Gary Sheffield is a Detroit Tiger
Slugger Comes Over From Yankees To Help Pitching Rich Tigers
Former New York Yankee brings his big bat and (sometimes) bad guy image to the defending AL Champion Tigers, who already have the best pitching in the American League.
Gary Sheffield hits the ball harder than anyone in the game. If you don't believe that, just ask any third base coach who's had to dodge one of the lasers that routinely come off Sheffield's bat and bullet just foul of the left field line. Many a fine third base coach has almost been lost to Gary's menacing swing.
Sheffield is also is one of baseball's most enigmatic players. He seems like a good guy. Players like him. Hometown fans adore him. He gets the respect of most baseball insiders. Yet, Sheffield remains a bit of a problem child. Wherever he has played in the major leagues, and he has been with seven teams over his 19 year career, Sheffield always seems to feud with management, bicker with the local writers, and cause at least one major off-the-field commotion. He can be a headache. If anyone is worth it, however, it's Gary Sheffield.
Although Sheffield missed most of last season due to injuries, his stint as a New York Yankee was a big success. In 2004 and 2005 combined, he averaged 35 Home Runs and 122 RBI. He was one of the best clutch hitters on the team, and he also showed that he still has one of the best outfield arms in baseball. New York was no aberration. Sheffield's lifetime numbers show that he has a very good shot at the Hall of Fame. To go along with his .297 career average, Sheff has 455 Home Runs, 1501 RBI, nine all-star appearances, a World Series ring, and six finishes in the Top 10 for Most Valuable Player. That’s Hall of Fame stuff.
No one associated with the Detroit Tigers, however, is concerned about Cooperstown right now. They care a lot more about winning a World Series, and winning it this year. Last year, pitching led the Tigers to the AL Pennant. Bad defense and an impotent offense caused them to lose the World Series to the St. Louis Cardinals in five games. So this team must be happy to welcome Sheffield, whose bat could help them take that last step to a World Championship. To show their faith in their new man (and maybe to avoid a visible contract dispute like Sheffield had in New York), the Tigers signed Sheffield to a two year extension on top of the single season option they had already picked up from the Yankees. The whole package is worth $41 million over three years.
Upon his arrival at camp, Sheffield was seen mixing it up and having fun with first baseman Sean Casey and fellow outfielder Craig Monroe. He also said the right things, although he did acknowledge some sadness about leaving New York. Yesterday, giving his first interview since the 2007 spring training opened, he confided: "I was hoping to stay in New York, but unfortunately it hasn't happened and I looked for the next best thing." But he also added that he was excited about Detroit and his new teammates, and added, "I look forward [to the season]. I owe that to my teammates I play with now. I can't afford to say, 'I wish I was here as opposed to here.' I'm not going to do that because now I'm happy."
Detroit fans should be pleased. A happy Gary Sheffield is a productive Gary Sheffield.
