The Montgomery Baseball Blog: Spring Biscuit Notes, Nets, Cuba, History

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Spring Biscuit Notes, Nets, Cuba, History

There have been a few preseason moves, most of the players that will suit up for Montgomery have been sent to minor league camp, but its not like the Rays to announce rosters early.

I stick by my predictions in January for the most part, also I expect more wins from the Skitz in '16 than last year. Not that last year wasn't pretty good, but this season could be just a little better!

PLAYER NOTES
Willy Adamas has been used sparingly in major league camp, 12 innings through March 20th. After a good year at Charlotte, Adamas is expected to be the starting shortstop for the Biscuits.

Brent Honeywell retweeted the link to an article on the Screwball pitch that discussed how nobody throws it anymore. He followed with a vine of him throwing his best fadeaway. Honeywell and his elite screwball should spend time in the 'Skits starting rotation this summer.

Taylor Guerrieri was assigned to the Biscuits roster, but that doesn't lock him in here. However I predicted that he was likely to start the year in Montgomery's rotation, free from the pitch counts that limited him after TJ surgery.

OVERSEAS BISCUITS

Two former Biscuits are spring training in Japan with the Hiroshima Carp - Bradin Hagens and Jason Pridie are in camp with the NPB Central league team. They seem pretty happy about it.

Hagens, left, and Jason Pridie are excited to play in Japan

A GOOD CREW COMING

The report from spring camp is that Montgomery will have "...a good crew coming your way this year."

That's from Durham Bulls hitting coach Ozzie Timmons, who described the Biscuits new 1B coach Dan Dement as down to earth, a "regular guy, with a lot of energy".

A nice scouting report on the players and the new coach. If Timmons likes 'em thats good enough for me.

MEET THE TEAM
Back on the schedule again this year is the Meet Your Biscuits event. An opportunity to get a first look at the players and coaches will happen on Tuesday April 5th.

Usually a chance to fans to catch up with each other as much as anything, the team will shake hands with the crowd after two days of workouts at Riverwalk. On Wednesday they will travel to Jackson Tn where they will open the season against the Generals.

WORKING WITHOUT A NET

I spoke with a well placed member of the Biscuits front office who assured me that there won't be any different netting unless the wording from the league changes.

"Its a recommendation, not a mandate" was the bottom line and Biscuit fans can breathe a sigh of buttery relief.

Fans in Montgomery, like everywhere, want safety but are less interested in having their views obscured. Teams could see a drop in demand for those seats, which are usually sold at premium prices compared to other areas.

SUNS LOOKING AT NETS

The Jacksonville Suns new owners are looking into adding nets but have yet to decide.

Almost more interesting, in the article about Suns netting debate, its revealed that the nets are supplied by Fernandina Beach-based company Burbank Sports Nets. The Net company says it was inundated with work after the "recommendation" by baseball to increase net size.

NO FAUXBACK BISCUIT JERSEYS
A bummer bit of news in that the concept of wearing false-throwback uniforms for the Biscuits history night was shot down.

Themed jerseys are quite the item recently, last summers Back To The Future jersey brought fans from all over to the game to bid on the odd tops. It would have been a nice addition to the history-themed weekend!

BISCUITS HEAD TO CUBA

Several former Biscuits are on the roster for the Rays exhibition against the Cuban National team, including Cuban ex-pat Dayron Varona. Its a great story, Varona is on the roster because Rays teammates basically demanded he be included.

Due to thawing international relations, Varona should be among the last of the Cuban defectors.

Varona is not the first Cuban Biscuit to meet a president. Former Skit 1B Leslie Anderson, also Cuban, got some hitting advice from Fidel Castro...

NEW ONFIELD EMCEE
The Biscuit Bunch will have a new leader this year, an energetic and outgoing character who has been with the team in another capacity for the past season or two. I admit I failed to write his name down, but I am sure Skitz fans will have it memorized before long. My bad!

This ~~day~~ week in baseball history is a busy one for Montgomery, hosting exhibitions and facing major league clubs in spring contests that take place in the capitol city.

MARCH 23 1934
Chattanooga vs Minn Millers in exhibition game at MGM