Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Dowdy faces 50-game punishment

Former Biscuits reliever Justin Dowdy drew a 50-game suspension Wednesday after he refused to take a drug test. Dowdy was with Montgomery in 2010 and had a 2.04 ERA and 17 strikeouts in 17 2/3 innings. He spent last year in the San Francisco organization, mostly at Triple-A Fresno.

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Hot Rods schedule job fair

The Bowling Green Hot Rods will host their annual job fair at noon Saturday in search of seasonal employees.

Monday, February 27, 2012

228 crowd into Tampa Bay's minor league list

The Rays list 228 players in the minor league section of their 2012 media guide.

Here's where each of the 228, plus the 19 non-roster invitees to major league camp, were at the end of last year. This does not include anyone now on the 40-man roster. Also, I tried to list injured players where they last were healthy.

A couple of missing names that jumped out at me: Richard De Los Santos and, because I saw a section listing the Erik Walker award's previous winners, Matt Hall.

DURHAM
Catcher --
Nevin Ashley
Infielder -- Tim Beckham
Pitcher -- Jay Buente, Ryan Reid, Matt Torra

MONTGOMERY
Catcher --
Craig Albernaz, David Wendt
Infielder -- Cole Figueroa, Hak-Ju Lee, Shawn O'Malley, Greg Sexton, Henry Wrigley
Outfielder -- Kyeong Kang, John Shelby, Isaias Velasquez
Pitcher -- Nick Barnese, Joe Cruz, Frank De Los Santos, Shane Dyer, Sergio Espinosa, Marquis Fleming, Kyle Lobsteon, Jim Paduch, Zach Quate, Neil Schenk

CHARLOTTE
Catcher --
Mark Thomas, Alejandro Torres
Infielder -- Tyler Bortnick, Omar Luna, Anthony Scelfo, Michael Sheridan, Riccio Torrez
Outfielder -- Ty Morrison, Chris Murrill, Brett Nommensen
Pitcher -- Chris Andujar, Kenneth Kelly, Alex Koronis, Adam Liberatore, C.J. Riefenhauser, Scott Shuman, Matt Stabelfeld, Jake Thompson, Kirby Yates

BOWLING GREEN
Catcher --
Mayo Acosta, Luke Bailey, Keith Castillo
Infielder -- Julio Cedeno, Derek Dietrich, Robi Estrada, Hector Guevara, Taylor Motter, Robby Price
Outfielder -- Todd Glaesmann, Kevin Kiermaier, Cody Rogers, Nicholas Schwaner, Steve Tinoco
Pitcher -- Nate Garcia, Steve Hiscock, Austin Hubbard, George Jensen, Braulio Lara, Lenny Linsky, Victor Mateo, Jason McEachern, James Patterson, Chris Rearick, Enny Romero, Eliazer Suero, Philip Wunderlich

HUDSON VALLEY
Catcher --
Matt Rice, Alejandro Segovia
Infielder -- Raymond Church, Jeff Malm, Juniel Querecuto, Leonardo Reginatto
Outfielder -- Kes Carter, Craige Lyerly
Pitcher -- Andrew Bellatti, Ryan Carpenter, Charlie Cononie, Shay Crawford, Robert Dickmann, Jake Floethe, Theron Geith, Roberto Gomez, Andrew Leary, Parker Markel, Jacob Partridge, Trevor Shull, Stayton Thomas, Justin Woodall

PRINCETON
Catcher --
Jake Depew, Justin O'Conner
Infielder -- Ryan Brett, Felix Gonzalez, Jake Hager, Junior Rodriguez, Cameron Seitzer
Outfielder -- Joel Caminero, Josh Sale, Drew Vettleson
Pitcher -- Jeff Ames, Deshun Dixon, Brandon Henderson, Lucas Irvine, Kevin James, Marcus Jensen, Ian Kendall, David Kubiak, Reinaldo Lopez, Jose Molina, Eduardo Quinonez, Felipe Rivero, Pedro Silvestre, Garret Smith, Matt Spann, Matt Swilley

GCL
Catcher --
Michael Bourdon, Omar Narvaez
Infielder -- Roberto Adolfo, John Alexander, Johnny Eierman, Darryl George, Brandon Martin, Julian Morillo, Cesar Perez, Ariel Soriano
Outfielder -- Ismel Antunez, Granden Goetzman, James Harris, Jonathan Quinonez
Pitcher -- Daniel Bream, Zach Butler, Hugo Duarte, Ely Echarry, Jacob Faria, Isaac Gil, Joan Guerrero, Stepan Havlicek, Ricky Orta, Blake Snell, Bruedlin Suero

DOMINICAN
Catcher --
Jesus Araiza, Jhancarlos Infante, Jose Rojas, Francisco Rosario
Infielder -- Ismael Aguero, Emmanuel Paulino, Adderly Rosa, Alexander Simon, Juan Tapia
Outfielder -- Yoel Araujo, Jorge Calderon, Luis Marte, Jiminson Natera
Pitcher -- Yomelbin Almonte, Jose Alonzo, Nelson Arguila, Oscar Armenta, Joeselito Cano, Carlos Cedeno, Dionicio De La Cruz, Geisel De La Cruz, Carlos Garcia, Luis Guzman, Wilmer Hernandez, Luis Mercedes, Carlos Nina, Jorge Rodriguez, Dauris Soriano

