Pissed-Skitz, Wheres Ascher?

The Biscuits are fighting to stay in the hunt but have been at a loss to score for two straight days against Jackson. Shut out in back to back games for the first time in almost two seasons, the Biscuits starting pitchers have been excellent but they can't win with zero run support.

The quote of the series came in the seventh inning of Wednesdays tilt with Montgomery down 4-0 when a little girl in the stands behind me asks "Daddy, why are they STILL playing?"


PISSED-SKITZ

Justin Williams wears smiley face wristbands

How frustrated are they?
Justin Williams, so cheerful he has smiley faces on his wristbands, took his bat to something down the tunnel after the last out of Wednesdays game. Its not known what he beat up with it, but when I saw the bat afterwards it looked like a badly organized pile of toothpicks.


Just a couple weeks ago the Biscuits appeared to be a dominant force, now they look to be struggling to stay afloat.

Lets hope it turns around again soon, there isn't a lot of time to waste if Montgomery wants to get back into the playoffs.



WILLIAMS SUSPENDED FOR TIRADE

Biscuits manager Brady Williams was so unhappy with the officials during the series against Jackson that after his outburst the League insisted he should not have to suffer watching the final three games.

The reason cited was contact he made while arguing with the umpires after they ejected Chih-Wei Hu for throwing at a Jackson batters head following a home run.

Brady was not punished for his tossing of bats and balls onto the field following his ejection. While kicking dirt onto home plate umpire David Arrieta's shoes Williams managed to land one kick on the umps shinguard.

The crew of umpires working this series has given Brady Williams fits in the past, last year he was ejected four times by the same group of field arbiters, and twice this year as well. Chih-Wei Hu has a previous ejection by this crew earlier in this season, also while facing the Jackson Generals.

Biased? Hard to question an umpires integrity, but there probably aren't any other managers in the league who have been sent to the showers early six times in 18 months by the same three umps.

CHASE WHITLEY REHAB AGAIN
If you missed Chase Whitley in his rehab start last series, you get another chance to see the big league Troy Trojan pitching at Riverwalk. The former Yankee will make his second Biscuits appearance on Thursday.

Chase Whitley

O'CONNER COMING SOON

I asked pitching coach RC Lichtenstein when we might see catcher Justin O'Conner. RC said "You usually know better than I do where those guys are!"

Justin O'Conner

Okay, RC, I got you.

Listed on the Biscuits DL since opening day, O'Conner reportedly hurt his back driving to spring training. He was sent to the GCL Rays for rehab and has made five appearances, going 4-for-16 with two homers and three RBI's since July 26th. His rehab has included catching games behind the plate, not just being a DH.


Not sure how long a rehab he needs, but as soon as he shows he is fully healthy its expected he will rejoin the Montgomery squad, possibly as soon as Friday.



ROSTER SHUFFLE

Q and Dement discuss the roster

Infielder Juniel Querecuto was sent to Durham, right behind him went reliever Adam Kolarek.

Activated was Tommy Coyle, though Coyle never showed on the league website or was listed as DL'ed on the Biscuits web page.

Coyle didn't spend a whole 7 days out, so there is no telling what shell game the team played to shuffle the roster.

Its been that way all year, leaving fans guessing as to who is active or injured due to nebulous roster activity.


Fans ask me nearly every day where some player or another is, was, or has gone. And its not just me they ask.

WHERES ASCHER?

I was hanging around by the bullpen last week when a kid comes up and interrogates the players about where his favorite pitcher was. It was almost like an Abbot and Costello routine.

"Wheres Ascher?" he asked, addressing anyone within earshot.

"Hey! Where's Ascher?" he repeated several times, increasing in volume until it was no longer impossible to ignore him.

"They needed him in Port Charlotte" one of the pitchers said, hoping it would end the youthful cross examination.

"So Ascher was traded?" kid asks. "No, just reassigned" another pitcher offers.

Where have you gone, Steve Ascher?

"So Ascher was promoted?" kid asks, obviously annoyed now that he has learned Steve Ascher wasn't going to be at the game today.

"Well, uh, no, just re-assigned, he's in Florida" came the reply, nobody wanting to use the dirty word "demoted".

"So Ascher is in Tampa now?" kid asks, inducing cringes from pretty much every uniformed guy in the bullpen.

