All Things Bubba

May 16, 2006: N.Y. Yankees 14, Texas 13

All I can say is "What a game." I'll remember it forever.

Down 9-0 by the middle of the second inning. Many thought it was hopeless, because "this team can't come from behind." I never gave up hope, though. Even with three of our biggest stars sidelined.

Maybe even especially with three of our biggest stars sidelined. There's something to be said for having some young, hungry players on the team. They have reason to keep playing hard, even if it seems out of reach. The first inklings of a rally started at the bottom of the order, with Andy Phillips and Miguel Cairo. Perhaps that inspired the jaded veterans, if only in a "if they can hit this guy, so can I" kind of way.

Bubba was mostly riding pine for this game, as he usually does against left-handed pitchers. He was sorely missed, and not just by me. I was watching the game with some friends, and several times as the ball dropped in around Melky, Bernie, or Johnny, we looked at each other and said, "Bubba gets that one."

Bubba did come in as a replacement for Melky in LF at the beginning of the 7th inning, and provided his usual solid defense. Honestly, I'm not sure the Yankees would have won with Melky in LF for the last three innings. Cabrera is still very tentative and awkward out there.