I would just like to thank Bubba Crosby for giving us something to talk about besides Jeter/A-Rod, Mo and Bernie. Here is what Bubba said:

"Even being a fifth outfielder for a National League team, you're going to get three times as many at-bats as I would if I were with the Yankees again," Crosby said. "It's exciting to know I can play my game. Sometimes I'd get the green light, but I'd get the stare from Joe (Torre) that said I better be sure. Then you hesitate and just wait for (Hideki) Matsui to hit a two-run homer." ...

"I think I just got labeled with the Yankees as a utility outfielder. I never got a chance to hit a whole lot in New York," Crosby said. "There they used two extra outfielders, they had an offensive guy, which was Bernie (Williams) last year, and a defensive one, which was me. I'd go out and do my part, but if my spot came in the order to hit, Bernie would hit for me." ...

"I hit every spring training. I got to the big leagues with the Dodgers because I could hit," Crosby said. "I was ready to see what I can do, hitting. I knew I could go out there in spring and lead the whole camp in hitting and it wouldn't matter, I'd still be the fifth outfielder. It's nice to go to an organization that if you produce, you're going to play."

Oh, man. If you produce... produce in what? In the minors, Bubba Crosby is a .279 hitter with a .348 OBA. In the minors. At the major league level, that drops to .216 and .255. I understand that he had limited at bats. But, when you have guys like Hideki Matsui, Bernie Williams, Gary Sheffield, Melky Cabrera, Bobby Abreu and even... eh... Kenny Lofton, you better believe you are gonna need to perform in those limited at bats to get a shot at more regular playing time. And, even then, good luck.

Is he really going to get 261 at bats with Cincinnati? I guess we'll have to see... maybe if someone gets injured?

I'm pretty much in agreement with Mark Feinsand here.

Now, I’m not sure what Crosby thinks his role should have been with the Yankees, but if he thinks he should have been starting over Matsui, Damon, Williams, Sheffield or whoever else was playing out there for New York, he’s insane. Crosby is a nice bench player, one with speed and defensive ability. But why do you think he hit well in the spring? Because he was largely facing pitchers who were not big-leaguers.

Isn’t it amazing how players love to rip Torre and the Yankees on the way out? What do they all have in common? They weren’t that good to begin with.