Bubba Crosby

2005-12-01T22:45:00.000-08:00

2005-10-14T21:22:00.000-07:00

2005-10-14T21:21:00.000-07:00

2005-10-14T21:20:00.000-07:00

2005-09-27T20:34:00.000-07:00

robert blake can play benedict

2005-09-23T21:49:00.001-07:00

2005-09-23T21:49:00.000-07:00

2005-09-23T21:48:00.000-07:00

call up... sent down

2005-06-25T22:32:00.000-07:00

I got called up.

I pinch ran for Giambi.

I did not score.

I got sent down for Scott Proctor.

2005-01-14T04:50:00.000-08:00

I'm the reason the Yanks didn't bother signing Mr. Beltran.

old article I found:

2004-09-20T14:12:00.000-07:00

Current and Ex-Yankee United by a Coach

By JACK CURRY

BOSTON, April 16 ? They have a bond that is loose yet strong. They played baseball for the same high school, a decade apart. They were deeply influenced by the same coach, who was the father of one of them. They both made it to the major leagues and played for the Yankees. One is still here, while the other is not and does not miss it.

Bubba Crosby is the one who is still here, barely hanging on to his roster spot as the Yankees get ready to activate Travis Lee. Chuck Knoblauch is the occasional mentor, the more accomplished graduate of Bellaire High School in Houston and the son of the man who taught Crosby to throw a curveball.

Now that the 35-year-old Knoblauch is in his second year of retirement, he watches more baseball from his couch in Houston than he did while he was playing for 12 seasons. When Knoblauch sees Crosby play, he smiles. He smiles because he knows Crosby and, just as important, because he loves Crosby's style.

"Not that there aren't other guys who can play the game the right way, but he does play it the right way," Knoblauch said. "There aren't many guys who will run into a fence because they're worried about all the money they make. Bubba is all about baseball. He's a throwback."

There is another profound reason Knoblauch relishes Crosby's success, something any child who has lost a parent could understand. Knoblauch's father, Ray, who died two years ago after battling Alzheimer's disease, was the pitching coach for Bellaire in 1994, and Crosby was the ace who powered the team to a state title.

So when Knoblauch thinks of the dozens of players his father affected, he has fond thoughts of Crosby, who may have been one of the final players who benefited from his father's coaching wisdom. Shortly after Bellaire's title, the Knoblauchs noticed that Ray was slurring his speech, and the doctors' appointments started. In a way, Crosby's inspired play is a link to Ray, too.

"That was probably the last year that he was really effective as a coach," Chuck Knoblauch said in a telephone interview. "He started having trouble completing his sentences after that. My dad knew pitching. He helped a lot of those kids."

When Crosby, an underdog 27-year-old outfielder who has already popped two home runs and has made the Yankees think about shipping Kenny Lofton elsewhere, was asked what Ray taught him, he said, "Everything."

Crosby learned an immense amount from Coach Knob, as he called him. He learned how to toss a 12-to-6 curve, meaning that the pitch tumbled from the 12 on the clock to the 6, like one of Barry Zito's lollipops. Crosby learned how to throw a changeup that was more a palmball, and he used it for a strikeout that sent the Bellaire Cardinals into the 1994 championship game.

"That was the last year he was a pitching coach on a daily basis," Crosby said. "They didn't really tell us why or maybe they hadn't diagnosed it yet, but there was a difference. He wasn't around as much."

While Crosby was playing for Bellaire, Chuck Knoblauch, then a star for the Minnesota Twins, sometimes returned to his school to work out. Crosby studied him, yet was afraid to say anything. He revered Knoblauch from afar and still does.

"I'm in the big leagues now, but I view him the way I did when I was a kid," Crosby said. "He was in the big leagues for 10, 12 years. He's got four World Series rings. He was always someone I was looking up to when I was trying to get here."

Even though Crosby has Knoblauch's phone number programmed in his cellphone, he said he would never call Knoblauch. Crosby said it was simply a way of showing respect for a player after whom he patterned his patient, pesky offensive approach. It was good enough for Knoblauch to collect 1,839 career hits. Crosby has 1,836 to go.

