Sheff is hot, hot, hot

**min0 lee** · 11-09-2006, 07:58 PM

Rips Cashman, Abreu as Yanks seek sendoff
BY PETER BOTTE
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

Midway through a scheduled appearance in which his charitable foundation was to receive a donation, it appeared Gary Sheffield would be a no-show. Perhaps he simply didn't want to say anything controversial about his pending divorce from the Yankees.

Or not.
Sheffield, whom the Yanks are seeking to unload after picking up his $13 million contract option on Sunday, came out swinging last night. He took swipes at GM Brian Cashman, whom he referred to as a "middle man," and his right-field replacement Bobby Abreu. He also firmly believes he would be back with the Yankees next season if George Steinbrenner's health was not in question.
"I know I'd be here. I know I would," Sheffield said at the opening of the Brooklyn Diner in Times Square. "But when you have middle men blocking him and don't let you do certain things and get in the way, they let their personal feelings get in the way.
"If I was fully appreciated like I should be, then it wouldn't matter to me. I know I only came to the Yankees because of George Steinbrenner. If only one guy wants you here and that's the reason you're here...oh, well."
Asked if he considered Cashman one of those middle men, Sheffield replied, "You know who the middle man is, you talk to him every day."
Sheffield acknowledged he and attorney Rufus Williams also have been in regular contact with Cashman. He even indicated that the Yanks have asked him to submit a list of teams to which he would accept a trade. Earlier in the interview, Sheffield also said he'd still consider returning next season to play first base, a position he was force-fed late in the season and into the playoffs - if the Yanks would extend his contract into a multiyear deal.
"I want to be here. I've made that clear....If there's some way to make it work, I'm more than willing to listen," Sheffield said. "But I've been playing too long to be put in any kind of situation....People say you won't walk away from 13 (million dollars), but if you ever get put in that situation, they'll find out.
"We knew they wouldn't let a player like me just walk away for nothing. But everyone knows when I go to another team I'm going to come back looking for you....When you let me go, I got a chip on my shoulder and I'm coming with it."
Either way, there's no place for Sheffield in the Yanks' outfield next season - with Hideki Matsui in left, Johnny Damon in center and Abreu, who was acquired at midseason with Sheffield and Matsui sidelined with wrist injuries, supplanting him in right.
"He's a good player, but you can draw it up any kind of way, he ain't me," Sheffield said of Abreu. "I understood them having to make the move for the remainder of the season, but to say I'm leaving because of (him), I was always told you leave because somebody's better than you. I don't think that's the case here."
In recent weeks, Sheffield admittedly has tried to personally contact Steinbrenner to discuss his future, staking out The Boss at his Tampa home and at an IHOP restaurant Steinbrenner is known to frequent. "If it wasn't for his health I would've made that conversation happen, but my situation ain't worth that to me," Sheffield said.
Sheffield also discussed his uncle, star-crossed former Mets and Yanks pitcher Dwight Gooden, who is to be released from a Florida prison today following his latest drug-related issues. "My family's looking forward to it. It's been a long time coming and hopefully this is the turnaround," Sheffield said. "I wrote him letters and he's written me letters and hopefully this is the time he turns it around. It'll be a big uplift for the family. He needs to just stay away from the wrong crowd."

Originally published on November 9, 2006

**min0 lee** · 11-09-2006, 07:59 PM

They need to give this guy the boot.

**Double D** · 11-09-2006, 09:30 PM

You cant blame sheff. I am sure they told him that his spot would be his whenever he got better. He came back and it wasnt there. And they are going to give it to some guy like Abreu. Come on give me a break, Abreu wont put up the numbers thats sheff will. He is no longer a power threat and with the lack of homers comes less RBI's. Sheff will drive in 100+ every year with Abreu barely driving in 80.

**Goodfella9783** · 11-09-2006, 09:33 PM

I've disliked him ever since he talked sh*t about the Sox in 2004.

**P-funk** · 11-09-2006, 09:35 PM

fuck sheffield.

**fufu** · 11-09-2006, 09:50 PM

Originally Posted by P-funk

fuck sheffield.

That's funny to me.