"Uh, well, no. He's with the Stone Crabs right now, they needed him" was the answer, but it wasn't going over well with the kid.

"Is that even a pro team? Are they a college team?" kid asks. Eyes roll in the bullpen and players start to find anything else to do anywhere but near this kid.

"Its okay, he will probably be back in a couple weeks" another player offered up, hoping it would end the probing interview.

Kid was standing there trying to work out the logistics of what he was being told when his friend bounced up next to him and said....

"Hey! Where's Ascher?" 

Fully Loaded Biscuits, Whitley, Chapman, Wahoos review & Gens preview

The Biscuits wrapped up against the Wahoos and sent them packing Saturday. In their place the Generals arrived on Sunday to begin a five game set.

VS HOO's
The series against the Wahoos in the first five games of this ten game homestand was dramatic and exciting, just as one would expect from a potential playoff preview. The games went back and forth, setting the stage for the climactic rubber match on Saturday night.


CHASE THE BISCUIT

Chase Whitley

Just the night before fans watched as Wahoos starter Sal Romano nearly no-hit the Skitz. Now for a second night the cranks were treated to a well tossed game.

With rehabing Major leaguer and former Troy Trojan Chase Whitely getting the start for Montgomery, the Biscuits and Wahoos locked horns in an old fashoned pitchers duel.

Chase Whitley

Chase Whitely was poised and overpowering in three innings, allowing just one walk and striking out five hitters. Tossing 34 pitches in just his third start after surgery, the tall starter looked great and seemed focused as well as able to enjoy getting back into competition.

Whitely, a local product who had a large contingent of friends, family and supporters in the crowd, reached 90mph and had no trouble with double-A hitters.

It isn't know if he will make another appearance for the Biscuits, but he left a great impression on those who saw him working Saturday.




HERES YONNY
Following Whitely's removal was pitcher Yonny Chirinos. Usually a starting pitcher, Chirinos came on and pitched well in his four frames but was ultimately touched for three runs in the seventh inning.

Chirinos has been excellent in the Montgomery rotation since his promotion from the Stone Crabs a few weeks ago.

Pitching in relief on this night, Yonny cruised for a few innings before becoming suddenly hittable and was pulled before too much damage was done.

GOTTA PAIR FROM GOTTA

Cade Gotta

The Biscuits, shut out for six innings, answered back with three runs of their own in the bottom of the seventh to lock the score. The Wahoos bullpen faltered with two outs and a run already in, Cade Gotta's two RBI double knotted the score.


With the score still locked at 3-3 into the bottom of the ninth, Justin Williams opened the Biscuits half of the inning with a ringing double.

Justin Williams is fired up about his 9th inning double

When Granden Goetzman put down a sacrifice bunt, Wahoos closer De Los Santos fielded the ball and promptly threw it wildly over the third basemans head - allowing the baserunner Williams to waltz home with the gamewinning run.

Fans cheered, massive fireworks were seen and Biscuit fans went home happy.

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES
On Sunday it was a new day and a new opponent.
The Jackson Generals tried to take the Biscuits to the woodshed, pounding out 17 runs in the contest. To their credit, the Skitz didn't just roll over and think of England, they mustered seven runs of their own.

Taylor Guerrieri

Starting pitcher Taylor G had the roughest outing of the year, perhaps of his career, as he gave up seven runs (six earned) while getting just one out in the first inning.


Knuckleballing reliever Jared Mortensen followed but fared little better, eventually getting pulled after Brady Williams was ejected for arguing.


The play Williams was tossed for was pretty bad, Pat Blair fouled a ball off his foot that rolled into fair territory. The Generals picked the ball up and threw it around the infield for a double play and got the benefit of the bad call and the fact that Blair was on the ground in pain unable to run to first.

Should have been foul, instead it was two outs. Brady had seen enough and didn't keep that fact a secret, sharing it loudly and occasionally kicking some dirt onto home plate, earning him the heave-ho.

Williams was the lucky one, not having to sit through the lengthy contest. It took more then three and a half hours for the Generals to dispatch the Biscuits in a game with over 50 baserunners combined.

SERIES PREVIEW GENERALS V BISCUITS

Should the Biscuits advance to the playoffs by winning the second half North Division, the Generals are the team Montgomery would face in the first round. Jackson enters the series in second place, trailing Montgomery closely.

