Brad Boxberger Burger Fest, History Week!

Somehow the stars aligned...

After being burned in Bham the Biscuits can enjoy a nice relaxing six-game homestand against the best team in the league and a rehab start by a big leaguer.

The Biscuits hold their fate in their own hands in the upcoming showdown against the Jackson Generals, the Montgomery nine can face off against the only team standing between them and first place. Brady needs better than a series split, this is an opportunity for the Skitz to move up in the standings.

Though it won't be easy after that, its one step at a time!

HISTORY WEEK
To add to the Biscuits history nights, I will be posting special history-related items every day this week! This is the first installment!

BRAD NOT THE FIRST
The announcement that Tampa Rays closer Brad Boxberger would be rehabbing in a start at Montgomery is exciting news. Seeing the big league product always excites the fans, but it won't be the first time Montgomery has been mentioned with the name.

MONTGOMERY BASEBALL HISTORY

BOXBERGER NO HITS REBELS

Not the first Boxberger to appear in Montgomery history, Rod Boxberger no hit the Rebels in July of 1978 in his first start in double-A. And yes, Rod is Brads dad. He was 30-55 in six pro seasons, mostly at double-A, through 1983. 

At least this time Boxberger is on our side!

SERIES VS JACKSON GENERALS


The Gens have a much different look from last years lackluster squad, this team has set the league afire. With 27 wins and just 17 Losses the Seattle affiliate has the best record in the Southern League, Montgomery trails them by 3.5 games going into this head to head matchup. The Generals bring a three game winning streak to Riverwalk.

They also bring prospects.
The PRAT for the Generals is 144, they have some top players on the list. According to MLB pipeline:
RP Edwin Diaz is listed #2
OF Tyler O'Neil is listed #4
1b/3b DJ Peterson is listed #6
LHP Ryan Yarbrough is listed #12
RHP Dan Altavila is listed #20

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

Montgomery leads the league in home runs as well as two-base hits, look for Biscuits to bat balls against or over the walls.

Jake Bauers thinkin HR

Look for Generals on first base. The Gens lead the league in base hits and are second in OBP, knowing how to hit em where they aint as well as being willing to take a free pass.

Biscuits don't always rely on the long ball, the team is second in the SL in stolen bases. Look for Brady to give the green light to baserunners.

Look for strikeouts from both sides, Montgomery and Jackson have nearly identical punchout rates.

Ian Miller leads the league in triples, look for him to challenge the arms of Biscuit outfielders.

Look for Jackson to shut the door, only Biloxi has converted more saves than the Generals.

Faria pitching thru the itch in April

Top Prospect Edwin Diaz is one face you can look for in the bullpen, he was moved to the pen in mid-may.

With the promotion of Bhams Nicky Delmonico, the HR leaders in the Southern League are Casey Gillaspie and Tyler O'Neil of Jackson, both tied at 8. Look to see who emerges from the series with the lead.

After a couple tough-luck starts attributed to an itchy beard, Jacob Faria flirted with a no-hitter in his last game. Look for him to go after back-to-back great starts, allowing just one run or less, which he has yet to log this season.

Look for Tampa Rays closer Brad Boxberger to start game one. He could get a second appearance Thurs or Fri, but that isn't written in stone.

HOMESTAND WELL PLANNED
I love it when a plan comes together and it couldn't be any better than this week. MLB Rehabber Brad Boxberger starting on Burger Fest, Two History Nights, 50cent HotDogs, Three sets of fireworks, Thursty Thirsday, Catch on the Field Sunday. And if thats not enough, we get to see a head to head faceoff with the top team for a shot at the first half title! Sweet!

Wednesday 
Boxberger v Moore
Buger Fest!
Boxberger will only pitch one inning, or 25 pitches, whichever comes first. Look for Kirsch to take the hill in the second inning. If you take too long parking the car, you might miss it.

Thursday
 Hu vs Ash
90s  Night!


Friday
 Faria vs Pries
Montgomery Baseball History Night! Fireworks!

1972 Montgomery Rebels

I helped out with the history night planning, offering up info and images. Its a nod to the long and storied past of the capitol city, Rebels, Climbers, Colts, Senators, Bombers, Black Sox, Grey Sox, Grays, Blues, Lions are all among the teams discussed!

Saturday
Game 1 Guerrieri vs tba
Game 2  Mortensen vs Gaviglio
Biscuits Baseball History Night! Fireworks!

Two Games Saturday!

5pm start time, the doubleheader game two is a makeup of rainout at Jackson, Biscuits will be road team and bat first in the game for just the second time at Riverwalk, making history on a night dedicated to the history of the Biscuits!

Sunday
Stanek vs Yarbrough
Memorial Day & 50cent Hotdogs, Fireworks



MY BAD NEW GUYS
I tweeted the arrival of the relievers, but got their ERA badly wrong. Bird was 2w-1L with a 0.50 ERA. Jordan Harrison was 0-1 with a 2.77 ERA.

NEW GUY TWO
Pat Blair is another new Biscuit, making his debut for Montgomery on the road at Bham. He had three homers in 19 games for the Stone Crabs, batting just .164.

