All Things Bubba

How's Andy Phillips doing in the Land of the Rising Sun? Not bad, not bad at all. He's hitting a very respectable .287 / .359 / .543, with 14 home runs.

Those are more than decent numbers; I'm sure they'll offer him another contract if he wants to stay.

And speaking of Andy...I found this comment, at the NJ.com Yankees blog interesting. They were discussing why Shelley Duncan was called up, when he's not likely to remain in the Yankees system after this season.

Whether they felt they owed it to him as a last gesture, or to show him off to someone looking for a bat off the bench is anyone's guess. I was going to say that the probability was on the 'show and tell' side, but it may actually be the first option considering it can't hurt us and we're out in front by enough to start feeling a little comfortable; not complacent, but comfortable.

Another possible point on the guilt trip side of it is most fans' general perception of they way they screwed over Andy Phillips, holding on to him until his career was basically over. Both were well liked by the fans, for their abilities as well as their demeanor in the dugout and clubhouse.

He might have been the fabled "late bloomer," but two years of indecision have killed off that opportunity.

In May, Phillips was given a chance to earn at least a part-time job. Perhaps you heart Torre sing his praises, however briefly; Phillips didn't get even a week's worth of starts. On May 2 at Tampa Bay, Phillips went 0-5 with five strikeouts. Against Scott Kazmir. In a game the Yankees won. Back to Columbus, you pathetic failure! Phillips yo-yo'd up and down after that, but he was dead to Torre. Even in September, when Ruben Sierra was going 0-for-every lefty this side of Tim Robbins, Phillips rode the pine. The Yankees are saying that Phillips will have a significant role this year. Don't believe them.

Labels: Andy Phillips, Bubba Crosby