"I heard there's Bubba mania in New York," Knoblauch said. "They love him because of the way he plays. I'm very happy for him and his family. If my dad was still around, he'd be just as proud."

Despite Knoblauch's enthusiasm about Crosby, he stressed that he enjoyed being retired.

"There's not one bone in my body that wishes I was playing," Knoblauch said.

He and Crosby are not buddies, but they are friendly. They have not spoken to each other in two months, but they get updates through mutual friends. Besides, the last time they spoke was one of the most important conversations Crosby has had about his stop-and-go career.

Knoblauch invited Crosby to dinner in Houston before spring training and sensed that Crosby was concerned about squeezing onto the Yankees' roster, which was almost set. So Knoblauch implored Crosby to ignore the dreary odds and force the Yankees to make a difficult decision. Crosby did and he is still hanging in the majors, still hanging in Knoblauch's old neighborhood.

"Tell Bubba he can call me," Knoblauch said. "He's a big leaguer now."

Red SoKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKs

2004-09-20T04:10:00.000-07:00

Manny Ramirez: 0 for 8

Jason Varitek: 0 for 10

Bill Mueller: 0 for 4

Watching the cocky mouthing-off-to-the-press Red Sox have their heart ripped out of their collective chest during severe drubbings two days in a row in the Bronx: Priceless.

live from the dugout, part 2

2004-09-18T13:53:00.000-07:00

just caught me two fly balls to help the effort

Lieber's potential no hitter

2004-09-18T13:40:00.000-07:00

Why is Fox so pro-Sox?

Lieber's taking a no hitter into the seventh and they're discounting it because Boston has substituted so many players. Then they seem to be rooting against the no hitter - the only thing that will keep the casual viewer tuned in to the 13-0 game.

One more thought on why Fox Sports sucks. Did you see the 10 minute Star Wars cartoon they started the game with? Instead of talking about baseball and what happened last night they show us Star Wars clips and computer cartoons. I didn't understand it until I went back in the clubhouse during the game and saw the Star Wars DVD ads in between innings.

Why are the YES broadcasters on CBS okay? Well naturally because they showed me talking in the dugout after Lofton let that ball drop last night and announced to the world that I was the best Yankee Center Fielder. God bless them.

Whooahh! Yee-haw!

Gotta run now kids, Torre just told me to grab my glove and take the field for Sheff-Daddy. Watch for me in the highlight films.

from the dugout

2004-09-18T13:38:00.000-07:00

Torre should have let Sierra hit for Giambi last night and inserted Giambi for Sierra in today's game after it got out of hand.

Wish I could get in to play some D in the 8th or 9th, but it isn't looking good.

2004-09-17T09:49:00.000-07:00

here we go again

2004-09-17T04:54:00.000-07:00

2004-09-17T04:18:00.000-07:00

2004-09-14T07:09:00.000-07:00

I went 0 for 1 in the last night's KC Hit Parade.

2004-09-10T05:36:00.000-07:00

Had me a ground out in the 9-1 first game. Played a little LF for Hideki.

2004-09-09T04:06:00.000-07:00

2004-09-08T06:26:00.000-07:00

Seems like we cancelled one of Sunday's games so we could replay it in the rain tonight. Sure do hope no starters get hurt in the wet outfield.

pinch runner

2004-09-07T08:04:00.000-07:00

I pinch ran for Olerud two nights in a row. I scored last night. Thank god for the less than fleet of foot first basemen in this league.

Whalloped 22-0

2004-08-31T19:39:00.000-07:00

Got into the game in the 6th inning. I figured the game was over by then. I struck out looking and I flied out. But they really poured it on. Man we felt like Custer at Little Big Horn last night, that's how bad them Indians beat us.

Sheffield's turned ankle

2004-08-29T09:45:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm headed back to the Bronx. Should be there by game time, a few days earlier than the September call up due to Sheff's twisted ankle.

Hide yer daughters, NYC.

