In the series it seemed back and forth every inning yet Montgomery appears to possess late inning magic at home which led to several very exciting games going to the home club.
The series was well attended and saw some crowds as big as pre-pandemic levels or near to it as fans embrace the return of the boys of summer. And fireworks. And beer.
BISCUITS TEAM NOTES
For the Biscuits, excellent pitching kept the club within striking distance pretty much the entire series as Montgomery took four of the six contests.
Starting pitchers Romero and Baz highlight the clubs moundsmen on the prospect sheet but Mike Plassmeyer offered a solid outing as did fellow hurler Tobias Myers.
Baz and Romero are dealing and while they were under pitch limits early, they have been given a longer leash in this series.
Romero picked up his first win of the year, a total not at all indicative of his efforts to this point. With eleven strikeouts in four+ innings previously, Tommy has left a few wins to the bullpen but should have fewer early visits from Morgan Ensberg from now on.
Lefty Faustino Carrera took a loss but was hardly knocked around the yard, tweeting afterwards that he would prefer to give up doubles and homers instead of the parade of bloopers that felled him against the Shuckers.
For his part, Shane Baz looks for reals too, with both offering top notch skills at the head of the starting rotation.
If you are a fan of pitching as I am, this staff is definitely worth watching.
The sluggers like Mo Gomez and Rene Pinto are starting to slug and every team needs that.
Miles Mastrobuoni has been doing everything but driving the team bus. Miles is ready to move up to Durham and is taking his frustration out on the outfield walls, driving eight doubles against them so far as well as playing excellent defense in the outfield and infield.
Palomaki has taken hold of the 9th spot in the order and seems to be enjoying it, the switch hitter has eleven RBI so far this season.
WHOS ON FIRST?
Since losing Paulson, skipper Ensberg has been shuffling the lineup at first base. Whalen, Pinto, K Johnson and others manned the first sack during the Biloxi series.
BULLPEN MUSINGS
In the bullpen the sorting out of roles is a constant at this level, especially in the first six weeks.
This bullpen features the effective return of two popular lefties, Pelaez and Moats, and the tall Brian Shaffer who have combined for thirty-six innings of relief with six wins and seven saves, twenty-eight strikeouts and a combined WhIP of under 1.150. Essentially this is like adding a quality start to each series, plus he's the closer so add saves too.
Also in the bullpen is Pegero, who throws 100mph but has been hit hard early this season and Nathan Witt who doesn't throw 100 but has hardly been hit at all. Go figure.
Easton McGee is there, the tallest Biscuit, drafted out of high school in the fourth round and has worked hard to get to here. Compiling over 260 innings as a starter McGee is being utilized as a reliever with the Biscuits.
If you would like to get in on the "how long before McGee gets put in the starting rotation" pool, please see me in section 117.
Other pen dwellers - Labosky, Valverde, Sampen, Rosenblum-Larson and Jordan Brink round out the relief crew well, they seemed to rise to the occasion against the Shuckers more often than not.
Next up we face the powerhouse Birmingham Barons, who have been setting the circuit alight with hot hitting and stellar pitching. Among them, a familiar face, Barons hitting coach this year is Cameron Seitzer, former Biscuits first baseman.
PICTURE DAY
I still remember the first time I wandered to a close spot to take a picture that was more than just a random ballpark landscape. It turned out so well I had it printed and asked the player to sign it. He liked it so much I made a few prints for him and began looking for a better camera.
Since then many have seen me wander the ballparks of the south trying to get as close as the powers that be will let me. Sometimes from the stands, behind the net or perched on a wall to get a better angle.
Several times I have questioned my own safety, and indeed my sanity, based on the spots I have found myself in. "Do I need a helmet?" is a question I ask myself and sometimes the answer is in the positive. I am not afraid to don one when that moment arrives. As Jack Nicholson said in Easy Rider "Oh I GOT a helmet!"
I THINK THEY ARE ONTO ME
After ten-plus seasons of blogging and five years of shooting pics, some of the Biscuit players have started to catch on that they are getting their picture taken. It's surprising to be noticed as a photog, with my snoot shoved into a viewfinder as I look through the lens its easy to not realize I am being seen.
Sometimes players seem to ignore it, which is fine with me. Other guys see the lens and mug for the camera, which is even better. Pretty soon the word gets around and my social media lights up, which is kinda cool too.
NOT FOR SALE
Some players have occasionally offered money for pics, I turn that down flat and simply give them the photos. Some shots I will have printed and try to get them signed, most players have been really nice about accommodating that request.
But I do accept baseball swag in trades for pics - that first shot I mentioned was swapped for a pair of batting gloves and a lesson in bartering en espanol, a treasured experience in every way. Occasionally getting a broken bat or some other item is a very cool perk and is way better than cash.
