All Things Bubba

Yesterday, the Yanks announced they were calling up Veras, Beam, Nieves, and Rasner. All pitchers, except Nieves, who's a catcher.

They will likely call up some position players, too, but are waiting until the Clippers' season ends Monday.

So far as I know, Bubba was not added to the 40-man roster yesterday. I can't say for sure, though; there's been no news about roster moves, though there must have been at least one, if Nieves was called up.

Even if Bubba was not added to the 40-man, they could still call him up, and even put him on the post-season roster. As I understand it, they can call up anyone in the organization, if they are subbing him for a player on the DL.

I think that's why Nieves was called up. The Yanks don't have a catcher on the DL, so there's no way to add a catcher after Aug. 31 (barring injury to Posada or Fasano). They do have outfielders on the DL, or who could be put on the DL: Sheffield, who is not likely to be ready this season, and Reese, who is also likely done for the year. Bubba could be substituted for either of them.

But I have to say, I'm not counting on it. The Yanks don't seem all that anxious to have him back, or they'd have called him up today.

Bubba must be awfully disappointed, too. Sigh. Here's his horoscope from yesterday:

There is no question about it, dear Leo: Change is in the air! Perhaps you cannot feel it because you have allowed yourself to become bogged down in despair. You can't help but wonder if you will ever attain your goals. Well, take heart. The times they are a changing, as Bob Dylan says. You just need to wait a bit longer. In the end, it doesn't matter how long it took to get there, only that you arrived!

(But is "a bit longer" Monday...or next year?)

The Clippers host the Toledo Mudhens tonight at 7:25pm. Weather looks okay. Bubba is leading off and starting in CF. Follow the game online here, or listen to free Gameday audio here.