**min0 lee** · 11-09-2006, 09:55 PM

Originally Posted by Double D

You cant blame sheff. I am sure they told him that his spot would be his whenever he got better.
Wally Pip thought the same but a player named Lou Gehrig changed his mind. There is no guarantee in sports nowadays.

He came back and it wasn't there. And they are going to give it to some guy like Abreu. Come on give me a break, Abreu wont put up the numbers thats sheff will. He is no longer a power threat and with the lack of homers comes less RBIs. Sheff will drive in 100+ every year with Abreu barely driving in 80.

Actually the Yankees played better upon his arrival, he killed Boston in that 5 game series. He has a better eye at the plate, takes 100 pitches thus wearing out pitchers.
He also plays a better outfield whereas Sheff in my eyes seemed to dog it.

Homers don't necessary always mean more RBIs and with this lineup you don't need a home run hitter. We have enough of them.

I think he fits right in there among the sluggers.

Another thing is that Sheff has always had a bad attitude, something the Yanks don't need and you can see now, this is a guy who admitted dropping balls on purpose.

**min0 lee** · 11-09-2006, 09:56 PM

Originally Posted by Goodfella9783

I've disliked him ever since he talked sh*t about the Sox in 2004.

Odd

......it's the only time I liked him.

**min0 lee** · 11-09-2006, 09:56 PM

Originally Posted by P-funk

fuck sheffield.

Ditto.

**Double D** · 11-10-2006, 01:52 AM

Still very hard to argue someone who is so good. When healthy he is one of the best hitters in the game. But hey I truely dont care, wanna know why?

CARDINALS ARE WORLD SERIES CHAMPS!!!!!!!!

**I Are Baboon** · 11-10-2006, 04:58 AM

More goddamn Yankee news.

**Pepper** · 11-10-2006, 05:54 AM

I defy you to find a player that is a bigger ass than Sheff. Name one organization he left without burning a bridge.

He represents the worst of sports, if you ask me.

IAB...Hawks/Rams!

**Triple Threat** · 11-10-2006, 06:17 AM

Originally Posted by Pepper

I defy you to find a player that is a bigger ass than Sheff.

Barry Bonds
Terrel Owens

**Double D** · 11-10-2006, 06:23 AM

Well done TT.

**Jodi** · 11-10-2006, 07:44 AM

Another egotistical Yankee. Can you imagine that?

**I Are Baboon** · 11-10-2006, 08:11 AM

Originally Posted by Pepper

IAB...Hawks/Rams!

Without Shawn Alexander, the Rams might actually have a chance! Good lord does their run defense SUCK.

**I Are Baboon** · 11-10-2006, 09:34 AM

If Min0 was a real New Yorker, he'd be talking about this:

**Triple Threat** · 11-10-2006, 04:23 PM

Originally Posted by I Are Baboon

More goddamn Yankee news.

Of course. They're the only team worth talking about.

**Triple Threat** · 11-10-2006, 04:46 PM

From Yahoo sports:

Yankees trade Gary Sheffield to Tigers for 3 pitching prospects

By RONALD BLUM, AP Baseball Writer

NEW YORK (AP) -- Gary Sheffield was traded from the New York Yankees to the Detroit Tigers on Friday for three pitching prospects.

Sheffield played for Tigers manager Jim Leyland and team president Dave Dombrowski in 1997, when Leyland managed the Marlins to the World Series title and Dombrowski was Florida's general manager.

"I'm more than happy to be reunited with guys that I'm familiar with," Sheffield said.

Detroit and New York reached a tentative agreement on the deal on Tuesday, and the Tigers had a three-day window to agree to a contract extension. Sheffield and the AL champions agreed Thursday night to a two-year extension through 2009, and Sheffield had a physical Friday.

"This is one of the ultimate bats in baseball and one of the ultimate people in baseball," Leyland said. "I have the utmost respect for him."

Detroit's current starting outfield has Craig Monroe in left, Curtis Granderson in center and Magglio Ordonez in right. Sheffield will be primarily a designated hitter but will see some time in the outfield, Leyland said.

"We have said all along that we wanted to add a big bat," Dombrowski said.

Sheffield said becoming a DH could prolong his career, and he's happy to rejoin Leyland and Dombrowski.

"They treat you like men," Sheffield said. "To reunite with them after 10 years is a blessing."

