It's time to go check on the restroom door behind the visiting dugout to see what's changed. The Biscuits open a four-game series tonight against the Birmingham Barons. It's Montgomery's shortest homestand of the year.
Your lineups ...
BISCUITS
Fernando Perez, cf
Reid Brignac, ss
Evan Longoria, 3b
John Jaso, dh
Gabriel Martinez, 1b
Shaun Cumberland, rf
Josh Asanovich, 2b
Patrick Breen, lf
Matt Spring, c
Chris Mason, rhp
BARONS
Sean Smith, cf
Victor Mercedes, ss
Adam Shabala, rf
Thomas Collaro, dh
Shawn Garrett, 1b
Chris Kelly, 3b
Ricardo Nanita, lf
Donny Lucy, c
Michael Myers, 2b
Jack Egbert, rhp
Saturday, June 30, 2007
System check
CLASS AAA, DURHAM BULLS
International League South
(42-40, second place, 4.5 GB)
OF Jeremy Owens is 14-of-36 in his last 12 games with eight runs scored and eight RBIs. He has a .239 average this year.
RHP Jeff Niemann won his fifth straight start Friday, giving up one earned run over six innings.
RHP Richard De Los Santos threw 3.1 shutout innings Wednesday. He has a 4.61 ERA in five appearances.
CF Jason Pridie has a .227 average after six games. He homered in his debut last weekend.
RHP Jae Seo allowed 12 hits and nine runs over 3.2 innings Wednesday. He allowed three home runs.
RHP Tony Peguero’s four innings Thursday included nine hits, four homers and 11 runs allowed.
C Joshua Johnson pitched a scoreless inning Thursday. He’s hitting .246.
HIGH-CLASS A, VERO BEACH DEVIL RAYS
Florida State League Eastern
(3-6, fifth place, 2.5 GB)
DH Sergio Pedroza has an eight-game hitting streak, pushing his season average to .266.
RHP Mike Wlodarczyk has lost his last three starts and is 4-4 with a 3.81 ERA.
LHP Jake McGee lost Wednesday, giving up six runs on four hits and two walks in 4.1 innings.
3B Pat Cottrell is hitting .276 with eight homers and 36 RBIs.
LOW-CLASS A, COLUMBUS CATFISH
South Atlantic League Southern
(6-2, first place, 0.5 GA)
1B Matt Fields has five home runs and 14 RBIs in his last 10 games. This year, he has a .231 average and 100 strikeouts in 73 games.
RHP Wade Townsend gave up one hit in seven shutout innings Tuesday, walking two and striking out eight.
RHP Jeremy Hellickson has allowed a home run in each of his last three appearances, his first three homers of the season. He won Thursday and is 5-2 with a 2.73 ERA.
RHP Heath Rollins is 8-3 with a 2.89 ERA.
SHORT-SEASON A, HUDSON VALLEY RENEGADES
New York-Penn League McNamara
(4-7, fourth place, 4 GB)
RHP Alex Cobb has allowed eight hits in 15 innings. He’s 1-1 with a 2.40 ERA.
CF Emeel Salem has a .325 on-base percentage and is 7-of-7 on steals.
OF Angel Fermin has a .400 average and six RBIs.
ROOKIE, PRINCETON RAYS
Appalachian League East
(4-4, fourth place, 1.5 GB)
SS Omar Luna has a .394 average and five extra-base hits.
Seven players combined for eight errors in Monday’s 20-6 loss to Elizabethton.
WAYWARD BISCUITS
Those who strayed from the Rays
RHP Carlos Hines won Thursday for Class AAA Fresno (Giants) with three shutout innings. He has a 3.32 ERA in 12 appearances.
RHP Jim Magrane allowed one run over six innings to win Wednesday with Class AA Harrisburg (Nationals). He had been at Class AAA Columbus the previous month, where he was 1-2 with a 4.15 ERA in four appearances.
3B Rico Washington went on the disabled list at Class AAA Memphis (Cardinals) after re-aggravating a knee injury last weekend. He’s hitting .315.
3B Jace Brewer has a .233 average in 13 games for Class AAA Omaha (Royals).
RHP Dewon Brazelton picked up his first win for Class AA Altoona (Pirates) on Thursday, allowing three hits and one run in five innings. He’s 1-1 with a 2.77 ERA.
