Friday, July 31, 2009

Desmond Jennings going to Durham

Biscuits center fielder Desmond Jennings was promoted to Triple-A Durham after tonight's game.

Jennings was Montgomery's brightest star this season and one of the Southern League's top players. He had a .316 average (third in the league entering Friday), 37 stolen bases (first) and 69 runs scored (second). Jennings also ranked among the league leaders with a .395 on-base percentage and 41 extra-base hits.

“It’s been OK,” Jennings said of this season. “I don’t know. It’s been all right. It could have been better. It could have been worse.”

The 22-year-old played just 24 games last year because of shoulder and back injuries.

Outfielder J.T. Hall, off the active roster since the All-Star break, will take Jennings' roster spot.

Biscuits mark 400th win in franchise history

Pedro Powell singled home Cody Cipriano in the bottom of the 10th inning to lift the Biscuits to a 4-3 win over the Huntsville Stars. It was the 800th regular-season game in Biscuits history. Montgomery is 400-400.

Lobaton debut to wait; Stars lose Rottino

UPDATE: Lobaton hadn't arrived by 6 p.m., so he didn't get in any pregame work.

Catcher Jose Lobaton is scheduled to join the Biscuits today, but he isn't in the lineup for tonight's series finale with the Huntsville Stars. Lobaton -- pronounced Lobe-uh-tone -- gets a travel day to relocate from the San Diego Padres to Montgomery.

Lobaton, a switch-hitter, gives the Rays a little catching depth. He's also a former teammate of Durham catcher John Jaso from last winter in Venezuela with the Leones de Caracas. Lobaton hit .306 in 20 games and Jaso .271 in 16 games. Biscuits pitcher Rayner Oliveros and Durham pitcher Jorge Julio were also on the team.

It's non-waiver trade deadline day and the Stars didn't go untouched. First baseman Vinny Rottino was traded by the Brewers to the Los Angeles Dodgers for pitcher Claudio Vargas. Rottino has also played catcher and left field this series.

The deadline passed at 3 p.m. Friday, so when you note that Desmond Jennings isn't in today's lineup, you can also note he's still on Montgomery's roster.

Lineups ...
BISCUITS
Rashad Eldridge, cf
Brandon Chaves, ss
Fernando Cortez, 1b
Chris Nowak, 3b
Cody Strait, rf
Matt Fields, dh
Cody Cipriano, 2b
Matt Spring, c
Pedro Powell, lf
Brandon Mann, lhp

STARS
Adam Stern, cf
Shane Justis, 2b
Drew T. Anderson, lf
Jonathan Lucroy, c
Taylor Green, 3b
Lorenzo Cain, dh
Kevin Melillo, 1b
Chuckie Caufield, rf
Michael Garciaparra, ss
David Welch, lhp

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Biscuits add waivers claim, demote catcher Ashley

Catcher Jose Lobaton, claimed off waivers by the Rays from the San Diego Padres, is coming to the Biscuits, who have demoted catcher Nevin Ashley to Class A Charlotte.

Lobaton (left) had a .241 average with Triple-A Portland and played in seven games in the major leagues this month. He made his major-league debut July 5. The Padres designated him for assignment Tuesday. Lobaton, 24, is an eighth-year pro who reached Double-A for the first time last year.

To add Lobaton to their 40-man roster, the Rays are moving pitcher Troy Percival from the 15-day DL to the 60-day, according to the St. Petersburg Times.

Ashley was hitting .212 in 35 games with the Biscuits.

Thursday lineups

More football today, so I'm just arriving at the stadium. Desmond Jennings remains with the Biscuits and is hitting leadoff tonight.

If you want to look ahead to Saturday, the Biscuits are the visiting team for a grand event in Mississippi. The Braves are honoring esteemed manager Phillip Wellman with a bobblehead night.

Lineups ...
BISCUITS
Desmond Jennings, cf
Fernando Cortez, dh
Rashad Eldridge, lf
Chris Nowak, 3b
Cody Strait, rf
Matt Fields, 1b
Cody Cipriano, 2b
Matt Spring, c
Brandon Chaves, ss
Rayner Oliveros, rhp

STARS
Adam Stern, rf
Shane Justis, 2b
Drew T. Anderson, lf
Jonathan Lucroy, c
Taylor Green, 3b
Lorenzo Cain, cf
Vinny Rottino, 1b
J.R. Hopf, dh
Yohannis Perez, ss
Mark Holliman, rhp

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Rodriguez twirls gem; Biscuits polish off sweep

Aneury Rodriguez threw a four-hitter to lead the Biscuits in a 10-0 win over the Huntsville Stars in the second game of Wednesday’s doubleheader. Rodriguez (6-10) has a shutout streak of 17 2/3 innings.

It's the first shutout for a Biscuits pitcher since Chris Mason threw a three-hitter at Mississippi on June 24, 2007. That came two days after Mike Prochaska dropped a six-hit job on the Mobile BayBears.

Strait second to homer in first AB for Biscuits

Cody Strait is the fifth player to hit a home run in his first game with the Biscuits and just the second to do it in his first at-bat.

April 7, 2005 -- Delmon Young (fourth at-bat)
May 24, 2007 -- Matt Spring, grand slam (second)
Sept. 7, 2007 -- Sergio Pedroza, in the playoffs (first)
April 9, 2009 -- John Matulia (third)
July 29, 2009 -- Cody Strait (first)

Game 2 lineups

Game 2 lineups ...
BISCUITS
Jennings, cf
Chaves, ss
Eldridge, rf
Nowak, 3b
Cipriano, 2b
Fields, 1b
Strait, dh
Spring, c
Powell, lf
Rodriguez, rhp

STARS
Justis, 2b
Lucroy, dh
Anderson, lf
Green, 3b
Cain, cf
Melillo, 1b
Ruttino, c
Caufield, rf
Garciaparra, ss
Kintzler, rhp

Biscuits win! Believe it or not, Biscuits win!

Heath Rollins took a shutout into the sixth inning, while Matt Fields and Cody Strait each homered to help the Biscuits beat the Huntsville Stars 5-1 in the opening game of a doubleheader Wednesday. The victory broke a team-record seven-game losing streak by the Biscuits.

Strait makes quick impression

Outfielder Cody Strait hit an opposite-field home run on his first at-bat with the Biscuits. It was the second of back-to-back homers by the Biscuits. First baseman Matt Fields preceded Strait with a shot to left that landed in the trees past the railroad tracks.

Riggans returns from rehab, sent to Durham

Catcher Shawn Riggans has returned from his second rehab assignment for shoulder tendinitis and has been sent to Triple-A Durham. Riggans reinjured his shoulder during a rehab stay with the Biscuits in early May.

Durham already has three catchers, though Alex Jamieson isn't on the active roster.

Settle in for Wednesday doubleheader

Late arrival today after a high school football media day, but the weather looks good for the Biscuits and Stars to play two today. The tarp is off the field and the drying element is being generously applied as we speak.

Astros reliever Wesley Wright, a Grady native who graduated from Goshen High, was taken to a Chicago hospital after Tuesday's game. The team feared appendicitis, but doctors have now diagnosed dehydration.

Game 1 lineups ...
BISCUITS
Desmond Jennings, dh
Fernando Cortez, lf
Rashad Eldridge, cf
Chris Nowak, 3b
Cody Cipriano, 2b
Matt Fields, 1b
Cody Strait, rf
Nevin Ashley, c
Jason Bowers, ss
Heath Rollins, rhp

STARS
Adam Stern, rf
Shane Justis, 2b
Drew T. Anderson, lf
Jonathan Lucroy, c
Taylor Green, 3b
Lorenzo Cain, cf
Kevin Melillo, 1b
J.R. Hopf, dh
Yohannis Perez, ss
Donovan Hand, rhp

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Elliot Johnson back in swing of things

Elliot Johnson launched two mighty blows tonight. He homered from both sides of the plate to lead Durham to a 4-2 win at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Johnson missed a lot of time this year with a broken hand.

Tiffany released by independent team

Another one from last week's vacation, the independent Grand Prairie AirHogs released left-handed pitcher Chuck Tiffany, a former Biscuit. He had a 9.00 ERA and had just joined the team July 1.

Rainout; doubleheader Wednesday

Doubleheader at 6:05 Wednesday.

Strait to debut, if weather cooperates

New Biscuits outfielder Cody Strait will make his debut tonight after being traded from the Kansas City organization Monday. Strait is hitting seventh and playing right field, if the weather holds off.

Tarp is on the field, dark clouds are amassing past left field and the radar doesn't look good for the next few minutes. Montgomery will try to snap a team-record seven-game losing streak.

5:05: Dang, it's really dark outside.

