Friday, November 27, 2009
4:40: About time to head to the field, so I'll have to leave you with it.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Ashley homers in Phoenix's AFL title game loss
Former Biscuits catcher Nevin Ashley homered and finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored in the Phoenix Desert Dogs' 5-4 loss to the Peoria Javelinas in today's Arizona Fall League championship game.
Peoria took the lead in the bottom of the eighth on a two-run home run by C.J. Retherford, who was with the Birmingham Barons this year.
Biscuits shortstop-to-be Shawn O'Malley was 2-for-3 with an RBI. Former Biscuits pitcher Mitch Talbot, who started for Phoenix, allowed two runs on four hits and two walks in three innings
Friday, November 20, 2009
Biscuits to play for AFL championship
Former Biscuit Mitch Talbot will be the starting pitcher Saturday when the Phoenix Desert Dogs, whose roster includes several Biscuits, face the Peoria Javelinas for the Arizona Fall League championship Saturday.
The first pitch is at 1:35 p.m. and will be televised by the MLB Network.
Stats former Biscuits, current Biscuits and a future Biscuit who are on the Dogs' active roster ...
C Nevin Ashley -- .366 average, 14 RBIs in 18 games
SS Shawn O'Malley -- .313, 15 runs in 20 games
RHP Matt Gorgen -- 10.38 ERA in 8.2 innings
RHP Paul Phillips -- 4.82 ERA in 9.1 innings
RHP Heath Rollins -- 8.03 ERA in 12.1 innings
RHP Mitch Talbot -- 3-0, 4.37 ERA in six starts/22.2 innings
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Rhyne Hughes protected by Orioles
While we're at it, Baltimore has put former Biscuits first baseman Rhyne Hughes on its 40-man roster. He hit .279 with 25 home runs and 79 RBIs between the Biscuits, Durham and Norfolk. Hughes was one of six added by the Orioles.
Torres also added to 40-man roster
Pitcher Alex Torres, who finished the season with the Biscuits after being traded from the Los Angeles Angels, has also been added to Tampa Bay's 40-man roster.
The Rays announced today that Torres, Jeremy Hellickson and Desmond Jennings were now on the major-league roster. That shields all three from next month's Rule 5 draft.
Torres made just two starts for the Biscuits and was a combined 13-6 with a 2.77 ERA between three teams this year.
That puts the Rays at the 40-man limit -- so no Rule 5 pick this year, barring a future move -- after they had 43 Wednesday. Take off two retiring pitchers, two pitchers who've filed for free agency and a pitcher and catcher whose options the Rays declined to pick up.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Hellickson, Jennings put squeeze on Rays' roster
Pitcher Jeremy Hellickson and outfielder Desmond Jennings become members of the players union this week when the Rays finalize their 40-man roster and add them to it. The deadline is Friday.
Maybe I'm missing something, but the Rays will need to cull one more player from their list to have room for those two.
By Friday, they can have only 40 people on their 40-man roster. (Right now, there are 43 because players on the 60-day DL don't count against it. Starting Friday, they do count.)
The team has already declined options on pitcher Brian Shouse and catcher Gregg Zaun. Pitchers Jason Isringhausen and Troy Percival are likely to retire. (I've heard Isringhausen will help coach a high school team near St. Louis.)
That knocks it down to 39. Who else will go? (I'd guess Chad Bradford, but I know nothing, nothing. Bradford and Russ Springer have filed for free agency.)
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Montoyo wins Coolbaugh award
Former Biscuits manager Charlie Montoyo has won the Mike Coolbaugh award, given by Minor League Baseball in recognition of someone's work ethic, baseball knowledge and mentoring skill.
It's the second year for the award, which is named for Mike Coolbaugh, the minor-league coach killed after being struck by a line drive during a game. Montoyo will be honored at the winter meetings next month in Indianapolis.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Niemann fourth in AL rookie voting
Former Biscuits pitcher Jeff Niemann finished fourth in the American League rookie of the year voting.
Oakland reliever Andrew Bailey won with Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus -- brother of former Biscuits outfielder Erold Andrus -- second and Detroit pitcher Rick Porcello third. White Sox infielder Gordon Beckham, the former University of Georgia All-American who started the year with the Birmingham Barons, was fifth, behind Niemann.
Florida Marlins outfielder Chris Coghlan won the National League's rookie award. Coghland played last year for Double-A Carolina in the Southern League. Alabamian Colby Rasmus of the St. Louis Cardinals received one third-place vote.
Oakland reliever Andrew Bailey won with Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus -- brother of former Biscuits outfielder Erold Andrus -- second and Detroit pitcher Rick Porcello third. White Sox infielder Gordon Beckham, the former University of Georgia All-American who started the year with the Birmingham Barons, was fifth, behind Niemann.
Florida Marlins outfielder Chris Coghlan won the National League's rookie award. Coghland played last year for Double-A Carolina in the Southern League. Alabamian Colby Rasmus of the St. Louis Cardinals received one third-place vote.









