Biscuits Quick Hits, Ex-Pirates Meet

Its been a while since the last post. After the doubleheaders two straight days, of course including early start for the first one and extra innings on day two, honestly I was gassed, wore out, flat and busted tired. It took a couple days to get back to normal after four games in two days.

Its no wonder the guys on the field have come up short in games on the road after that, even with a day off to recover there just isn't enough time to recoup the energy expended from the marathon series against Jackson.

Jackson is still tough to beat even with the new affiliation. The Biscuits had a chance to take the six game set but came up with a series split of three games apiece. Dropping the final game to the Generals had them declaring "happy bus!" aware that they could have done much worse. Notably, the Gens were rained out Wednesday, then shut out by the JUMBO SHRIMP last night.

Biscuit fans wondered if it was just seeing the Generals jerseys that put the Biscuits in the loss column so often the past couple years. But hey, that is the also the team we No-Hit last summer with four relief pitchers!


BULLPEN BULL
Someone recently complained about the Biscuits bullpen but I defend R.C's relief corps. Some of the guys are throwing the ball really well and doing great work late in the games. A bad game at home often prompts fans to question a pitchers ability, no matter what the numbers say.

 Who among the teams affiliated in the Southern League can truly afford to let a good reliever stay in double-A? Not one. As a result, the relievers are mostly guys who are trying to figure a few things out. When they figure it out, they get a promotion. So if they are here, there is a good chance they are still working to put together that streak that gets them promoted!

Nobody in the league has a bulletproof bullpen, there is no sense in throwing Biscuits under the bus for having a bad outing here and there.


QUICK HITS
Justin Williams should be back in action in a few more days, a week at most. Out with sore hammy the powerful right fielder is making good progress towards returning to action.

Espinal

Also Granden Goetzman was seen doing stretching and light baseball activities during the homestand. He looked to be moving well and is also on track to return sooner rather than later from his hamstring injury.

Yoel Espinal returned from Durham and delivered a spot start in the final game of the double-doubleheader.

Squid has been using an axe-handle bat. "Feels good, so natural" he told me when I asked him about it.

 When I asked Tyler Brashears if he had Lincecum in mind when he came up with his delivery, Tyler said he was more a fan of the Dodgers ace hurler Kevin Brown.


Braxton Lee is atop the league batting chart in a close race with Mobile's Forrest Allday.


Kyle Bird is tied for third in the league with four Holds.

Former Biscuit Matt Ramsey is tied for the league lead in saves with 12.

FORMER PIRATES MEET

Biscuits coach Gary Redus shares a laugh with former teammate and current Jackson Generals pitching coach Doug Drabek. The pair were on Jim Leylands three time division champion Pirates in 1990, 1991 and 1992. Drabek won the Cy Young award in 1990, winning 22 games and tossing three shutouts.


The Second Half
Coming up after the All Star Break the Biscuits will have a re-opening with the new ownership. All I know is that we should expect to "see things that have never before been seen at Riverwalk."

We have seen some stuff down at the park, nine foot clowns on stilts, Big Mo's helicopter entrance on the field, a pig poop at home plate during the National Anthem, the lights go out, the water mains bursting to flood the field three times in a week, Billy Gardner blow up on umpires and so much more.

This is something we will be sure to keep an eye on coming up!  What could it be?

THIS DAY IN MONTGOMERY BASEBALL HISTORY

MAY 26 1920 
FAMOUS ONE-ARMED PITCHER VS GREY SOX
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.

1920  Montgomery Grey Sox

Sam Streeter, GreySox pitcher

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 28 1930
MONTGOMERY GETS NIGHT BASEBALL!

In an old and faded article we learn it is announced in the Miami newspaper that Cramton Bowl will be outfitted with lights suitable for baseball. The existing lights were used for football, which at the time was mostly a game played on the ground and the lighting was not sufficient for baseball.

The article mentions that the Montgomery club might have had to play its games at another location, presumably this would have cost the owner considerably more than just installing some new lights.