. If my early impressions were from seeing the Smokies, I can say I would probably not be nearly as much of a Cubs fan. A couple of the guys were nice, so its not an organization mandate, so come on Smokies, lighten up!

UMP SHOW CAMP
Saturday I had a chance to partake in MLB's umpire camp at Riverwalk Stadium. A free event, it gave local hopefuls and baseball fans a chance to learn about the art of umpiring. I enjoyed it completely and picked up a few great tips on watching the arbiters of the game honing their craft at Riverwalk.

Before the event I asked Southern League umpire Brennan Miller if he had any advice for a rookie headed to UmpCamp. "Its okay to make a mistake" was his advice and wise words they are. I reminded myself of that advice as I butchered footwork around the infield.

Ex-MLB Umpire Rich Rieker was showing us how to call fair or foul balls and when my turn as home plate ump came he rolled a ball across the infield. It bounced slowly across the chalk line into foul territory and was just barely creeping along when I raised my arms and called "Foul!". Rieker said I called it too soon, it was still in motion and hadn't been touched by a defender.

"So you think that one was gonna come back?" I asked the ten year MLB veteran, smiling at the chance to challenge the authority. He said you never know what the wind will do, but I could tell he agreed there was no way it could have turned ninety degrees and roll fifteen feet to the line.

Got my picture in the paper doing it too, not a bad day!

COMING SOON...
Lots more to cover, look for a mid-week post since the team is away on a ten game roadtrip.

Ump Lessons, Grape Jelly Series

The Biscuits took the series against the Slagtown Barons, winning three games and dropping just two.

Kirsch

The losses were close games and could easily have gone in favor of the hometown nine, but the Skitz are confident moving forward. "This team never gets down, they just keep fighting" pitcher Chris Kirsch told me after Fridays game resulted in a loss for Montgomery.


SERIES LOOK
Highlights of the series include, but not limited to, new stirrups and pink uni accessories for Mothers Day. Fans were buzzing when Fridays starting pitcher took the bump in his pink Mothers Day cleats.

Ryne Stanek

The pink was everywhere, guys showing Mom a little love even if they didn't get into the game.

Bullpen Catcher Jake Hager

FACE TIME
For me, another highlight of the series was getting interviewed by WSFA during its broadcast of the game on Saturday night.

Willy Adames

I spoke with sports reporter/anchor Chuck Walter for several minutes during the 9th inning, he asked me great questions but I was watching the game over his shoulder as the Barons threatened to come back while we talked!

He asked who I thought was the next Ray player I would be wearing a jersey of, as I answered I was glad I decided to skip the beers this evening and managed to not swear the whole time. I told him Guerrieri, Faria, Bauers and Adames were all likely to be the next Rays phenoms.

 UMP LESSONS

While I signed up for an umpire camp to take place next weekend, Biscuits manager Brady Williams was giving umpire lessons a week early after a disputed call at third base went against the home team.

 

Roster moves for the Biscuits are the promotions of Adam Kolarek and Parker Markel, both sent to Durham.

GRAPE JELLY SERIES 2016

The homestand keeps rolling along as the Biscuits play host to the Tennessee Smokies, a Cubs affiliate.

You remember the Smokies, we saw them about five times last year and this time we have three series at Riverwalk with the baby bears. The Smokies are third in the standings and look at this series as a chance to move up in the division by knocking off the team ahead of them - Montgomery.

The Skitz and Smokies met a few weeks ago in Tn, the Smokies getting the series win but the teams both scored the same number of runs (22) in a tightly played five games.

Powered by Bijan Rademacher, the Smokies are a strong team and bring tough hitters and prospect pitching.

The Ursine Nines roster list is topped Duane Underwood, a right handed pitcher ranked #4 among Cubs prospects. He has a smoking fastball and is on the fast track to Chicago.

Outfielder Billy McKinney ranking #6, 3B Jeimer Candelario 7th, 18th ranked is OF Mark Zagunis are top drawer prospects. Also sneaking onto the prospect list are pitchers Josh Conway, Brad Markey & Jen-Ho Tseng. Rounding out the ranked prospects are OF Jacob Hanneman, catcher Victor Caratini and Faulkner hurler Corey Black.