RHP Willie Glen is 6-0 with a 4.00 ERA at independent Gary. He’s totaled 15 walks, 65 strikeouts and a .245 average against in 63 innings.
1B Jose Velazquez has a .276 average with the independent Grays of the Can-Am League.
OF Francisco Leandro has a .460 on-base percentage and 29 runs scored in 31 games at independent New Jersey.
OF Amado German is hitting .286 for independent Edinburg.
International League South
(42-40, second place, 4.5 GB)
OF Jeremy Owens is 14-of-36 in his last 12 games with eight runs scored and eight RBIs. He has a .239 average this year.
RHP Jeff Niemann won his fifth straight start Friday, giving up one earned run over six innings.
RHP Richard De Los Santos threw 3.1 shutout innings Wednesday. He has a 4.61 ERA in five appearances.
CF Jason Pridie has a .227 average after six games. He homered in his debut last weekend.
RHP Jae Seo allowed 12 hits and nine runs over 3.2 innings Wednesday. He allowed three home runs.
RHP Tony Peguero’s four innings Thursday included nine hits, four homers and 11 runs allowed.
C Joshua Johnson pitched a scoreless inning Thursday. He’s hitting .246.
HIGH-CLASS A, VERO BEACH DEVIL RAYS
Florida State League Eastern
(3-6, fifth place, 2.5 GB)
DH Sergio Pedroza has an eight-game hitting streak, pushing his season average to .266.
RHP Mike Wlodarczyk has lost his last three starts and is 4-4 with a 3.81 ERA.
LHP Jake McGee lost Wednesday, giving up six runs on four hits and two walks in 4.1 innings.
3B Pat Cottrell is hitting .276 with eight homers and 36 RBIs.
LOW-CLASS A, COLUMBUS CATFISH
South Atlantic League Southern
(6-2, first place, 0.5 GA)
1B Matt Fields has five home runs and 14 RBIs in his last 10 games. This year, he has a .231 average and 100 strikeouts in 73 games.
RHP Wade Townsend gave up one hit in seven shutout innings Tuesday, walking two and striking out eight.
RHP Jeremy Hellickson has allowed a home run in each of his last three appearances, his first three homers of the season. He won Thursday and is 5-2 with a 2.73 ERA.
RHP Heath Rollins is 8-3 with a 2.89 ERA.
SHORT-SEASON A, HUDSON VALLEY RENEGADES
New York-Penn League McNamara
(4-7, fourth place, 4 GB)
RHP Alex Cobb has allowed eight hits in 15 innings. He’s 1-1 with a 2.40 ERA.
CF Emeel Salem has a .325 on-base percentage and is 7-of-7 on steals.
OF Angel Fermin has a .400 average and six RBIs.
ROOKIE, PRINCETON RAYS
Appalachian League East
(4-4, fourth place, 1.5 GB)
SS Omar Luna has a .394 average and five extra-base hits.
Seven players combined for eight errors in Monday’s 20-6 loss to Elizabethton.
WAYWARD BISCUITS
Those who strayed from the Rays
RHP Carlos Hines won Thursday for Class AAA Fresno (Giants) with three shutout innings. He has a 3.32 ERA in 12 appearances.
RHP Jim Magrane allowed one run over six innings to win Wednesday with Class AA Harrisburg (Nationals). He had been at Class AAA Columbus the previous month, where he was 1-2 with a 4.15 ERA in four appearances.
3B Rico Washington went on the disabled list at Class AAA Memphis (Cardinals) after re-aggravating a knee injury last weekend. He’s hitting .315.
3B Jace Brewer has a .233 average in 13 games for Class AAA Omaha (Royals).
RHP Dewon Brazelton picked up his first win for Class AA Altoona (Pirates) on Thursday, allowing three hits and one run in five innings. He’s 1-1 with a 2.77 ERA.
RHP Willie Glen is 6-0 with a 4.00 ERA at independent Gary. He’s totaled 15 walks, 65 strikeouts and a .245 average against in 63 innings.
1B Jose Velazquez has a .276 average with the independent Grays of the Can-Am League.
OF Francisco Leandro has a .460 on-base percentage and 29 runs scored in 31 games at independent New Jersey.
OF Amado German is hitting .286 for independent Edinburg.
