Biscuits-Lookouts Playoff Preview

The 2017 Biscuits are one of the better teams to don Montgomery raiment since the franchise arrived in 2004. The three-peat of postseason appearances matches the 1970s-era Rebels teams, though those Rebs brought home more pennants.

Dalton Kelly & Nathan Lukes

This squad is one I am very fond of, these guys are a good group of young men learning their craft and doing a really fine job of it.

As individuals, its tough to not like the Biscuits players and coaches. They are honest, hard working blue collar guys. Combined they have shown a steady upward learning curve that has culminated in a chance to force their way into a pennant.


And force it they must, if they are to have it at all.

NOTES AND QUOTES
After being swept at the Lookouts park, where four of the five possible playoff games would be played in the first round, Montgomery fans can only hope the team was pulling its punches ahead of the playoffs. However its doubtful that was the case.


Asking Brady Williams what would happen in those five games, he made no indication of pulling punches or making plans to hide any surprises. "We are just going up there and play some baseball," he told me.



Biscuits radio announcer Chris Adams-Wall had his own opinion about it when I talked with him as the team headed off to Chattanooga. "A five game staring contest before the playoffs? Its gonna be weird!" he said.

And weird it was indeed.

Last week I called the five game series meaningless and was shown incorrect when the Biscuits played well enough to stay relevant through the first game against the Lookouts.

In that first game the Skitz were soundly eliminated with a lopsided 11-2 drubbing. After that both sides seemed to take it a little easier, coasting to the finish line in routine ballgames.

If there was true meaning to this five game series, it was to allow each team to be as familiar as two teams ever were before playing important playoff games.

"...and those who are not enthused."

THE BRIGHT SIDE

If there are silver linings to being swept, it is that the Lookouts will probably not be able to sweep Montgomery again in another series. Montgomery has lost seven straight games to Chattanooga dating back to August 1st. Giving up ten in a row is pretty unlikely.

Also, other than the one game that mattered, three of the games in the last series were decided by just one run. The Biscuits play well in close games, though they have a losing record when trailing late.



 WHO'S THE MAN?

Who will be "The Man" for the Biscuits in the playoffs? Someone will have to put this team on their back and carry it past Chattanooga.

Be it Mojo McCarthy, Justin "J-Dub" Williams, Grant Kay, Cade Gotta or one of the more recent arrivals, this club has shared the load but desperately needs a leader to emerge in the last two weeks of the year.

In each of the Biscuits League Championship teams there was a guy who refused to be beaten and provided the offensive lift the team needed. '07 Postseason MVP Chris Nowak and of course, Evan Longoria in 06 were those guys. If these Biscuits want to advance, someone has to lead the charge.

Otherwise, the Biscuits will need to resort to *other* means to score runs.

SLDS SERIES NOTES

As familiar as these two teams are, it could be a short series. The Lookouts have been the dominant team in the league and have had little trouble with the Skitz this summer.

A five game series would favor the Biscuits and if Montgomery can get past Chattanooga they should be the favorite in the Championship Series.

The Lookouts have been terrific on the road at 25w-10L and were nearly identical at home at 24-11. Montgomery posted 16w-19L in away games in the second half.

Lookouts shortstop Nick Gordon is a strong candidate for Southern League MVP.

HELP US OBI WAN KENOBI STARTING PITCHER
Montgomery's hope is largely in pitching, both starting and relief. Getting great starts from Mujica, Cabrera and either Anthony Miz or Moss is essential to advancement.

With Jose Mujica in game one, the team really needs him to pitch deep into the game and keep runs off the board to set the tone for the series. Mujica is the team leader in Innings Pitched at 154 in 25 starts, no one else reached a hundred innings.

GOT TO HAVE 'PEN
The Biscuits also need their bullpen to succeed as a team. Recently promoted Jonny Venters will be missed if the playoff roster is without him. Kyle Bird will need to step up and share the lefty reliever role with Jordan Harrison.

Obviously, Gibeaut and Winkler will have to shut the door when called upon, with little room for error. No pressure, right?

BRING THE BATS!

Montgomery has been streaky at times, scoring runs in bunches and then going dry. Using the lumber is paramount to winning, the Skitz will need to score runs against the team with the lowest ERA in the league.

Croneneworth explains what "foul ball" means

Jake Croneneworth has emerged as the teams leadoff hitter and has handled the job well batting .285 since his arrival.

Brandon Lowe could be a difference maker in the postseason, the FSL MVP has a chance to force the Rays to consider starting him at Durham next spring with a monster finish in the playoffs. He has been a regular at second base and often is batting second for the Biscuits.

Joe McCarthy often bats third in the lineup and plays left field or designated hitter. Mojo has struggled a little in recent weeks but still has a stout .292 BA when batting third. McCarthy has an excellent .285BA in extra innings.

Grant Kay should play third base and occupy the cleanup spot for the Biscuits in the postseason. He has spent most of the season in that spot in spite of hitting just .228 when batting fourth. Brady is probably keeping him there due to his .268 average with runners in scoring position. Also, Kay is excellent when leading off an inning, posting .275BA and 20 doubles as the first hitter in a frame.

Where will C/DH Sullivan hit in the order?

Dalton Kelly is likely the fifth hitter in the batting order and has played a steady first base since his arrival at the end of June. His .325BA and 35RBI in the 5th spot has provided much needed run support for the team.


Several spots in the batting order don't appear fully set, Brady likes to juggle the names at the top and bottom of the lineup card. Cade Gotta either hits second, or sixth. Wherever he isn't, Justin Williams is. Usually Brady Williams writes in catcher Ciuffo to bat 8th, but sometimes its outfielder Nate Lukes.

This juggling act is one of the ways a manager can win an extra ballgame for his club. Or three. Thats "Brady Ball" for ya!

STATS BREAKDOWN

Often I rely on numbers to give an indication of what we might see in any given series, but this one doesn't take much math. The Lookouts are simply the best team in the league and have had the Biscuits number for years. The Biscuits have five games to find a way to be David to the Lookouts Goliath.

For this series, the only number that matters is three - three wins to advance. Putting more runs on the board than Chattanooga is a very tough task in one game, to say nothing of three. The Skitz won't go unbeaten, and forcing a game five would give them the upper hand in the series.

Montgomery goes into the series as the underdogs and its tough to see the Biscuits knocking off the Lookouts. If I were Brady, I would look to split the first two games, win at home and then the team just needs one win in the last two at Chattanooga to advance to the championship round.

I would also buy some rum and fried chicken for Jobu, just to cover all the bases.