All Things Bubba

ESPN is reporting that the Yankees are signing right-handed relief pitcher LaTroy Hawkins to a one-year deal worth $3.74 million. One reason the Yankees like him is that he's one of the few relief pitchers out there who is willing to sign a one-year deal.

He seems like a decent guy, anyway.

Those who were at Coors Field on July 7 might recall that he was the only Rockies player to jump in and help the grounds crew control a runaway tarp when a fierce rain-and-wind storm blew through. The visitor's dugout emptied as players ran onto the field when it became apparent the grounds crew needed help.

The team the Rockies were playing that day? Their division series rival, the Philadelphia Phillies.

Pretty ironic, considering that the Rockies think they are morally superior to the rest of the league, and have credited their success to that. From Charlie Monfort, Rockies chairman and CEO:

"We started to go after character six or seven years ago, but we didn't follow that like we should have. I don't want to offend anyone, but I think character-wise we're stronger than anyone in baseball. Christians, and what they've endured, are some of the strongest people in baseball. I believe God sends signs, and we're seeing those."

Maybe if they had gotten off their butts and helped get their own grounds crew out from under that tarp, they'd have won the World Series.

Hawkins is a free agent, so presumably that's one more Yankees player who will have to be DFA'd to make room for him.