Reds' Gonzalez 'ready to go'

Alex Gonzalez proved his fitness in the field and at the plate.
The Cincinnati Reds shortstop made an outstanding defensive play and doubled in a run in a 9-6 exhibition victory over the club's top minor leaguers yesterday in Dayton, Ohio.
Gonzalez, who also turned two double plays, missed last season with a compression fracture in his left knee and strained his right hamstring in a Grapefruit League game March 23.
"I'm ready to go," he said. "I'm excited to be back in uniform and with my teammates. Monday will be a big day for me."
Gonzalez ranged behind third and made a strong throw to take a hit away from one prospect, earning raves from manager Dusty Baker.
"This guy's one of the best I've seen," Baker said.
Edwin Encarnacion and Jerry Hairston Jr. hit two-run homers for Cincinnati, which lost 12-4 to the prospects on Friday night. Johnny Cueto allowed one run and four hits in four innings.
Chris Valaika, the Reds' Minor League Player of the Year in 2008, hit a three-run homer and Todd Frazier a two-run shot for the Futures team.
Red Sox option Buchholz
The Boston Red Sox optioned right-hander Clay Buchholz to Triple-A Pawtucket and put five players on the 15-day disabled list.
Right-hander John Smoltz (shoulder surgery), outfielder Mark Kotsay (right elbow), shortstop Julio Lugo (right knee surgery), outfielder Jonathan Van Every (right ankle sprain) and right-hander Miguel Gonzalez (elbow surgery) all went on the DL retroactive to March 27.
Zambrano speaks heresy
Standing in the plush visitors' clubhouse at the new Yankee Stadium, Carlos Zambrano made a plea for Chicago to replace Wrigley Field, the Cubs' home since 1916.
"You come into a ballpark like this and you see great things," the Cubs' ace said before yesterday's 10-1 exhibition loss to the Yankees. "You wish that Chicago'd build a new stadium for the Cubs."
Manager Lou Piniella disagreed.
"There's no question the facilities need to be redone, but that's going to happen," he said. "My favorite time of year is when the ivy turns green. It's really a great environment to play a ballgame."