TN Welcomes, Skitz Not Happy

The Biscuits have not enjoyed going to Tennessee, this year the team is just 2 wins against 5 losses.

The Biscuits wont be done seeing the Volunteer state just yet. Later this month Brady's guys will go to Chattanooga for a series against the Lookouts. After that set the Skitz won't have to go back to Tn until July. However they will have to figure out how to get past those three teams eventually. From July 9th through August 21st there are four road trips and you guessed it - three of the series are in Tennessee.

Not that anyone is ready to start planning for the second half, Montgomery is just keeping pace with the Generals. A one or two game lead isn't a huge mountain to climb in April, the Biscuits are lurking within striking distance and have all the tools to do it.

CLOCK RULE IN EFFECT
 We saw our first time-related officiating at Riverwalk in the series against the Braves. A batter was handed a first strike for failing to get into the box fast enough. In another instance a pitcher called for a ball when he didn't get to the set position before the clock ran out.

Twice in a series the clock rule was called, when it didn't appear to happen even one time last summer.

Looks like we should expect it to be called more often. Umpires must have gotten the memo to enforce the new rule.

PICTURE THIS
A lot of folks seem to dig the photos I take for the blog, and I mentioned I took a lot of photos last week. Im feelin like Crosseyed Larry after going through them all.

I did find a few good ones. I tried to get everyone on the roster but its tough to get all twenty five guys. I will include some of them in the blog over the next few weeks.

SLAP THE LEATHER ON HIM
One of my fave things to see is the Biscuits first baseman putting the tag on a baserunner who has strayed too far from the bag. Jake Bauers seems to enjoy it just about as much as me.

HURLERS WOES
Biscuit pitchers may have been knocked around a little in Tennessee, but its actually good for the team.

Jacob Faria

 Developmentally speaking, finding out what a player needs to work on or get better at is an important aspect of coaching.

Biscuit-wise, an inflated ERA could indicate a player would stay in the Montgomery rotation a couple extra starts.

And you know they won't finish with those numbers, it's way too early to start looking at stats.

BRAXTON LEE
One player I look for to break out is Braxton Lee. With just a handful of hits he has flown under the radar but simply has too much talent to keep down.

Braxton Lee drops down a bunt

In fact, Lee didn't even need a hit to win a game, taking four balls with the bases loaded in a walk-off victory shows the discipline of the young hitter.

A guy hitting low in the order with a batting average lower than his weight often wants to prove himself with a big hit. Taking a walk helped the team more than swinging hard.

APRIL 20 1893
Joe McGinnity is signed to play for the Montgomery Colts by John McCloskey & makes his first start, beating Nashville 10-4.

The future Iron Man held the opposition to just five hits on the day he stepped off the train in Montgomery.



APRIL 20 1908
Nashville and Montgomery battle for 15 innings without a run before darkness ends the contest.

1908 Montgomery Climbers

APRIL 20 1920
"Negro Southern League is Formed - Montgomery Team Will Play Exhibition Game With Crack Indianapolis Club -

The local negro baseball team known as the Grex Sox will open the Negro Sourthern League season in Montgomery on Friday, April 30, May 1 and 2 with the Birmingham Giants.

1920 Montgomery Gray Sox

 The league is composed of eight clubs, Knoxville, Atlanta, Birmingham, Montgomery, Pensacola, New Orleans, and Jacksonville. The opening dates are Birmingham at Montgomery, New Orleans at Pensacola, Knoxville at Nashville, Jacksonville at Atlanta.

President Staples of the local club has gathered together one of the strongest aggregations of ball tossers in the South, having returned from a scouting trip Wednesday with three new pitchers. He assures the public of clean baseball and is out for the first pennant of the new league. No games will be played in any town when a Southern League team is playing.

On Tuesday, April 20, the Grey Sox will entertain the strong A.B.C. club of Indianapolis, Indiana, the strongest negro club in the country. The game will give the local fans an opportunity of seeing just what kind of club the Grey Sox will be.

The game will be played in Southside park on South Holt street, just one half block from the car line. The new park has a special grand stand for white patrons."

Site of Southside Park

Biscuits Beat Braves In First Homestand

There is a lot to cover, and I have a thousand pictures to edit. Literally, over a thousand shots all told. I took a ton more photos than usual since I have a new lens and want to learn it quickly, plus I occasionally toss a few shots to other places where they get appreciated. I went from zero to a thousand in just five days, so I will have to spend a few days sifting through them all to see what we have!