Lineups ...
BISCUITS
Desmond Jennings, cf
Fernando Cortez, dh
Rashad Eldridge, lf
Chris Nowak, 3b
Cody Cipriano, 2b
Matt Fields, 1b
Cody Strait, rf
Nevin Ashley, c
Jason Bowers, ss
Heath Rollins, rhp

STARS
Adam Stern, cf
Shane Justis, 2b
Drew T. Anderson, lf
Jonathon Lucroy, c
Taylor Green, 3b
Lorenzo Cain, cf
Kevin Melillo, 1b
J.R. Hopf, dh
Yohannis Perez, ss
Brandon Kintzler, rhp

Monday, July 27, 2009

Biscuits gun for team-record losing streak

You may witness history tonight at Riverwalk Stadium when the Biscuits face the Huntsville Stars. The Biscuits tote a six-game losing streak into tonight's tilt, which ties them for the longest in team history.

6-GAME LOSING STREAKS
July 10-18, 2004
Aug. 28-Sept. 1, 2004
June 11-17, 2007

Otherwise, so far, a quiet day here, though it's not in New York where the Mets have fired farm director Tony Bernazard for his antics, including challenging his Double-A team to a fight. Double-A Binghamton is managed by former Biscuits coach Mako Oliveras. Enjoy the back page of Thursday's Daily News below.

Time for some name confusion, too. Huntsville has an outfielder named Drew T. Anderson, while Montgomery's now-former infielder is Drew M. Anderson. No known relation.

The Rays demoted former Biscuits stopper Dale Thayer back to Durham today.

Lineups ...
BISCUITS
Desmond Jennings, cf
Fernando Cortez, dh
Rashad Eldridge, rf
Chris Nowak, 3b
Cody Cipriano, 2b
Matt Fields, 1b
Nevin Ashley, c
Jason Bowers, ss
Pedro Powell, lf
Brian Baker, rhp

STARS
Adam Stern, rf
Shane Justis, 2b
Drew T. Anderson, lf
Jonathan Lucroy, c
Taylor Green, 3b
Lorenzo Cain, cf
Kevin Melillo, dh
Vinny Rottino, 1b
Michael Garciaparra, ss
Mike Jones, rhp


9:02: Rain delay.
10:08: Announced restart time is 10:20.

TRADE: Outfielder coming Strait to Biscuits

Cody Strait, an outfielder with Double-A Northwest Arkansas in the Kansas City organization, has been traded to the Rays for cash considerations and will report to Montgomery, the Royals announced today.

Strait was hitting .278 with four home runs and 38 RBIs. He last played Friday. The 26-year-old, who has started at all three outfield positions, was originally drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in 2004 and played for the Chattanooga Lookouts for parts of 2007 and 2008.

The Biscuits are short enough on outfielders that native infielder Fernando Cortez started in right field three times during the Birmingham series. Montgomery also has Jason Perry on the disabled list with a broken wrist and J.T. Hall not on the active roster.

1:30 update: The Biscuits aren't sure if Strait will arrive in time for tonight's game with Huntsville. (Northwest Arkansas is currently playing a series in Springfield, Mo.) However, infielder Drew Anderson has been demoted to Charlotte to create roster space.

Stunner? Biscuits don't repeat league honor

Montgomery, after scoring all of four runs and losing all five games it played over the last week, didn't have a player among today's honorees for the Southern League's weekly awards.

Chattanooga third baseman Josh Bell, who scored four runs himself, and Jacksonville closer Matt Peterson, who saved four wins, were the winners. Bell was 12-of-21 with 10 RBIs, while Peterson threw four no-hit innings.

Last week, Biscuits outfielder Desmond Jennings won the hitting award.

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Colome signs with Brewers

Pitcher Jesus Colome, DFA'd this month by the Washington Nationals, has signed with the Milwaukee Brewers. Colome was with the Biscuits in 2004 on a rehab assignment.

Saturday, July 25, 2009

Downs hurls yet another gem

Darin Downs threw seven shutout innings and allowed three hits in Charlotte's 2-1 home win over Clearwater tonight. He's won four straight starts.

Timing appears right for Downs promotion

Speculation coming. The Biscuits, after Jeremy Hellickson's promotion to Durham, have an opening in the fourth spot in their rotation.

Charlotte Stone Crabs left-hander Darin Downs takes a 10-4 record and a Florida State League-leading 2.21 ERA into tonight's start against Clearwater. He has a 1.81 ERA in his last eight starts and is 10-of-17 on quality starts this year with two five-inning, one-run outings. His next scheduled start would be Thursday.

The Biscuits have an off day Sunday before starting a home series Monday with Huntsville. The fourth game of that series is Thursday.

Mason hooks on with Mets, in Florida State League

Pitcher Chris Mason, released last week by the Biscuits, is now in the New York Mets' organization. Mason pitched two innings in a start Friday for St. Lucie of the high-Class A Florida State League. He allowed two runs on four hits.

Friday, July 24, 2009

Hellickson wins Triple-A debut

Jeremy Hellickson won his debut at Triple-A Durham tonight, allowing two runs over six innings in the Bulls' 4-2 home victory over Norfolk. Hellickson allowed five hits, walked three and struck out six.

Thursday, July 23, 2009

A-Rod testing Biscuits' no-hit history

Biscuits pitcher Aneury Rodriguez took a no-hitter into the seventh inning of Montgomery's 1-0 loss at Birmingham tonight. He took one into the sixth inning of his last start. (Yes, he's called A-Rod at times.)

Buehrle perfect against Rays

Wow. Check e-mail for the first time all day and find the transaction listed below, then start watching highlights of a perfect game. Mark Buehrle needs to buy a nice present for center fielder DeWayne Wise. That catch is an all-timer because of the circumstances.

The Biscuits have yet to taste a no-hitter, for or against. If you're curious, there have been 13 for and 12 against in Montgomery's pro baseball history.

Rays DL Bradford, promote Thayer

Chad Bradford went on Tampa Bay's disabled list today with back tightness. The Rays called up Dale Thayer from Durham.

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Mets farm director challenges Double-A team to fight

Mets farm director Tony Bernazard recently challenged the players from the Double-A Binghamton Mets to a fight. Remember, former Biscuits coach Mako Oliveras (right) is Binghamton's manager.

Here's the New York Daily News coverage.
Sources: Mets VP for player development Tony Bernazard challenges Binghamton Mets to fight
"The Binghamton Mets clubhouse nearly turned into a scene out of WWE Raw recently, when VP for player development Tony Bernazard removed his shirt and challenged the Double-A players to a fight during a postgame tirade, multiple sources told the Daily News."
Omar Minaya: Mets to investigate Tony Bernazard's behavior

I can't find any reference to Oliveras being among the ones challenged. Only players.

Morse activated; Oliveros to start

The Biscuits activated Ryan Morse today to take Jeremy Hellickson's roster spot. Rayner Oliveros is scheduled to start Friday, which was Hellickson's spot in the rotation.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Biscuits' starter TBA after Hellickson promoted

The Biscuits have an opening in their rotation after Jeremy Hellickson was promoted to Triple-A Durham tonight. Hellickson will make his scheduled start Friday, but for the Bulls and not the Biscuits. The Tampa Tribune first reported Hellickson's promotion.

Will Rays adhere to habit with Biscuits?

The Rays have developed a little habit when it comes to the Biscuits playing a late-July series at Birmingham?

Someone usually gets promoted.

Will anyone be added to this list this week?
2008 -- David Price
2007 -- Evan Longoria
2006 -- Matthew Maniscalco
2005 -- nobody
2004 -- John Webb (to Tampa Bay), Josh Parker

Monday, July 20, 2009

Jennings picked tops in league

Biscuits center fielder Desmond Jennings won the Southern League's weekly award for hitters today.

Jennings was 10-for-16 with eight walks and eight runs scored in five games against West Tenn. He reached base 18 times in 24 plate appearances. Birmingham's John Ely won the pitcher's award.

VIDEO: Powell routs Hall in dance competition

I don't think there's any debate as to the winner here.
(Not safe for work portion is around the 45-second mark.)

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Gaetti released; Chaves to return Tuesday

Outfielder Joe Gaetti was released after tonight's game by the Biscuits, who plan to activate shortstop Brandon Chaves from the disabled list before Tuesday's game at Birmingham.

Gaetti signed as a free agent in late May and hit .188 in 32 games. Montgomery was his third team of the season. Gaetti started the year at New Britain of the Eastern League and was 5-for-36 in nine games. With Frisco of the Texas League from May 1-12, Gaetti was 3-of-19 in eight games. The 27-year-old is the son of former major-league star Gary Gaetti.

