Ria Cortesio released by minor leagues

Ria Cortesio, the female umpire who has been in the Southern League for five years, has been released by the minor leagues.

City rolls in Biscuits' dough

The Biscuits made their quarterly rent payment today and counted out more than $274,000 to the city.

The $274,055.87 payment pushed the team's rent total for fiscal year 2007 to $727,365.33. In four years, the Biscuits have paid more than $2.9 million in rent.

The team totaled more than $5.9 million in revenue in the areas it shares with the city as rent, virtually matching its total from fiscal year 2006. The two years differed by less than $40,000.

Areas of revenue interest for fiscal year 2007 ...
Concessions $1,398,522.68
Tickets $1,311,996 (lowest in team's four years, $80,000 less than '05)
Sponsorships $1,200,735 (highest in team's four years)
Group tickets $540,962.50
Retail $491,466.23

The Biscuits totaled 311,872 in announced regular-season attendance this year, 8,800 more than in 2005. They drew almost 323,000 their inaugural year and almost 314,000 in 2006.

The rent is based on a percentage of sales at Riverwalk Stadium. In most areas, the city gets 10 percent after sales tax. In areas without sales tax, the team gets 33 percent. The city gets 100 percent of parking.

The team still exceeds projections used by the city when it approved stadium construction in December 2002. Fourth-year predictions called for 220,000 in attendance and $498,484.90 in total rent.

Birkins' stock goes to Rays

The Rays snagged Baltimore left-handed pitcher Kurt Birkins off the waiver wire today and dropped catcher Raul Casanova from the 40-man roster.

Rays add outfielder, release pitcher

The Devil Rays have added outfielder Chris Snelling and released pitcher Jay Witasick. Tampa Bay claimed Snelling off waivers from the Oakland A's and released Witasick to make room on the 40-man roster.

Tillery hopes to hoe Rockies road

Here's one guy with Montgomery ties who will be in anguish over the World Series. Start your pity now.

Brad Tillery, the former Biscuits intern and BTW Magnet/Auburn University graduate best known for his awful "water sprinkler" on-field dance move (representation at left, though it's not Tillery), is a huge Colorado Rockies fan. He used to live in Denver and grew to love the Rox.


Tillery is now the radio voice of the Lansing Lugnuts. He's exiled to the press box, which saves fans from viewing any more of those moves (representation also at left).

I'll say Red Sox in five, which will please Tillery's boss. Lansing general manager Pat Day , formerly an assistant GM with the Biscuits, is a Boston fan. He doesn't show it as much as Tillery.

Of course, Tillery has his own prediction.

And the major-league umpire with Alabama ties drew a World Series assignment. Chuck Meriwether graduated from Athens State. Meriwether works third base tonight and will have the plate for Game 4. He's a 16-year major-leaguer and has one previous World Series (2004).