Forty-nine years.

That's how long the city of Dayton had to wait to get professional baseball back to town.

Special guest John Turnbull recently sat down with the Dayton Dragons’ VP of Stadium Operations Gary Mayse, and Owen Serey, the Assistant of Media Relations to talk about the March 31^st Reds/Marlins game…the first Major League game at Fifth-Third field.

Now on to the interview…Reds Come to Dayton – Part I

• The Arizona Diamondbacks placed pitcher Randy Johnson and outfielders Carlos Quentin and Jeff DaVanon on the 15-day disabled list Saturday.
• The Houston Astros announced that the club has purchased the contracts of right-handed pitchers Brian Moehler and Rick White from Triple A Round Rock. Additionally, the club has optioned right-handed pitchers Matt Albers and Fernando Nieve and infielder Eric Bruntlett to Round Rock. The Astros also reassigned catcher Eric Munson to minor league camp, and he will be a member of the Round Rock roster.
• The Washington Nationals today optioned outfielder/infielder Kory Casto and right-handed pitcher Saul Rivera to Columbus of the Triple-A International League. Nationals Vice President and General Manager Jim Bowden made the announcement.
• The Detroit Tigers today announced the club finalized its Opening Day roster with the following moves: purchasing the contract of lefthanded pitcher Bobby Seay from Triple A Toledo, placing lefthanded pitcher Edward Campusano on the 15-day disabled list following left elbow surgery, placing righthanded pitcher Roman Colon on the 15-day disabled list as he recovers from neck surgery and placing infielder Tony Giarratano on the 60-day disabled list following right shoulder surgery.
• The Minnesota Twins announced today that they have reassigned first baseman Ken Harvey to Minor League camp and have selected the contract of righthanded pitcher Sidney Ponson from Rochester.
• This morning the Pirates placed infielder Freddy Sanchez on the 15-day D.L. (retroactive to 3/23).
• Dodger infielder Tony Abreu has been named the winner of the 2007 Jim and Dearie Mulvey Award, which goes to the top rookie in camp.
• The Rays today placed infielder Greg Norton on the 15-day disabled list. He will undergo
  surgery on Monday to repair a torn meniscus (cartilage) in his right knee and is expected to be sidelined four-to-six weeks. The Rays also optioned infielder Jorge Cantu and catcher Shawn Riggans to Durham (AAA) and reassigned C Raul Casanova, OF Dustan Mohr and INF Jorge Velandia to minor league camp.
• The San Francisco Giants made five transactions following today's exhibition game against the Oakland Athletics, optioning right-handed pitchers Scott Munter and Brian Wilson to triple-A Fresno and reassigning the following three players to minor league camp: right-handed pitchers Scott Atchison and Sun-Woo Kim, and infielder Tomas De La Rosa.
• The Oakland A’s today announced that they have optioned infielder Donnie Murphy to Triple-A Sacramento, reassigned catcher Kurt Suzuki to their minor league camp and released infielder Erubiel Durazo.
• According to Houston manager Phil Garner, Luke Scott has won the right field job.
• The Blue Jays announced Saturday that Josh Towers will be the No. 5 starter.

My, how the mighty have fallen…

As expected, right-handed pitchers Mark Prior and Rocky Cherry, and outfielder Angel Pagan have been optioned to Triple-A Iowa. Prior, 26, went 0-2 with a 6.97 ERA (8 ER/10.1 IP) in four spring training contests (three starts).

Matt Garza by Bill Richardson, Baseball Digest Daily

I hate to question moves by Terry Ryan, but I really don’t like this one…

The Minnesota Twins announced prior to tonight’s game that they have optioned righthanded pitcher Matt Garza to Triple-A Rochester.

Garza was 0-0, 1.50 (12.0 ip, 2 er), allowing nine hits with five walks and seven strikeouts in six appearances (one start) this spring.

