The Associated Press

MONTREAL - Jose Vidro was placed on the 15-day disabled list Thursday, one day after the Montreal Expos second baseman decided to have season-ending knee surgery Sept. 8.

The move, retroactive to Sunday, ends an injury-plagued season for the three-time All-Star, bothered by patellar tendinitis in his right knee for two seasons.

Vidro, who turns 30 today, hit .294 with 24 doubles, 14 homers and 60 RBI in 110 games this season.

Montreal also placed right-hander Francis Beltran on the disabled list with shoulder tendinitis, a move retroactive to Wednesday.

Left-hander Scott Downs and right-hander Gary Majewski were recalled from Triple-A Edmonton.

PORTLAND BASEBALL: Portland officials forged ahead Thursday with a detailed plan to finance a $350 million ballpark, even though the city's chances of landing the Montreal Expos appear to be remote.

Baseball officials met this week with groups from Washington and Northern Virginia, the leading candidates in the bidding for the Expos. Baseball also intends to meet with groups from Las Vegas and Norfolk, Va.

Portland is pushing ahead, hoping to be in a better position for the next major-league team that explores a move.

"Without this we were nowhere. With this, we're now more so in it than ever before," said David Kahn, head of the Oregon Baseball Campaign and special adviser to the mayor on baseball.

ASTROS: Reliever Dan Miceli was placed on the 15-day disabled list because of pink eye.

The move was made retroactive to Aug. 22, and the Astros purchased the contract of right-hander Russ Springer from Triple-A New Orleans.

"He has, according to the doctors, the worst case of pink-eye they've ever seen," Houston manager Phil Garner said.

DIAMONDBACKS: Top Arizona draft pick Stephen Drew enrolled in classes at Florida State on Thursday, a move similar to the one made by older brother J.D. Drew.

Arizona selected the shortstop with the No. 15 pick in June's amateur draft. Drew's first class is Tuesday, so he still could discuss a contract with the team until the time he attends that class.

"If there were classes on Friday, he would be attending," Florida State baseball coach Mike Martin said. "If he and the Diamondbacks do not come to an agreement, he will attend class on Tuesday."

Drew was widely considered the top college position player when he entered the draft a year early after he hit .344 with 17 home runs and 56 RBI for the Seminoles last season.

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