All Things Bubba

Spring training is here. There's the usual jump in traffic at Bubba-Crosby.com, as people turn their attention to the upcoming baseball season.

Most of the visitors found the site using the obvious search terms: Bubba Crosby or Crosby Bubba. Some were specifically looking for the web site, searching on Bubba Crosby.com. Others were clearly wondering where Bubba is now, searching on Bubba Crosby spring training 2009 or Bubba Crosby back to minors. A surprising number found the site searching on Bubba Crosby bio, which may also have been an attempt to find out where Bubba is now.

Bubba's name has been coming up in a lot of news articles and sports blogs lately. Often, it's a reference to Brian Cashman's disingenuousness: "Bubba Crosby will be our opening day center fielder." Meaning that Cashman may splash for a big money free agent, despite his claims otherwise. Sigh. That's not exactly what I hoped Bubba's legacy in NY would be. :-P

Here are some more interesting Bubba references:

6 pound, 8 ounce Baby Joba likes the young players who are scrapping for their jobs:

As a Yankee fan, I tend to take All-Stars and Hall of Famers for granted. In just the last two years the Yankees have signed CC Sabathia, AJ Burnett, Mark Teixeira, and Roger Clemens, and re-signed Mariano Rivera, Alex Rodriguez, and Jorge Posada. I love watching these high caliber players, and I will always root for them; well, as long as they are in pinstripes). But I've always been more enthralled with the guys who's destiny isn't yet set, the guys who are still trying to make a name for themselves. It's the Melky Cabreras, the Bubba Crosbys, the Brett Gardners who keep baseball in my blood.

I always seem to connect with the younger players who are still trying to prove themselves at the big league level. I quickly became an adamant supporter of Chien Ming Wang and Robinson Cano as they rapidly developed into integral members of the team, but it was Cabrera who became my favorite player. Melky is not an all-star, but it is always a blast watching him play. He just oozes energy, whether it be his bullets from center that save a run, his priceless handshakes with Cano, or his game-saving catch against the hated Red Sox, robbing Manny Ramirez of a home run. There is something about the youthful enthusiasm that he brings to the field every day that makes it impossible for me to stop rooting for him.

I had the same feeling with Bubba Crosby a few years back. One of my fondest memories of the Yankees is when he hit that walk-off homer against the Orioles. Sure, in the grand scheme of things it was insignificant, but in the moment it was one of the most exciting baseball events that I've experienced in recent years. He isn't a star, he isn't even a big leaguer anymore, but his excitement after that shot to left was a perfect example of why baseball is America's past time; it is all about living out your dreams.

I feel much the same. Though I'm not that keen on Melky any more. He's gotten a chance many other players would kill for, but doesn't seem to appreciate it.

Baseball Minutia has some random musings on the number 216, which is the number of stitches on a baseball. It notes that Bubba Crosby is the only player in MLB to have a batting average of .216.

Arizona Diamondbacks Chris Young was inducted into the Bellaire Cardinals Hall of Fame:

Rocky Manuel says Young's contributions to the Bellaire program rank among the elite.

"Young was just a super player, a talented player arguably among the best outfielders we've had at Bellaire among (Jose) Cruz and (Bubba) Crosby and those guys. He was just outstanding."

Rotoworld had a "favorite players" thread, and at least one person picked Bubba. (No, it wasn't me!)

Tyler Kepner lists 25 Random Facts About 25 Random Yankees, including this one:

Bubba Crosby – When the Yankees dressed their rookies like Elvis, they didn’t make him wear a wig because they figured his real hairstyle was close enough.

Hmmm. Not sure if I buy that. The sideburns were rather Elvis-like. But it looks to me like he did wear a wig for the rookie hazing:


That's him with the black scarf, second from left. If that's not a wig, they teased the heck out of his hair...

Happy Valentine's Day!