The Gens are a scrappy team low on prospects but high on experience and ability. Their P-Rat is 89, the team is led by hard hitting outfielder Tyler O'Neil. Batting .305 with 19 hrs and 78 runs batted in, O'Neil is a strong candidate for Southern League MVP.

Guys like Leon Landry and Marcus Littlewood know how to win games at this level, making the team a well rounded squad, not just a prospect farm.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

 

Look for lots of hits and lots of men on base. Jackson leads the league in batting average, Montgomery leads the league in total bases.

Tyler O'Neil

Tyler O'Neil. Seriously, look out for him, dude is dangerous. He can be struck out, but its a risky proposition to pitch to him with runners on base.

Montgomery looks to score late. I don't have any stats on it, but this team scores late more often than a hooker at Krystals on Mobile hwy.

Look for Montgomery to spoil the Generals reputation for being hard to hit homers against. The Gens have the second fewest HRs allowed but Montgomery knows how to find the fences.

Montgomery allows the most bases on balls in the league. Look for Generals looking for free passes.

Mortensen

Look for Jared Mortensen and Taylor Guerrieri to pitch inside and maybe hit batters, they are two of the top three leaders in Hit-By-Pitch tossers. Sunday they each plunked a Jackson General!

Look for Ian Miller to test Biscuit catchers and try to add to his 34 stolen bases. Miller has only been caught one time this year!




MARJ TO REHAB

Mike Marjama

Mike Marjama has headed to Port Charlotte to rehab, it isn't yet known how long he will be there.

Mike Marj is an important part of the success in Montgomery this summer, hopefully he gets healthy and returns soon.




COYLE TO DL
I was told the move that activated Patrick Leonard also sent Tommy Coyle to the DL. It hasnt posted on the league website or the team site yet, but hey, that shouldn't surprise anyone.

Tommy Coyle

CHAPMAN THE HUSTLER

Jaye Chapman

One player I talked to said that he had "kinda been hustled" by Biscuits closer Jaye Chapman. Three guys were looking for a fourth for doubles in a game of ping-pong. Asked if he wanted to play, Chapman agreed saying he "had played a little bit."

It quickly became obvious that "a little bit" meant "like a boss" and Chapman walked away on the winning team.


QUIRKY OR METHODICAL?
Fans have noticed Chapman and his busy bullpen activities. From the time he comes out of the tunnel before the game until the last fan has left, Jaye Chapman seems to stay in a state of constant motion. While he does so, he talks to players, fans, umpires, grounds keepers, pretty much anyone who comes near him. He stretches against the walls and wanders all over the bullpen area, covering every inch of real estate in that zip code.

On talking to fans, he says its partly due to being from the Florida panhandle, as well as having a branch of friends and family here in Montgomery. "Every day I have like, 40 folks here to see me! They live here, so its great to see everyone" he told me.


I asked him about his pre-game routine and the habits he has in the pen. "Every move is precisely planned, an intricate warm-up regimen."

LAST TO GO
On being the last one out of the ballpark after the game, he was honestly old school about non-fraternization. "I hate going down the tunnel with the other team, no matter who has won. A guy I just struck out in a big spot, or gave up a hit to maybe lose a game, and I am supposed to just pack it in and walk beside him right after? No way, I just wait until they clear out."


#BULLPENLIFE

The Armando Araiza Game, MLB'er to Rehab w/Biscuits

THE ARMANDO ARAIZA GAME

When catcher Armando Araiza came out of the tunnel on Thursday, it was apparent he was the starting catcher for the Biscuits that night.

The backstop had been with the team earlier in the season, mostly as a bullpen catcher. In May Armando was loaned out to a Mexican League team. He was there for a month or so, playing with the Tigres de Quintana Roos in Cancun.

Now back with the Rays affiliates, Araiza made his double-A debut behind the plate in the third game of the series against Pensacola.

Doing a nice job behind the dish, Armando handled top pitching prospect Brent Honeywell as the Biscuits matched the Wahoos in a pitchers duel. Honeywell was excellent, allowing just one run and striking out six.

After failing to reach base in his first two at bats, Armando singled in the seventh inning to right field for his first double-A hit. 

