Saturday, October 30, 2010

Over/under on World Series rather than Auburn?

How many citizens of the great state of Alabama do you think are watching the World Series rather than Auburn vs. Ole Miss footbaw? I know of at least one.

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Peers pick Price as top AL pitcher

Tampa Bay's David Price was the top pitcher in the American League this year, according to the Major League Baseball players association.

The union picked Price and Philadelphia's Roy Halladay as the top hurlers today, more than two weeks before the Cy Young Award is announced. The Cy Young Award is due out Nov. 16. Price ranked second in the AL with 19 wins and third with a 2.72 ERA this season.

Wade Davis was one of three finalists for the AL's outstanding rookie, won by Detroit outfielder Austin Jackson.

Sunday, October 24, 2010

AUM, Faulkner in fall all-star game at Paterson

Experiencing some baseball withdrawal?

If so, you can head to Paterson Field on Saturday when AUM and Faulkner will participate in a Southern States Athletic Conference fall all-star game.

The Senators and Eagles -- along with their nine SSAC rivals -- are sending two pitchers and four position players. All players are eligible for the 2011 draft. Workouts, which begin at 10 a.m., for professional scouts are open to the public with two nine-inning games starting at noon.

All gate proceeds -- they hadn't settled on an admission price late last week, but it won't be much -- will be donated to charity.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Faulkner's Torbert top indy player for year

Faulkner University's Beau Torbert won Baseball America's independent league player of the year award, the magazine announced last week. He hit .394 for the Sioux Falls Pheasants of the American Association. Former Biscuits pitcher Willie Glen landed first-team all-independent honors.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

ALDS Game 5: Rangers 5, Rays 1

Cliff Lee again shined, leading the Texas Rangers to a 5-1 win over the Rays in today's decisive fifth game of an American League Division Series.

Lee pitched a six-hitter, walked none and struck out 11 for his second win of the series. Ian Kinsler had three RBIs, including a two-run home run in the ninth.

The Rays scored in the third when Ben Zobrist singled in Sean Rodriguez. Jason Bartlett had three hits and David Price took the loss, allowing three runs in six innings.

Sunday, October 10, 2010

ALDS Game 4: Rays 5, Rangers 2

Evan Longoria was 3-for-4 with two doubles and a two-run home run to lead the Tampa Bay Rays in a 5-2 playoff win over the Texas Rangers today in Arlington, Texas.

The best-of-5 American League Division Series is tied 2-2 with the final game at 7 p.m. Tuesday in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Longoria's home run came in the fifth inning and gave Tampa Bay a 5-0 lead. Carlos Pena doubled, tripled, scored twice and had an RBI for the Rays.

Wade Davis allowed two runs over five innings for the win. Four relievers combined for four shutout innings.

Thursday, October 07, 2010

ALDS Game 2: Rangers 6, Rays 0

C.J. Wilson and two relievers combined on a two-hitter in the Texas Rangers' 6-0 win over the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 2 of an American League Division Series today in St. Petersburg, Fla.

The Rangers have a 2-0 lead in the best-of-5 series and go for a sweep Saturday in Arlington, Texas.

Wilson threw 6 1/3 innings, allowing both hits, walking two and striking out seven.

The Rangers scored in the third inning on a throwing error by Rays starter James Shields and made it 2-0 on an Ian Kinsler homer off Shields in the third.

Tampa Bay has eight hits and one run in two games against the Rangers. In Game 2, Jason Bartlett singled to start the bottom of the first and Willy Aybar doubled with none out in the seventh.

Wednesday, October 06, 2010

ALDS opener: Rangers 5, Rays 1

Cliff Lee overwhelmed the Tampa Bay Rays and led the Texas Rangers in a 5-1 victory today in the opening game of an American League Division Series in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Lee gave up one run on five hits and struck out 10 over seven innings. The run came on a Ben Zobrist home run with one out in the seventh.

Game 2 of the series will be Thursday afternoon.

Tampa Bay starter David Price surrendered nine hits, including two home runs, in 6 2/3 innings.

