They didn’t just pull this guy’s name out of a hat, that’s for sure. For one thing, Reds’ bench coach Bucky Dent was his manager at AAA Columbus in 2004 and in 2005. For another thing, he was the Dodgers’ first round pick in the 1998 amateur draft. We can safely assume the Dodgers scouting department that year had something on the ball, based on our observations this year of another guy they drafted in 1998 – David Ross, who they took in the 7th round. So it really wouldn’t surprise me if whoever it was (presumably on the west coast) who tipped Kriv-Dawg off about Ross just threw Wayne another bone (pun intended, Bubba’s full name is Richard Crosby – if you don’t get it go read the thread about the Reds’ new pitching coach).

Crosby twice made the Yankees’ Opening Day roster in spring training, which can’t be easy to do considering the Yankees are a team with deep pockets that prefers to spend big bucks on established free agents rather than taking chances with rookies. He finished last season Red hot, hitting .321 (17-for-53) in 23 September games and .345 (20-for-58) over his final 31 games of the season. He also gained postseason experience by playing in three games in the ALCS in 2004.

Crosby has committed two errors in 182 major league games, and no errors in 245.3 innings in right field, where the Reds presumably have a hole to fill if they don’t convince Griffey to move over.

I guess this move also tells us something about what the Reds think of Heartthrob, as well as of Norris Hopper.

HMZ