Enough about me, lets have Biscuits!

The Skitz came home to a nice crowd, happy to see the new squad after getting a taste of the postseason last fall. Optimism is always high on opening night and this was no exception. A slow start in the first away series seemed miles away when the home team took the field at Riverwalk.

And indeed, a new season at home began with a great series vs the Braves.

GAME ONE
After the pregame festivities and introductions, the Biscuits went to work.

Hu on the hill

ChiWei Hu pitched the home opener and was basically brilliant for his four innings. He pitched in traffic, allowing lots of baserunners on five hits and walking one, but struck out eight.

The Biscuit offense was opened in the third courtesy of a Jake Hager triple that drove home a pair.

In the fourth frame Montgomery struck again, pounding four runs across the plate, capped by a Jake Hager double for two more RBI.

Hager over Albies

The Biscuit Bullpen was handed a six run lead and had little problems holding the Braves down to a dull roar.

Jared Mortensen and his knuckleball picked up the win and had hitters mystified. Steve Ascher gave up the pair of runs on three hits in one inning, Parker Markel tossed a clean ninth to end the game.



GAME TWO
Day game. Not usually my fave but I took it in and was glad I did. Jacob Faria led the Biscuits in a lunchtime tilt in front of four thousand schoolkids.

I noted in the blog that Faria had not started a day game in over a year and had only a handful of them in his pro career. Jacob probably would take a day game start every time out, pitching a solid seven innings with seven strikeouts and allowed just one run to score.

The Biscuit offense was started by a JuneQ sac fly in the second inning.

Field warms up the throwing arm

Play of the game, maybe the series was when RF Johnny Field hit the cutoff man and Tommy Coyle's strong relay throw was on the mark at third base to end the fourth inning. A run scored to tie the game but the defensive fundamentals kept the Biscuits from giving up the lead.

Kean Wong drove in Marjama in the sixth inning to put the Biscuits back on top. In the eighth inning the Braves tied the game on a Jordy Lara solo homer.

It looked like we might be headed to extra innings until the bottom of the ninth when the Biscuits loaded the bases with two singles and a walk. Braxton Lee then took four straight balls to walk off with a walk.


GAME THREE

Taylor Guerrieri

Starter Taylor Guerrieri looked smooth in five innings, striking out three Braves and allowing just a pair of runs in the first frame.

The Braves prospect pitcher Sean Newcombe was tough as advertised, allowing just one run and striking out four.

The Biscuits offense was started with a Mike Marjama RBI single in the second inning, and it looked like a pitchers duel was on.


However once the bullpens took over, the Biscuits were on the better end of things. Marshall, Kolarek and Schreiber combined for four innings, one hit, one run and five K's. Adam Kolarek pitched around a walk by striking out three.

The game changed in the sixth, Willy Adames decided it was time to hit his first homer of the year, which tied the game.

Granden Goetzman

Later in the inning Granden Goetzman doubled in a pair of runs.
Not content with that, GG then scored himself by stealing third base and jogging home when the throw went into left field, putting the Skitz up 5-2. Each team would add another run but the Biscuits put the W in their basket.


GAME FOUR
Mississippi said "Enough is enough" and let out their frustration by hammering the Biscuits.

No matter who the Skitz sent to the hill, the Braves hitters were relentless. Stanek started, followed by Buddy Borden and Steve Ascher but it could have been Jesus-Moses-Mohammed - they would have given up runs.

The Biscuits got RBIs from Kean Wong and Jake Bauers when Montgomery scored twice in the 6th.

It wasn't enough. The Braves won 9-2.


GAME FIVE
 Chris Kirsch makes every start like Kirschmas and this time we got five great innings from the Lackawanna Lefty. One walk and six hits kept Chris pitching in traffic but he worked out of it with little damage.

Field prepares to launch grand slam

Jake Bauers homerun tied the game in the fourth inning. The Biscuits delivered the knockout punch in the 7th inning with a Johnny Field grand slam.

Jared Mortensen used a knuckler-fastball combo to earn his second victory of the series and the season. Markel was on top of the ninth to shut the door and the Biscuits claimed another W.