CATCHER SPEED
In a surprise attack, skipper Brady Williams gave the steal sign, sending the burly catcher barreling towards second base and catching the Wahoo infielders completely unawares.

In a brilliant piece of hitting, batter Pat Blair read the defense well and executed a perfect hit-and-run. Blair waited back on a slow offspeed pitch and slapped it behind the scrambling baserunner Ariaza and into right field. Ariaza easily took third, putting runners at the corners with one out in the inning.

 IF SOME IS GOOD, MORE IS BETTER

If the hit-and-run with Ariaza stealing caught the Wahoos by surprise, Brady Williams took advantage of it and while the opponents were still reeling from the shock the Biscuits skipper put the squeeze play on.

Lee gets a bunt down

Braxton Lee dropped down a bunt, from third base Armando Ariaza raced towards the plate.

Bauers also had an RBI single

The Wahoos pitcher corralled the ball but the other defenders were caught spectating on the play, watching it unfold with their mouths open as all Biscuit runners reached their stations safely.


Kean Wong followed with an RBI single to extend the lead to 3-1 and chase the Pcola starter.

ARAIZA USES THE WHEELS

After not getting a single at bat for Montgomery thru July 27th, Araiza now was called on to bat in back-to-back innings. He came to bat in the bottom of the 8th and tapped a slow roller down the third base line.

The easy grounder was picked up quickly but the Wahoo third sacker delivered the throw well over the head of the first baseman and all the way down the line into the bullpen. Araiza had to kick into high gear, motoring all the way to third base on the errant throw.

He was erased on a fielders choice, likely happy to get a moment to catch his breath before catching the last frame.

Relievers Adam Kolarek, Kyle Winkler and Jaye Chapman did a fine job of shutting the door in the late innings to seal the 4-1 Biscuit victory.

CHASE WHITLEY TO REHAB WITH BISCUITS?
The rumour is that the Tampa Rays will send pitcher Chase Whitley to rehab in Montgomery.

Whitley, working his way back from Tommy Juan surgery, should pitch on Saturday. Whitley has already made two appearances for the StoneCrabs and may be ready to move up.

Chase is an Alabama native, a former Troy University Trojan and broke into the major leagues with the New York Yankees in May of 2014. In May of the following year he had an injury that led to surgery, in November he was claimed from Waivers by Tampa.

It would be great to host another rehabbing major leaguer and I am sure fans of Troy University will want to see one of their own on the hill for the Biscuits!

Biscuits storm into first place

Biscuits feasted on Barons pitching, taking four of five contests and move into sole possession of first place in the North Division by outscoring the Brummies 34-11 during the series.

After a day off the Skitz now return to Riverwalk for a big ten-game homestand to face both first half division winners in back to back series. First up is a five game set against the Pensacola Blue Wahoos, the Reds double-A affiliate. The Wahoos are making their first trip to Biscuitville this year, they are the last team in the league Montgomery hasn't yet hosted.

The Jackson Generals, winners of the North Division in the first half, come to town for the tail end of the homestand.

PENSACOLA BRINGS IT
The Blue Wahoos, winners of the South Division in the first half, are 15-15 in the second half which is good for third place. The Wahoos have won three straight series coming into the contests against Bradys Boys. When the Biscuits visited Pensacola back in June the Wahoos took three out of five games in spite of being outscored by the Skitz.

Led by slugging Brandon Dixon, the P'Colas offense blows hot and cold. Eight times this month the 'Hoos have won by scoring five or more runs, conversely they have just three wins this month when they post less than five runs.


Pitching is where the Wahoos get it done, leading the league in ERA (3.17) and WhIP (1.23) the Pensacola hurlers have kept opposing teams off the board often. The Pelican moundsmen have already tossed four shutouts in the second half.

MULLETS STOCKED ROSTER
Prospects abound on this squad and top 30 ranked players include: pitcher Nick Trevieso (DL), 2b Alex Blandino, pitcher Tyler Mahle, centerfielder Phil Ervin, pitcher Rookie Davis, 3b Eric Jagielo, pitcher Sal Romano, 3b Taylor Sparks, pitcher Zack Weiss (DL), shortstop Calton Daal, pitcher Jackson Stephens.