Zach Minor was one of three surprise demotions made by the Tigers (Photo by Bill Richardson, Baseball Digest Daily)

• The Tigers optioned the contracts of RHP Zach Miner, INF Ramon Santiago and INF Chris Shelton to Triple-A Toledo.
• The Minnesota Twins announced that they have reassigned the following players to Minor League camp: lefthanded pitcher Mike Venafro, catchers Brad King and Matthew LeCroy and infielders Tommy Watkins and Glenn Williams.
• The Milwaukee Brewers acquired C Maxim St. Pierre from the Kansas City Royals in exchange for RHP Ben Hendrickson. The announcement was made by Executive Vice President and General Manager Doug Melvin.
• Pittsburgh’s Masumi Kuwata underwent an MRI this morning in Bradenton and there is no change in the original diagnosis of a Grade 3 sprain to his right ankle…He is expected to remain on crutches for another seven to 10 days and based on his progress, it will be approximately four to six weeks until he can resume throwing.
• The Orioles announced that they have acquired veteran CA Alberto Castillo from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for minor league OF Cory Keylor.
• The Boston Red Sox announced that righthanded pitchers Manny Delcarmen and Craig Hansen were optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket of the International League. Non-roster righthanded pitcher Bryan Corey was assigned to the minor league camp.
• The Washington Nationals purchased the contract of first baseman Dmitri Young and left-handed pitcher Ray King.
• The San Diego Padres will request unconditional release waivers tomorrow on right-handed pitcher Scott Strickland. Executive Vice President/General Manager Kevin Towers made the announcement.
• Arizona’s Scott Hairston found out this morning that he had made the club and responded by hitting three homeruns in his first three at-bats.
• Cubs manager Lou Piniella announced Tuesday that Wade Miller will be the Chicago Cubs' fifth starter.
• The Reds announced Tuesday that Aaron Harang will be their Opening Day starter for a second consecutive year.
• Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin on Tuesday named Edgar Gonzalez his fourth starter.

At a Spring Training game on Thursday, March 22 against the Kansas City Royals, Baseball Digest Daily writer Scott Edelman caught up with Oakland A’s designated hitter/catcher Mike Piazza in the visiting clubhouse at Surprise Stadium in Arizona.

After a 2006 rebound season with San Diego, in which he batted .283 with 22 home runs and 68 rbi in 126 games, Piazza signed a one-year, $8.5 million contract with the Oakland A’s. Early results appear to be promising – as of March 25, Piazza has a spring batting average of .395 with 3 home runs and 15 rbi in 16 games.

Be sure to read Scott's entire interview with Mike Piazza by clicking on the link.

The Minnesota Twins announced prior to today’s game that they have placed outfielder Lew Ford and infielder Alejandro Machado on the 15-day disabled list, and lefthanded pitcher Francisco Liriano on the 60-day disabled list. The club was also informed that lefthanded pitcher Randy Choate elected free agency, after he was reassigned to Minor League camp on March 21. After today’s game, they have optioned lefthanded pitcher Glen Perkins to Triple-A Rochester.

This morning the Indians optioned INF Hector Luna to AAA Buffalo and reassigned the following three (3) players to minor league camp: CA Armando Camacaro, INF Keith Ginter & RHP Brian Sikorski.

The Pirates Brad Eldred hit his major league leading sixth home run while collecting three RBI.

The Blue Jays reassigned RHP Blaine Neal and RHP Brian Wolfe to minor league camp.

The Royals reassigned outfielder Billy Butler to minor league camp.

John Patterson “kind of passed out” Saturday after shagging flies during batting practice, manager Manny Acta said. According to Rotoworld, it appears as though he was dehydrated.

Nook Logan injured his right groin in the ninth inning of Saturday's game and seems to be questionable for Opening Day.

According to MLB.com, Angels starter Kelvim Escobar left Saturday's game against Colorado with a strain in the lower left side of his back. The extent of the injury was not immediately known, and Escobar will be reevaluated on Sunday.

The Royals optioned SS Angel Berroa to AAA-Omaha on Saturday and said that newly acquired Tony Pena Jr. would be the starting shortstop.

Tracy Ringolsby of the Rocky Mountain News  reported that the Rockies optioned center fielder Cory Sullivan and shortstop Clint Barmes to Triple-A Colorado Springs.

Yankees right-hander Chien-Ming Wang will start the season on the disabled list with a right hamstring pull according to SI.com.

The Angels Chone Figgins will miss 5-6 weeks with two fractured fingers on his right hand.

 

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The Kansas City Royals officially announced on Wednesday that Alex Gordon will start the season as the team's third baseman. Three cheers for the new phenom, and congratulations to Dayton Moore and the Royals on another great decision!