Dragons Media Day and Opening Day Preview

Posted on 09. Apr, 2009 by Corey in Dayton Dragons Baseball.

The Dayton Dragons 2009 season is ready to begin.  The team held a media day at Fifth Third Field giving the players a chance to meet the local media, and the media a chance to get to know the players.  Dragons director of media relations Tom Nichols, and his assistant Alex, put together a great program where all the Dayton players and coaches were introduced.  The players were also given a chance to speak, telling their hometown and playing background before giving a random fact or story that they chose to share.  Two of the players seemed to “steal” the show drawing much laughter from all that attended.
Dragon infielder Jose Gualdron stood up, said his name and his hometown of Maraciabo, Venezuela.  He then very seriously, in his Venezuelan accent, said, “That is it, no more English,” and sat down to a huge roar of laughs.
Later in the program, outfielder Dave Sappelt, a ninth rounder from the 2008 draft, told a short story that happened to him in Spring Training.  He said, “I was talking to a former major league outfielder who was telling me things to help me along.  He said, ‘The Earth is made up of ¾ water..’  I stopped him and said ‘Don’t worry, I will cover the rest.”  It may have taken some a few minutes to get the joke, but had some people laughing with tears.
The mood for the media day was great, as the players concluded their interviews and went through their final workout before the game on Thursday evening against the Great Lake Loons.  Matt Fariel will make his professional debut as starter for the Dragons as he opposes right hander Jon Michael Redding.

GAME EXTRAS
-    This will kick off the 10th season for the Dayton Dragons at Fifth Third Field.
-    Fifth Third Field will be a sellout, again.
-    The game will be broadcast through Time Warner Cable in the Dayton area to over 400,00 households.  Tom Nichols and former Cincinnati Red Billy Doran will call the game.
-    Dayton Manager Todd Benzinger will be managing in his first professional game after playing nine seasons in the big leagues.
-    The Dragons opening day roster will consist of seven players who played at least one game last season for Dayton and 20 who played on the Reds Billings Rookie league roster.
-    All 140 Dayton Dragons games can be heard on the radio or through the internet at www.Daytondragons.com.