Siran Stacy speaks to crowd

Former Alabama running back Siran Stacy spoke to the crowd before today's game about God's role in his life since the car accident that killed his wife and four of their children.

I covered his wife, the former Ellen Bible, when she was a volleyball player at Alabama. She was a great person. It's encouraging to see Stacy be so positive.

Stacy said he's been speaking about the tragedy almost every weekend since January. Stacy and one child, Shelly, were the only survivors.

"I won't ever get over it," he said. "It's something I have to live with the rest of my life, but God wouldn't want us to be miserable the rest of our lives. Jesus said I came for you to have life and to have it more abundantly.

"There are still days, but he brings me out of it."

One of the two lowest feelings I've had in my professional career was hearing about the wreck. The other was a wreck that killed Tiffany Young, a Purdue basketball player that I had covered when she was in high school.

Shelly is now 6, Stacy said, and "doing well, thanks to the prayers of everyone and God's blessings."

Cortez takes Sunday seat; Jennings tries to stay hot

Infielder Fernando Cortez is out of the lineup today, a day after having a 19-game hitting streak snapped, while center fielder Desmond Jennings tries to polish off a tidy five-game series against the Diamond Jaxx.

Jennings is 9-for-13 with seven walks, eight runs scored and four extra-base hits in 20 plate appearances. Jenningshas three steals in the series, not including one nice baserunning play Saturday. He went from first to third on a Rashad Eldridge RBI single and, when Eldridge was caught in a rundown between first and second, perfectly timed a sprint home.

Today, however, Jennings will start in right for the fifth time this year.

Lineups ...
BISCUITS
Desmond Jennings, rf
Jason Bowers, ss
Chris Nowak, 3b
Matt Fields, 1b
Rashad Eldridge, cf
Cody Cipriano, dh
Nevin Ashley, c
Drew Anderson, 2b
Pedro Powell, lf
Brandon Mann, lhp

DIAMOND JAXX
Mel Stocker, lf
Greg Halman, cf
Mike Wilson, rf
Marshall Hubbard, dh
David Espinosa, 2b
Colt Morton, c
Travis Garcia, 3b
Brent Johnson, 1b
Jimmy Mojica, ss
Nick Hill, lhp

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Bulls go long, need 16 to down Louisville

The Durham Bulls took 16 innings to beat the Louisville Bats 3-2. Elliot Johnson doubled in Craig Albernaz with the go-ahead run. Starter James Houser allowed one run on four hits in seven innings.

McGee jumps from GCL to high-Class A Charlotte

Former Biscuits pitcher Jake McGee has been moved to the high-Class A Charlotte Stone Crabs' roster, Rays assistant general manager Gerry Hunsicker said after Montgomery's game tonight. McGee had Tommy John surgery a year ago after blowing out his elbow with the Biscuits. He returned three weeks ago with the Gulf Coast League Rays.

McGee started for the Crabs at Lakeland and gave up three runs, three hits and two walks in 2 2/3 innings. Richard De Los Santos worked the final two innings of Charlotte's 12-11 victory. The Crabs scored nine in the eighth.

Carrier breaks world record; bats mourn

Steve Carrier broke the world record by breaking more than 23 baseball bats in a minute at the end of the fifth inning. He snapped No. 24 with 31 seconds left and went through No. 30 -- the final bat in the supply -- at the 16-second mark.

UPDATE: No. 30 fell at the 7-second mark, according to the official stopwatch for the event. (The scoreboard had 16 seconds and was a bit off.)

Carrier snapped 34-inch Louisville Sluggers delivered by the company, "regular professional bats that these guys use," Carrier said, pointing toward Montgomery's dugout.

"I thought I had another five or 10 bats in me," Carrier said. "I figured 30 would be good and I didn't know if I could reach that. I may have to try again next year."

Carrier will be speaking -- and snapping things -- at the River's Edge Church in the Atlanta Crossing Shopping Center at 7 p.m. Wednesday. He'll return to River's Edge to speak Sept. 13-16 and also visit local schools.

"I bring a positive message about positive choices and encouraging young people to choose the right friends," Carrier said. "I use the strength stuff as bait to share a lifting message."

He also breaks concrete, bends steel with his teeth and rips off handcuffs.

"Here's this person who was once a stutterer and now I'm going around breaking world records," Carrier said. "That's all because of God."

Biscuits wary of trying broken bat record for themselves

The Biscuits aren't confident they could compete with Steve Carrier in breaking bats tonight. Carrier is going for a world record in the fifth inning and break 24 bats in one minute. He shares the current record of 23.

"I couldn't break one bat in 23 minutes," catcher Matt Spring said. "I couldn't walk for a week."

Spring said he's snapped one bat in his career ... on the ground and injured outfielder Jason Perry said he's 1-for-2 in his career, but two dozen in a minute?

"I don't think I could physically do that," first baseman Matt Fields said.

Manager Billy Gardner said he'd need assistance -- from a pitcher.

"It would depend on how many fastballs they throw inside on me," Gardner said. "If they throw five, I could probably break five."

Cortez can tie team record

Infielder Fernando Cortez can tie the Biscuits' record tonight by getting a hit in his 20th straight game. Cortez is 28-for-81 in his streak. Rico Washington was 29-for-71 when he hit in 20 straight in 2005.

Don't forget the world-record attempt that's coming in the fifth inning tonight when Steve Carrier tries to break 24 bats within a minute.

Gorgeous day with spring-like temperatures in the mid-80s right now, which makes me wonder who made a deal with the devil ... particularly since it's Family Faith Night.

With Rays bigwig Gerry Hunsicker on hand, it's an important start for Montgomery's Jeremy Hellickson tonight. The Rays have to decide whether Hellickson deserves a spot on their 40-man roster this offseason.

If you're curious, here's a PDF of the Biscuits stats package and locals' stats that will be in Sunday's paper.

Lineups ...
BISCUITS
Desmond Jennings, cf
Rashad Eldridge, lf
Chris Nowak, 3b
Fernando Cortez, dh
Matt Fields, 1b
Cody Cipriano, 2b
Joe Gaetti, rf
Nevin Ashley, c
Jason Bowers, ss
Jeremy Hellickson, rhp

DIAMOND JAXX
Brent Johnson, lf
Greg Halman, cf
Marshall Hubbard, 1b
Mike Wilson, rf
Johan Limonta, dh
David Espinosa, 2b
Matt Mangini, 3b -- apparently a late change: Travis Gracia
Guillermo Quiroz, c
Jimmy Mojica, ss
Steve Bray, rhp

System check

Infielder Cesar Suarez, released two weeks ago by the Biscuits, has caught on with the Lancaster Barnstormers of the independent Atlantic League.

TRIPLE-A, DURHAM BULLS
International League South

(52-40, second place, 0.5 GB)
RHP Wade Davis has lost two straight starts, allowing five runs in each, to drop to 8-6 with a 3.33 ERA.
LHP Jason Cromer, with a 5.2-inning, one-run win Thursday, is 3-2 with a 1.78 ERA.
1B Chris Richard has scored in 10 straight games, reaching base 22 times.
1B Rhyne Hughes is hitting .308 with five home runs and 17 RBIs in 31 games.

HIGH-CLASS A, CHARLOTTE STONE CRABS
Florida State League South

(12-9, first place, 1 GA)
LHP Darin Downs allowed one run in seven innings to win Monday. He’s 9-4 with a 2.23 ERA and 10-of-16 quality starts.
CF Emeel Salem is 20-for-41 in his last 10 games with 10 runs scored and eight RBIs. He’s hitting .249 this year.
RHP Jeremy Hall, 6-0 in his last seven starts, is 11-4 with a 3.96 ERA.
RF Reid Fronk has eight hits in his last five games, pushing his average to .221.

LOW-CLASS A, BOWLING GREEN HOT RODS
South Atlantic League Southern

(13-8, second place, 2 GB)
LHP Matt Moore won Tuesday and is 6-3 with a 2.87 ERA, 45 walks and 116 strikeouts.
3B Isaias Velasquez, who was 4-for-4 with four runs scored Thursday, is hitting .288.
LHP Frank De Los Santos threw seven shutout innings in a no-decision Friday and is 4-6 with a 3.46 ERA.

SHORT-SEASON A, HUDSON VALLEY RENEGADES
New York-Penn League McNamara

(16-11, second place, 2.5 GB)
RHP Zach Quate is 1-0 with four saves and hasn’t allowed an earned run in six appearances.
1B Eli Sonoqui has a .296 average, 13 runs scored and 14 RBIs.
RHP Jason McEachern threw five shutout innings Wednesday.
SS Tyler Bortnick is hitting .314.