Shane Spencer

2004-08-17T06:26:00.000-07:00

Yep. I sure am thrilled by this acquisition. I'll have to get him lickered up so he gets injured or arrested before they call people up for the post season.

packing for Colombus

2004-08-11T17:22:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Javi getting pink eye, I'm packing for Ohio instead of hanging with the home crowd in Texas. Brett Prinz has been called up. Hopefully Sturtze won't get scratched by any platano-depraved Dominicans this start out.

Well I'm back

2004-08-06T19:16:00.000-07:00

and i been back for about a week of non-playing time until tonight.

After the game got outta reach for the Jays - I believe backbitin' Marv Albert would call it "Garbahhhge Innings" - I stepped into Right to spell Sheff-Diddy. You won't see it on the local news highlights, what with Hideki's big night, but I held my own out there in Sheff's Field.

I'm fixin to apologize to the Giambino for calling saying all that was wrong with him was that he was a juicer who's jelly beans got plum took away from him this season. TRhat there tumor sounds scary. Hope he gets better right soon so I can start badmouthing him again.

Just one more thing before I head off - If that long hair dirt ball wet back from Boston RAM-ah-REZZZ - that's how I pronounce it - gets the MVP instead of Sheff I'll be more ornery than an Apache who finds a pair a yeller-striped bluee belly pants in his squaw's teepee.

sent down

2004-07-26T07:46:00.000-07:00

Sucks to be me as I'm off to Columbus again for Brett Prinz.

Why don't they dump Giambi? He's in the dugout less than me.
Everybody's asking what's wrong with Giambi.

How many freaking tests do they need before they realize that he can't play without his jelly beans? Diagnosis: 'roid withdrawal. Prescription: A few cycles of HGH and whatever else Balco puts in its big leaguer fun pack.

2004-07-23T19:39:00.000-07:00

I got an at bat on July 21st. I did not get a hit.

Tonight I watched as the Bosox choked again.

Manny meandered around the bases and got thrown out to kill a rally. Millar hit three homers but gave back those runs with poor play. Schilling got hit and then hit the showers.

Looks like the cowboy-up boys are riding back into the sunset.

Hopefully I can get some time spelling Sheff when the AL East title is a given.

2004-07-19T00:37:00.000-07:00

2004-07-16T07:41:00.000-07:00

I reckon Sam Marsonik feels like plumb fool for slipping on that fishing pier and hurting his knee.

2004-07-12T06:35:00.000-07:00

2004-07-12T06:32:00.000-07:00

2004-07-12T06:31:00.000-07:00

2004-07-12T06:29:00.000-07:00

Giambino's a bust

2004-07-09T08:03:00.000-07:00

I ran for parasite boy last night and then returned to the bench.

I'm getting sick of this shit.

2004-07-02T07:46:00.000-07:00

me and my rockabilly haircut done made it to the NY times

boston chokesox

2004-07-01T04:53:00.000-07:00

What can you say about losing a two run lead to a no hit rally?

David Ortiz said it musta been his glove.

2004-07-01T04:28:00.000-07:00

2004-06-30T06:42:00.000-07:00

2004-06-24T16:41:00.000-07:00

A few more feet and I coulda had me a three run homer tonight. Dang it!

I went 0 for 4 and left 5 men on base. But I was on the field, and we won.

I sure do hope ol' hamster-pouch Godfather puffy-cheeked Gary Sheffield's shoulder puts a hurt on him for a might longer so I can get me some playin time and show off what I can do.

2004-06-23T07:16:00.000-07:00

okay. We won and I did not play. Two words: Baltimore Orioles.

2004-06-21T09:10:00.000-07:00

Don't blame it on the called third strike that almost hit the Yankee dugout.

Blame Joe T for not putting me and my magic bat in the lineup.

2004-06-19T10:00:00.000-07:00

Again, I didn't play (last night we played the team that sent me to NY for Robin Ventura). Again, we lost.

C'mon Torre, you dumb greaseball. Get with it and put me in, coach.

2004-06-18T07:04:00.000-07:00

I didn't play last night, so we lost.

2004-06-17T07:18:00.000-07:00

I struck out in my only at bat last night.

