All Things Bubba

Microsoft's search site, Bing.com, has the Yankees as its background image today. (They have a different photo every day. It's sort of their version of Google's special occasion logos, only they do it every day.)

Has it really been nine years since the Yankees won a World Series? I can hardly believe it. The last time the Yankees won a World Series, Derek Jeter was 26 years old, a young player just reaching his prime. Now he is 35, his career winding down.

Where did the time go?

I don't think I like the idea of a World Series game on Halloween night. Kids have to choose between the game and trick-or-treating. And adults keep getting interrupted when the doorbell rings.

In the Halloween "spirit" - a New York ghost story.

The Dakota is an apartment complex in uptown Manhattan. It's a spooky-looking building; Rosemary's Baby was filmed there. But it's best known for being the building where John Lennon was gunned down by Mark David Chapman.

And it's Lennon's ghost that is seen at the Dakota. In particular, people report that they see him come out of the building and walk to the Imagine mosaic at the Strawberry Fields memorial, directly across the street in Central Park.

A Central Park hot dog vendor reported that he saw Lennon cross the street, singing "Give Peace a Chance." The ghost stopped at the Imagine mosaic, then vanished into thin air.

Would have posted this sooner, but I've been having major connectivity problems. I think squirrels are chewing on my DSL line. :-P

Anyway, if you're wondering what Bubba's doing these days...there's a video here. Or watch it on YouTube here. It's one of those Christian testimony things, and he talks a bit about what happened after his baseball career ended.

Yes, I'm sorry to say for those who are still hoping he'll return to baseball - it sounds like he really is permanently retired, and happy to be so. He says his career ended in 48 hours, when he failed his physical with the Mariners. After playing baseball since he was four years old, it was all over at age 31. He was scared at first, but says he's happier now than he's ever been, working in the family business in a 9-to-5 job, able to spend time with his family and with his church.

One cute thing...he talks about when he was drafted, and says it was 28th overall. Actually, it was 23rd overall. I'm kind of surprised he wouldn't remember that; it's kind of endearing.

Anyway, it's nice to hear about what he's up to these days, and I'm glad he's happy.

Labels: Bubba Crosby

Well, the good news is that Bubba Crosby got his photo in Sports Illustrated.

The bad news: it’s in the MLB Postseason Bloopers feature.


Yup, that freakin' collision again. At least Mr. Corcoran correctly puts the blame on Sheff, not Bubba.

The Yankees had a 2-1 lead in the second inning of the decisive game of the 2005 ALDS in Anaheim when, with two out and two on, Adam Kennedy lifted a fly ball to the warning track in right-center off Mike Mussina. Speedy center fielder Bubba Crosby settled under the ball, but Gary Sheffield, tracing the ball while looking over his shoulder and away from Crosby, who didn't appear to call for the ball, made a leaping attempt for the catch. Sheffield landed on Crosby and the ball fell for a two-RBI triple, giving the Angels a lead they never gave back.

That truly was the game from hell. All anybody remembers is that collision, but there was Torre calling a hit and run, and Bernie missing the sign, hanging Cano out to dry. Cano being called out for running outside the box by crabby Joe West. That crushing A-Rod GIDP. Had any of those gone differently, the game and the season might have been a very different story. Alas.

Labels: Bubba Crosby

The Arizona Fall League starts today. Nine years ago, Bubba Crosby got an invite. He was one of a handful of players John Sickels took a special interest in.

Bubba Crosby, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers (Peoria Javelinas)

Another 1998 first-rounder, Crosby was a major disappointment in 1999. He played better in 2000 but still hasn't reached Double-A. A good AFL showing will revive his prospect status, but if he doesn't do well you can expect his stock to drop even more than it already has.

So, how'd Bubba do? He kicked butt:

Bubba Crosby, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers (Peoria Javelinas)

Crosby has been a bit disappointing since being drafted in the first round in 1998. But he was anything but in Arizona, hitting .346 with a .510 slugging percentage. He was caught stealing seven times, but the Dodgers have to be happy with the bat he showed.

And another first round draft pick, Eric Duncan, was chosen MVP of the AFL a few years later, in 2005. Duncan is now a six-year free agent, so he may never even get a cup of coffee with the Yankees.

Labels: Bubba Crosby

I've written before about the current struggles of the media, as well as its uncertain future. Now, President Obama is considering a newspaper bailout. While this guy at Newsweek argues that newspapers need to die and get out of the way.

In the end, newspapers probably will die. But I can understand why people are unnerved by this. A free press is a fundamental part of our democracy. And as Clay Shirky has pointed out, we are not going to smoothly transition to whatever comes after newspapers. Based on history, this is likely to be a chaotic time for the media, where old institutions are destroyed faster than new ones can replace them. And no can can predict which ideas will be the ones that catch on.

This New York Times article is one possible future.

CBS News plans to announce Monday that it has formed a partnership with GlobalPost, a foreign news Web site, that will provide CBS with reporting from its approximately 70 affiliated correspondents in 50 countries.

As many print and broadcast news outlets are struggling to find ways to cover foreign news, the alliance may suggest a blueprint.

GlobalPost doesn't pay its correspondents much. Most of them are part-timers, working locally. The video segments are often shot, narrated, and edited by one person. It's a bit like a paid version of CNN's iReport, or blogging/YouTube on steroids.