ROOKIE, PRINCETON RAYS
Appalachian League East

(12-10, second place, 3 GB)
CF Cody Rogers has seven hits and five runs scored in his last three games. He’s hitting .370 with 11 runs scored and is 7-for-7 on steals.
1B Ryan Wiegand, who is hitting .338, has seven RBIs in his last four games.

ROOKIE, GCL RAYS
Gulf Coast League South

(9-11, fourth place, 3 GB)
RHP Victor Mateo is 2-2 with an 0.43 ERA, four walks and 19 strikeouts.
LHP Jacob Partridge made his first two pro appearances last week, allowing four hits in three innings.

WAYWARD BISCUITS
Those who strayed from the Rays

RF Elijah Dukes has a .294 average in nine games with Triple-A Syracuse (Nationals).
LHP Chris Seddon is 5-5 with a 4.52 ERA for Triple-A Tacoma (Mariners).
C Iker Franco is hitting .279 with 16 home runs for Quintana Roo of the Mexican League.
LF Pedro Feliciano has a .308 average with Triple-A Buffalo (Mets).
RHP Tim Corcoran is 3-6 with a 5.80 ERA at Double-A Chattanooga (Dodgers).
LF Delmon Young is hitting .266 for the Minnesota Twins.
IF Johnny Raburn is 3-for-8 with two triples in four games at Triple-A Nashville (Brewers).
RHP Ruddy Lugo has lost three straight starts and is 6-8 with a 5.17 ERA for Triple-A Toledo (Tigers).
RHP Jose Veras has a 5.40 ERA in seven games for the Cleveland Indians.
IF Cesar Suarez is 0-for-10 in three games with independent Lancaster.
RHP Travis Minix has 12 saves and a 1.15 ERA in 17 appearances at independent Somerset.
LHP Jino Gonzalez is 2-3 with a 4.20 ERA for independent Sioux Falls.
RHP Derek Feldkamp has a 6.43 ERA in 18 games with independent Winnipeg.

Friday, July 17, 2009

Cortez runs streak to 19 games

Fernando Cortez singled with two outs in the third inning tonight, extending his hitting streak to 19 games. He's one shy of the Biscuits record set in 2005 by Rico Washington.

Cortez puts 18-game hit streak on line

Biscuits infielder Fernando Cortez carries an 18-game hit streak into tonight's game with West Tenn. Cortez is starting at shortstop for the third time since returning to Montgomery.

Don't look for Matt Gorgen to make his Double-A debut tonight. He threw two innings Thursday before learning of his promotion.

Lineups ...
BISCUITS
Desmond Jennings, cf
Rashad Eldridge, rf
Chris Nowak, 3b
Fernando Cortez, ss
Matt Fields, 1b
Cody Cipriano, 2b
Joe Gaetti, dh
Matt Spring, c
Pedro Powell, lf
Aneury Rodriguez, rhp

DIAMOND JAXX
Mel Stocker, lf
Greg Halman, cf
Marshall Hubbard, dh
Mike Wilson, rf
Johan Limonta, 1b
David Espinosa, 2b
Matt Mangini, 3b
Guillermo Quiroz, c
Jimmy Mojica, ss
Dan Cortes, rhp

Jaso back to Durham after Balfour returns

Catcher John Jaso has been demoted back to Triple-A Durham by the Rays, who welcomed back pitcher Grant Balfour from bereavement leave today.

World record may fall at Riverwalk

Steve Carrier of Dallas will try to set a world record and break 24 baseball bats within a minute Saturday at Riverwalk Stadium. The attempt will come in the fifth inning of the Biscuits' game with West Tenn.

Carrier, who is 6-foot-4 and 290 pounds, currently shares the record of 23 broken bats.

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Mason released; Gorgen moving up from Crabs

The Biscuits released pitcher Chris Mason after tonight's game and relief pitcher Matt Gorgen is being promoted from high-Class A Charlotte.

Mason was 3-5 with a 6.24 ERA in 53 1/3 innings for Montgomery this season. He was the Double-A Pitcher of the Year for the Biscuits in 2007 before going 3-10 with a 6.21 ERA at Triple-A Durham last season. He finished 15-4 with a 2.57 ERA two years ago. Mason was a second-round draft pick in 2005.

Gorgen, a 16th-round draft pick last year from the University of California, was 4-0 with an 0.57 ERA and 15-of-16 on saves for the Stone Crabs. In 47 2/3 innings, his totals included 24 hits allowed, 16 walks and 59 strikeouts. He pitched two shutout innings Thursday.

Harrison un-traded in independent league

Former Biscuits infielder Vince Harrison was to be traded from one independent Northern League team to another Sunday. An injury nixed the trade, but not before one team had publicized it. Yeah, it's confusing. Check the Herald News of Joliet (Ill.) for details.

De Los Santos moving up to Stone Crabs

Former Biscuits pitcher Richard De Los Santos, whose year started late because of elbow surgery, is being promoted from the short-season Hudson Valley Renegades to the high-Class A Charlotte Stone Crabs.

Triunfel rehabbing in Arizona; AL trophy shows up

The tarp is out, a shower has started (and could continue for a while), and there's no outside batting practice before today's second game of the Biscuits-Jaxx series.

If you remember, way back in April, the Jaxx were here to start the season and lost shortstop Carlos Triunfel in the second game of the year. Triunfel, one of Seattle's top prospects, broke his left leg sliding into second base and was potentially lost for the season.

Jaxx manager Phil Plantier said Triunfel is rehabbing at the Mariners' complex in Arizona. It appears unlikely Triunfel, who was impressive in spring training, will see meaningful time this year.

"That injury was unfortunate with the beginning of the season he had," Plantier said. "I heard he's recovering well and rehabbing."

Tampa Bay's American League championship trophy, scheduled for display at Friday's game, has already arrived. I noted some slight damage at the base just to the left of the nameplate. The Biscuits say it arrived with the blemish.

Lineups ...
BISCUITS
Desmond Jennings, cf
Rashad Eldridge, lf
Chris Nowak, 3b
Fernando Cortez, dh -- almost whammy time (17-game hit streak)
Matt Fields, 1b
Cody Cipriano, 2b
Joe Gaetti, rf
Nevin Ashley, c
Jason Bowers, ss
Heath Rollins, rhp

DIAMOND JAXX
Mel Stocker, lf
Greg Halman, cf
Marshall Hubbard, 1b
Mike Wilson, rf
Johan Limonta, dh
David Espinosa, 2b
Matt Mangini, 3b
Colt Morton, c
Jimmy Mojica, ss
Luis Munoz, rhp


6:25: They're starting to take the tarp off the field. First pitch TBA.
6:40: Tarp being rolled up and tucked into its corner. Game time scheduled for 7:15.

Former Biscuits help IL win Triple-A game

Dale Thayer threw 1 2/3 shutout innings and Reid Brignac had an RBI in the International League's 6-5 win over the Pacific Coast League on Wednesday in the Triple-A All-Star Game in Portland, Ore.

Brignac was the starting shortstop and finished 1-for-3. He hit an RBI double and scored in the IL's three-run third inning. Thayer came on in the fifth and worked out of a one-out, two-on jam with a double play. He walked one in the sixth.

The former Biscuits will rejoin the Durham Bulls in Louisville, Ky., for a series that starts Thursday.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Wednesday: Biscuits 9, Jaxx 3

Desmond Jennings hit his eighth home run and totaled three RBIs, Nevin Ashley scored three runs, and the Biscuits beat the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx 9-3 on Wednesday. Biscuits starter Brian Baker (5-1) allowed two hits and two walks over a season-high seven innings. Jennings reached base all five times he batted.

Chaves checking with doctor; big Rays brass coming

Biscuits shortstop Brandon Chaves says the left elbow he hurt last week at Tennessee no longer pains him and X-rays came back negative. He's supposed to see a doctor and isn't sure when he'll return. Chaves suffered the injury diving for a ball up the middle.

Loads of relatively small Rays brass on hand for today's series opener with field coordinator Jim Hoff, roving catching instructor Jamie Nelson and outfield/baserunning rover Skeeter Barnes on hand.

There is a bigger fish on the way. Gerry Hunsicker, officially Tampa Bay's senior vice president for baseball operations, will be here Thursday for a few days. It's uncertain if he'll have (or will volunteer for) a role in Friday's Rays Night. First pitch, anyone?

Hall deactivated; Jaxx switch starter

To get center fielder Desmond Jennings back on the active roster after his Futures Game foray, the Biscuits deactivated J.T. Hall today before the first game of a five-game series with the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx.

The Jaxx switched their scheduled starter. It was going to be Steve Bray, but now it's right-hander Kyle Parker (5-4, 3.56 ERA) who'll go against Montgomery's Brian Baker.