BACK ON THE BISCUIT BUS

Now its off to face the Cubs affiliate Smokies. Back to Tennessee!
I usually have more on the road matchups, but I have a TON of pics to edit, so I will try to post again in the middle of the series.

Biscuits Home Opener vs Braves, What to Look For

The Biscuits escaped Jackson Tn with three losses, one win and one given to Mother Nature.

The rain out on Monday morning worked in Montgomery's favor, getting out of town without giving the Generals a chance to muster another win and turning the contest into a home game.

Since the Gens don't host the Skitz again in the first half, the postponed game will be made up at Riverwalk when the Generals come to town in May.

This could be just the second time in Biscuits history when the home team isn't the Biscuits - Montgomery should be listed as Visitors since it is technically a Jackson home game.

BONUS BASEBALL!
So we haven't played our first home game and already we are guaranteed a game 71 at Riverwalk! Well, yes, barring any possible rain outs this summer, but we usually squeeze em in somehow.

After dropping three of four games to start the season, Montgomery now comes home to face a very tough Braves team.

Mallex Smith & Cam Seitzer

The Atlanta Braves have dealt most of their major league talent as they retool for a new ballpark, while the Mississippi Braves have reaped the returns. The MsBraves have a pile of prospects, especially in the pitching department.

 Already the M.Braves have contributed to the Atlanta roster, pitcher Hunter Cervenka was called up on Monday to fill for an injury on the parent club. Last years MBrave, Mallex Smith made his season debut this weekend, the road to Atlanta definitely passes through Mississippi.

This is the only trip to Montgomery the Mississippi Braves will make this year, unless we should meet in the championship playoff series.

Opening night is finally here and Biscuits fans welcome a newly minted squad for their first homestand of the 2016 season. Hopes are high among players, fans and ballpark staff.

OPENING NIGHT
The Biscuits will have their rotation shuffled a little early on, the rain-out means Chih-Wei Hu pitches the home opener on Tuesday and everyone else in the rotation slides back a day.

Hu throws six pitches, including a palmball that can leave hitters flailing at thin air. The Taichung Tiger makes his Biscuits debut and fans can't wait to see what he tosses across the dish.

On the other side, Lucas Sims gets the start for the Braves on Tuesday. MLB ranks him #12 among Braves prospects. The Righthander from Snellville Ga has great stuff and is on track to be in Atlanta sooner rather than later.


DAYGAME 

 Game two starter for the Braves is Chris Ellis, ranked 14th among Braves farmhands. He will likely face Jacob Faria in the Wednesday schoolkids game at 10:30 am.

Jacob Faria

Faria will be making his first daytime start in over a year, and the tenth daygame start in his pro career.

Last time out Jacob took the loss but pitched very well, striking out eight and walking just one. Faria threw 88 pitches, the most by a Biscuits starter in the first series. 62 were strikes.




BEER ME!

Drink from Kiermaiers Cup

The first Thirsty Thursday of the year and we have a chance to enjoy a premier pitching matchup between two of the most touted arms in the league.

Pitching game three for the visiting Braves is Sean Newcomb.

Listed as the #2 prospect in Atlanta's organization, Newcomb only dropped out of the top spot when the Bravos acquired Dansby Swanson. Newcomb is very good, a first round pick in 2014 by the Angels.

Guerrieri

Opposing the Bravos will be Taylor Guerrieri, looking to improve after taking the loss in his first start at Jackson.

While Taylor took the L, his work was good and he only allowed two runs in five frames. He threw 61 pitches in that start, 39 for strikes.







RAYS UP FOR ARCHER BOBBLEHEAD
 
Game four on Friday is Rays Night, featuring the long-awaited Miguel Cabrera Chris Archer bobblehead giveaway.

On the field it will be Ryne Stanek for the Biscuits vs Rob Whalen of the Braves. Whalen is listed as #27 on the Braves prospect list, he came from the Mets in the Kelly Johnson/Juan Uribe deal.

Stanek

Stanek will look to build on his last start, he took the loss but struck out five.

While Ryne is a little under the radar for some, the former Razorback is a well regarded prospect with great ability and should thrive in his second helping of Biscuits.

FIREWORKS & GIRL SCOUT CAMPOREE

King Kirsch won his first vs Generals

Game five is Saturday night, Fireworks and Girl Scout camp night and the series finale. Or "the nally" as James Shields calls it.