SKEETER BARNES HISTORY

We talked last time about Rays roving instructor Skeeter Barnes, I found this photo of him sliding into third base against the Rebels. Skeeter played for Nashville in 1979, this game shot from that season when he hit .266 with 12 homers.

Skitz get Sun-Burned, Bham Next

The Biscuits were burned by the Suns, dropping the final match in extras and losing three of four games with one contest mercifully taken by Mother Nature.

NOT BRADYS FAULT
To paraphrase famed Minneapolis Sportswriter Halsey Hall - the manager might as well send the gold in his teeth to Durham, because thats where it will end up eventually.

Basically meaning items of value are not left to do the good they can do, instead sent up the chain to a meaningless situation. If you ever wondered why the Biscuits don't win the first half, look no farther than the empty chair in the bullpen.


The Rays annually leave the Biscuits shorthanded, this season no exception.

When Parker Markel and Adam Kolarek were promoted on May 7th, it took four days to get Kyle Bird here - and thats just one guy, not two. Since then Juniel Querecuto was also promoted, his replacement is Pat Blair but it still leaves the Biscuits roster at just 24 men.


BAD CRABS, BULLS WORSE
And how are the Bulls doing? Terrible. Barely able to manage a .400 win-loss percentage, half of their losses are of the shutout variety, yet they can not be left without an extra reliever. But Montgomery, fighting for a playoff berth, is deemed acceptable to roster just 24 men. Such a move effectively handcuffs a manager, unable to play matchups with a shorthanded pitching staff.

That shortage showed on Wednesday when each Skitz reliever was asked to pitch more than one inning and a huge lead was squandered. The fault is not Schrieber's to bear, though his is the ERA that took the hit. The fault should be laid squarely at the feet of the Tampa Bay Rays front office if this team falls a game short at the end of the first half from lack of bullpen.

Every year, the same thing. No matter how good the Skitz team is, we see players sent any direction but to the Southern League playoffs. Durham is toast, eight games under .500 but they get the preferred players and Gumpskitz get left short. Port Charlotte? Fifth place, but with a tight grip on their rostered players.

Why do the Rays not want to teach their players to win as a team? How long will they leave the Biscuits short-handed this time? Twelve days and counting...

Okay, hug it out and move on

SLAGTOWN SHOWDOWN 2016
The series in Bham will be big but not as huge as the games last August, the Biscuits are currently trying to tread water until the Generals come to Riverwalk for a six-game set.

The Barons will look for a little revenge on the Skitz after the drubbing they received at Montgomery. It is tough to predict what will happen, one would suppose that the Biscuits will take this series as they did the last but with a short bullpen easy wins quickly become heartbreaking losses (see above).


The Biscuits commute to the Barons home park every day, the rest for players is eschewed in favor of saving on hotel rooms. It means the Biscuits will spend over 18 hours on the road this week, five hours back from Jacksonville and an hour + each way, each day for five days.


NO GAME MEMORIAL DAY
For the first time in Biscuits history, no game will be played on Memorial Day. Not sure why, it would seem to be a prime ticket night, but I'm sure Bradys Boys will enjoy having the day off.

MONTGOMERY BASEBALL HISTORY NIGHTS

I was asked to help out with the upcoming Montgomery Biscuits history promotional nights, and I am more than a little excited about what is coming. I can't say what will be on tap, but I am sure Trible & Co have much up their sleeves. But certainly a nod to the past will be a fun experience at the park. 

Guys like Mark Fidrych, Trammell and Whitaker, Jack Morris went on to greatness and are remembered as local products with the Rebels of the 1970's dynasty. They will be included, many long time fans of the city's great teams proudly recall their exploits on the diamond at Paterson Field.

But we will also hear about Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig playing at Cramton Bowl, the amazing seasons Steve Grilli, Dick Egan and Dick Greco had in Montgomery and some of the barnstorming MLB teams that played here on the way north for Opening Days gone by.

REBELS REUNION
I expect we will see former Rebel Ted Brazell, a six year Montgomery player as well as the last manager of the Rebs. Also his son Craig, who won the 2006 SL Home Run Derby at Riverwalk, should be on hand. Hopefully they bring their fantastic collection of Rebels memorabilia, including three League Championship trophies.

Its a two-night promotion, a brilliant idea since our baseball history is essentially shattered by a twenty-four year gap. Starting in 1980 when the Rebels were sold and moved to Bham, the no-baseball era runs through 2004 when the beloved Biscuits arrived to save baseball fans in our area.

The first night covers the "Old Days" from 1880s-1980, the second night dedicated to Biscuits-history. You can be sure that Gabby Martinez will be mentioned!



 GANTT RUMORS

Gantt, right, with Dayon Varona, Sept 2015

Last week a familiar face was on the bench for the Biscuits, Marty Gantt was in town sparking rumors that he would be the player added to fill out the roster. Marty played for the Biscuits last fall, appearing in a few late season games and getting into left field part-time in the playoffs after Johnny Fields injury.

In fact Gantt is now a roving instructor with the Rays, having concluded his playing career he was added to the college of coaches. Marty was in town with the other roving instructors, learning the ropes of the gig.

He was being schooled by a pro, Skeeter Barnes was the first Biscuits hitting coach and one of the finest gents to grace the first base coaches box.

Ariaza? No, thats Skeeter Barnes!

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.