Lineups ...
BISCUITS
Desmond Jennings, cf
Rashad Eldridge, lf
Chris Nowak, 3b
Fernando Cortez, dh
Matt Fields, 1b
Cody Cipriano, 2b -- making Double-A debut
Joe Gaetti, rf
Nevin Ashley, c
Jason Bowers, ss
Brian Baker, rhp

DIAMOND JAXX
Mel Stocker, lf
Greg Halman, cf -- leads league with 20 HRs, 120 strikeouts
Marshall Hubbard, dh
Mike Wilson, rf
Johan Limonta, 1b
David Espinosa, 2b
Matt Mangini, 3b
Guillermo Quiroz, c
Travis Garcia, ss
Kyle Parker, rhp

League lauds Baron, Mudcat

Barons second baseman C.J. Retherford and Mudcats pitcher Matthew Klinker won the Southern League's weekly awards today. Usually announced Monday, the awards came out today because of the All-Star break.

Retherford had a league-high nine RBIs and is the first position player to win the award twice this season. Klinker was 2-0 with 15 strikeouts in 12 shutout innings.

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Eldridge feeling good after rest helped oblique

Biscuits outfielder Rashad Eldridge, who played just once in the final six games before the All-Star break, says he's feeling great. He's expected to be in the lineup Wednesday. Eldridge sat out with a smarting oblique.

Biscuits rearrange starting rotation

With the All-Star break and Jeremy Hellickson's participation in Monday's Southern League game, the Biscuits are amending their starting order.

Brian Baker will pitch Wednesday in the opener of a five-game home series with West Tenn. Heath Rollins goes Thursday with Aneury Rodriguez on Friday, Hellickson on Saturday and Brandon Mann on Sunday.

Hellickson had been atop the rotation, but he needs to throw a side session before his next start. Because of his All-Star trip, he's excused from a team workout today.

The Biscuits have only five-game series remaining. Barring a rainout, they're unlikely to adjust again.

Monday, July 13, 2009

All-Star final: North 7, South 0

The North used 10 pitchers and held the South to four hits in a 7-0 win in the Southern League All-Star Game. Chattanooga's Josh Bell won the game's most valuable player award. He hit a two-run home run off Montgomery's Jeremy Hellickson in the third inning and hit an RBI single and scored in the fifth off Montgomery's Eduardo Morlan. Announced attendance -- 7,127.

Morlan shaky, too

Biscuits pitcher Eduardo Morlan matched Jeremy Hellickson by allowing three runs in the fifth inning. Morlan did record three outs, however. The North, which had five hits off Morlan, leads 7-0.

Hellickson not good in All-Star performance

Montgomery pitcher Jeremy Hellickson surrendered three runs in one-third of an inning in the Southern League All-Star Game. The North team went triple, sacrifice fly, double, home run, walk against Hellickson.

Cipriano to join Biscuits after All-Star break

Second baseman Cody Cipriano, who rebounded from an injury-filled 2008 to become one of Class A Charlotte's most productive hitters, just arrived in Montgomery to join the Biscuits after the All-Star break.

Cipriano suffered a major wrist injury and, soon after returning, had a knee injury. He played in just 42 games and hit .195 in low-Class A.

"Last year was a bit of a speed bump," Cipriano said. "I was on the disabled list all year. ... This year has definitely been a bright spot so far."

Cipriano had a .297 average with 41 runs scored and 35 RBIs in 72 games with the Stone Crabs. He was told of his promotion Sunday and drove all day today to Montgomery.

"I got to say my good-byes to everybody on the team," Cipriano said. "That's a great bunch of guys in Port Charlotte and everybody came by to see me. I was definitely excited knowing I had an 8 1/2-hour drive up here today."

Cipriano was a ninth-round draft pick in 2007 from Cal Irvine (the Anteaters) and hit .271 in 59 games with short-season Hudson Valley that year.

"I've heard a lot of good things about him," Biscuits manager Billy Gardner said. "He's a hard-nosed player who can swing the bat. I'm looking forward to having him here. He'll be a good addition for us."

The Biscuits were short an infielder after shortstop Brandon Chaves went on the disabled list Sunday. Chaves suffered an elbow injury diving for a ball in Montgomery's series at Tennessee. X-rays were negative on Chaves' elbow, but it's unclear how long he'll be out.

League: DJ not on roster; Barons include DJ on roster

Montgomery outfielder Desmond Jennings isn't on the All-Star roster sent out by the Southern League, but he's being included on the roster supplied by the host Barons.

Jennings is attending tonight's game but isn't playing because he was in St. Louis for Sunday's Futures Game. His inclusion, and a few others, gives the South Division team a 29-man roster, while the North has just 25.

We're here in Hoover for the annual All-Star extravaganza. The league sent out starting lineups a few weeks ago. Since half of those lineups have probably been promoted, so here's the final version ...

SOUTH
Matt Young, Mississippi, cf
C.J. Retherford, Birmingham, 2b
Sean Coughlin, Mobile, 1b
Stefan Gartrell, Birmingham, rf
Cyle Hankerd, Mobile, dh
Ricardo Sosa, Mobile, 3b
Lorenzo Scott, Jacksonville, lf
J.C. Boscan, Mississippi, c
Pedro Ciriaco, Mobile, ss
Matt Torra, Mobile, rhp

NORTH
Adam Stern, Huntsville, cf
Blake Lalli, Tennessee, 1b
Todd Frazier, Carolina, lf
Josh Bell, Chattanooga, 3b
Marshall Hubbard, West Tenn, dh
Shane Justis, Huntsville, 2b
Drew T. Anderson, Huntsville, rf
Jonathan Lucroy, Huntsville, c
Justin Sellers, Chattanooga, ss


6:02 update: Biscuits pitcher Jeremy Hellickson is scheduled to pitch the top of the third. Also, the lightning, thunder and rain that rolled through Montgomery early today hit Hoover first and left their mark on Regions Park. The Barons resuscitated the scoreboard, but the sound system is still down.

6:15: The sound system has returned.

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Rico Washington announces retirement

Third baseman Rico Washington, who was a Southern League All-Star for the Biscuits in 2005, has announced his retirement after a 13-year career, the Altoona (Pa.) Mirror reports. Washington reached the majors in 2008 with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Jennings starts for U.S. Futures team

Biscuits center fielder Desmond Jennings is in the starting lineup for the U.S. Team in today's All-Star Futures Game. He's hitting second.

The game is in a rain delay after a half-inning with the World team ahead 2-0.

UPDATE: What's a four-hour rain delay between friends? They've started back and Jennings struck out swinging on four pitches in his first at-bat.
UPDATE 2: In the third, Jennings walked, stole second and third, and scored on a Pedro Alvarez infield single.
UPDATE 3: In the fourth, Jennings gawks as a third strike sails past.

FINAL UPDATE: In the sixth, Jennings reached and went to second on a throwing error before stealing third. He finished 0-for-3 with a walk, a run scored and three stolen bases.

Tampa Bay's other representative, Bowling Green outfielder K.D. Kang, popped out in the seventh. The World won 7-5 in a game that lasted seven innings because of the long delay.

Jaso to majors; Chaves to DL

Catcher John Jaso has been promoted to the Rays from Triple-A Durham. Also, the Biscuits have put shortstop Brandon Chaves on the disabled list with an elbow injury.

The Rays had an open roster spot because pitcher Grant Balfour had a death in the family in Australia. He's expected back Friday.

They called up a catcher because Dioner Navarro was shaken up Saturday by a foul ball to the mask.

The Rays also now have a fifth All-Star. First baseman Carlos Pena, after finishing last in online voting for the final AL roster spot, is going after Boston second baseman Dustin Pedroia couldn't attend.

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Lee grad Singleton an American Association All-Star

Robert E. Lee graduate Nick Singleton, a pitcher for the independent Sioux City Explorers, has been named an American Association All-Star. The right-hander, who helps on the Biscuits' grounds crew before leaving for his season, is 5-3 with a 3.31 ERA in 11 starts.

Singleton was 8-4 with a 2.24 ERA in 112.2 innings last year for the Explorers.

System check

You know the drill.

TRIPLE-A, DURHAM BULLS
International League South

(50-38, tied for first place)
SS Reid Brignac is 12-for-32 with three home runs in his current seven-game hit streak. It’s pushed his season average to .300.
RHP Wade Davis, with a six-inning, five-run loss Friday, is 8-5 with a 3.12 ERA.
RHP Andy Sonnanstine is 2-0 with a 3.46 ERA in two quality starts.
2B Elliot Johnson is 3-for-18 since returning from a broken hand and is hitting .210 this year.