Obviously, CBS benefits from the lower costs. It's not so great for the journalists, however.

Meanwhile, there are changes afoot in Yankees blogdom. Peter Abraham is leaving the Journal-News for the Boston Globe. Taking his place will be Chad Jennings, the SWB Yankees blogger.

No word on who is taking Chad's place. I hope someone does. The SWB Yankees blog is great. I wish all minor league teams had blog coverage from their local papers.

And I really enjoy Chad's style. More so that Pete Abe's, if truth be told. I know bloggers are supposed to be "edgy," but Pete was often a little too edgy, IMHO. He likes to rile people up, which gets old after awhile.

Labels: media

According to the Tuscaloosa News, Andy Phillips will be an instructor in a father-son baseball camp during the off-season.

Baseball Country will host its annual Father/Son Camp on Oct. 30-31. Featured instructors are Andy Phillips, Lee Evans and Brett Taft. Baseball, wiffle ball and bonfires are among the activities. Cost is $100 per person. Register at www.baseballcountry.com or contact Kenny Burns at 205-454-3641 or 205-333-8393.

Guess Andy plans to spend the off-season back home on Alabama. Or is at least coming back to visit.

Labels: Andy Phillips

How's Andy Phillips doing in the Land of the Rising Sun? Not bad, not bad at all. He's hitting a very respectable .287 / .359 / .543, with 14 home runs.

Those are more than decent numbers; I'm sure they'll offer him another contract if he wants to stay.

And speaking of Andy...I found this comment, at the NJ.com Yankees blog interesting. They were discussing why Shelley Duncan was called up, when he's not likely to remain in the Yankees system after this season.

Whether they felt they owed it to him as a last gesture, or to show him off to someone looking for a bat off the bench is anyone's guess. I was going to say that the probability was on the 'show and tell' side, but it may actually be the first option considering it can't hurt us and we're out in front by enough to start feeling a little comfortable; not complacent, but comfortable.

Another possible point on the guilt trip side of it is most fans' general perception of they way they screwed over Andy Phillips, holding on to him until his career was basically over. Both were well liked by the fans, for their abilities as well as their demeanor in the dugout and clubhouse.

No, they really didn't do all that well by Andy Phillips.

I would say the same is true of Bubba Crosby. The 2006 Baseball Prospectus says this about Bubba:

He might have been the fabled "late bloomer," but two years of indecision have killed off that opportunity.

And about Andy:

In May, Phillips was given a chance to earn at least a part-time job. Perhaps you heart Torre sing his praises, however briefly; Phillips didn't get even a week's worth of starts. On May 2 at Tampa Bay, Phillips went 0-5 with five strikeouts. Against Scott Kazmir. In a game the Yankees won. Back to Columbus, you pathetic failure! Phillips yo-yo'd up and down after that, but he was dead to Torre. Even in September, when Ruben Sierra was going 0-for-every lefty this side of Tim Robbins, Phillips rode the pine. The Yankees are saying that Phillips will have a significant role this year. Don't believe them.

Sigh. As someone said about the Yankees...they're easy to root for, but sometimes hard to like.

Labels: Andy Phillips, Bubba Crosby

From left: radar gun operator Brett Weber as the Joker, video coordinator Anthony Flynn as Robin, Joe Girardi, Mark Melancon as Batman, Ramiro Pena as Catwoman, Michael Dunn as The Riddler, and massage therapist Lew Potter as the Penguin.

As is traditional before the last road trip of the season, the Yankees rookies found their clothes missing and some colorful costumes in their lockers. This year's theme was Batman.







(Yes, they have to go through security dressed like that!)

Not as good as the Wizard of Oz costumes, IMO.

Bubba lucked out with the Elvis theme, I think.

Well, it's September 19 - Talk Like a Pirate Day.

Which means it's also the anniversary of the only walkoff homer Bubba Crosby ever hit. (Was it really four years ago?)

What a game that was. Possibly my favorite ever. Not least because the division race was so tight that year. It turned out to be the pinnacle of Bubba's career, though I thought at the time that it was only the beginning.

Earlier this month, "Romo" left this message at the Bubba-Crosby.com Guestbook:

We saw you in 2004 Yankee Spring training - Bradenton, FL vs. Pirates (the best field for fans!). ARod just signed on as a Yankee, but all we heard in the stands were cheers for Bubba! We of course followed your career closely that year - what a great year you had. Hope you are well and come back to baseball! Miss you!

I don't know if I agree about McKechnie Field in Bradenton. It's an older ballpark. The seats are pretty tightly spaced, and they don't flip up. So every time someone wants to go to the bathroom or get a beer, the entire row has to empty to let them out. Spiffy new Bright House Field is a lot more comfortable. Plus, there's no parking at McKechnie.

But I envy Romo's getting to see Bubba during spring training 2004. He was blistering hot that spring. If I knew then what I know now, I'd have found a way to get down there to see him.

Heck, I wish I'd gone to see him during spring training 2007. I thought at the time that there would be plenty of other opportunities - in the regular season, in AAA-ball if not the major leagues. Didn't work out that way. Sigh. You really can't take anything for granted - especially in baseball.