SHEFFIELD HEALTH REPORTS

Sheffield tears tendon in finger today; status unclear

Tigers designated hitter Gary Sheffield said he tore a tendon in his left ring finger this afternoon, leaving his status for Friday’s game – and perhaps the immediate future – very much in doubt.

Sheffield sustained the injury when he slid into second base during the eighth inning of a 4-1 loss to the Kansas City Royals. Sheffield singled on the play – his first hit of the season – but was thrown out at second when leftfielder Mark Teahen recovered from his attempt at a diving catch.

It seems that the finger caught on the base as Sheffield slid.

“Now it won’t straighten out,” he said.

Sheffield wore a splint on the finger after the game. He said he had “no feeling” in the finger immediately after the injury.

“I think I hit it on the base, but I’m not sure,” he said. “I didn’t notice it until I got in the dugout, looked at it, and it looked deformed.”

Sheffield left open the possibility that he would play on Friday, but Detroit manager Jim Leyland said he wasn’t likely to be available.

The news about Sheffield’s finger was the latest blow to the Tigers, who have started 0-3 amid World Series expectations.

“I’ve been in a situation like this before,” Sheffield said, of his time with the New York Yankees. “You just have to keep going out there and preparing, do what you’ve always done and it’ll turn around.”

WHAT NEXT??? This team is going to send Illich to an early grave!

Wonderful news

Sign Barry?

What the hell next?? Already this season is making me want to drink.

Me, too. Too bad I only have 1 beer and I'm saving it for my birthday

I think I'm going to order a ton of pizza and stuff. I'm too pissed off to make food.

Uh guys I don't know if you noticed, but April Fools Day was on Tuesday.



I'm not happy.

Anything else, God? Hit us now while we're down!!!

mrsrabelo wrote:

Uh guys I don't know if you noticed, but April Fools Day was on Tuesday.



I'm not happy.

Who's kid is this???

What else could happen to our Tigers?

arg!!!! doesnt look good at all, nothing does, and for some reason nobody replies to whatever topic i post, it makes me feel like nobody wants 2 talk

gdennis59 wrote:

arg!!!! doesnt look good at all, nothing does, and for some reason nobody replies to whatever topic i post, it makes me feel like nobody wants 2 talk

What, Where?

I am online, but working on a new player section.... have put in over 10 hours so far, I'm not ignoring anyone, just working in the background.

lol its cool, i guess u could call it a cry for attention, bored of my over here, will be tomorrow, still sick so im missin school :/

I saw your Goonies thread but I haven't seen that one

I was going to post "I haven't seen that" but I didn't thought that was worse than not replying - you'd see there's a reply and then get your heart broken when you see the reply is crap.

haha i dont mind, some people tell me they havent but i tell them they should so

u should see it :lol:

SoulRat wrote:

What the hell next?? Already this season is making me want to drink.

Making you want to drink???? You mean you haven't yet???? LOL I'm having a Mike's Light Hard Cranberry Lemonade now, pretty yummy!!!!

iluvpudge7"][quote="SoulRat wrote:

What the hell next?? Already this season is making me want to drink.

Making you want to drink???? You mean you haven't yet???? LOL I'm having a Mike's Light Hard Cranberry Lemonade now, pretty yummy!!!! [/quote]

ooo...that sounds good!

iluvpudge7 wrote:

SoulRat wrote:

What the hell next?? Already this season is making me want to drink.

Making you want to drink???? You mean you haven't yet???? LOL I'm having a Mike's Light Hard Cranberry Lemonade now, pretty yummy!!!!

:haha: Nope I have refrained from drinking while watching these boys considering their games have been so early but wow I can't take much more of this

I'll miss part of the game but hopefully a win today....*sigh*

Maybe it will only be a minor injury for :sheff:

Even a healthy Sheff won't get going until May!


However; If is out for rest of the season, I say take a chance and get Barry Bonds to sign for a year!

We need to beat the White Sox today!

Go Nate and especially GO HITTERS! We need this win!

YES!

AND HIT LIKE HELL!

OMG...this season is killing me and my liver!!!!!! I am not as disciplined as you guys. I have been drowning my Tiger sorrows for 3 straight days. Come on boys wake the bats up and get a win!!!!!!!!!!!!

nice avatar vegas, anyone know if miggy's playin 2day?

DH today...with guillen hitting 3rd.

coolio, he's on 1 of my fantasy teams and hes not producing, im almost on the vire of trading him ......

Too early, don't over react or you will be sorry later. Trust me.

*sigh* as if the shoulder thing wasn't enough....

04/04/2008 11:19 AM ET
Sheffield day-to-day with finger injury
Designated hitter not expected to miss much playing time
By Scott McNeish / MLB.com

DETROIT -- Tigers designated hitter Gary Sheffield was scratched from Friday's game against the Chicago White Sox with a torn tendon at the top of his left ring finger. He is listed as day-to-day.

Sheffield's finger, which he jammed during Thursday's game, continued to swell overnight. Once the swelling subsides, the Tigers will be able to give an accurate timetable for his return.

Sheffield felt confident Friday morning that he would return soon, since the injury should allow for a normal swing when the swelling deflates.

"I feel OK. You don't need the tip of your finger, really, to hit," Sheffield said. "But right now, because of the swelling it's a little sore. But once we get the swelling down, it could be a day or two.

"I'm fortunate to be in this position and not in a worse position."

First baseman Carlos Guillen will take Sheffield's No.3 spot in the lineup. Miguel Cabrera, scratched from Thursday's game with soreness in his left quadriceps, will return as the designated hitter.

Sheffield will wear a splint off the field for six weeks, or however long it takes for the swelling to go down enough that he can straighten the finger.

On the field, the Tigers training staff will issue him a device to keep his finger straight.

"I shouldn't have a problem [playing with a splint]," Sheffield said. "The only thing they're concerned about is me wiggling the bat and being able to do that."

The injury occurred on a bang-bang play at second in Thursday's series finale with the Royals. Sheffield blooped a single in front of Royals left fielder Mark Teahen and broke for second. Teahen fired a strike to second to retire Sheffield for the first out of the inning.

Tigers manager Jim Leyland put Cabrera at DH on Friday, instead of the slugger's usual spot at third base, to prevent him from aggravating the soreness in his leg. Brandon Inge will play third for the second straight day.

"I don't want to take any chances," Leyland said. "If he can DH, fine. If not, I'll change it."

Cabrera has battled the soreness since Spring Training. He took the field for batting practice before Thursday's game, but soon complained of the pain in his leg and Leyland replaced him at third with Inge.

Scott McNeish is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

geez....anything else go wrong today?