Here we go again at the NY Times. They characterize the Yankee win negatively as an inevitable victory over an overmatched NL West team that failed because of injuries, errors and reliance on a pitcher who was a failure while on the Red Sox. They begrudgingly mention in passing that the Yankees have just lost two of their starters to injuries. They waste more ink discussing how the Red Sox refused to trade Casey Fossum for Bartolo Colon but included him in the moves for Schilling. Of course there is no mention of how the alimghty Schilling and his Sox fell 7-6 against the overmatched NL West Rockies two hours before the Yankee game ended last night.

The Yanks beat overmatched half-crippled NL West teams who somehow, with a short healing trip up I05 end up transforming into juggernaut titans that beat the NY TImes owned Red Sox.

2004-06-16T04:24:00.000-07:00

I'm back from Colombus, but you wouldn't know it from reading the NY Times.

Instead of reporting on the transactions of the home town New York Yankees that put starting pitcher Kevin Brown on the 15 day DL and called me back up from my purgatory in Colombus, the Times ran this fluff piece about the team they own in Boston. They describe Schilling's paid endorsement deal for Dunkin Donuts as if it were a PSA to raise money for kid cancer. Gimme a rootin tootin break! They done turned their head away from important news about the Yankees and included a long nonsense story about the team they own a piece of. Shameless.

Hey NY Times, how 'bout a fluff piece on li'l old Bubba C and his struggles to stay in the big show? Heck. I reckon I'd be playing every day or at least platooning if I was on any other team.

How 'bout a human interest story that involves New York teams instead of the perennial losers you got a financial stake in?

2004-06-15T05:52:00.000-07:00

2004-06-13T19:52:00.000-07:00

2004-06-13T19:49:00.000-07:00

2004-06-13T19:28:00.000-07:00

Check check check check Check it out.

on-line poll (please respond)

2004-06-13T14:17:00.000-07:00

Best Major League player name:

(A) Milton Bradley

(B) Coco Krisp

(C) Sixto Lezcaino (probably mispelled)

(D) Your Write-In?

NY Times biased for Sox?

2004-06-10T06:41:00.000-07:00

Today's NY Times features a long fluff article on Nomar's spectacular return to the Red Sox and a brief somewhat negative game summary of the Yankees' come from behind win over the Rockies in which the Yankees' recent success is attributed to a stretch of games against subpar competition. IThe unfavorable MLB schedule pitted the Sox against the World Beater Padres.

Sure as shootin that gall darned NY Times owns a piece of the Red Sox.

columbus shuttle

2004-06-08T05:24:00.000-07:00

Sucks to be me.

2004-06-05T07:29:00.000-07:00

I got in the game once more last night.

Start today

2004-06-03T10:15:00.000-07:00

Dang but if I don't get the start this afternoon. Can't rightly say I was sorry to see kenny Lofton head to the DL. He sure has gone and shot his mouth off about his injury. He's been flapping his gums so much, I reckon his lips are more tired than his phantom hamstring injuries. Did y'all hear him referring to himself in the third person. Kenny sounds like one o' them spoiled brat sports star stereotype characters you see in bad movies.

Remember the fella who kept talking about himself in the third person in the godawful 1996 Whoopi Goldberg vehicle Eddie? Anyways, I sure did like the part where that fella was taught his propers by Anthony Mason and John Starks down at the West 4th Street blacktops. But, truth be told, I never did buy Frank Langella in his role as the maverick millionaire Texas cowboy owner of the Knicks.

2004-06-02T05:57:00.000-07:00

2004-06-02T05:56:00.000-07:00

Boyakasha! Respect due and all that, know ahm saying.

2004-06-02T05:55:00.000-07:00

2004-06-01T05:13:00.000-07:00

2004-06-01T05:12:00.000-07:00

name in print

2004-05-28T04:29:00.000-07:00

Well, folks, I made it to the NY Times today. Of course I didn't take very kindly to their insinuation that I'm some kind of scrub. I'll tell you a little secret about the New York Times. They are part owners of the Boston Red Sox. I don't go in for readin the Times much, but I reckon their coverage of baseball is slanted a might because of this. There are a few too many Boston fluff piece article in there from time to time when one considers the lack of any happy human interest stuff on the Yanks or Mets. I reckon they got something against the Knicks too, but I don't know how their business interests conflict with those of Cablevision.

