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Monday, November 23, 2009

Sheffield trying to squeeze one more season out of his body

If you include hooked foul balls…he MIGHT get to 311 hits this season.

Free-agent outfielder Gary Sheffield told the Boston Globe he has dedicated himself to a grueling workout routine and hired a nutritionist in hopes of continuing his career for at least one more season.

“After talking to my wife and kids,” the 41-year-old Sheffield told the paper, “they want me to get 3,000 hits (he’s at 2,689). I want to keep playing, and I know I can go out and hit at least 25 and maybe up to 40 home runs for some team if I get the chance.

“I think I showed (the Mets) when I played regularly I can still play and I can still hit for power. I’m a righthanded power hitter and I know there’s a need out there. Getting myself in this kind of shape will allow me to move better and not be a one-dimensional player.”

Repoz Posted: November 23, 2009 at 01:09 PM | 30 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: hall of fame, history

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1. Jacob Posted: November 23, 2009 at 01:38 PM (#3394396)

I don't think he's going to make 3,000 hits, but he still can hit. 10,947 plate appearances and .292 BA....

You'd think that'd be enough. Just goes to show how hard it is, I guess...One of the most intimidating hitters I've ever seen & always good for a quote...

2. TVerik - Dr. Velocity Posted: November 23, 2009 at 01:47 PM (#3394399)

Let's not gloss over that his quotes have more often than not been... impolitic. While someone like Ichiro is zany and interesting, Gary says things like "Joe Torre hates black people". I wish more athletes would speak their minds, but Sheffield's mouth reminds us that maybe it's a good idea that they don't.

3. Crispix Attacksel Rios Posted: November 23, 2009 at 03:15 PM (#3394441)

No, he said "Black players had an issue with Joe Torre. They weren’t treated like everybody else. Even I got called out in a couple of meetings that I thought was unfair."

Later Kenny Lofton seemed to agree, then retracted his agreement.

4. DL from MN Posted: November 23, 2009 at 03:32 PM (#3394461)

Probably should have hired the extra help trying to squeeze everything out of his talent when he was younger. I'm not sure grueling workouts are such a great idea as you get older. It takes longer to recover which could backfire and cause injury.

5. SoSH U at work Posted: November 23, 2009 at 03:38 PM (#3394470)

Probably should have hired the extra help trying to squeeze everything out of his talent when he was younger.

He tried that. But then, to his credit, he hit upon the one absolute foolproof strategy to avoid longterm reputation damage in the steroids scandal - blame it on Barry.

6. Jacob Posted: November 23, 2009 at 03:38 PM (#3394471)

Blacks seem to think about race issues more than others. Doesn't that make them more racist?

7. Barnaby Jones Posted: November 23, 2009 at 03:40 PM (#3394475)

Blacks seem to think about race issues more than others. Doesn't that make them more racist?

QED

8. Ray (CTL)

Posted: November 23, 2009 at 03:41 PM (#3394477)

Getting myself in this kind of shape will allow me to move better and not be a one-dimensional player.

February, 2010, in a local paper near you:

"He's in the best shape of his life."

9. Ray (CTL)

Posted: November 23, 2009 at 03:44 PM (#3394478)

No, he said "Black players had an issue with Joe Torre. They weren’t treated like everybody else. Even I got called out in a couple of meetings that I thought was unfair."

"Even" Sheffield, the paragon of Team, got called out. Shocking.

(Though in fairness Sheffield has at times offered to do things for the betterment of the team, such as offering to move to 3B for the Yankees. It's just that he's caused his share of trouble as well.)

10. Bob T Posted: November 23, 2009 at 03:45 PM (#3394482)

If Sheffield wanted to squeeze one more year out of his body, he should have squeezed from the bottom and then kept flattening his body out going up to his head.

11. The District Attorney Posted: November 23, 2009 at 03:47 PM (#3394484)

If Sheffield wanted to squeeze one more year out of his body, he should have squeezed from the bottom and then kept flattening his body out going up to his head.

I visualize it more like pulling mussels from the shell.

12. RJ in TO Posted: November 23, 2009 at 03:47 PM (#3394485)

One of the most intimidating hitters I've ever seen & always good for a quote...

Unfortunately, most of those quotes will involve ripping on the team that's currently paying him.

13. Retire #21 Posted: November 23, 2009 at 03:50 PM (#3394489)

Hmm. Seems like Juan Pierre should have a legit beef with Torre too. With the numbers Pierre put up in 2009 there's no reason he should be benched.

14. Jacob Posted: November 23, 2009 at 04:14 PM (#3394504)

3 reasons: Ramirez, Kemp & Ethier

15. You Know Nothing JT Snow (YR) Posted: November 23, 2009 at 04:20 PM (#3394509)

Blacks seem to think about race issues more than others. Doesn't that make them more racist?

You'd be racist too if you had to play alongside whites who wilted in the summer heat and made you shoulder more of the load.

16. Greg Goosen at 30 Posted: November 23, 2009 at 06:48 PM (#3394695)

He should finish his career in Milwaukee where he started. Like Dick Allen Philadelphia, whose career might be a good match for Sheffield.

17. bumpis hound Posted: November 23, 2009 at 08:17 PM (#3394857)

Sheffield trying to squeeze one more season out of his body

If by "season" he means "paycheck", and by "body" he means "team", then yes, Sheffield is being as honest as usual.

18. valuearbitrageur Posted: November 24, 2009 at 03:15 AM (#3395218)

Hmm. Seems like Juan Pierre should have a legit beef with Torre too. With the numbers Pierre put up in 2009 there's no reason he should be benched.

