Gary Sheffield Hits #500

Gary Sheffield has finally done it.

The old school right fielder hit two milestones Friday night against the Milwaukee Brewers at the New York Mets new Citi Field: his first home run as a Met, and the 500th of his career. Victoriously rounding the bases to a standing ovation after tying the game with his bomb off lefty reliever Mitch Stetter, he was greeted with high fives and hugs from his new teammates.

Look What The Cat Drug In

The New York Mets' grand opening of their spankin' new ballpark, Citi Field, was not even close to everything they'd hoped it would be.

First of all, they lost 6-5 to the San Diego Padres. Second, a mangy cat wandered onto the field. Is that bad luck, even if the cat isn't black?

Gary Sheffield, who did god-knows-what to the kitty after the game, will have his first shot at hitting #500, being slated to have his debut in a Mets uniform this Wednesday.

[Amazin' Avenue] | [Sports Rubbish] | [Gaslamp Ball]

VooDoo Sabermetrics: Gary Sheffield

It's been a while since we've done this -- 9 long months, actually -- so it's about damn time. Welcome one and all to our tenth edition of VooDoo Sabermetrics. This time we're analyzing ornery old man/spankin' new New York Met, Gary Sheffield. Here we go: the guy who's next in line for the 500 Homer Club.

Sooze, Babes Love Baseball and Fantasy Pros 911

Jolliness - Gary Sheffield isn't known as the Angriest Man of All Time because he's so jolly. No, in fact, most people who cross paths with him cower in fear or wet themselves. Either way, there is very little eye contact involved. Some might even go so far as to call him an abrasive, offensive, defensive, confrontational, controversial jerk. Maybe even borderline racist. Definitely not jolly. One time, he refused to play in the World Baseball Classic because it didn't pay well... or at all. Then he kicked a cocker spaniel puppy.

I give Sheff -10 out of 10 balled-up mega fists of fury on the Jollity Scale. He would now like to punch me in the face with them.

Sheff Heads to the Big Apple

It's official. Barring some freak accident or unexpected release, Gary Sheffield will hit #500 as a New York Met.

Just one dinger shy of one the most impressive milestones in baseball -- and three-days released from the Detroit Tigers -- Sheffield and the Mets reached an agreement on Friday. He will become just the 25th player in big league history to join the 500 Home Run Club, the most recent being Manny Ramirez in May of last season.

So Close, Yet So Far

The Detroit Tigers have decided that they'd rather not see Gary Sheffield hit career home run #500 while wearing their uniform.

The club released the hard-headed, nine-time All-Star on Tuesday, just days before he has the opportunity to because the 25th player to reach the milestone. Sheff said he wasn't shocked, but was surprised by his release,

"To do this when somebody is one home run away... I don’t know how to react to it."

Out of Commission

Sometimes there are so many injuries at once that we have to roll them all up into one big post and call it Out of Commission. So here we go.

Let's start with everyone's favorite, fun-loving guy, Gary Sheffield. The Detroit Tigers designated hitter was placed on the 15-day DL Tuesday due to perpetual orneriness and an oblique strain on his left side.

Sheff hurt himself running out a grounder to short in the third inning of Monday's game against the Los Angeles Angels, making it just halfway down the line before grabbing his side and being replaced by a younger, more cheerful pinch-hitter in the sixth.

In other Motor City news, Carlos Guillen has hemorrhoids and Jim Leyland would like to tell the world.

[Mack Avenue Tigers] | [The Detroit Tiger Weblog]

Moving right along, Eric Byrnes has landed on the disabled list for the first time in his 8-year career. The Arizona Diamondbacks left-fielder has lost some of his trademark hustle after experiencing relentless soreness in his hamstrings.

Prior to the move on Tuesday, Byrnes was batting just .219 with six homers and 23 RBIs, but decided to be a man and not blame his poor performance at the plate on his rusty legs.

While running drills with center fielder Chris Young a few days before Spring Training, Byrnes felt a tweak in his hammy. After over-compensating with his other leg, that one eventually began to hurt, and the rest is history.

[Down the Left Field Line] | [AZ Snakepit]

The Cleveland Indians may place designated hitter and all-around monster Travis Hafner on the DL after he rode the bench for the second straight game Tuesday night with a sore right shoulder.