The Yankees exercised Sheffield's $13 million option last weekend to prevent him from becoming a free agent, and Sheffield said Wednesday the Yankees had asked him to provide a list of teams he wouldn't mind being traded to. At the time, Sheffield said "middle men" on the Yankees blocked him from speaking with George Steinbrenner and said that if the owner's health wasn't an issue, he was confident he'd stay with the Yankees for 2007.

"The only thing I'm disappointed about is I didn't bring them a world championship," Sheffield said. "I went for the big stage to win a ring."

Sheffield, who turns 38 on Nov. 18, has 455 homers in 19 seasons. He topped 34 homers and 120 RBIs in each of his first two seasons with the Yankees, but missed most of 2006 with a wrist injury from an April collision with Toronto's Shea Hillenbrand. New York acquired right fielder Bobby Abreu from Philadelphia in late July. When Sheffield returned in late September, the Yankees shifted him to first base.

New York gets right-handers Humberto Sanchez, Kevin Whelan and Anthony Claggett.

The 23-year-old Sanchez was a combined 10-6 with a 2.53 ERA and 129 strikeouts in 123 innings with Triple-A Toledo and Double-A Erie this year. Whelan, 22, was 4-1 with a 2.67 ERA and 27 saves for Class A Lakeland. Claggett, 22, was 7-2 with an 0.91 ERA and 14 saves for Class A West Michigan.

**Triple Threat** · 11-10-2006, 07:05 PM

If Sheffield hadn't gotten hurt, would NY have traded for Abreu?
If they hadn't traded for Abreu, would they still have gone after Lidle?
If they didn't get Lidle, would he have been flying around NYC?

**min0 lee** · 11-10-2006, 07:08 PM

Originally Posted by I Are Baboon

If Min0 was a real New Yorker, it be talking about this:

I could never get into College games.

**min0 lee** · 11-10-2006, 07:09 PM

Originally Posted by Triple Threat

If Sheffield hadn't gotten hurt, would NY have traded for Abreu?
If they hadn't traded for Abreu, would they still have gone after Lidle?
If they didn't get Lidle, would he have been flying around NYC?

You see, Sheff was bad bad bad.

**min0 lee** · 11-10-2006, 07:10 PM

Originally Posted by Triple Threat

From Yahoo sports:

Yankees trade Gary Sheffield to Tigers for 3 pitching prospects

.

**Double D** · 11-10-2006, 11:19 PM

For minor league pitchers. They sure did want to just unload him. He will help that Tiger team out alot. I think with Lealand their manager it is Sheff's kinda manager. Didnt he play under him once before?

**min0 lee** · 11-11-2006, 06:38 AM

Originally Posted by Double D

For minor league pitchers. They sure did want to just unload him. He will help that Tiger team out alot. I think with Leland their manager it is Sheff's kinda manager. Didn't he play under him once before?

Yes, he did play for him years ago.
He does have a dangerous bat but he's such a tool.

**Triple Threat** · 11-11-2006, 04:47 PM

Originally Posted by Double D

For minor league pitchers. They sure did want to just unload him. He will help that Tiger team out alot. I think with Lealand their manager it is Sheff's kinda manager. Didnt he play under him once before?

No doubt he will help the Tigers. He didn't exactly hurt the Yankees (on the field, at least), the previous 2 years. He's still an offensive threat. They dealt him to a contender with a manager that he has gotten along with. It's not as if NY tried to stiff him.

The Yankess don't need any more offensive threats. Their pitching is terrible and this trade helps to stock the farm system. Well, it's a start anyway. Whether or not any of them pan out remains to be seen.

What will be interesting to see is the reaction by the fans when the Tigers play in NY next year. I'm guessing there will be more cheers than boos.

**min0 lee** · 11-11-2006, 05:18 PM

I will be indifferent.

They say Sanchez may be a decent one.

Rumor has it Pettite may come back.

**Triple Threat** · 11-11-2006, 05:20 PM

Originally Posted by min0 lee

I will be different.

You already are.

**min0 lee** · 11-11-2006, 05:21 PM

Originally Posted by Triple Threat

You already are.

**Triple Threat** · 11-11-2006, 05:21 PM

Originally Posted by min0 lee

Rumor has it Pettite may come back.

Is he bringing Clemens with him?

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