It is the only 7:05 Saturday start time on home schedule this year.

Brandon Barker takes the hill for the Braves against the Biscuits lefty Chris Kirsch. The Lackawanna Lefty won his last start to pop the top on Biscuit wins this season.

The first fireworks night of the year should be a big one, always popular among fans and just a little more so when the Girl Scouts are in the park.

BISCUITS VS BRAVES

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

Look for the Biscuits to wake up early for their first taste of home cooking as the bats should start coming to life. Minor leaguers arrive at spring camp weeks after the major leaguers, often giving pitchers the advantage early in the season. As days pass, that advantage dissipates.

Look for a free hot dog on Opening Night. Humphrey Bogart said "A hot dog at the ballpark is better than a steak at the Ritz", so its like the Biscuits are giving away better than steak dinners!

Fuzzy Biscuits

Fans will get a look at a new and different Biscuits style. Now beards, long hair and long pants are deemed acceptable appearance for Rays minor leaguers.

Look for Jared Mortensen's new pitch, the knuckleball. Its a good one, perhaps the best one in the Rays system right now and he throws it more than half the time. Working out of the bullpen, Morty could get alot of chances to perfect the flutter-ball.

Look for the Biscuit bullpen early and often as starting pitchers are still getting their pitch counts stretched out. Biscuit manager Brady Williams will be looking at matchups as he tries to figure out who-what-where in the Montgomery bullpen.

P-RAT STAT DEBUT
We will be using a new stat this year here at the blog - the Prospect Rating. Its a simple number that will show us how teams rank in terms of rated talent. The higher the number, the more stocked on talent the team is expected to be.
 

Designed by my brilliant associate, Mr.850, the rankings are percolated in his secret lab and boiled down to a basic number the rest of us can easily grasp.


BISCUITS P-RAT 148
The Biscuits P-RAT is currently 148, which is higher than it was at any point last year. Much has been said of the number of prospects on the Montgomery squad, but it can be quantified as excellent and few teams in the league can compare.

Players like Bauers, Hager, Guerrieri, Faria, Adamas, Wong, Stanek and Field are ranked among the top players in the Rays system. These guys push the P-RAT way up the dial, raising expectations as well.


BRAVES P-RAT 143
However, the Braves are one of those few teams that do compare to the Biscuits rating. The M.Braves P-RAT of 143 is also quite highly valued, so we should see an excellent series by two well matched teams. 

The Braves top prospects list includes MBraves like pitchers Sean Newcomb, Lucas Sims, Ellis, Thurman, Hursh, Whalen and Mauricio Cabrera.

On the other side of the ball, shortstop Ozzie Albies is highly touted, outfielder Dustin Peterson and middle infielder Johan Carmargo all combine to form both the MsBraves roster and nearly a third of the Atlanta hopes for the future.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

 

APRIL 11, 1948 
Phillies play exhibition game vs Washington Senators at Montgomery.

APRIL 12 1920
"Southern League Formed - Montgomery, Alabama, April 12.
Final plans for the completion of the proposed Negro Southern Baseball League resulted in the formation of an eight club circuit, with a bright prospect of 10 cities composing the final arrangement of the organization.

A bird's eye view of the league reveals excellent grounds for the success of the venture; the cities selected appeal to be about evenly balanced in population, have good transportation facilities and are not too long a distance removed from each other for a heavy mileage to cut serious inroads and thus weigh heavily against the proper financial progress of the promoters.

C.I. Taylor who was cited for Conspicuous service through putting into being a like organization in the northwest, was a deeply interested participant in the final arrangements, and his words of wisdom went a long ways towards encouraging options on franchises.

The following cities qualified for franchises in the new league: Birmingham, Nashville, Knoxville, Atlanta, Pensacola, Montgomery, New Orleans, Jacksonville. A committee on the arrangement of a schedule hopes by the end of the week to have their dates alloted, as the opening day is set for April 29."



 
APRIL 12 1946 
Montgomery scores four runs in 10th to edge U of Al in Tuscaloosa. Dixie Walker mgr, saw Montgomery win 12-8 with the Rebels tying the game with four runs in the seventh inning.

The same teams will play the next day at Cramton Bowl.





APRIL 12, 1949 
Reds blank Rebels 11-0 as Cincinatti opposes Montgomery in an exhibition game at Cramton Bowl.