All Things Bubba

I'm playing hooky from work today. Actually, I have three days off this week. I had to use them this week or lose them, so I put in for the days when the Reds had day games. Though I'm much less interested in the games, now that Bubba won't be playing in them.

Yeah, I knew it was a risk to wait so long. Blame it on my boss. He didn't want to let me take the time off until it reached the point that I had to use the vacation days or lose them. He hoped that big project we've been working overtime on would be done last week. Of course, the deadline slipped (as I told him it probably would). So now I have three days off in a week when everyone else is running around like a maniac, and we're both wishing I'd taken my vacation time earlier in the month.

Today's Reds game is on ESPN. They're playing the Red Sox and Daisuke Matsuzaka. I wish the Japanese phenom had signed with the Yanks instead, but I'm looking forward to seeing him anyway.

(On the bright side...Lisa is now spared from having to choose between the Red Sox and Bubba.)

According to Trent, the Reds did more roster-trimming today. Bellhorn, Jorgenson, Machado, and Wise were cut. (I'm kind of surprised it took them this long to cut Bellhorn. It was clear some time ago that he wasn't making the team. Maybe they were hoping he'd show something on the field that would make him tradeable.) That makes it 34 active players in camp.

The Cincinnati Post reports that Bubba's locker is empty. His stuff was still in it Saturday evening, according to Trent, so he must have come in early Sunday to clean it out.

Still no news on whether Bubba will report to Louisville or become a free agent. He'll probably take the full 72 hours, just in case a slot opens up somewhere.

And for those who have asked...no, I'm not spending all my time sticking pins in a Krivsky voodoo doll.

Well...maybe one or two.

Of course I'm disappointed that Bubba was cut, but I can't really blame the Reds (or Bubba - he had a very good spring training, and won over a lot of Reds fans). There just wasn't room on the roster for another lefty outfielder, what with Hamilton a Rule 5 and all.

I think the Reds treated Bubba pretty well. They let him go as soon as it was clear Griffey would be ready by opening day, to give him a chance to latch on with another team. And though they apparently decided not to play him once they put him on the waiver wire, they did give him that one pinch-hit at-bat against the Yankees on Thursday. Bubba was always a fan favorite in the Bronx, and I know Yankees fans appreciated that chance to see him.