HIGH-CLASS A, CHARLOTTE STONE CRABS
Florida State League South

(8-7, tied for first place)
RHP Matt Gorgen threw two scoreless innings Friday for his 13th save in 14 opportunities. He’s 4-0 with an 0.60 ERA and has allowed 22 hits in 44.2 innings. Gorgen has walked 15 and struck out 54.
CF Emeel Salem has 14 hits and nine runs scored in his last seven games and has a .238 season average.
LHP Darin Downs is 8-4 with a 2.31 ERA and is 9-for-15 on quality starts.
LF John Matulia is 16-for-37 in his last 10 games and has a .324 average.
1B Henry Wrigley is hitting .342 in July and .296 for the season.

LOW-CLASS A, BOWLING GREEN HOT RODS
South Atlantic League Southern

(10-5, tied for first place)
LHP Matt Moore, after a one-run, six-inning no-decision Wednesday, is 5-3 with a 2.70 ERA. He has 108 strikeouts, 44 walks and 49 hits allowed in 76.2 innings.
RHP Nick Barnese threw five shutout innings to win Tuesday and is 4-1 with a 1.09 ERA in seven starts.
LHP Josh Satow is 3-0 with a 2.57 ERA and 9-for-12 in save opportunities.

SHORT-SEASON A, HUDSON VALLEY RENEGADES

New York-Penn League McNamara

(10-11, second place, 6.5 GB)
RHP Jason McEachern made a four-inning, three-run debut Thursday after being promoted from Princeton. He had a 1.06 ERA in three starts at Princeton.
RHP Richard De Los Santos has thrown 4.1 shutout innings over the last week.
CF Brett Nommensen has a .298 average.

ROOKIE, PRINCETON RAYS
Appalachian League East

(8-9, third place, 2.5 GB)
RHP Trevor Shull has a 1.20 ERA in three starts, three walks and 13 strikeouts.
OF Cody Rogers has a hit in all nine games he’s played and a .306 average.

ROOKIE, GCL RAYS
Gulf Coast League South

(5-9, fifth place, 3.5 GB)
LHP Jake McGee threw a perfect inning Friday. He has a 3.18 ERA and 11 strikeouts in 5.2 innings.
RHP Victor Mateo allowed two unearned runs in six innings to lose Wednesday. He’s 1-2 with an 0.56 ERA in three starts.
RHP Bradley Furdal has 11 shutout innings in his last two starts.

WAYWARD BISCUITS
Those who strayed from the Rays

OF Jason Pridie is 14-for-32 in his last seven games with eight runs scored and nine RBIs for Triple-A Rochester (Twins). He came within a single of the cycle last Sunday. Pridie has a .263 season average.
RHP Willie Glen allowed two hits in six shutout innings Thursday at Double-A Jacksonville (Marlins). He’s 2-7 with a 3.69 ERA.
CF Joey Gathright is hitting .326 with 33 runs scored in 48 games with Triple-A Norfolk (Orioles).
RHP Jose Diaz hasn’t allowed a run in 17 of his last 18 appearances at Double-A Frisco (Rangers). In 32.2 innings, he’s allowed 24 hits, walked 19 and struck out 30.
RHP Jean Machi has thrown seven shutout innings over six appearances since returning from the disabled list with Double-A Altoona (Pirates). He has a 1.37 ERA in 20 games.
LHP Brian Henderson has a 3.00 ERA in 21 games with independent Somerset.
OF Jeremy Owens is hitting .246 for independent Southern Maryland.
RHP Jim Magrane is 9-2 with a 2.52 ERA at independent Somerset.
3B Vince Harrison has a .323 average at independent Schaumburg.

Friday, July 10, 2009

Biscuits stretch lead on Padres

Entering tonight, the Biscuits had the third-worst team batting average in full-season affiliated baseball.

Montgomery' 19 hits at Tennessee will keep the Biscuits from slipping further. The Padres' no-hit night against San Francisco's Jonathan Sanchez helps, too.

Entering Friday ...
Triple-A Pawtucket .228
Major-league Padres .2342
The Bashing Biscuits .2343

As far as the scoring decision in the eighth inning in San Fran, I agree -- E-5.

Biscuits set season hit high in 15-1 win

Where did this come from?

The Biscuits, the worst hitting team in the Southern League, stroked a season-high 19 safeties tonight in a 15-1 win at Tennessee. Every batter had at least one hit and either scored or knocked in a run.

The 19 hits ties for third on the Biscuits' all-time list. The top output, ironically, was also at Tennessee when Montgomery tossed out a 24-hit attack in an 18-6 win July 22, 2004.

Montgomery last reached double figures in runs May 15, a mere 53 games ago.

Heath Rollins (8-7) worked seven innings for the win. Updating his numbers, Rollins is now 7-1 with a 1.98 ERA in nine road starts. At Riverwalk Stadium, he’s 1-6 with a 5.51 ERA.

System will comprehensively track on-field action

Found this interesting today in the New York Times. A San Francisco company is almost finished testing a system that would comprehensively document a player's every move on the field.

A new camera and software system in its final testing phases will record the exact speed and location of the ball and every player on the field, allowing the most digitized of sports to be overrun anew by hundreds of innovative statistics that will rate players more accurately, almost certainly affect their compensation and perhaps alter how the game itself is played.


For testing purposes, it's already installed at San Francisco's park and will cost $5 million to install at all 30 major-league stadiums. That's a relative pittance for the major-league teams, who are desperate for such data on the minors, too. (I've heard of at least one QuesTec system at a Triple-A park to evaluate pitchers.)

Would the major-league teams splurge to have the new system in every Triple-A venue? How about Double-A?

Thursday, July 09, 2009

3 Rays on Baseball America midseason list

Baseball America has released its midseason Top 25 prospects list. One current Biscuit, one former and one future (?) made it.

16. RHP Wade Davis
18. CF Desmond Jennings
20. SS Tim Beckham

Biscuits pitcher Jeremy Hellickson and Bowling Green pitcher Matt Moore made the next 25.

Thayer a Triple-A All-Star replacement

Durham reliever Dale Thayer has been picked to go to the Triple-A All-Star Game as a replacement. The game is Wednesday in Portland, Ore.

Thayer, a former Biscuit and the all-time Southern League saves leader, has 13 saves and a 1.82 ERA in 39.1 innings this year for the Bulls. He also made his major-league debut this season.

Thayer and shortstop Reid Brignac are Durham's two representatives at the Triple-A game.

Cortez returns; Powell deactivated

Infielder Fernando Cortez has returned to the Biscuits after mourning his grandmother's death in California. The Biscuits have deactivated outfielder Pedro Powell to add Cortez back to the roster.

Barons' Cook catches June bug

Barons outfielder David Cook, just promoted to Triple-A, won the Southern League's player of the month for June.

He hit .382 with 23 runs scored, eight home runs and 29 RBIs in June. Now unable to play in the SL All-Star Game, Cook has been replaced by teammate Jordan Danks.

Tuesday, July 07, 2009

Bulls welcome back Montoyo with victory

Durham manager Charlie Montoyo marked his return to the Bulls with an 8-3 home win over the Gwinnett Braves tonight. Montoyo was away from the team for infant son Alex’s open-heart surgery in California. The Bulls, in first place in the International League’s South Division, were 7-1 with Montoyo away.

Eldridge out again; tarp piled off to side

Outfielder Rashad Eldridge is out of the lineup for a third straight game and is having an issue with an oblique. A similar ailment, though perhaps more severe, cost him three weeks last year.

The Biscuits host the Barons for the finale of a four-game sweep series tonight. Good showers earlier today in Montgomery, but the tarp is off the field. It's piled up on the warning track in front of the first-base dugout at the moment.

Umpire Booter West will sit out a third straight game, too.

Found these interesting today: Steve McNair considered giving baseball a professional try (Seattle Times) and the Brewers GM says Huntsville is a "very apathetic baseball town" that may not deserve their affiliation (Huntsville Times).

Speaking of stars, the Southern League sent out a revision of its All-Star roster today and added eight players after others had to back out. Three are re-additions because Barons Tyler Flowers and Dayan Viciedo and BayBear Jarrod Parker are doubling-up with the Futures Game. Biscuits outfielder Desmond Jennings won't double-up, the Biscuits said Friday, and is still not on the SL roster.

Finally, WSFA continues showing its top-flight ability for publicizing when it's going to Webcast a Biscuits game. They're showing one tonight, as best I can tell from them setting up their equipment.

