(AP Photo/Paul J. Bereswill)
Given the rash of Met injuries, it is especially difficult to imagine where in the world they would be without Gary Sheffield. The Sheffield that is 40 years old. The Sheffield that the Detroit Tigers wanted to be rid of so badly, they paid him $14,000,000 to go away. The Sheffield who last season in 482 plate appearances had a line of .225 BA/ .326 OBP/ .400 SLG.
Met General Manager Omar Minaya took a great deal of heat for bringing in that Gary Sheffield. His arrival would disrupt the budding chemistry of the team in it’s first full year under manager Jerry Manuel. He could no longer play the outfield. He would never adjust to a bench role, or worse he would take playing time away from Ryan Church and Daniel Murphy. The only thing the detractors couldn’t say was that Sheffield would hint that his manager was racist.
A glance at the MLB standings today shows the Mets 1/2 game out of first place. I shudder to think where in the world they’d be without Gary Sheffield.
22 comments
mrose
5/26/2009-11:43am at 11:43 am (UTC -4)
i can think of at least 2 big hits..
one against the brew crew when we were down 1, and last night’s… as well as the one to send us to extras against the bravos
dirtysanchez
5/26/2009-11:55am at 11:55 am (UTC -4)
every single hr gary has given us has played the difference in that game…i have no idea where we would be w/o gary. He has more hrs than david wright and is in double digets in rbi’s…great move by omar
GravediggerHebner
5/26/2009-12:01pm at 12:01 pm (UTC -4)
I’m not hip to all the latest lingo so I’m not sure whether I’m supposed to give you a shout out or give you props, or both, but credit to you Dirty, your ‘man up award’ to Sheff last night inspired me to write this. That and I had a Carmen Sandiego image I wanted to use.
mrose
5/26/2009-12:03pm at 12:03 pm (UTC -4)
hmmmm
that is an idea….remember pointsguy from metsblog way back? He would just jokingly give +1 or something… i wonder if we should put something into play for this thing…where you can like give reps for a good response??
QnsNative718
5/26/2009-12:06pm at 12:06 pm (UTC -4)
Didnt “Intense Debate” have something like that? Im a fan of it.
trs86
5/26/2009-12:11pm at 12:11 pm (UTC -4)
It did but it made the comment section so busy and ineffective. I was not a fan.
mrose
5/26/2009-12:15pm at 12:15 pm (UTC -4)
yea, i agree w/ TRS… the feature was great, but the plugin sucked…i’ll keep an eye out for a plugin that can do this…there are tons out there that do all sorts of stuff..if we can find one JUST to add in a points sys..that’d be cool
dirtysanchez
5/26/2009-12:29pm at 12:29 pm (UTC -4)
you post game wrapup inspired me to write that piece about the soldiers so i thank you for that. This was well done grave and i love the carmen sandiago picture
trs86
5/26/2009-11:59am at 11:59 am (UTC -4)
I will admit I supported this one from the beginning. Sheff was a classic example of a low risk move. My fear was only that if he stunk we would not be able just to cut him. Now we don’t have to worry about it.
Another under the radar move by Omar that paid off.
mrose
5/26/2009-12:01pm at 12:01 pm (UTC -4)
exactly
QnsNative718
5/26/2009-12:03pm at 12:03 pm (UTC -4)
With all the ranting & raving of callers on the Fan on how horrible Minaya is for not having a legit back up to a back up, its funny how they conveniently ignore the signing of Sheffield. What some people dont realize either is how his presence in the lineup has made Beltran and Wright better players as well. Keep it up, Shef.
joer
5/26/2009-12:33pm at 12:33 pm (UTC -4)
I can be wrong but not sure how Sheffield has made them better players. They have been very very good for many years now. I guess maybe you can say they both have been receiving some fastballs and pitches somewhat near the strikezone since Sheff is behind one of them where as if he wasn’t in the lineup both Beltan and Wright wouldnt receive anything around the plate with this bottom part of the lineup. I think every team pretty much knows Beltran and Wright are the hitters they will have to concentrate on the most and make quality pitches to with or without Sheff in the lineup. IDK I just dont see pitchers giving in to them because Sheff is behind one of them. Just my opinion and Sheff definitely has a presence and I like seeing him in the 4 spot even if Im thinking about the Shef of the past lol He has been delivering.
joer
5/26/2009-12:49pm at 12:49 pm (UTC -4)
Yes Sheffield hit a big great homerun last night, yes he got some nice hits on the road trip, I agree he has been a pleasant surprise in a small sample size. Agree it turns out it was a big move by Omar. IMO I’m just not ready to say he has made both Wright and Reyes better players. I mean if you want to tell me Arod returning to the lineup and hitting behind Tex has changed Texeira’s season and got him out of his slump I can agree on that. But thats Arod.
trs86
5/26/2009-12:56pm at 12:56 pm (UTC -4)
I see your point, but the problem we had without him AND Delgado was the teams just pitch around Beltran and Wright depending on the circumstance.
We know that Sheff is a washed up guy trying to hang on. However, the pitcher thinks here is a washed up guy trying to hang on and I don’t want to give him anything to hit.
joer
5/26/2009-1:06pm at 1:06 pm (UTC -4)
Agree with you. Definitely would rather him in the lineup especially if he keeps doing what he did last night lol but to say he has made them better players…to me a bit of a stretch but then again maybe I am nit picking with the words because it does change the whole feel to the lineup.
QnsNative718
5/26/2009-12:07pm at 12:07 pm (UTC -4)
Guys, I noticed while trying to write a new post, theres no way to preview it like previously on Dirty and trs’ blog. Am I missing something? Thanks.
trs86
5/26/2009-12:11pm at 12:11 pm (UTC -4)
Nah, I don’t see it either.
There's Always '10
5/26/2009-12:20pm at 12:20 pm (UTC -4)
Promote F-Mart!
trs86
5/26/2009-12:16pm at 12:16 pm (UTC -4)
Oh, I thought he was referring to comments. Yeah the post one is still there.
Grave, sent you an email.
mrose
5/26/2009-12:16pm at 12:16 pm (UTC -4)
and this is the same grave who like 4 days ago said he would have no idea how to use this system! go grave! lol
GravediggerHebner
5/26/2009-12:18pm at 12:18 pm (UTC -4)
I am, what’s the term, learning?
QnsNative718
5/26/2009-12:24pm at 12:24 pm (UTC -4)
Thanks, Grave.