This will surely cover up what appears to be a season-long slump for Pronk. He's batting .217 with four homers and 22 RBIs over the first 46 games, and is currently enduring a 10-for-42 slide in his last 15 games. Hey, injuries are always a great way to save face!

[Indians Confidential]

What is that Sucking Sound?

It was only a matter of time before Detroit Tigers skipper Jim Leyland flipped out on his sub-par ball team.

Sunday's 11-0 piss-pounding by the Chicago White Sox, which was highlighted by not one, but two grand slams -- at the hands of Joe Crede and Paul Konerko -- was the straw that broke the camel's back. Adding insult to injury is never easy to swallow.

This marks the fourth time the Motor City Kittens and their $138.7 million payroll have been shut out this season, the second consecutive, bringing them to a shoddy 2-10 record. Leyland is more than pissed, he's embarrassed.

"I know I suck. We know we suck. But I don’t see nobody in there hanging their head and feeling sorry for themselves. Yeah, we suck. But we’ll see who sucks at the end," said designated hitter Gary Sheffield.

Yes, it's April, there's plenty of time left, but what is their plan of action to switch the momentum into a winning direction? Miguel Cabrera has no idea.

"I feel like everybody’s laughing right now," the third baseman said.

Well, that's because they are. They're either laughing or so confused and shocked by this suckfest of a team that they don't know what to do other than laugh hysterically.

The Tigers head back home to Comerica Monday night to face the Minnesota Twins when Jeremy Bonderman (1-1, 3.97 ERA) takes the hill against Nick Blackburn (0-1, 2.25 ERA) at 7:10pm CST.

[Detroit Free Press]

Gary Sheffield: It Hurts to be Old

Gary Sheffield missed his third straight Spring Training game Sunday, sitting out with leg cramps.

The 39-year-old designated hitter, who remains hitless this Spring, is expected to return in a couple days, and his manager doesn't seem too concerned.

"I’m not worried about him. He could hit on Christmas Day," said skipper Jim Leyland.

I guess I'm not really sure what that means. Does Sheff not celebrate Christmas?

Whatever the case, look for him to return to the lineup this Tuesday when the Detroit Tigers host the Cincinnati Reds in a split-squad game.

[SI.com]

The Detroit Tigers Need a Giant Band-Aid

The Detroit Tigers placed their often-quoted designated hitter, Gary Sheffield on the 15-day disabled list Monday with a sore shoulder that has apparently caused his sec0ond-half slump.

Batting just .220 with three homers and 13 RBIs since the All-Star break, Shef is just one piece of the banged-up puzzle.

The club also put highly-touted Curacaoan righty Jair Jurrjens on the DL with right shoulder inflammation. They replaced him with right-hander Zach Miner from the AAA Toledo Mud Hens.

Outfielder Timo Perez, who was recalled from AAA to replace Sheffield, played in three games for the Tigers last month, and had one hit in seven plate appearances. He was hitting .309 batting average with 13 longballs and 69 RBIs for the Mud Hens this season.

Veteran lefty Kenny Rogers, who started out the season on the DL, is still out with an injured pitching elbow. He threw a bullpen session Sunday.

Through all of this, the Tigers still trail the AL Central-leading Cleveland Indians by just 2.5 games and are sitting 4 behind the Wild Card-leading Seattle Mariners.

[Detroit News]

Thames Hurts Hammy, Shef Calls Foul

With two down in the eighth, the tying run at first and reigning AL batting champ Joe Mauer at the plate, Marcus Thames made the sweetest diving catch I've ever heard on a radio.

It no doubt saved the Detroit Tigers from a Minnesota Twins come-from-behind win, but could land the acrobatic left-fielder on the disabled list.

He was slow to get up and hobbled off the field with help from trainers. It seems the pull Thames felt as he slid across the turf was his left hamstring screaming in pain.

Craig Monroe also left the game due to muscle spasms in his back after the fifth inning.

Updates on Monroe and Thames to come...

In other Motown news, Gary Sheffield was fined for the naughty words he said about big league umpires last month.

His only comment on the matter was that the suspension "shows how corrupt the umpire system is.''

[M Live]

*Ever consider what your plate appearance song would be if you were a big league hitter? Check out the entertaining post on Ladies...