If you're curious, compare the top average in Montgomery's lineup today to the worst in Birmingham's ...
BISCUITS
Pedro Powell, cf, .200
Brandon Chaves, ss, .219
Chris Nowak, 3b, 1-for-8
Matt Fields, dh, .224
Joe Gaetti, rf, .141
Nevin Ashley, c, .179
J.T. Hall, lf, .216
Matt Spring, 1b, .201 -- second career start at first
Drew Anderson, 2b, .219
Brian Baker, rhp

BARONS
Jordan Danks, dh, .318
John Shelby III, cf, .241
Tyler Flowers, c, .284
David Cook, lf, .256
Dayan Viciedo, 3b, .263
Stefan Gartrell, rf, .284
C.J. Retherford, 2b, .283
Christian Marrero, 1b, .227
C.J. Lang, ss, .329
Kyle McCulloch, rhp

Monday, July 06, 2009

Welcome back, Elliot Johnson

Durham second baseman Elliot Johnson, in his second game back after missing two months with a broken hand, hit a grand slam tonight in the Bulls' 6-1 win over Charlotte.

Rollins fine, expects to make next start

Biscuits pitcher Heath Rollins survived today's X-rays without needing a cast or extra bandage and "definitely" expects to make his next scheduled start, which is Friday at Tennessee. He was hit on the back of his throwing hand on the final out of the top of the sixth inning Sunday.

Outfielder Jason Perry also had a positive doctor's visit and can begin more-extensive exercises involving the left wrist that he broke in late May.

Something to look for in Tuesday's paper, Barons third baseman Dayan Viciedo had positive reviews of the most-recent baseball defector from Cuba. Left-handed pitcher Aroldis Chapman reportedly hits 100 mph. Viciedo is in his first pro season after defecting from Cuba.

The two healthy Southern League umpires are picking up some local help tonight. Kurtis Waites will fill in for Booter West, who will miss a second straight game after being hit by a foul ball Saturday.

Lineups ...
BISCUITS
Desmond Jennings, dh
Jason Bowers, ss
Chris Nowak, 3b
Matt Fields, 1b
Joe Gaetti, rf
Drew Anderson, 2b
J.T. Hall, lf
Matt Spring, c
Pedro Powell, cf
Aneury Rodriguez, rhp

BARONS
Jordan Danks, cf -- starred Saturday, rested Sunday
John Shelby III, dh
Tyler Flowers, c
David Cook, lf
Dayan Viciedo, 3b
Stefan Gartrell, rf
C.J. Retherford, 2b
Christian Marrero, 1b
C.J. Lang, ss
Daniel Hudson, rhp

Cortez away after death in family

Biscuits infielder Fernando Cortez has left the team after a death in the family and will miss the next three games. The Biscuits deactivated Cortez and activated outfielder Pedro Powell to take his roster spot.

Cortez's grandmother died in California.

Mollicone first from Rods to win SAL award

First baseman John Mollicone today became the first from the Hot Rods to win the South Atlantic League's player of the week award. He hit .500 with three home runs, 10 RBIs and a 1.111 slugging percentage.

League honors to Jaxx, Smokies

West Tenn outfielder Greg Halman and Tennessee pitcher Casey Coleman won the Southern League's weekly awards today. Halman hit six home runs and knocked in 11 runs. Coleman was 2-0 and allowed two runs in 14.2 innings.

Sunday, July 05, 2009

Rollins hit on hand, going for X-rays

Biscuits pitcher Heath Rollins said he'll go for X-rays on Monday after taking a liner off his pitching hand tonight.

The last batter he faced ended the sixth with a 1-4-3 groundout. Rollins' hand was visibly bruised, including some stitch marks from the ball.

Rollins and manager Billy Gardner said the X-rays are a precautionary move.

Here comes the tarp

The front office personnel are scrambling to put the tarp on the field. Settle in because it could be a long one.

6:41: The rustling begins to take the tarp off. A nice-sized storm barely missed the stadium, according to the radar. It basically scraped Elmore County from tip to toe, though.
6:47: They've announced a start time -- 7:15.
7:02: With Booter West still feeling ill after taking a foul ball in the mask Saturday, the umpires will use a two-man crew tonight and Monday. West may be back for Tuesday's series finale.
7:20: First pitch.

Steamy Sunday for early game

Infielder Chris Nowak is here and the Biscuits play an early game today with a 6:05 p.m. start against the Birmingham Barons. Nowak is playing third and hitting cleanup.

Barons outfielder Jordan Danks, who starred Saturday in his first game back from a wrist injury, has the day off.

Lineups ...
BISCUITS
Desmond Jennings, cf
Brandon Chaves, ss
Fernando Cortez, lf
Chris Nowak, 3b
Matt Fields, 1b
Nevin Ashley, c
Joe Gaetti, rf
Drew Anderson, dh
Jason Bowers, 2b
Heath Rollins, rhp


BARONS
John Shelby III, cf
C.J. Retherford, 2b
Tyler Flowers, dh
David Cook, lf
Dayan Viciedo, 3b
Javier Colina, 1b
Christian Marrero, rf
Jared Price, c
Rob Hudson, ss
John Ely, rhp

Longoria named All-Star starter

Rays third baseman and former Biscuit Evan Longoria will start for the American League in the All-Star Game. Longoria was also an All-Star last year in his rookie season.

Longoria is the first former Biscuit to be named a major-league All-Star starter and will be the first to start from Tampa Bay.

Three other Rays will be reserves: Jason Bartlett, Carl Crawford and Ben Zobrist. Tampa Bay first baseman Carlos Pena is one of four players up for the final AL roster spot, which will be decided by fans' online voting. Longoria was the Final Vote winner last year.

MAJOR-LEAGUE ALL-STAR BISCUITS
2009: Evan Longoria
2008: Scott Kazmir, Evan Longoria
2006: Scott Kazmir

Saturday, July 04, 2009

Biscuits release infielder Suarez

Infielder Cesar Suarez was released by the Biscuits after tonight's loss to Birmingham. The move makes room for Chris Nowak's arrival from Triple-A Durham. Suarez had a .224 average in 67 games.

Attendance sets stadium record

Tonight's announced attendance of 7,560 is the biggest in Riverwalk Stadium history, eclipsing the 7,518 that saw the Biscuits face Jacksonville on April 19, 2008.

Umpire delay: Umps swapping up after West injury

We're in the middle of the fifth and in the midst of an umpire delay.

Home-plate umpire Booter West was hit on a backswing in the bottom of the third. He stuck around for another nine outs, but the crew has decided that West has had it for the night. West and crew chief Chris Ward are back in the clubhouse. Ward will be putting on the gear and West will take his off.

8:53: Ward is back and the Barons are warming up for the bottom of the fifth. We'll continue with two umpires.
UPDATE: West was hit "square in the mask" with a foul ball. He said he's "questionable" for Sunday, depending on how he feels.

Orvella with Royals at Double-A Northwest Arkansas

Former Biscuits pitcher Chad Orvella, recently released at Triple-A Durham, has signed with the Kansas City Royals and made his debut this week with the Double-A Northwest Arkansas Naturals.

Alex Montoyo's surgery goes well

Alex Montoyo, the infant son of former Biscuits manager Charlie, did well in his open-heart surgery Thursday at the UCLA Medical Center, mom/wife Sam said. Sam said Alex may be able to leave the hospital Sunday.

UPDATE: Charlie said he hopes to rejoin the Bulls on Tuesday.

Morse taken off roster for Mann

The Biscuits have deactivated pitcher Ryan Morse so that Brandon Mann can go on the active roster and start tonight's game with the Barons.

Chris Nowak isn't here yet, and the Biscuits have not announced that transaction. UPDATE: Nowak will be activated in time for Sunday's game. Elliot Johnson is taking Nowak's roster spot in Durham. Johnson has been out with a broken hand.

Here are links to today's stories on Matt Spring and his bride-to-be Meredith Welch. We were blessed with a ton of space, so I wrote a long main story and two additional stories (here and here), including how her family turned him into an Alabama fan.

Lineups ...
BISCUITS
Desmond Jennings, cf
Brandon Chaves, ss
Rashad Eldridge, lf
Fernando Cortez, 3b
Matt Fields, 1b
Nevin Ashley, c
Drew Anderson, dh
J.T. Hall, rf
Jason Bowers, 2b
Brandon Mann, lhp

BARONS
Jordan Danks, cf
John Shelby III, lf
David Cook, rf
Stefan Gartrell, dh
Dayan Viciedo, 3b
Javier Colina, 1b
C.J. Retherford, 2b
Jared Price, c
Rob Hudson, ss
Justin Cassel, rhp

System check

Stats through Friday, etc.

TRIPLE-A, DURHAM BULLS
International League South

(47-34, first place, 2 GA)
SS Reid Brignac homered twice Friday and has a .292 average.
RHP Wade Davis has posted six straight quality starts.
RHP Calvin Medlock has allowed three hits and no runs in his last seven innings.
OF Justin Ruggiano has a .315 average in his last 17 games.
1B Rhyne Hughes is hitting .337 with five home runs, 12 RBIs and 14 runs scored in 21 games.