BISCUIT PITCHERS PROVEN IN NUMBERS

Hu

Pitcher Chih-Wei Hu is the Double-A leader in ERA. Not just the Southern League, that includes the Eastern and Texas Leagues as well. In spite of his great stats, Chih-Wei has just three wins for Montgomery.

Taylor Guerrieri

Pitcher Taylor Guerrieri's ten wins tie him for tops in all of double-A. His strikeout rate is down a little from past totals but he has been great at getting ground balls for outs.

Hu and Taylor G may or may not be tossing Biscuits for Montgomery very much longer, both have proven their abilities and are likely ready for a new level. Their situations over the next few weeks and months are very much hinged on the Rays actions around the trade deadline. If the big club deals pitchers, the Biscuits could lose Hu and Guerrieri, through trade or promotion.

pitching coach RC Lichtenstein

Conversely, the Rays have little reason to rush the two prospects.

Hu struggled in his taste of triple-A earlier this year and Taylor is being eased back after surgery a few seasons ago.


 Even if they both remain in Montgomery, its also possible the two pitchers are shut down at some point late in the season. Both Hu and Guerrieri have just passed the 100 innings pitched mark, a full third of their career totals of around 300 innings.

 WHAT TO LOOK FOR

 

SS Willy Adames

With 1B Casey Gillaspie's promotion, Biscuits shortstop Willy Adames is now the league leader in bases on balls with 51. Look for Willy to put up quality at bats and force pitchers to give him strikes to hit.

Montgomery leads the league in stolen bases, but not in caught stealing - that honor belongs to Chattanooga. Look for Biscuit baserunners to swipe a few bases, but not run wild. A well placed success is better than giving up a big inning trying for one extra bag.

The Wahoos Phil Ervin likes to run as well, look for him to seek his 30th stolen base of the year in the series.

Look for the Wahoos to swing and miss, Pensacola leads the league in the futile stat.

Look for the two teams to slug it out, both clubs are among the leaders in home runs. Although the Wahoo pitchers are the stingy in allowing runs, they are more likely to serve up the long ball than Biscuit tossers.

Look for Pat Blair to play all nine positions in one game. Maybe not in this ten game series, maybe not even this month, but it certainly could happen at some point. Already in his four pro seasons he has played every spot but center and right field, including three relief appearances.

Pat Blair makes his point

Tuesday
Hu vs Mahle

Wednesday
Guerrieri vs Davis

Thursday
Honeywell vs Stephens

Friday
Kirsch vs Romano

Saturday
Chirinos vs Astin?



BISCUITS SEND LEONARD, MARJAMA TO DL

Patrick Leonard

Increasingly frustrating is trying to figure out who is on the team.

With transactions made and not reported on the league or team website are compounded by retroactive changes. Fans are left guessing when new players are added who may have been deactivated to make room.

Along those lines we learned that both Pat Leonard and Mike Marjama were nursing injuries and hit the disabled list last week. Leonards ailment is a sore back and Marjama's malady is a quad injury.

For Montgomery that means losing the top two hitters in the lineup for an unknown amount of time.


Patrick Leonard, all he has done since he returned to the Biscuits is hit. Posting a team leading .309 batting average, scoring 30 runs and driving in 28 in just 41 games Patrick Leonard was on fire.  Leonard last played on July 13th, his DL trip backdated to the 19th.

Marjama gets a hug from Taylor Guerrieri

Marjama last played in Fridays contest at Bham on July 20th, but came out of the game after just one at bat.

Mike Marjama's value behind the dish while handling the pitching staff cannot be understated, not to mention he was second on the team with his stout .288 batting average. Fourth on the club in RBI's, Marj is a solid run producer while splitting catching time with Jake DePew.

Pat Blair

Super utility man Pat Blair was sent to Princeton on the 21st to make room for bullpen catcher Josh Rapacz to get activated for the Biscuits, then Blair was back on the roster by the 24th. 

Outfielder Justin Williams arrived on or about the 17th of July and was inserted immediately into the daily lineup.

Justin Williams

2017 SCHEDULE INFO COMING SOON
The Smokies released their 2017 schedule already, meaning it has been approved and finalized by the teams and league. The Biscuits usually release their promo schedule earlier than the game schedule, and with the team doing well there is less reason to jump ahead already. Nonetheless we should look for the next season game schedule to be made available in the next few weeks or so.