Nelson Cruz went deep off Price in the third to make it 3-0. Bengie Molina homered in the fourth. Texas took a 2-0 lead in the second. Jeff Francouer doubled in Ian Kinsler and scored on a Molina single.

Alabama has 3 on postseason rosters

Alabama has three players looking for a World Series championship, all pitchers in the American League: Tampa Bay reliever Lance Cormier, Texas starter Tommy Hunter and New York Yankees reliever David Robertson. Robertson has three prior World Series titles, tying him with Joe Sewell on Alabama's list. (That may be the only time you see Robertson's name mentioned with Sewell.)

Rays' ALDS roster boasts 9 Biscuits

Nine Biscuits festoon Tampa Bay's roster for the American League Division series. The Rays and Rangers start their series this afternoon.

Your list ...
Wade Davis
Jeff Niemann
David Price
James Shields

John Jaso
Reid Brignac
Evan Longoria
Desmond Jennings
B.J. Upton

The Twins also feature former Biscuit Delmon Young.

Rocco Baldelli is also on Tampa Bay's roster. He was with the Biscuits in 2008 only for a rehab assignment. Texas' Jorge Cantu and San Francisco's Pat Burrell are in the same rehab-only category.

Faulkner's Torbert wins indy league MVP award

Beau Torbert, formerly of Faulkner University, won the American Association's "star of stars" award -- aka most valuable player -- recently for the Sioux Falls Pheasants. He set league records with a .394 average and 155 hits. He also led the league with 100 RBIs, 269 total bases and 64 extra-base hits. He was second with 24 home runs and a .684 slugging percentage.

Montgomery's Dew part of Golden League title

Josh Dew, formerly of Jeff Davis High and Troy University, helped the Chico Outlaws to a Golden League championship last month. Chico swept three games from the expansion Maui Na Koa Ikaika. (Don't ask me for the pronunciation.) Dew was the winning pitcher in the series opener and pitched two-thirds of an inning in the finale.

2 Biscuits on York championship team

Former Biscuits Vince Harrison and Erold Andrus were part of the York Revolution's Atlantic League championship celebration. Both started the year with other teams -- Harrison was a late-season pickup from the Northern League -- but ended it with a title. Auburn native Michael Nix recorded the final out of the final game.

Knowing Harrison, he'll be on hand to cheer the Big Blue of Kentucky on Saturday against Auburn. How bad will the Wildcats get beat?

Meek inherits Pittsburgh media hand

Former Biscuits reliever Evan Meek won an award from Pittsburgh media for his availability and cooperation this season with the Pirates. Can I take some credit for this one? I did hound Meek throughout the 2007 season, just before Pittsburgh grabbed him in the Rule 5 draft. (He was already a nice guy, so I guess not.)

Hellickson, Dickson duel for your vote

A Minorleaguebaseball.com online poll could split the Montgomery metro area. Let's hear how you'd vote: for a former Biscuit or for a local native? Jeremy Hellickson and Marbury native Brandon Dickson are both among the six choices. Voting continues through Monday.

Sunday, October 03, 2010

Rays clinch AL East with Yankee loss

The Rays sealed their first American League East championship and second all-time playoff berth with New York's 8-4 loss at Boston.

Friday, October 01, 2010

Tide-Gators showdown causes schism within Rays

Got word tonight from the St. Petersburg Times that the Alabama-Florida rivalry has (again) infected the Tampa Bay Rays' clubhouse.

Pitcher Lance Cormier, who played for the Tide, and clubhouse/equipment manager Chris Westmoreland, an avowed Gators fan, are placing (another) friendly wager on the game.

The two did so last season and Westmoreland had to wear an Alabama shirt all through spring training this year. For this week, Cormier has prophesied a 31-17 Alabama victory with Westmoreland foreseeing a 24-20 Florida win.

Also, outfielder Desmond Jennings, a former Alabama football signee, is also picking the Tide, but he didn't give a score.

“The only question is which Florida team shows up,’’ he told intrepid reporter Marc Topkin. “If it’s the one from a couple weeks ago that was fumbling the snaps, then it’ll probably be a blowout. But just a W would be fine.’’