If some of those names are familiar, they should be, several are getting their second turn through the Southern League.


Monday
Hu vs Zastryzny

Tuesday
School-day Game
Faria vs Underwood

Wednesday
Guerrieri vs Blackburn/Tseng?

Thursday
Thirsty Thursday
Stanek vs Skulina

Friday
Family Faith Night
Kirsch vs Markey

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

Look for the Biscuits to make a roster move to add a pitcher, possibly two.

Look for Jacob Hanneman to test the Biscuits catchers, the Smokies centerfielder is second in the league in stolen bases with 14 and has only been caught once.

Look for Willy Adames to score runs, he leads the league in touching home plate and has been at the center of many Biscuits rallies.

The Biscuits will look to spoil Paul Blackburns nifty 0.24 ERA, he has only allowed on earned run through six starts.

With four of the top six leaders in bases on balls, look for the Smokies to have patient at bats and not chase bad pitches.

Look for Casey Gillaspie to take a free pass, he leads the league in that stat.

Smokies pitcher Brad Markey may be looking at hitters trot around the bases, he has served up the most homers in the league to this point, allowing six circuit clouts in seven games.

Hu Rocks & Skitz New Socks

Tyler Danish

Chi-Wei Hu

The Taichung Tiger took care of business in Wednesdays series opener, rocking along with eight strikeouts, facing off in a fierce pitchers duel with Barons prospect Tyler Danish.

Chi-Wei Hu's streak of consecutive innings without an earned run came to an end when the bullpen let a 7th inning runner score to tie the game and Hu was left with a no-decision. He deserved better, in all he went 30+ innings this year before allowing his first earned run! 

 Montgomery claimed the W with Casey Gillaspie's two RBI night, which was all of the Skitz offense. The BigCaseDawg was a triple shy of the cycle and his three hits push his season average to .312.

Reliever Brad Schrieber pitched the ninth, two hits and two strikeouts, for his fifth save.

BISCUITS SOCK IT TO EM!

Almost a bigger story than the great pitching duel was the debut of the new uniform piece, stirrup socks in team colors.

Parker Markel got the Win in the Biscuits new hoisery

The Biscuits haven't made a bigger change in their daily uniform appearance since the uni debuted in 2004. The new hose are worn over white sanitary socks, look to be a five-to-seven inch rise in dark blue with three bright yellow stripes across the calf.

Dan Dement was first to hit the field in 'rups

 "Pretty cool, right? Old school style, I love em!" was Dan Dement's first comment on the Biscuits new hoisery.

 Not every player wore the new gear, but all players with tall socks were in stirrups. Some players still preferred to wear their pants long, as the Rays now allow their minor league guys a choice.

Several of the players I talked who were in long pants still planned on wearing them, a couple who did wear them threatened never to wear em again the team lost or he didn't get hits in the new stirrups.

Pitcher Jacob Faria was among those who weren't wearing the new socks, "Saving them for when I pitch" he said.

"They were on the stools for us when we came in today" pitcher Jacob Faria told me when I asked about the new gear. He mentioned he was already surprised in spring training when the team told the players that they could wear their pants long. "The pants and shaving thing was decided by an organization vote, when they announced the decision there was a huge cheer among the minor league guys" Jacob said.

Schrieber earns the save in his extra tall sox

They are similar to the 1969 Seattle Pilots stirrups, though Biscuit 'rups only have three stripes where the Seattle team had four. Also the blue is maybe a little darker for Montgomery's hose, where the Pilots used a brighter tone.

Ichiro in '69 Pilots throwback uni

Even Manager Brady Williams was happy to wear the socks that complete the new look, having converted the Biscuits from clean cut kids in short pants to scruffy old-school ballplayers.

Mgr. Brady Williams wows the Barons with good sock game

BISCUITS SAY NO TO BEER APP
In a bummer of an item, the team tells me they may be listed but are not a partner with MiLB's "In the Park" app. That means no beer brought to my seat.

