Tigers shift slumping Sheffield

Posted: Tuesday May 06, 2008 06:58AM ET

Tigers manager Jim Leyland said Gary Sheffield would begin playing leftfield regularly. Sheffield, 39, has been the Tigers' designated hitter since the start of last season. Increasingly, though, he has struggled with the role. He said he has had "mental blocks, looking all in the stands, focusing on something else. It's not me," he said. "I'm not saying this is the reason I'm struggling -- it has nothing to do with it -- but the fact is it don't fit my personality. I'm a guy that likes to be in the middle of the action."

Detroit Free Press

Gary Sheffield, AP

Gary Sheffield, AP

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It's Not!

I watched part of the game last night, and it looks like his bat movement before he begins his swing, is increasing. That bat sure moves a ton before his swing begins. I know that is part of his reputation, but a little less movement would help his hand placement through the zone...Just some thoughts..

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Awww.. see what happens when you dont use Roids/HGH/performance enhancing drugs???

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unbelievable, simply unbelievable

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Even Minnesota has a better record than Detroit and they were bashed all summer for giving up Hunter and Santana. They just swept Detroit 11-1, 4-1, and 7-6. How can Detroit have a worse record than Min, Chi, Cle, AND KC? Of course it gets worse as the Tigers are now in a series with the Red Sox.

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Trade him back tothe marlins!

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Yeah^ and try to get Miller and Maybin back

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This is just where I want Sheff to be LEFT OUT! It's time to hang 'em up Gary.

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Left field is racist!!!!!!

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I guess I was wrong, I always the the guy was shiftless..

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Stick a fork in him. I thunk he's done.

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whoops that should be think

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I been quite from the start about the Tigers and was gaveing them time. But what a waste these new players stink and so does Shitfield.

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The latest words from Sheffield - "I hate being shifted, the Tigers are just getting back at me for speaking my mind". - AGAIN !!!

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I would not worry about the Tigers they will be there at the end. The part of this that does not get any media play is how much better is Sheffied than Jaque Jones at this point? Trading Maybin was a huge mistake. When there starting pitching comes around is when the Tigers will turn it around and that has nothing to do with Sheffield. Jones was/is better defensivly and while Sheff will hit a few more homers his days of .300 35 125 are done. The Tigers could have gotten .265 17 75 from Jones a lot cheaper than they will from Sheffield minus the headache too! The Tigers need one more outfielder to be considered legit title contenders. All of this is bunk though as the season is less than 40 games in for most...we should have a better indication at All-Star break.

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Sheffield clearly is not healthy and hasn't been all season - it's obvious that he can't bring both hands through the hitting zone because of his injured right shoulder. He needs to be shifted to the DL until he can heal which is where he should have been all season. Too many automatic outs right now in the Tigers' lineup, Sheffield included.

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was he one of the steroid guys? maybe the meds are wearing off

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If i'm not mistaken sheffield was mentioned in the Mitchell report, but that was back when he played for the yankees years ago, so not recently. As a tigers fan, I like the line-up they have tonight with guillen DH and inge at third. Although, sheffield is to dam old to be playing in the outfield. He is just going to get tired faster and hurt easier. We don't need another outfield we just need to play Ryan Raburn and get rid of sheffield.

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and our pitching sucks **** too

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and our pitching sucks **** too

timbo12 | 05/06/08, 08:07 PM
You are correct my friend !!!

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Detroit fans implied record-breaking offensive numbers this year, but pitching and defense are also important... as the Tigers are finding out.

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