So long Sheff?
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Mar 31, 2009 
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This is always an interesting time of the year as team executives, players, managers, reporters and fans scan the news to see which players are released or sent to the minors.
The first shocker came today when the Tigers decided throwing $14 million into the wind was better than having Gary Sheffield play for them.
Sheff vowed to play on. Will some team will take a $400,000 flyer on him? The Phillies have expressed an interest. Sheffield has said he wants to play for the Rays or Marlins. Would he take a bench role? Given that he needs one more homer for 500, he probably would.
Sheffield is 40 and hit .225 last season with a .326 OBP. He can’t play the OF or run much any more. He’s also not exactly Mr. Warmth in the clubhouse.
This is another example of how baseball is changing because of drug testing. Teams used to value veteran sluggers because everybody (including the media) would shield their eyes when some old dude belted 40 home runs and swallow some made-up story about a new weight-lifting regimen.
Now clubs place more emphasis on youth, versatility, defense and speed along with financial value. Look at the Yankees. They’re going with Brett Gardner in center and may well have a spot on the bench for Ramiro Pena. Last year they went with Morgan Ensberg.
I think Joe Girardi is exactly correct when he predicts a major shift in how the game is played. Sheffield is out and we’ll see in the next few days whether any other notable players follow.
this afternoon K Kennedy said he was glad to hear Sheff still had that bat speed!
3B? No thank you. Come again.
They could market “The Race to 400″ for weeks.
Or, um, 500.
Interesting thing is the Hall of Fame class in 4 and 5 years, so many big names will come up a once. Sheff to me, is not a HOFer as a named Balco participator.
I think it’s awesome that we have 3 new speedsters — Gardner, Ransom and Pena. Adds a whole new element than just hoping for extra base hits.
Stan in Japan
March 31st, 2009 at 10:57 pm
I think it’s awesome that we have 3 new speedsters—Gardner, Ransom and Pena. Adds a whole new element than just hoping for extra base hits.
__
Yet unless Gardner establishes himself as a credible ML starter, Damon will probably lead the team in SBs.
It’s awesome to have Gardner, Ransom and Pena in the sense that rather than hoping for XBH, we’ll just be hoping for walks and singles. I guess. If Pena makes the club, there will not be a worse hitting batter in all of MLB.
John H-
If Pena makes the roster, it won’t be for his bat.
“If Pena makes the club, there will not be a worse hitting batter in all of MLB”
What a stupid statement about a 23 year old who keeps improving. Go look at Ozzie Smith’s stats. Frankly, the guy was a poor hitter. But we are now hopefully returning back to an era when middle infielders don’t jack 25 homeruns. When defense and speed are valued once again. That’s why Smith was considered great.
Now the Ramiro Penas of the world have a chance again. No more Hanley Ramirezes.
Plus Pean will likely get too few ABs to offer a representative sample.
Um, Pena. Duh.
Sheff is cut. Couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy!
ransom is a speedster? since when? he’s what 32?
The difference between 499 and 500 homers is the same as the difference between 347 and 348 homers. Neither will change how a player’s career is evaluated or remembered.
Dallas McPherson, 3B, 28, just released by the Marlins. He hit .275/.379/.618 with 42 homers at Triple-A last season. Anyone interested?
McPherson’s never met a ground ball in his live that he liked. Don’t want to hear about not judging a fielder by his percentages. When it’s .920, you can judge it.
***life***
That’s a shame that he only needs 1 more home run for 500 and he won’t get the chance.
Career FPCT:
Player A at 3B:
.955
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/.....t=fielding
Player B at SS:
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/.....t=fielding
.965
Is there really a significant difference when you consider that Player A’s Career OPS+ is 97 and Player B’s is 77?
http://www.baseball-reference......da01.shtml
http://www.baseball-reference......an01.shtml
Career FPCT:
Player A at 3B:
.955
Player B at SS:
.965
Is there really a significant difference when you consider that Player A’s Career OPS+ is 97 and Player
B’s is 77?
Player A is McPherson.
Player B is Berroa.
Pete, It would be great to see a story about how and why the media turned the blind eye to the drug use in sport, especially baseball. I don’t understand how the media benefitted?
The media is supposed to be the publics’ eyes and ears in the clubhouse. Why o why Pete.
Sheff is going to find that when you are a flake and can hit you have personality. When you are a flake and can’t hit you’re just a flake.
Rusty, Bill “Spaceman” Lee was a flake. Sheff’s a grump, and that’s putting it nicely.
Is it too vindictive of me to hope he ends up with 499?
I just think he was a selfish and disruptive guy who puts himself before his team. Be nice if that ultimately was shown to be bad for his own numbers as well as his team.
I’d say someone will take a shot at him, but it looks like the Tigers wanted to see his spring performance before making any decisions, I guess his numbers must have been brutal.
Also makes Cashman’s trading him to Detroit look even better. We got more production from Abreu, saved a bundle and have some arms from the trade who could be in the bullpen by the end of the year. Nice.
I am frightened by Pete’s paragraph describing Sheff’s age and lack of production. Will Pete write a similar paragraph about A rod a few years from now? We have him signed through age 42.
Also did you guys see that B.J. Ryan is now throwing at 86 MPH. I guess B.J. stands for been juicing. Who knew!
Marlins would be a good fit for him. He helped them win a championship and they could use the excitement of him hitting his 500 HR to draw fans.
I’ve always thought he was good hitter. I never saw anyone swing harder but he didn’t strike out much for a power hitter. He played hard when he was with the Yankees and had a lot of big hits. He never had a problem with the Yanks. After he was gone he had some not too nice things to say but I don’t hold that against him.
I think he’ll get another chance to hit his 500th HR. His price tag is too good for a lot of teams to pass up. If he doesn’t hit or causes trouble in the clubhouse you can just release him.
What a stupid statement about a 23 year old who keeps improving. Go look at Ozzie Smith’s stats. Frankly, the guy was a poor hitter. But we are now hopefully returning back to an era when middle infielders don’t jack 25 homeruns. When defense and speed are valued once again. That’s why Smith was considered great.
Now the Ramiro Penas of the world have a chance again. No more Hanley Ramirezes.
———————
You can’t be serious with that statement. Let’s keep Cody Ransom at 3rd when A-Rod comes back, put Melky in right because he plays better D than Nady, resign Doug Meicntnjitnz to play first base, leave Molina behind the plate, trade for David Eckstein to play 2nd.
Please. If you seriously think the Ramiro Penas of the world are about to overtake the Hanley Ramirez’s of the world, you are 1) insane and 2) gravely mistaken.
I got no problem with Sheff. He played hard and he played hurt for us. He made some amazing throws with a bum shoulder.