If the fans request it often enough, the team would probably have to consider it. Its something they have considered in the past but aren't into building a staff to run a service that may or may not get used.

At least not right now. There were a lot of other factors involved in the reason we don't get to use the app, but at the root of the conversation was the In-Seat service.

So my advice is, every time you have to wait too long at the concession stand - make sure to mention the In-Seat Service to a staffer as an option. Let them know its a service we would use often enough to make it effective.


POLISH RETURNS
On the good side, the Sausage Shack will go back to serving up tasty Polish sausage.

Apparently it was just an oversight that they didn't have it, and will be cooking up one of my faves again very soon.

Home for Ten, Hager Owns It, Baseball Cards, Farm Report

BISCUITS VS TENNESSEE
Once again the Skitz slugged it out in the Volunteer State, facing the Lookouts in a five game set. Dropping the series, the Biscuits had every opportunity to win it but saw it slip away in the last innings.

Taylor Guerrieri

In the series vs the Lookouts the Skitz were winning on even numbered days and losing on the odd dates. The big game came on Saturday, it was a highlight reel for the Montgomery nine.

The Biscuits scored a dozen and dealt the Noogas a one-hit shutout on Saturday night. Not just the game of the series, it was one of the biggest games of the year so far with Taylor Guerrieri and Buddy Borden combining on a near no hitter. In the end it was a one-hit shutout.

Hager, Bauers and JuneQ all went deep in the big contest, each driving in three runs apiece to lead the charge.

Outscoring the Lookouts 28-16 in the series, Montgomery slips to three games behind Jackson in the loss column.

No worries, the Biscuits host Jackson in six games starting May 25th, a chance to take care of their own business just three weeks ahead of the end of the first half.

  
MONTH OF APRIL
It was a huge month for the Montgomery team leading off the 2016 season. The Biscuits were 13 wins against 9 losses in the first month of the season. Montgomery only lost three games at home in April, winning seven.

How big was it, Goetzman?

The only significant roster move was a lone Chi-Wei Hu spot start in Durham before being sent back.

Chris Kirsch missed one start with a sore side, but returned to the rotation to make his next start.

Jared Mortensen made the short-notice starts for both Hu and Kirsch, providing a valuable lift to the team. In his two starts Morty struck out ten men in just 6.2 innings. Even better in relief, Jared allowed just two hits and struck out 14 in five games out of the pen, opponents batting just .057 off him.

Granden Goetzman leads the team with a .368 BABIP, when he gets the ball in play he has the most success in getting on base safely.

Querecuto hit two circuit clouts in April, which is double his previous career total. Last year he had one home run, an inside the park job.

Marjama knows how big it really was

HAGER OWNS IT 

yeah, he owns it

Jake Hager is back, settling into the second spot in the batting order and playing all over the infield.

His .311 average is good enough to lead the club, but he loves hitting at home where he bats at a whopping .433 clip.


The numbers for Hager are huge in the first month - .385BA when he is ahead in the count, .330BA with runners in scoring position, .462BA w/runner at first, .330BA with none out.

They all add up to "Dude rakes".

Oh, and its useless to bring in a reliever against him, he hits .320 vs lefties!

Two Jakes for the Biscuits, Bauers and Hager

BISCUITS VS BARONS
One of the oldest rivalries in the league kicks off at Riverwalk on Wednesday for five games, the first half of a ten game homestand.

Game One
Danish vs Hu
Craft Beer Fest

Game Two
Guerrero vs Faria
Cinco De Mayo/Thirsty Thursday

Game Three
Fullmer vs Guerrieri
Kids Eat Free

Game Four
Holmberg vs Stanek
Massive Fireworks & Military Appreciation Night

Game Five
TBA (Blair Walters?) vs Kirsch
Sunday Bark in the Park & Kids Day

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

 

It will be easy to look for Sox prospects, a large number of players on the Barons team will be given opportunities to win jobs in Chicago over the next season or two.

Look for Biscuits long balls, Montgomery leads the Southern League in circuit clouts.

