from the New York Times

Rickey Henderson is still available, presumably in great shape and ready to resume his career. The Yankees, to Bubba Crosby's relief, are not interested.

Henderson, a future Hall of Fame outfielder, represented the most deflating moment in Crosby's career. After six minor league seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Crosby had finally learned how to hit. He was bruising the Pacific Coast League in the summer of 2003, and the Dodgers were desperate for hitting.

But instead of calling up Crosby, their former first-round pick, the Dodgers signed Henderson, who was 44 years old. Henderson batted .208. The Dodgers traded Crosby to the Yankees for Robin Ventura two weeks later, when he was batting .361 at Class AAA.

"Even though Rickey Henderson is one of the greatest baseball players ever, it was still, to me, kind of a slap in my face that I didn't get an opportunity," Crosby said. "I was a Dodger, and in that organization, that's all they talk about - breeding young talent, moving through the organization. It was kind of like, what else do I need to do?"

Crosby never expected the Yankees, of all teams, to offer him a chance at the majors. He had a few days of service with Los Angeles, but it was nothing like last season, when he spent nearly every day with the Yankees. This week, he made their opening-day roster for the second year in a row.

At 28, Crosby is the youngest player on the team, and he will most likely get the least significant playing time. Over three months last summer, he played in 28 games without a hit, getting only 13 at-bats. His role - occasional pinch-runner and defensive replacement - was a struggle for someone eager to make an impression.

"Veterans normally do that job better than young players," Manager Joe Torre said. "That's why we gave a serious look to Doug Glanville, because he had some experience. It's all psychological, the bench stuff."

Knowing that, Crosby tried to make sure he covered the physical aspect. He would report to the park more than four hours early, joining Tony Clark, a veteran, for extra hitting in the batting cage before every game.

Crosby had five stints on the major league roster, but he had just 53 at-bats over all. Seeking more work, he played in Puerto Rico for two weeks in the off-season, then beat Glanville and Damian Rolls for the final roster spot. After going 0 for 2 in the Yankees' 5-4 loss to the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday, Crosby was hitting .333.

"There's no better feeling than when you go out there and work so hard and finally win the job, because it just shows that hard work pays off," Crosby said.

The really hard work started as soon as Crosby entered pro ball in 1998. He was an all-American at Rice, batting .394 with 25 homers that year. But he was a strict pull hitter, taking advantage of the aluminum bat. A wood bat has a much smaller sweet spot, and it took Crosby, a left-handed hitter, several years to learn how to hit the other way.

As he made progress, he was losing standing with the Dodgers. By 2003, they were on their third general manager since drafting Crosby and had no emotional investment in him.

"That was really the most frustrating part, because you'd work so hard the year before, and all of a sudden you'd come into camp, and it's like, 'Hey, who are you?' " said Scott Proctor, a minor league reliever who came to the Yankees in the same trade as Crosby. "They didn't know who you were, so we got kind of written off from the start."

The Yankees know Crosby's skills now, and they were comfortable bringing him back to pinch-run and play defense and get to bat occasionally. He has something uncommon for the Yankees.

"His young enthusiasm catches everybody's attention," Torre said.

INSIDE PITCH

Jason Giambi said his tight left hamstring felt fine on Wednesday, though he stayed behind in Tampa, Fla., while the Yankees were on the road. Manager Joe Torre expected Giambi to be the designated hitter on Thursday. But even if Giambi does not play any more exhibition games, Torre said, he will start the season opener on Sunday against Boston at Yankee Stadium. Torre has not decided whether Giambi will start at first base or D.H.

Second baseman Tony Womack said that his left knee was still swollen after being hit by a pitch on Monday, but that he planned to play Thursday.

The Yankees will carry 12 pitchers, including Felix Rodriguez, who has had a terrible spring, and Steve Karsay, who has pitched seven major league games in two years. Their only left-hander is Mike Stanton.

Another left-hander, Buddy Groom, said he would leave the organization if he was not promoted soon. Groom, a 13-year veteran on a nonroster contract, has been told he will start the season with Class AAA Columbus. An out clause in his contract takes effect May 1, and he has no plans to stay longer. "I've got nothing to prove to them and no reason to stay down there after May 1," he said. Groom, 39, has allowed one run in eight innings without a walk.