All Things Bubba

Scientists have tracked down the mutation that made brown eyes blue. Basically, it was a genetic error that reduced melanin production. Blue eyes are very diluted brown eyes.

Most interesting is that DNA analysis shows that this error arose only once - 6,000 to 10,000 years ago. Before that, there were no blue eyes. It also means every blue-eyed person alive today, from Turkey to Denmark to Bellaire, Texas, is descended from one person.

Not that this has anything to do with baseball. Just me indulging in some science neepery again.

The Times had an article about Cashman yesterday. Among other things, it notes that he regrets the things he said last week.

Cashman spoke last week at an event with Red Sox General Manager Theo Epstein at William Paterson University in Wayne, N.J. Surprisingly, Cashman spoke critically of Bernie Williams, Johnny Damon and Bobby Abreu, and said his team was not mentally tough enough to withstand the bug swarm in Cleveland in last fall’s division series.

According to people who have spoken with him, Cashman has expressed remorse over those comments. Usually deft as the Yankees’ primary spokesman, Cashman is struggling with Hank Steinbrenner’s quick ascension to that role. At times, Cashman has seemed especially cautious; at other times, unusually candid.

Wow, I hadn't heard that part about the team lacking mental toughness. That would be Joba Chamberlain; the other players seemed to withstand the bug attacks pretty well.

I'm really wondering if Cashman is going to stick around when his contract is up. He's complained about his loss of authority to the Steinbrenner brothers. He seems to have won the Santana debate, but it sounds like it's his head that will roll if the Yankees miss the playoffs. Especially if Santana plays well for the Mets.

Speaking of Santana and the Mets, they went down to the deadline and a little more, but did get the deal done. Santana is a Met.

The Yankees spring training overview says goodbye to the departed, including Andy Phillips:

Andy Phillips: If he hadn't broken his hand being hit by a Jason Hammel pitch on Sept. 2, Phillips very likely could have been the Yankees' starting first baseman for their playoff run. Instead, he declined an assignment to Triple-A and elected free agency, latching on with the Reds.

The article notes Ron Villone and Doug Mientkiewicz haven't signed with new teams yet. One time Yankee Craig Wilson hasn't been signed yet, either. He's hinted that he'd like to return to Pittsburgh, and wouldn't mind a bench role (a sticking point when he left).

Speaking of the Pirates, former Pirate and Red Sean Casey has signed with the Red Sox. Guess the Yankees aren't the only ones collecting first basemen...