HIGH-CLASS A, CHARLOTTE STONE CRABS
Florida State League South

(2-6, sixth place, 3 GB)
LHP Darin Downs gave up one earned run and six hits in seven innings to lose Friday. He’s 7-4 with a 2.15 ERA.
RHP Matt Gorgen, with two wins and five shutout innings over the last week, is 4-0 with 10 saves and an 0.68 ERA.
LF John Matulia has a .299 average.

LOW-CLASS A, BOWLING GREEN HOT RODS
South Atlantic League Southern

(6-2, first place, 1 GA)
1B John Mollicone was 4-for-5 with two doubles, two home runs and four RBIs Tuesday, hit a grand slam Wednesday and has a .282 season average.
SS Tim Beckham has a .281 average, four home runs, 42 RBIs and 27 errors.
LHP Matt Moore hasn’t allowed a run in 12.2 innings over his last two starts, both wins.
RHP Nick Barnese threw six shutout innings Thursday to win his third straight start.

SHORT-SEASON A, HUDSON VALLEY RENEGADES
New York-Penn League McNamara

(5-9, tied for second, 7 GB)
RHP Richard De Los Santos surrendered four runs in 2.1 innings Wednesday.
LHP Kyle Lobstein lost Wednesday, allowing one run on four hits in four innings.
LHP Aaron Dott gave up an unearned run and three hits in five innings Monday.
RF D.J. Jones is hitting .074.

ROOKIE, PRINCETON RAYS
Appalachian League East

(6-5, tied for second, 1 GB)
RHP Jason McEachern has a 1.06 ERA, no walks and 15 strikeouts in 17 innings.
OF Ty Morrison was 3-for-5 with two RBIs Friday and has a .214 average.

ROOKIE, GCL RAYS
Gulf Coast League South

(4-4, tied for second, 2 GB)
LHP Jake McGee threw two perfect innings and struck out five Tuesday.
2B Elliot Johnson, in his first action since last weekend, was 2-for-4 Friday. He’s rehabbing a broken hand.
LHP Enny Romero has thrown three shutout innings in each of his two appearances.

WAYWARD BISCUITS
Those who strayed from the Rays

RHP Jason Hammel gave up one run over eight innings in a loss Wednesday for the Colorado Rockies. It was his first loss in seven starts. He’s 5-4 with a 3.90 ERA.
RHP Evan Meek has a 2.73 ERA and 22 walks in 29.2 innings with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He’s allowed one run in his last 12 innings, covering eight appearances.
CF Elijah Dukes was demoted from the Washington Nationals to Triple-A Syracuse after hitting .244 with 47 strikeouts.
RHP Jean Machi has 4.2 shutout innings in three appearances at Double-A Altoona (Pirates) since coming off the disabled list.
1B Jorge Cantu is hitting .284 with the Florida Marlins.
LHP Chuck Tiffany made his debut with independent Grand Prairie on Wednesday, allowing four unearned runs and three hits in two-thirds of an inning.
C Josh Johnson has a .207 average at independent York.
OF Erold Andrus is hitting .261 for independent Florence.

Friday, July 03, 2009

Nowak demoted from Durham to Biscuits

Infielder Chris Nowak has been demoted from Triple-A Durham to the Biscuits. Nowak, Montgomery's player of the year last season, was hitting .228 with four home runs and 23 RBIs for the Bulls.

Apparently, he was told tonight after Durham's 3-2 win over Charlotte. Any corresponding Biscuits' move is unknown.

On Thursday, the Bulls released relief pitcher Dewon Day. The Rays claimed Day off waivers last November, though they designated him for assignment in January. He had a 4.76 ERA in 22 appearances. That move allowed Durham to activate Andy Sonnanstine to start Thursday.

Sneak peek of Saturday story

Check the paper Saturday to read why someone would say this about a current Biscuit:

"I thought, either this guy is gay or he’s very in touch with his feminine side."

There's also: "Oh my God, that thing’s huge."
Plus: “I feel sorry for him.”

All, plus context, coming in Saturday's Advertiser.

Thursday, July 02, 2009

Thursday: Biscuits 5, Suns 4

Matt Spring hit a two-run double in the eighth inning to lift the Biscuits to a 5-4 win over the Jacksonville Suns tonight in Jacksonville, Fla. Joe Gaetti hit a two-run home run in the second inning for Montgomery to break a 26 at-bat hitless streak. Gaetti’s last hit was a double June 18 at West Tenn.

Rays trade Abreu to Indians for Meloan

The Rays traded reliever Winston Abreu to Cleveland today for reliever John Meloan.

Meloan will join Triple-A Durham. He had a 5.52 ERA in 25 games with the Triple-A Columbus Clippers this year. Meloan, with the Los Angeles Dodgers until a July 2008 trade, played in the Southern League in 2007 (and went by Jon). He has made seven career major-league appearances.

Abreu, designated for assignment June 27, appeared in two games with the Rays and was the team's minor-league pitcher of the month for May. He was 10-for-10 on saves and had a 1.41 ERA in 23 appearances with the Bulls.

The Biscuits, as of the moment, haven't been affected by the trade.

Brignac picked for Triple-A All-Star Game

Durham shortstop Reid Brignac has been named to the International League team for the upcoming Triple-A All-Star Game.

Brignac, a Biscuit in 2006-07, hit .294 with 18 doubles in the first half of the season. The 23-year-old is the only Durham player headed to the game, which will be played at 9:05 p.m. July 15 in Portland, Ore.

Indianapolis pitcher Chris Bootcheck, a former first-round draft pick from Auburn, is also headed to the game.

Wednesday, July 01, 2009

League announces South Division starters early

The Southern League wasn't supposed to announce the South Division All-Star lineup until Thursday, but it's here already. Four Birmingham Barons, four Mobile BayBears and two Mississippi Braves are among the starters for the July 13 game in Hoover.

1. Matt Young, cf, Mississippi
2. C.J. Retherford, 2b, Birmingham
3. Sean Coughlin, 1b, Mobile
4. David Cook, lf, Birmingham
5. Stefan Gartrell, rf, Birmingham
6. Cyle Hankerd, dh, Mobile
7. Ricardo Sosa, 3b, Mobile
8. J.C. Boscan, c, Mississippi
9. Pedro Ciriaco, ss, Mobile
John Ely, rhp, Birmingham


Biscuits pitchers Jeremy Hellickson and Eduardo Morlan are part of the South Division team.

Tiffany signs with indy team; Asanovich an All-Star

It looks like former Biscuits pitcher Chuck Tiffany has signed with the independent Grand Prairie AirHogs of the American Association. The daily transactions say they've announced signing a left-handed pitcher named Charles Tiffany and the team calls him Chuck on its roster. No press release available. The Rays released Tiffany this spring and he signed with the Dodgers.

Also, former Biscuits second baseman Josh Asanovich is an All-Star in the independent Northern League. He's with the Winnipeg Goldeyes and entered today with a .303 average and 21 runs scored in 35 games.

Jake Gautreau, released this spring by the Rays, was named an assistant coach at Tulane today. Gautreau was a star for the Green Wave when the team played in a 1999 NCAA regional at Auburn.

Auburn native suffers season-ending ankle injury

Auburn native Wes Long, a shortstop for the independent Winnipeg Goldeyes, suffered a broken left ankle Tuesday night and will likely miss the rest of the season.

Richard Mercado, a catcher for Schaumburg, slid into second as Long tried to turn a double play. Long was taken to a Winnipeg hospital for X-rays, which revealed the fracture.

Long, 27, was hitting .331 with three home runs and 22 RBIs. He had been named to the Northern League’s All-Star Game earlier Tuesday and was the league’s player of the month for May.

He spent three seasons in the Oakland organization after being drafted in 2004 out of UAH. Long hit at least .330 the last two years with Windy City of the independent Frontier League.

Barney off North Division All-Star starting lineup

The Southern League has picked the North Division's starting lineup for the All-Star Game and listed the first roster move. Tennessee shortstop Darwin Barney would have started, but he was promoted Tuesday to Triple-A Iowa.

1. Ezequiel Carrera, cf, West Tenn
2. Adam Stern, rf, Huntsville
3. Todd Frazier, lf, Carolina
4. Josh Bell, 3b, Chattanooga
5. Marshall Hubbard, dh, West Tenn
6. Shane Justis, 2b, Huntsville
7. Blake Lalli, 1b, Tennessee
8. Jonathan Lucroy, c, Huntsville
9. Zack Cozart, ss, Carolina
Travis Wood, rhp, Carolina