Rays Slugger Dan Johnson Snubbed by Experts

Two of the first three 2011 MLB fantasy magazines -- rushed into print some two weeks before the Superbowl -- have seemingly deemed Tampa Bay Rays slugger Dan Johnson as to be unworthy of a thumbnail biographical analysis or annual statistical projection.

Both the Sporting News Fantasy Baseball and the Yahoo Fantasy Baseball annuals turn their attentions to the Johnsons Chris and Kelly and even part-timer Nick, but Dan Johnson is left out in the cold, even though he is widely projected to open the season as the Rays starting first baseman.

Johnson -- the erstwhile top prospect from the Athletics organization who has stumbled in a a number of manifestations including one with the Twins -- found his way into a handful of games for the Rays last year, batting .198 with seven homers.

With the departure last year's starter Carlos Pena to the Cubs, Johnson seems to have -- for the time being -- blundered into yet another chance to live up to the sky-high potential envisioned for him nearly a decade ago.

To be fair, Johnson has generally been regarded as having a good eye at the plate, ability to hit for power and possessing a measure of skill around the bag. But a number of injuries and other setbacks so far have robbed him of what might have been a promising career.

Whether Johnson's omission from the Sporting News and Yahoo is the result of design or inadvertence, at 33 Johnson would do well to read the writing on the wall, or lack of it, if he expects another opportunity such as the one the Rays are giving him this year -- assuming he doesn't blow it in spring training, or isn't relegated to the bench as the result of a free agent acquisition or other personnel change.

As it looks in the early stages, all Johnson has to do is hold off Cuban exile Leslie Anderson, who brings a fine pedigree to the states from his imprisoned Caribbean outpost. Even with little other professional experience, let alone major league time, Anderson may yet prove to be too strong a challenge for Johnson, given Johnson's perennial shortcomings and just plain bad luck.

Meanwhile, print lovers who wish to read about Johnson more expansively might do well to instead try RFP's 2011 Fantasy Baseball Guide.

Rays to Unveil Newest Wonder Jeff Niemann

Though he still cannot be regarded as a finished product, 25-year-old former first-round pick Jeff Niemann will be rushed into action as the Tampa Bay Rays newest pitching wonder, when Niemann will be named temporarily to the No. 5 spot in the rotation.

An announcement is pending.

The 6-foot-9, 260-pound Niemann -- fourth overall pick in the 2004 draft -- will take the place of No. 2 starter Matt Garza, who has been sidelined by what is described as a "radial nerve irritation" in his throwing arm. Garza will miss at least two weeks.

Niemann will be called up from the Triple A Durham Bulls, where he is 2-0 with a 3.27 ERA in the young minor league season, after going 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA in limited action with the parent club this spring. He was 12-6 with a 3.98 ERA in 25 starts with the Bulls last year.

Niemann's lively slider was the talk of camp this spring. He signed a $5.2 million contract in 2005, but until now has been unable to reach the 40-man roster after a setback due to shoulder and clavicle distress nearly three years ago.

Not Ready For The Show?

As Opening Day draws near now is the time for managers and executives to make the tough decisions. As seen in the past few days, many players were under the impression they'd be making the team are now being sent down to the minors. Super- prospects Evan Longoria (3B TB) and Jay Bruce (OF CIN) were among those heading back to the minors.

In Tampa Bay, manager Joe Maddon had made it clear that it would be an open competition for the starting spot at the hot corner. But whether it was Longoria's inexperience or whether Maddeon did it solely for his own personal humor, the skipper decided to send down Longoria despite Spring numbers of .333/.467/.750. If the Rays want to compete with the likes of the Yankees and Red Sox, they will not be doing it with their best possible team on the field. By keeping Longoria down in Triple-A for two months they will be able to avoid going to arbitration with him until 2011 and he will not be a free agent until 2014.

Reds manager Dusty Baker is up to his old ways again. The old-school coach is not willing to push the cagey veterans aside in order to put the young guns on the field. With aging veterans tying up his outfield and infield in Ken Griffey Jr., Ryan Freel and Scott Hatteberg, it seems there is no room again for future stars such as Jay Bruce and Joey Votto. Votto has made the major-league team but is stuck in a platoon with Hatteberg. Bruce was sent down to Triple-A in order to make room for the newly aquired Corey Patterson. Baker, though, has shown some love to the rookies as Johnny Cueto and Edinson Volquez have cracked the starting rotaion as the third and fourth starters, respectively behind Harang and Arroyo.

Nothing should be taken for granted in Spring Training. As seen again this year, many highly touted minor-leaguers with big-league aspirations have been sent back to the drawing board. Only time will tell when the next Albert Pujols is brought to the Show ...