Brazell gets All-Star treatment
It didn't take long to find something I missed. I looked for this Thursday, but I apparently looked too early.
Montgomery native Craig Brazell, who leads the entire minor leagues in home runs, has been picked to play in the Triple-A All-Star Game. Brazell, a Jeff Davis High graduate, is with Omaha in the Kansas City Royals' system.
Brazell was a Southern League All-Star last year when he was with Jacksonville and even won the home run derby at Riverwalk Stadium.
This year's Class AAA game is July 11 in Albuquerque.
Montgomery native Craig Brazell, who leads the entire minor leagues in home runs, has been picked to play in the Triple-A All-Star Game. Brazell, a Jeff Davis High graduate, is with Omaha in the Kansas City Royals' system.
Brazell was a Southern League All-Star last year when he was with Jacksonville and even won the home run derby at Riverwalk Stadium.
This year's Class AAA game is July 11 in Albuquerque.
Finally home
I went 1-for-3. Fitful night of sleep last night, so I didn't get out of the hotel until 11 a.m. EDT. Hit Guilford Courthouse an hour later and went for the full experience, which took me 2 1/2 hours. Thought I could cover the 100 miles to Kings Mountain in 1 1/2 hours, but a decent rainstorm just this side of Greensboro, an inconvenient construction zone at Kannapolis and a nice helping of Charlotte traffic derailed that.
Instead, perused a book store to get my mind off traffic and rest. I did drive up to Kings Mountain about an hour after the park closed. Took a detour to Clemson -- I dispute the contention that Clemson is "Auburn with a lake." It's Starkville, at best. Sat down for some quality dining at a Denny's before crossing Atlanta.
Huge accident on I-85/75 North that had traffic backed up for miles, so I felt fortunate I was headed south. Just got home. The 550-mile route took me a mere 15 1/2 hours. Now, what did I miss?
Instead, perused a book store to get my mind off traffic and rest. I did drive up to Kings Mountain about an hour after the park closed. Took a detour to Clemson -- I dispute the contention that Clemson is "Auburn with a lake." It's Starkville, at best. Sat down for some quality dining at a Denny's before crossing Atlanta.
Huge accident on I-85/75 North that had traffic backed up for miles, so I felt fortunate I was headed south. Just got home. The 550-mile route took me a mere 15 1/2 hours. Now, what did I miss?
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Postcard from Durham
Dear everyone,
Just finishing up a three-day visit to Durham to see the Bulls, interview for a story or two and play tourist (the N.C. State History Museum, Raleigh City Museum and N.C. state capitol were today's highlights, not the 12-0 whipping the Bulls just took).
Beautiful ballpark and surrounding area that is budding with construction. They're about 10 years into what Montgomery dreams of for the Riverwalk Stadium area here. I'd give the field here at Durham Bulls Athletic Park the advantage over Riverwalk, but Riverwalk's open concourse has a decided edge. The outside of the stadium isn't comparable and the disparity will grow soon. City has similarities to Montgomery.
Players are still their old selves and reacted accordingly when they saw me. "What are you doing here?" was a popular sentence. Charlie Montoyo and Jason Pridie were the only ones forewarned of the trip.
Driving back tomorrow and I have a challenging agenda. I'm going to attempt to hit three Revolutionary War historical sites: Guilford Courthouse, Kings Mountain and Cowpens.
See you soon,
-Stacy
Just finishing up a three-day visit to Durham to see the Bulls, interview for a story or two and play tourist (the N.C. State History Museum, Raleigh City Museum and N.C. state capitol were today's highlights, not the 12-0 whipping the Bulls just took).
Beautiful ballpark and surrounding area that is budding with construction. They're about 10 years into what Montgomery dreams of for the Riverwalk Stadium area here. I'd give the field here at Durham Bulls Athletic Park the advantage over Riverwalk, but Riverwalk's open concourse has a decided edge. The outside of the stadium isn't comparable and the disparity will grow soon. City has similarities to Montgomery.
Players are still their old selves and reacted accordingly when they saw me. "What are you doing here?" was a popular sentence. Charlie Montoyo and Jason Pridie were the only ones forewarned of the trip.
Driving back tomorrow and I have a challenging agenda. I'm going to attempt to hit three Revolutionary War historical sites: Guilford Courthouse, Kings Mountain and Cowpens.
See you soon,
-Stacy
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