Be sure to look for the White Sox top prospect, right handed pitcher Carson Fullmer. The pale hose have much hope for the young hurler, his fastball sits in the mid-90s and is offset by a power curve. He faces Rays prospect Taylor Guerrieri in a huge Friday night tilt.

Look for Chi-Wei Hu to try to extend his streak of 24 innings without giving up an earned run.

The Biscuits will look to continue their home success, the Barons are a league-worst 4-11 on the road.

Look for Biscuit baserunners, only Mobile allows more opposing men on the bags than the Slagtown team.

Barons always look to challenge catchers, Bham is second in stolen bases with 27 with only 7 caught stealing.

Biscuit pitchers will be trying to figure out the Barons big three - Delmonico/Peter/Pina, all three have .300+ batting averages and are among the league leaders in that category.

Barons infielder Nicky Delmonico leads the league in doubles with 9, its easy to guess he will be looking for another two-bagger in Montgomery.

Look for me to kick back and drink a few beers this series after working hard in the first month to get photos of every player!

BARONS PROSPECT RATING
The Barons are chock full of top guys, their roster has 10 of the top 30 prospects in the WhiteSox system.
The role call:
Carson Fuller at #1, outfielder Adam Engel is rated #4, 5th is 3B Trey Michaelczewski, LHP Jorhdan Guerrero ranks 6th, injured OF Courtney Hawkins ranks 9th, #11 is pitcher Tyler Danish, 12th is Lefty pitcher Brian Clark, SS/2B Jake Peter is ranked #19, Robinson Leyer RHP at 22 and #25 SS Eddy Alvarez.

Courtney Hawkins starts the year on the DL but last summer he hit a moving train with a homer at Riverwalk.

All told the Barons PRAT comes to 153, though it would jump up should Hawkins be activated.


DOWN ON THE FARM
The StoneCrabs are currently 12-12, which puts them in fourth place in their division, two games behind the leader in a close early race.

The Crabs are led by Justin Williams .313 batting average and three players have eight RBI's to top the team list - Alec Sole, Mac James and Grant Kay. Jace Conrad leads the Crabs with five stolen bases.

Pitchers Brent Honeywell, Kyle Bird and Yonny Chirinos all have two wins and excellent numbers yet trail Greg Harris in the wins category. Chirinos two victories have come in relief.

Port Charlotte leads the FSL in ERA, has allowed the fewest bases on balls and is second in WhIP ratio.

Brent Honeywell has a great line 2wins, 0.89ERA, 31K/4BB in 30.1 innings pitched.


UMPCAMP
Ever wondered what that ump was thinking? We have a chance to find out at the Umpire Camp at Riverwalk on May 14th. Hosted by MLB it is a full day of learning on the field and if you are like me and cant wait to spend five hours in the sun the day after the ten-game homestand, then be sure to sign up!

BEER APP?
I asked but haven't heard back yet on if/when this glorious idea is going to be in use at Biscuits games. However, we are on the list when I scroll down the page on the website, so I can only hope that we already can put this into action.

I will know for sure in the next day or two, if for some insane reason we aren't part of this promotion, I am pondering starting a petition!


BASEBALL CARDS
Last summer Jared Mortensen mentioned that he wasn't happy with his Biscuits baseball card. His card from 2014 shows him in the bullpen, even though he was a starting pitcher only at that time, and an All-Star at that. "It was the only day I even sat in the 'pen!" he told me, wishing he had a card with a better picture.

Even his 2015 card wasn't much better, using the classic Show-The-Ball pose.

While Morty's card may have held a premonition of his future in the bullpen as a knucklballer, someone else must have agreed that a different eye might jazz up the Biscuits baseball cards. So this year I was asked to submit some pics for the cards!

I am really excited about the opportunity, I have been looking at baseball cards since I was about four years old now I get to see them with my pics, absolutely cool.

I put in two or three shots of each player for consideration. If you have been to a game you probably saw me lurking behind the net with my camera instead of my usual 1b seat.

The challenges were fun ones, learning a new lens and shooting for someone else instead of just my own blog. I just hope everyone likes them and that I didn't make anyone look too goofy!

#BULLPEN LIFE