Minor League Opening Day

Tonight all four full season teams will begin their season, weather permitting (Dayton and Louisville both look like they may be rained out unfortunately).

There are a ton of links to run through today.

Louisville Bats links

• Rick Sweet was on ESPN Radio in Louisville talking about the season. Go give it a listen.
• The Bats Signal has up some short interviews with a few players as well as Sappelt and Alonso in the cage.
• The Bats also announced Social Media night. It could lead to reduced ticket prices, so go check it out.
• Michael Grant of the Louisville Courier Journal has five questions for the Louisville Bats 2011 Season.
• The Louisville Courier Journal has a nice article on Devin Mesoraco. You should go read it all.

“It’s doing the best that I can to make those guys feel comfortable with me,” he said. “I love that part of the game. That’s a part of a game I wouldn’t trade for anything.”

Carolina Mudcats links

• The News Observer has up a picture gallary from yesterdays workout.

Bakersfield Blaze links

• KERO in Bakersfield has up some video, mostly talking to Ken Griffey Sr and Ryan LaMarre, but there are a few clips from the work out on the field as well.
• The Bakersfield California previews the new team and new manager.

Right-handers Curtis Partch (7-11, 4.98 ERA ), Lance Janke (3-9, 6.44), JC Sulbaran (4-6, 4.99 ERA), Josh Ravin (4-7, 3.94) and Pedro Villarreal (4-10, 4.35), who each spent time with Class-A Lynchburg (Va.) and/or Dayton last season, give the Blaze a solid starting rotation.

Dayton Dragons links

• Notes on Kyle Lotzkar, Ronald Torreyes and several others.

Plans still call for 2007 supplemental first-round draft pick Kyle Lotzkar to pitch in Dayton this season, but he felt tightness in his forearm during an outing late in spring training and the Reds decided to leave him in Arizona.

“I’m not Dr. Jobe, but I would say, hopefully, in the next month he’ll be here,” Dragons pitching coach Tony Fossas said. “He’s doing all right. It’s nothing serious.”

• Juan Duran’s power is impressing his teammates.

“He’s huge,” relief pitcher Jason Braun said. “When he gets (his arms) extended, the ball just flies.”

“At 4:05 he’s got more power than anyone,” said first-year Dragons manager Delino DeShields, who managed Billings last season. “Now we need him to get it going at 7:05.”

Other notes for the day

John Sickels looks at some more college hitters for the upcoming draft. Go take a look at that.

5-0. The Reds sure didn’t start well, but the finished strong. This team simply doesn’t quit. I love it.

And now for the first time this year, here is the preview for today’s games with all of the fun information (I am incredibly excited):