Sheff questions today's strike zone...

08/07/2008 9:36 PM ET
Sheffield frustrated with strike zone
Tigers slugger says zone has grown too generous
By Jason Beck / MLB.com

CHICAGO -- Gary Sheffield says he feels his best in terms of health since he hit 21 home runs over the first half of last season. His feelings about balls and strikes lately are another matter.

"It's terrible," Sheffield said of the strike zone. "Worst I've ever seen. And pitchers know it."

Sheffield has made his living over the years as one of the game's rare hitters who combined batting average, power and walks. He entered Thursday's series finale against the White Sox ranked fourth among active players with 1,415 bases on balls and eighth with 489 home runs. With the exception of an injury-plagued 2006 season in New York, he has had more walks than strikeouts in every season since 1994.

That streak is set to come to an end this year, with 38 walks and 58 strikeouts so far. Part of the problem, of course, was a different approach he had while he was still hampered by his shoulder, forcing him to start his swing sooner. However, Sheffield also railed Thursday against what he sees as a more generous strike zone than in past years.

It's so generous, Sheffield said, that he has changed his approach.

"When I go to hit, I don't think about getting a walk," a clearly frustrated Sheffield said. "I don't think about [not] swinging until they throw a strike. I think about swinging when I can get to one. You have to really walk me, because I'm not trying to walk anymore. And that's exactly why I'm hitting .220."

Sheffield entered Thursday batting .228, an average that has risen slightly since he began feeling healthier. He's hitting .268 (11-for-41) over the last two weeks with two homers, eight RBIs, four walks and nine strikeouts.

Those numbers weren't likely to change entering Friday. Manager Jim Leyland gave him Thursday's game off with the idea of resting him. It's also part of Leyland's plan of rotating his outfielders in and out of the lineup to give them all something close to regular playing time.

The relationship between Sheffield and umpires' strike zones has long been tumultuous. He was suspended last summer after home-plate umpire Greg Gibson accused Sheffield of tossing his bat at him after arguing balls and strikes on his way to first base on a groundout, a charge Sheffield vehemently denied.

So far this season, however, Sheffield has kept a very low profile at the plate. By his unofficial count, he has had words with an umpire twice this year, but nothing heated.

"I haven't come close," Sheffield said. "I tell myself before I walk out that I'm not going to say anything. They can do whatever they want. I don't care. I'm not going to sit here and go through trying to defend myself for disputing anything about an umpire. They can call it how they want. If I strike out, I strike out."

Those pitches on the corners, Sheffield said, have become more frequent since he began feeling better. Pitchers would challenge him over the plate when his shoulder wouldn't allow him to catch up.

"You're in a spot where you just take it like a man," Sheffield said. "You know you're just limited in certain areas and they were throwing you little lollipop curveballs up there, knowing you couldn't reach them. Now it's a different ballgame. Yeah, you might get me out on certain pitches, but I'll tell you what, you're not going to get me out over the plate.

"If umpires aren't giving pitches off the plate like they have been all year, and pitches in off the plate like they have been all year, then they don't have anywhere else to go."

Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Well, he is certainly an experienced expert on a large strike zone....

This whole Leyland-Sheffield thing just fries my butt.

I am not in any way feeling sorry for ole jimmy because he has caused his own troubles aplenty this season, but.....where does this JACKASS get off trying to convince anyone but himself that he DESERVES even one-inning of playing time.

He is just mad at himself and lashing out because he doesnt have the BALLS to accept responsibility for his own failures.

Who ELSE gets tossed under the "Sheffmobile" before this BS is over?

"PAWS STOLE MY JUICE"

Gary Sheffield quoted today in a statement released by his new publicist, Reverend Al

Tomorrow he will complain about the quality of the turf.

I love all the complaining that he is doing lately. It's very professional Everything is everyones fault but his.

mrsrabelo wrote:

I love all the complaining that he is doing lately. It's very professional Everything is everyones fault but his.

At least he's hitting .300 on pace for 100 RBIs and 30 HRs. Oh wait, no he's not.

Good Lord.

SoulRat wrote:

Good Lord.

Yeah...but we all knew what we were getting when we signed Sheff. We all knew it was coming. I just consider the source and brush it off as it is who it is....

tigersaint wrote:

This whole Leyland-Sheffield thing just fries my butt.

I am not in any way feeling sorry for ole jimmy because he has caused his own troubles aplenty this season, but.....where does this JACKASS get off trying to convince anyone but himself that he DESERVES even one-inning of playing time.

He is just mad at himself and lashing out because he doesnt have the BALLS to accept responsibility for his own failures.

Who ELSE gets tossed under the "Sheffmobile" before this BS is over?

Yet Sheffield is in the lineup almost everyday


And he Hitting 219?


Give me a break

Oh I know. He's always been a whine ass.

Sheff acts like Leyland has benched him the last 10 games

He reminds me of my kid, blaming everyone but himself

I thought only MY kids did that! I'm glad to see mine aren't the only ones to pull that sh

Ohios#1TigerFan wrote:

I thought only MY kids did that! I'm glad to see mine aren't the only ones to pull that sh

Oh they aren't. Between my angels and the neighbor kids, no one ever does anything wrong around my house And if they are caught doing it, it's someone else's fault :haha:

I think his Mrs. ought to temper his outbursts!

somebody needs to calm him down!!!!

laprimamirala wrote:

somebody needs to calm him down!!!!

Like another manager???

Someone that won't mollycoddle him!

Ohios#1TigerFan wrote:

I thought only MY kids did that! I'm glad to see mine aren't the only ones to pull that sh

I think all kids do it. My sister does, other little kids I've seen do, too. I think I'm the only person that didn't do it as a kid

mrsrabelo wrote:

I love all the complaining that he is doing lately. It's very professional Everything is everyones fault but his.

its the new accountability....there is none!!

catbox_9 wrote:

mrsrabelo wrote:

I love all the complaining that he is doing lately. It's very professional Everything is everyones fault but his.

At least he's hitting .300 on pace for 100 RBIs and 30 HRs. Oh wait, no he's not.

GoGetEmTigers wrote:

laprimamirala wrote:

somebody needs to calm him down!!!!

Like another manager???

...another manager of another team.

DeLeon is apparently too busy with Christian!

Sheff is starting to hit lately


Looks like he will be back!

Someone complains waaay too much. What the hell is the matter with him? Just shut up and earn your pay, and a sub .250 hitter should not have a salary like his.

the loudest complainers on the team (Inge and Sheff) are the worst 2 hitters this year!!

Coincidence??