Anyways, I and got me an RBI double to right last night that tacked on run number seventeen, a/k/a the tenth nail in the coffin. I also drew a walk at another point in the game. Later in the field I made a diving try in an attempt to lasso an uncatchable fly ball. That effort sure did get noticed by the boyus in the booth. In the words of Henry Kissinger, "They were slobbering all over me." They said I only know one way to play, and that's hard.

When I ran in from right center with Homer Bush at the end of that inning, he told me all about what it would be like to get traded from the Yanks and toil anonymously for a crummy team for a few years before suffering a near career-ending injury.

Boy, I can hardly wait!

blurry figure in the foreground

2004-05-27T08:33:00.000-07:00

Did y'all see me in the seventh inning?

I was the blurry figure on the dugout steps when the YES network focused in for Kenny Lofton's reaction to be pinch hit for by Bernie Williams.

I reckon I'm a regular TV star right about now.

Columbus blows

2004-05-22T13:45:00.000-07:00

Not for nothin, but I reckon Ohio sure does suckaroo.

The dolts that came to the Clippers games kept electing Trafficante and the raccon on his head for all dem years for chrissakes. I mean I could understand if Trafficante was elected out in San Antonio with his Davey Crockett look and all but I sure am glad to get back to the Bronx where there may be fewer cowboys, but at least everyone carries a concealed firearm.

back in the big show

2004-05-22T13:40:00.000-07:00

Thank god, juice monkey Giambi tripped over first base last night.

What a klutzo. That guy's body is self destructing from steroid withdrawal.

I hope Joe Torre puts me the lineup down in Texas.

They love us Bubba's down home in Texas.

from today's NY Times:

2004-05-03T04:53:00.000-07:00

The Yankees activated center fielder KENNY LOFTON and sent outfielder BUBBA CROSBY to Class AAA Columbus. Lofton had been on the disabled list since April 18 with a strained right quadriceps. Crosby hit a home run in his first at-bat as a Yankee on April 9 and hit another in his first start April 11, but his batting average had slipped to .222. "At least this is an organization that wants me and likes me," Crosby said. "Hopefully, I won't be down there long."

Joe Morgan-style grammar

2004-04-30T17:31:00.000-07:00

Somebody please tell Joe Girardi that the plural of firstbaseman is "firstbasemen," not "firstbasemans."

post game reflections

2004-04-30T04:24:00.000-07:00

I ran a long way to catch that fly ball, but I guess it wasn't far enough. I feel pretty good about my infield single for an RBI in the eighth. I got a great jump to steal second. Are my ears bigger than Jorge's ears?

The Wave

2004-04-29T04:08:00.000-07:00

I wish people were watching my at bat instead of trying to initiate the wave last night. I'm not making excuses, but I was distracted by them when I struck out.

Godzilla's a Showboat

2004-04-29T04:06:00.001-07:00

Matsui ran into centerfield and hogged up a catch that was clearly all mine last night.

from today's NY Times:

2004-04-29T04:06:00.000-07:00

Yankees center fielder Bubba Crosby took a feeble swing at a third strike last night, and the crowd at Yankee Stadium rose and erupted with a deafening cheer.

This is not usually the reaction after a Yankee strikes out at home. Crosby hesitated on his way back to the dugout. Maybe the scoreboard was wrong.

"I thought the umpire made a mistake and had called a ball," Crosby said. "I was confused. I was that surprised."

But the scoreboard was right. The fans were cheering because Crosby was the ninth hitter in the batting order, and it was the bottom of the eighth inning.

Crosby would not get another chance, but the leadoff hitter, Derek Jeter, would. He was 0 for his last 31, and he had one more at-bat to end the worst slump of his career.

