Posted: Tuesday, March 31, 2009, 5:44 PM | 35 comments |
 

Team sources: Chances of Sheff "very slim"
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A name like Gary Sheffield is guaranteed to create buzz, both for and against the idea of bringing him in.  Though the lines of communication are open between the Phillies and the 40-year-old slugger, multiple team sources told the Inquirer that chances of signing Sheffield are, in the words of one official, "very slim."

Ruben Amaro Jr. would only say that the parties had spoken today, and declined to comment whether Sheffield would accept a part-time role.

I posed that last question to Sheffield's agent Rufus Williams a few minutes ago. He said: "As we look for our options over the next few days, we'll decide what the best role will be.  (A part-time role) is not off the table; nothing is off the table."

A few reasons points against Sheffield being a fit with the Phillies:

1. He is not a pinch hitter.

2. He batted .225 last season, albeit with 19 home runs.

3. He is not really an outfielder anymore after playing only six games in the field last season.

4. We have to be careful with character stuff, because sometimes reputations are unfairly assigned. But Sheffield's reputation as a clubhouse influence is not sterling among some in baseball. The Phillies front office values team chemistry very highly, and signed Raul Ibanez partly as a result of this strategy.
Posted by Andy Martino @ 5:44 PM  Permalink | 35 comments
35
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:47 PM, 03/31/2009
    Andy, When are we going to hear that Moyer or Dubee or spoke with Happ, and Happ totally understands that no team goes through a season with only five starters, and that he is first in line, and the Phillies still love him and the fans are still rooting for him, and he'll have his chance to win games in the bigs?
    — smel4727
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:12 PM, 03/31/2009
    Park pitched well in Spring training, great. Happ is young and has a future with this team. He should get the nod.
    — KevinRx
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:19 PM, 03/31/2009
    1. He would be a pinch hitter if the Phils signed him 2. He had a better year than Jenkins 3. And Stairs IS an outfielder? 4. Irrelevant
    — JimEisenreich
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:26 PM, 03/31/2009
    He's going to stay in the American league as a DH.
    — MD20202020
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:33 PM, 03/31/2009
    Sheffield is by far and away a cancer....he is also by far and away the most dangerous RH hitter we could add to our bench. He does scare people and that's what you want lurking in the late innings...you bring him in and the opposing manager is guaranteed to bring in a RP....then the dance begins, lefty, righty until they are all out of LH relievers and our LH pinchhitters blow the game open. He will not be a cancer on this team, he is a small cog and will be respectful of what his teammates have won. He will have to blend in and get along. Cholly and a few other players in that locker room will not tolerate anything else. He isn't a T.O., he can't destroy this Phillies team, and he also wants that 500th HR....what better band box than ours to hit it in?
    — Mark1npt
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:52 PM, 03/31/2009
    I agree with MD20202020 that Sheffield will stay in AL.
    — CenterCityPhan
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:52 PM, 03/31/2009
    Ughhhh.... I do NOT want the phils to sign Sheffield. I dont want to hear all the steroid controversey. Plus he seems like a real jerk. Why would they bring a guy like that into such a "team first" lockeroom?
    — lobstrocities
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:57 PM, 03/31/2009
    NO NO NO NO NO!!!
    — adman
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:58 PM, 03/31/2009
    Mark1npt ... I understand and agree with what you have said. I don't see a need for a righty power hitter on the bench at this point. Our biggest problem last year was not HR production it was a righty with bat control which Cairo seems to be for now.
    — Wally 24
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:00 PM, 03/31/2009
    What has Sheffield done since he stopped juicing? Who needs him? Not the Phils!
    — Brauny
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:02 PM, 03/31/2009
    Is Sheffield any good without steroids at this ripe old age?
    — Neal Obstat
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:08 PM, 03/31/2009
    Please never use the term "We" in your blogs Mr. Martino. "We" are not carpet baggers like yourself. "We" are die hard Philly sports fans. "We" will question Sheffield's character all "we" want.
    — Charlie Mustgo
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:15 PM, 03/31/2009
    Look we all know that Sheff has power and is a decent hitter, but he won't fit in with this clubhouse AT ALL.. He belongs in the AL as a DH and not coming off the bench.. My thoughts: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it"
    — AtlanticDJN


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Bob Brookover and Matt Gelb team up for their third straight season covering the Phillies for the Inquirer and philly.com.

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