Cork Gaines over at Rays Index raised a valid point yesterday concerning RHP Jeff Niemann. Namely, the fact that he hasn't pitched since April 18th and not at all since being demoted to Triple A Durham. In an April 18th start against the Chicago White Sox, Niemann gave up eight runs in 3.1 innings of work and was subsequently optioned to Durham to make room in the rotation for RHP Matt Garza, who was returning from injury.

Yet since the April 20th demotion, Niemann hasn't been seen in game action for the Bulls. Further compounding the confusion is the lack of details regarding what, exactly, Niemann is sidelined with. Alternating reports have it as arm soreness or back soreness, but Niemann's return has continually been pushed back no matter the ailment. At first we heard rumors about him starting Thursday, and then this Saturday, but both dates passed without the big righty taking the hill. Hopefully the matter is nothing serious, and ManBearPig will return to the hill soon, but the lack of information on the matter has to be nerve-racking for Rays fans.

Some other notes:

• The focus of Marc Topkin's notebook this morning? The Rays' starting pitching was terrible this weekend in Boston, and that fact might have played a tiny role in the team's having been swept. More importantly, Topkin notes that CF B.J. Upton returned to the lineup in yesterday's game, but still wasn't able to swing freely. Upton, who strained his left shoulder in Thursday afternoon's game against the Baltimore Orioles, said he felt no pain in swinging, however. Upton should get a chance to fully heal with an off day tomorrow and ten succeeding games in domed stadiums, a big improvement from yesterday's frigid conditions in Boston.
  
• Also, RHP Gary Glover flew back to St. Petersburg and has begun to rehab from the shoulder tendinitis that landed him on the DL Friday.
  
• Lastly, Marc Lancaster of the Tribune expands upon what R.J. posted earlier about RHP Evan Meek. The Pittsburgh Pirates, who claimed Meek in the Rule 5 draft from Tampa Bay in the off-season, designated him for assignment on Sunday. He will pass through waivers, but any team claiming him must keep him on the major league roster for the duration of the season, something Pittsburgh has already failed to do. If no team wants to take that plunge, Meek would have to be offered back to the Rays for $25,000, half of the Pirates' original investment. Then again, as Lancaster notes, the Pirates could acquire his rights from the Rays through a trade that would enable them to send him to the minor leagues. As appealing as that 6.92 ERA must be to potential claimants, I'm going to guess that Meek will end up in the minor league system when this is all said and done. Whose minor league system? That remains to be seen.
  

RAYS 6, Toronto 4 Champion StadiumLake Buena Vista, FL

Win Probability Table and Stats Courtesy of Fan Graphs

• Joe Smith of the St. Petersburg Times reports that newly acquired 1B Dan Johnson will report to the Rays today. At that time, the team will have to make a roster move to make room for him on the active roster. RHP Calvin Medlock was already designated for assignment on Friday to make room for Johnson on the 40 man roster, but the rumor is that OF Justin Ruggiano will be demoted to AAA Durham make room for Johnson at the major league level.
  
• Struggling SS Jason Bartlett will get a day off today as Manager Joe Maddon tries to help him break out of a slump that saw him make four errors in eight games. The shortstop said he experienced soreness in his arm that could possibly be the reason for his recent spate of throwing errors, though he'll still need to do far better offensively. He was hitting .230/.230/.237 going into last night's game, a line that rose marginally after a 1 for 3 campaign. IF Elliot Johnson will start in Bartlett's place this afternoon. With an off day coming on Monday, Bartlett will get two days to rest up before the Rays' series with the Toronto Blue Jays starting on Tuesday in Orlando.
• 1B Carlos Peña will likely be the Designated Hitter in this afternoon's game against Chicago, per Maddon's wishes. He too will get Monday to rest and could be back at first base for the Orlando series.
• LHP David Price threw a successful bullpen session on Saturday afternoon at the Naimoli complex as his recovery from a left elbow injury continues.
• The focal point of Marc Topkin's Sunday column this week is, not surprisingly, the long-term deal that the Rays reached on Friday with 3B Evan Longoria. Explains Rays VP Andrew Friedman of the underlying strategy:

We're always going to have to manage our roster years and years in advance to be able to compete in this division. It's the way the economics of the game are right now, and it's something that instead of feeling sorry for ourselves we've got to be proactive and do anything and everything we can to succeed.

• The reaction from fellow players and their agents was, not surprisingly, rather negative. Quoth Alan Nero:

I give the Rays a lot of credit because they did what's hard to do anymore, which is make a heck of a business deal; they controlled their costs and extended their control. I'm happy for Longoria if it's what he wants, but I'm a little disappointed that a player with seven days (in the majors) would give away his future like that.

• Other interesting morsels from Topkin's Sunday column:

How does Evan Longoria's contract affect B.J. Upton's view of a potential long-term deal? "It doesn't," Upton said. … Former longtime Ray Toby Hall on the new uniforms and Trop paint job: "It's awesome. It all looks great." … Friday morning's advisory of a 1 p.m. "major announcement" drew calls asking if the Rays were signing Barry Bonds, including one from a curious MLB official. … Ex-Ray Shawn Camp, having added a changeup, got called up by Toronto and should be in the Jays bullpen at Disney.

RAYS 5, Chicago 0 Tropicana FieldSt. Petersburg, FL

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This Thursday last, I had the opportunity for about twenty minutes to discuss Rays-centric Fantasy Baseball with ESPN expert Matthew Berry. Now, I know there was some discontent a couple of nights ago about his projection for Rays 3B Evan Longoria, but it is worth noting that I didn't really ask him about that since the interview took place before his call-up.

Anyways, I found the interview to be well worth it. Berry definitely understands what he's talking about, and even though some of his more pessimistic views of Rays personnel might clash with some opinions here, the encyclopedic knowledge he possess of players is to be respected. He was well-prepared and well-informed in answering each of the questions I posed to him. For someone not that familiar with his work, I came away impressed.

In any case, the paraphrased interview follows the jump.

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You knew it was coming, but hey, at least I made it through a few days before trying to slam or tap the brakes on the Edwin Jackson love affair.

via d.yimg.com

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RAYS 13, New York 4 Yankee Stadium Bronx, NY

For my thoughts on the game, please follow the jump

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