He did have a legit beef and expressed it publicly. After all few corner outfielders were able to match his .657 second half OPS and being caught stealing only 4 out of 11.

19. jwb Posted: November 24, 2009 at 06:32 AM (#3395310)

“After talking to my wife and kids,” the 41-year-old Sheffield told the paper, “they want me to get

the hell out of the house for seven months."

20. Avoid Running At All Times- S. Paige Posted: November 24, 2009 at 06:55 AM (#3395315)

It's awful to say but I always imagine the thinking on the part of the chronically unretiring athlete (i.e. Brett Favre) is the realization that he has no desire to spend more than 2 months with his wife. It's sort of like the realization Christopher in The Sopranos has at the gas station about the absolute torture that domestic life would be for him. I imagine that 2 weeks into the offseason Favre is sitting on the couch and his wife asks him to take out the trash and by the time he has come back into the house, his decision has been made.

21. Steve Sparks Flying Everywhere Posted: November 24, 2009 at 07:43 AM (#3395327)

Every time I see the headline I think of that recent going to the bathroom discussion that was on here.

22. Tripon Posted: November 24, 2009 at 08:00 AM (#3395330)

6. Jacob Posted: November 23, 2009 at 10:38 AM (#3394471)
Blacks seem to think about race issues more than others. Doesn't that make them more racist?

Considering that you just implied that whenever a black person speak about race, he's representing his entire race, sure why not.

Anyway, if Juan Pierre had a problem with 2009, he should take solace in the fact that he got replaced by Manny. Who is also black. And by Matt Kemp in 2008, who is also black. and by Andruw Jones at the beginning of 2008, who is also black. The White Man isn't exactly putting Juan Pierre down.

23. Ivan Grushenko of Hong Kong Posted: November 24, 2009 at 10:17 AM (#3395335)

Blacks seem to think about race issues more than others. Doesn't that make them more racist?

In Hong Kong, whites speak more about race than Chinese. And of course in Soviet Russia...

24. Zach Posted: November 24, 2009 at 10:34 AM (#3395336)

"Getting myself in this kind of shape will allow me to move better and <strike>not</strike> be a one-dimensional player."

Fixed.

25. Curse of the Andino Posted: November 24, 2009 at 11:32 AM (#3395339)

In Hong Kong, whites speak more about race than Chinese. And of course in Soviet Russia...

Since this seems a far-ranging thread, I've noticed that Shanghainese (my wife is one), hold ethnic theories about Taiwanese/Fujianese (whom they like and vice-versa), Beijingnese (who are not trusted or admired by anyone) and Cantonese (who are considered redneck, but otherwise OK.) And don't even get her started about maids from Anhui...

26. villageidiom Posted: November 24, 2009 at 12:53 PM (#3395351)

If Sheffield wanted to squeeze one more year out of his body, he should have squeezed from the bottom and then kept flattening his body out going up to his head.

I visualize it more like pulling mussels from the shell.

Sheffield was tempted to say that Joe Torre hates black coffee in bed.

27. Swoboda is freedom Posted: November 24, 2009 at 01:46 PM (#3395379)

Sheffield was tempted to say that Joe Torre hates black coffee in bed.

Well, it did leave a stain on his notebook.

28. Shooty would run in but these bone spurs hurt!

Posted: November 24, 2009 at 01:58 PM (#3395390)

Since this seems a far-ranging thread, I've noticed that Shanghainese (my wife is one), hold ethnic theories about Taiwanese/Fujianese (whom they like and vice-versa), Beijingnese (who are not trusted or admired by anyone) and Cantonese (who are considered redneck, but otherwise OK.) And don't even get her started about maids from Anhui...

The most racist person I've ever worked with was a Chinese woman from Hong Kong. She had crackpot ideas about every ethnicity on the planet, from Italians to Jamaicans to Chinese people born in America and not China. The Chinese-Americans in the office hated her guts. Since I'm kinda evil, I thought it was great entertainment. I used to bait her to see what half-assed things she thought about Russians or Brazilians and such.

29. Zonk demands an audit of your post Posted: November 24, 2009 at 01:59 PM (#3395392)

I have also noticed that black people drive like this.... while white people drive like this....

30. Richard Posted: November 24, 2009 at 02:26 PM (#3395422)

The most racist person I've ever worked with was a Chinese woman from Hong Kong. She had crackpot ideas about every ethnicity on the planet, from Italians to Jamaicans to Chinese people born in America and not China.

Sadly, these views are pretty widely held amongst Hong Kong Chinese, in my experience. PRC born Chinese and people from the Indian Sub-continent are not well liked and some of the stereotypes have to be heard to be believed.

31. flournoy Posted: November 24, 2009 at 03:05 PM (#3395485)

This adds nothing to the discussion, but I don't think there's much to add anyway, so here's an exchange I always thought was funny:

Background: This took place in my college dorm room during the '02 World Series, one of my roommates was Chinese and he walked by as I was watching the series on TV.

Him: Whoa! That's a big black dude.
Me: Umm... yes, that is Barry Bonds.
Him: I thought baseball was just white man's game.

I didn't really have a response to that. Maybe that's a common perception. He knows nothing about baseball though, seriously, if you ask him how many outs are in an inning, you'd probably first have to define "out" and "inning" for him, and he still would have no clue. I find it sad how there can be people like that.

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Monday, November 23, 2009

Sheffield trying to squeeze one more season out of his body

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