"Then I realized Jeter was walking up there, and I realized what the cheering was for," Crosby said. "That's what happens when you bat in front of Jeter."

cheerleader

2004-04-28T06:39:00.000-07:00

The Yes Network showed me at the top of the dugout steps during the big rally against the A's last night. I was fetured for about three seconds without comment between Tony Clark's second and third strikes. I looked pretty dumb and clueless, but not as silly as Clark did walking back to the dugout.

2004-04-26T07:46:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, I ran for Juice-Monkey Giambi and bunted and got pinch hit for.

2004-04-24T09:05:00.000-07:00

That grass sure is slippery when wet.

2004-04-22T11:43:00.000-07:00

Monday, April 12, 2004 Associated Press
NEW YORK -- Bubba Crosby bounced right out of the dugout and raised his helmet high in the air. After all, he approaches everything with extra energy -- even a curtain call.

"He's a throwback," New York Yankees teammate Gary Sheffield said. "He's got his pants all up high and his uniform is dirty. He gives you a boost. When you see a guy out there like Lenny Dykstra gettin' dirty, you want to get dirty, too."

In fact, Crosby said Dykstra, a reckless outfielder for the Mets and Phillies from 1985-96, was one of his favorite players growing up, along with gritty Houston leadoff hitter Craig Biggio.
The way 5-foot-11, 185-pound Crosby has played for the Yankees so far, he's bound to inspire a few undersized kids himself.

He's got two homers and five RBIs in only five at-bats this season. In his first start for the Yankees on Sunday, he hit a three-run homer in a 5-4 victory over the Chicago White Sox and crashed into the fence to make a terrific catch.

The scrappy center fielder earned several standing ovations from Yankees fans who couldn't help but fall in love with his all-out play.

By the end of the day, they were chanting his name -- on a team loaded with stars such as Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter and Jason Giambi.

"It's just been a dream come true," Crosby said.

"It seemed like every other inning I was tipping my cap. That felt great." The rookie got his nickname from his sister, who was 15 months old when he was born and couldn't pronounce the word "brother." Then again, as Crosby pointed out, Bubba is a pretty popular name in his home state of Texas anyway.

After an All-America college career at Rice, he was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first round of the 1998 amateur draft.

He was leading the Pacific Coast League in hitting (.361) and slugging (.635) when he was sent to the Yankees in a deal for Robin Ventura at the trade deadline last season.

Crosby knew how tough it would be to crack a New York roster filled with All-Stars, but he grabbed everyone's attention this year with a huge spring, hitting .357 with two homers and 11 RBIs. He was a surprise addition to the big league roster when the team broke camp -- thanks, in part, to some injuries.

Now, on a team with an average salary of $6.3 million, Crosby makes only $301,400. But he's been worth that already. "I'm not surprised," Sheffield said. "I played with him a little bit in L.A. and he was a spark there, and they're fortunate to have him here." Crosby hit his first big league homer in his first at-bat as a Yankee, a two-run shot Friday.

"He had a big smile on his face. It sort of made my day just to watch him float around the bases," manager Joe Torre said.

Filling in Sunday while Kenny Lofton nursed a tight thigh and Bernie Williams served as the designated hitter, Crosby showed good range and quick feet in center field.

"He's excited about being here," Torre said. "But he's got a lot of confidence. He's never been one to feel he didn't belong here. He's still in awe of being here, but he feels that he can do it here."

Still, the 27-year-old Crosby might not last long in the majors.

Torre hopes Lofton will be ready to play by Tuesday night against Tampa Bay, and Travis Lee is getting close to returning from a strained shoulder. That could leave Crosby, who still has minor league options, as the odd man out.

"Kenny and Bernie, that's their spot. It's nice to have an option like that, though," Torre said. "Maybe injuries forced us to take him, but he's certainly made an impression here."

Crosby's salary would drop to $60,441 if he's sent to the minors, but he said he would go down and just keep playing hard.

"You certainly want to keep him around," Torre said. "Again, he's in a situation where you'd like to see him playing, and you'd certainly want to control more players than if you cut somebody loose."

2004-04-22T09:11:00.000-07:00

It's pronounced BU-BAH.

The wet backs call me El Bubbaito on account of my diminutive stature.