VENEZUELA
Catcher --
Gianfranco Aldazoro, Wilmer Dominguez, Oscar Hernandez
Infielder -- Franklin Alcala, Leopoldo Correa, Douglas Duran, Keiverson Reyes, Norly Suarez
Outfielder -- Darwin Maldonado, Jose Paez, Franklin Paz, Erick Vasquez
Pitcher -- Freddy Alvarez, Luis Cabrera, Kevin Cazorla, Henry Centeno, Mario Fernandez, Andres Gonzalez, Joynerd Gonzalez, Jhefferson Hurtado, Johan Marval, Eduardo Medina, Carlos Orasma, Brohiglyn Rivero, Gregory Rosal, Wilmer Sabala, Danmar Salazar, Yerwin Sanchez

INJURED, DID NOT PLAY LAST YEAR
Infielder --
Travis Florez
Outfielder -- Nahum Hernandez, Emeel Salem
Pitcher -- Wilmer Almonte, Jairo De La Rosa, Jose Fermin, Jesse Hahn, Luis Wilches

DID NOT PLAY LAST YEAR
Catcher --
Kevin Barrios, Julio Herrera
Infielder -- Tyler Goeddel, Anthony Mojica, Jhonnathan Teran
Outfielder -- Cesar Hernandez, Roni Maestre, Mikie Mahtook, Rolman Ramirez, Elias Torres, Carlos Vaamonde
Pitcher -- Alberto Casanas, Eddy Castillo, Erodis Castillo, Oscar Collado, Rafael Cordova, Cristopher Crisostomo, Jorman Duarte, Grayson Garvin, Taylor Guerrieri, Danilo Gutierrez, Hector Lopez, German Marquez, Leonardo Mateo, Benjamin Molina, Ruben Paredes, Matthew Ramsey, Abrahan Rodriguez, Luis Ruiz

IN OTHER ORGANIZATIONS
Catcher --
Chris Gimenez (Seattle)
Infielder -- Juan Miranda (Reno), Matt Mangini (Tacoma), Will Rhymes (Toledo)
Outfielder -- Brad Coon (Albuquerque), Jesus Feliciano (Buffalo), Jeff Salazar (Toledo)
Pitcher -- Romulo Sanchez (Japan), Bryan Augenstein (Memphis), Jhonny Nunez (Triple-A Charlotte)

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Rays' minor league exhibition schedule

The Rays have set their minor league spring exhibition schedule, though it's all subject to change. Games at 1 p.m., except for the final-day intrasquad games.

Baltimore's minor league camp is in Sarasota (right off the interstate). Boston's and Minnesota's are in Fort Myers. Boston has a new complex this year and, to be honest, I've never been to Minnesota's.

Sites are for the Double- and Triple-A games. The Class A's face the same teams at the other site.

March
14 Baltimore
15 at Minnesota
16 Minnesota
17 at Baltimore
18 camp day
19 at Boston
20 Boston
21 Baltimore
22 at Minnesota
23 Minnesota
24 at Baltimore
25 camp day
26 Baltimore
27 Boston
28 at Boston
29 Baltimore
30 at Minnesota
31 at Baltimore
April
1 intrasquad games, 10 a.m.

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Rays open minor league camp March 3

Tampa Bay minor league pitchers and catchers have their first workout March 3 in Port Charlotte, Fla. The position players hit the field March 7. They'll vacate the premises April 1, two days before the major leaguers head out.

The major league camp will number 58 players this year. Pitchers and catchers roll out Tuesday with everyone else Feb. 26.

Monday, February 13, 2012

Stone Crabs seek anthem singers Saturday

Those pesky Charlotte Stone Crabs are having open auditions for national anthem singers for the 2012 season from 9-11 a.m. Eastern on Saturday. If you need inspiration (or instruction), click here.

Thursday, February 09, 2012

New scoreboard a work in progress

Here's a look at the new Riverwalk Stadium scoreboard ...

Salem's tunes still making rounds

Word of Biscuits outfielder Emeel Salem's musical skills, first chronicled by blog and story in December, has reached minorleaguebaseball.com.

Monday, February 06, 2012

Biscuits pay quarterly rent

The Biscuits paid $14,509 to the city for their quarterly rent payment that was due last week, according to city records. That runs the all-time total to almost $4.7 million -- and does not include the team's $500,000 donation to the Riverwalk Stadium new scoreboard fund.

The end-of-January payment, which is based on revenue in October, November and December, is traditionally the weakest of the year. Last year's end-of-January check was for $9,470.

Hammel dealt from Rockies to O's

Former Biscuits pitcher Jason Hammel is changing teams again. He and pitcher Matt Lindstrom are headed from the Colorado Rockies to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for Jeremy Guthrie, Baltimore's Opening Day starter last year.

Friday, February 03, 2012

Hot Rods to host Sun Belt tournament

Bowling Green's ballpark will host the Sun Belt tournament May 23-27, the team announced today. The hometown Western Kentucky Hilltoppers will also face the dastardly Louisville Cardinals on May 1 at the stadium.

Wednesday, February 01, 2012

Hope you're enjoying the "holiday"

Here's wishing you and yours a very merry National Signing Day. May your team's stocking be stuffed with five-stars. May some of them actually pan out, too.