By Zach Freeman
Fantasy Sports 101 Baseball

March 12, 2008 - February and March is a time when baseball fans look forward to the return of the green grass, the sound of a ball cracking against the hard pine, and the smell of peanuts in the air. For most, it is also when they start wondering which young prospect is going to make the difference for their favorite team. However, one small, but passionate group of fans recently added another item to their lists… bone-crushing collisions at home plate.

When young Tampa Bay Rays’ infielder Elliot Johnson plowed into Yankees catcher Francisco Cervelli March 8 during a spring training game, many players, managers and other team officials quickly expressed their opinions. Yankees manager Joe Girardi thought Johnson crossed the line.

“It’s disheartening, it’s a spring training game and I just don’t understand it,” Girardi told the New York Post. “I’m all for playing hard, you should play hard, but that’s a play there is no memo for.”

No stranger to this David Vs. Goliath rivalry, Rays’ senior advisor and former Yankees bench coach Don Zimmer told the Post Girardi’s comments were out of line.

“The plate was blocked and our guy bowled him over,” Zimmer said. “What’s that got to do with spring training? That’s the way to play the game.”

Johnson, who knocked Cervelli out for 8-10 weeks with a fractured wrist, told The Associated Press he wasn’t trying to hurt anyone, but rather trying to show the manager what he can do and make the team.

Cervelli’s injury obviously compounded the Yankees’ reactions.  However, by their own admission, Cervelli, 22, was likely to start the season in Double-A Trenton and had very little shot of making the big league roster.

When asked if he would change anything, Johnson responded, “Looking back at it, I’d have to say I’d probably do the same thing.”

Johnson, 24, hit just .207 in Triple-A last season following a Double-A All-Star performance in 2006.  Like every minor leaguer, he is doing whatever it takes to make a lasting impression on management

Zach Freeman’s Take
Manager Joe Maddon told the St. Petersburg Times that he feels his team can compete this year and that they are going to play every game like it means something. He is absolutely correct in that approach. Tampa Bay needs to scrape and claw for whatever respect it can get, and if he thinks the Rays have the goods to compete with Boston and New York, they should show it.

Fantasy Spin
Nobody of relevance was involved in the actual play, but heads up for the first series between the two teams (April 4-7 at Yankee Stadium). Any instance where tempers flare could lead to quick ejections and suspensions, possibly for key players.