Sometimes people compliment my pics, which is always cool, especially if they have a specific favorite.
I am very proud of the shots I took for the Biscuits that were used in the Tampa Rays media and the images I had used by the Southern League and MiLB. I am also really proud of the pics I took of the Biscuits pennant clinching celebrations.
So while I don't have the newest gear or the slickest production staff, I like to feel the product I am putting out is getting it done at the level I expect of myself.
So this post is in part to offer up a ton of photos for those who have been asking or wondering if I have em - just hmu!
WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THOSE?
the bat rack. I was recently asked what I did with them and figured many people wonder that so I wanted to offer up an explanation. My answer at the game was short "I study them".
And I do study them. Deeply.
If you keep score, you know what I am talking about when I say that there is inside baseball that can be learned by watching the details. Running my scorebook over the course of the game lets me know things that I would miss as a casual observer. Little things like the hitter who has made an out to left field in every plate appearance that game or that the second baseman only needs a triple for the cycle.
Scoring over the course of a series offers similar insight, such as hitters who have trouble facing lefthanded pitching or a position player getting moved up or down in the lineup. Also full series scoring lets me get better ideas of how the bullpens are used and what players are available off the bench for each team.
The lineup card itself shares very little info other than the batting order and a list of the bench and bullpen players. During the game marks are made to indicate what spot in the batting order is due up next. Also if a replacement is made there is a notation. Occasionally other info is added, sometimes the score is updated for each inning, but not much else.
Individually, a lineup card is a nice keepsake with the list of the players from the game.
Collected over a series its basically a day-by-day flow chart of how the manager arranged his batting order, how the bullpen has been utilized and how the players on the bench have been deployed.
So thats my answer: I study them.
BULLPEN LIFE
SATCHEL PAIGE LOSES GAME
Legendary hurler Satchel Paige pitches for the KC Monarchs versus the Brooklyn Giants at Cramton Bowl, but the Monarchs lose 5-4 when he surrenders the winning run in the top of the 9th inning.
Billed as "famed pitching ace" and getting two innings of work late in the tie ball game, the future Hall of Famer was touched for a ninth inning run and took the loss.
The Brooklyn Giants were a famed negro team in the early 1900's but by this time are barely just a touring indie team.
Conversely the Monarchs are on their way to the 1940 NAL pennant with Paige, Turkey Stearnes, Buck O'Neil and other storied players and go on to become a team cemented in negro league history greatness.
MAY 29 1908 PASSENGERS JUMP FROM RUN AWAY CAR
Panic Among Occupants of Vehicle Returning From Ball Game In Montgomery.
Montgomery, Ala., May 29. - A score or more of persons were injured in a panic late today on a crowded electric car returning from the baseball park, which ran away down a steep incline east of Madison avenue. None of the injured is fatally hurt. There were 100 or more passengers on the car, which was one of a number bringing the crowd back from today's Southern league baseball game. It is customary for the cars to come down the steep incline one at a time.
It is stated that car No. 36 was too close to the car ahead and when it became apparent that the car was beyond control of the motorman and while he was shouting to the crew ahead to pull out and give him room there was a scramble for safety among the passengers. Men, women and boys jumped off the car and in a few moments the roadway was lined with injured persons. The car was stopped at the foot of the hill without accident.
MAY 31 1905 At Montgomery, Little Rock defeats Montgomery 4-2 in 14 innings
MAY 31 1907 Montgomery beats Little Rock 6-5 in 14 Innings.
MAY 31 1920
"Montgomery Grey Sox Play Long Game - New Orleans, Louisiana, May 31 - The Montgomery Grey Sox and the New Orleans Stars played a fourteen inning game here this afternoon, the game being called on account of darkness, with the score three and three. The game was a pitcher's battle, and was one of the best played here this season by any teams in the colored Southern League. Sensational fielding by the Montgomery players saved their pitcher from defeat on several occasions. The two teams will clash in a double header here Thursday."
JUNE 2 1906
Montgomery pitcher Bert Maxwell shuts out Memphis on 8 hits.
JUNE 2 1951
Ottis Johnson dies when hit by pitch
The 24-year-old Class D minor league outfielder undergoes surgery and spends eight days in the hospital before dying on June 10 as a result of being hit by the Dixie Runners hurler's pitch.
Johnson was known to dive into the pitch and Clifton was a sidearmer with a good fastball.
League officials are called on to make a ruling and Clifton is allowed to finish the season and Headland wins the league. Ottis Johnson's widow was said to bear no ill will and felt it was simply an accident.
Great post Dr. M, thank you!
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