By Dustin Hockensmith
Fantasy Sports 101 Baseball
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March 25, 2008 - You knew the Rays were going to do it. In spite of their fans' wishes, Tampa Bay stood to benefit from sending super prospect third baseman Evan Longoria to Triple-A Durham to begin the season. Don't say we didn't warn you, but don't fear, either. Longoria still has a better than average chance at 20 home runs and an American League Rookie of the Year nod.

The third overall pick in the 2006 draft, Longoria will spend no more than a month in Durham before beginning his tenure as the Rays' franchise third baseman. According to the Tampa Tribune, Tampa Bay will delay Longoria's free agency and arbitration clock a full year by keeping him in the minors until May. If he were on the Rays' roster for all of the 2008 season, Longoria would be eligible for arbitration in 2013. As it is, he'll have enough major league service time for eligibility in 2014.

For fantasy managers, this was a big-time risk when drafting Longoria. It should have been a foregone conclusion, but with his spring performance, it was assumed that the Rays couldn't possibly leave him off the 25-man roster. But when it comes to pinching a penny and eking their prospects through the minor league system, Tampa Bay is capable of just about anything.

Let's look ahead to May, when the play of Willy Aybar and Joel Guzman at third base make Longoria's call-up mandatory. Of any prospect that will debut in 2008, Longoria is the most likely to make a Ryan Braun type impact on the fantasy landscape. Braun and Longoria are similar in their body type, pedigree (Braun was the 5th overall pick in 2005, Longoria was the 3rd pick in 2006), position on the field and advanced sense of professionalism.

Keep Longoria on your fantasy roster, or pray that the rookie-happy manager who drafted him loses patience and cuts him. Just ask Braun owners last season what his midseason tear did for their championship hopes. Longoria won't have the same impact.;Braun wouldn't even have the same impact if he could do it over again. For Longoria, think in the neighborhood of .290 with 20 home runs, 80 RBIs, 80 runs and 10 stolen bases over the course of 130 games.

Lidge Begins Season on DL, Wood Named Cubs' Closer
The Philadelphia Phillies official site reported that arthroscopic surgery on closer Brad Lidge's left knee will keep him on the disabled list to begin the season. Lidge is eligible to come off the DL on April 5, giving him 10 days of additional time to build strength in both his knee and arm. Tom Gordon will close in his absence.

The Cubs closer race was the most difficult to handicap in baseball, with candidates Bob Howry, Carlos Marmol and Kerry Wood all presenting unique strengths and weaknesses. Marmol comes off a career season, but has more value in a set-up role. Howry did an admirable job closing games last season, but annually gets off to slow starts. Wood has a closer's mentality, but a sketchy injury history. At the end of the day, manager Lou Piniella, who was candid about his decision-making throughout the spring, settled on Wood to finish games.

Call me a skeptic, but I think Wood will have an impossible time staying healthy. Howry would likely be the next in line if Wood were to go down with an injury.

In other closer news, the Minnesota Twins inked Joe Nathan to a 4-year, $47 million deal. Charley Walters of the St. Paul Pioneer Press believes the contract extension will make Nathan easier to trade before the July deadline.

Man-Ram Doubles in 10th as BoSox Top A's
More on this game to come, but Boston Red Sox outfielder Manny Ramirez doubled in the game-winning run as Boston beat Oakland 6-5 in the 2008 season opener in Tokyo. Ramirez, who could use a big year for Boston to pick up a $20 million option, doubled twice and drove in four runs to earn game MVP honors. A's closer Huston Street allowed three runs in 1.2 innings and was tagged with the loss. Red Sox reliever Hideki Okajima picked up the win with a scoreless ninth inning.

Carlos Gomez To Start in Center Field
Newly acquired Carlos Gomez was named the Minnesota Twins starting center fielder and leadoff hitter, manager Ron Gardenhire told the Minneapolis Star Tribune on Monday. Gardenhire used words like "flair" and "ignite" to describe the way Gomez plays and what he can do for the Twins offense. One of four players Minnesota obtained from the New York Mets in the Johan Santana deal, Gomez could be hitting the basepaths hard for the Twins. He won't be a perfect fantasy play, but is valuable as a legitimate threat to steal 30 bases.

Granderson Sidelined By Broken Finger
The Detroit Free Press reported that Detroit Tigers outfielder Curtis Granderson will start the season on the disabled list with a broken finger on his right hand. Granderson broke the finger when Phillies pitcher Travis Blackley hit him with a fastball during a spring game last Saturday. The Granderson Hype Machine was going at full speed this offseason, boosting Granderson into the third and fourth rounds of fantasy drafts before last weekend's injury. Many were overpaying for an outfielder with no true rotisserie strength. Brandon Inge is expected to start in center field, and shortstop Edgar Renteria will bat leadoff until Granderson returns.

Other Injury News
According to the Associated Press, Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Scott Rolen broke the bone at the end of his right middle finger and had surgery on Monday. He is expected to miss at least two weeks. Closer B.J. Ryan is also expected to miss time after experiencing soreness in his surgically repaired left elbow, the AP reported. Jeremy Accardo will fill in as the team's closer, a role in which he excelled in 2007.

New Twist in Clemens' Saga
The New York Daily News reported that Brian McNamee's attorneys have asked that Rusty Hardin be removed from Roger Clemens' legal team. Hardin had previously represented Andy Pettitte, whose testimony is key to McNamee's case.

Hardin should have been removed even before a legal loophole would force it. His defiance and Clemens' pride were an ugly combination that only led to less public support for the former seven-time Cy Young award winner. Both had escaped from the news headlines as they prepared for a defamation suit against McNamee. With or without Hardin, Clemens' overplayed bluffs will continue until he or McNamee is in jail.

Related Links: MLB Home, 2008 MLB Draft Kit, Preseason Top 250 Rankings.