GDT: 5/24/08 - DET (20-28) VS MINN (24-24), 7:05 p.m. ET

DETROIT -- Gary Sheffield has become a popular topic on sports talk radio, message boards and e-mails to Tigers beat reporters. Fans have called for the 39-year-old designated hitter to be taken out of the lineup and, in extreme cases, cut from the team.

Then, when Sheffield went 0-for-5 on Tuesday night, fans at Comerica Park booed every out he made.

"I don't have any thoughts on that," Sheffield said. "That stuff doesn't change the way I prepare to play or how hard I play. It doesn't affect me."

Apparently so.

Sheffield has since gone 5-for-13 with a home run as the Tigers swept a three-game series with the Mariners and lost Friday's series opener with the Twins at Comerica Park. That includes his first three-hit game this season on Thursday.

Manager Jim Leyland is not surprised at his success the last few games. He said hitting coach Lloyd McClendon found a glitch in Sheffield's swing while the two were working in the batting cage earlier this week. Twice this week McClendon has straightened out a struggling hitter, having helped shortstop Edgar Renteria, as well.
Leyland has stood behind Sheffield during this season's struggles, and he said he still believes his DH can straighten out and have a solid season once he gets his timing fixed.

"I hope we can get him on a little bit of a roll," Leyland said. "It doesn't have to be a tear. Just get him rolling a little bit."

That could happen with the Twins in town. Sheffield has hit .286 against them this season and has a .303 career average against them in 59 games. His line-drive home run to left in the seventh inning on Friday helped the Tigers trim a five-run deficit to one, but they went on to lose for their second loss in their last six games.

"Once he gets back to being what they're used to seeing," Leyland said of Sheffield, "people will want him to be in there, big time. Trust me."

2008 Interleague Schedule
• May 16-18: at Diamondbacks
• June 13-15: vs. Dodgers
• June 16-18: at Giants
• June 20-22: at Padres
• June 24-26: vs. Cardinals
• June 27-29: vs. Rockies


Pitching matchup

DET: LHP Nate Robertson (1-5, 6.08 ERA)
Robertson retired 10 of the first 11 batters he faced and didn't allow a hit until the fourth inning in his latest outing Sunday at Arizona. A two-run fifth and two more in the sixth, however, sent him to defeat and continued the roughest start to a season in his big-league career.


MIN: RHP Boof Bonser (2-5, 5.25 ERA)
Bonser gave up more than one home run in a start for the first time this season, allowing two solo shots to the Rangers over his 6 1/3 innings Monday. Bonser delivered his sixth quality start of the season only allowing three earned runs in the outing. He ran into some late trouble against the Rangers which forced him out of the game in the seventh. Bonser got back on track by rectifying a problem from earlier this season of overthrowing the ball. The right-hander had five strikeouts and did not issue a walk. Bonser will next take the mound Saturday at Comerica Park in the middle of a three-game set against the Tigers.


Tidbits

Miguel Cabrera has hit safely in 11 of his last 12 games, batting .381 in that span. ... Placido Polanco is hitting .356 in his last 25 games. In his career against the Twins, he's batting .332 in 50 games. ... Sheffield hit his 483rd home run. He is 10 homers shy of tying Lou Gehrig and Fred McGriff for 25th on the all-time home run list.

On the Internet

MLB.TV
Gameday Audio
• Gameday
• Official game notes

On television
• FSN-HD

On radio
• 97.1FM/1270AM

Up next

• Sun., May 25: Tigers (RHP Justin Verlander (2-7, 5.61 ERA)) VS Twins (LHP Glen Perkins (1-1, 3.44 ERA)), 1:05 p.m. ET

• Mon., May 26: Tigers (LHP Kenny Rogers (4-4, 6.66 ERA)) AT Angels (RHP Jon Garland (5-3, 4.34 ERA)), 9:05 p.m. ET

• Tue., May 27: Tigers (RHP Jeremy Bonderman (3-4, 4.58 ERA)) AT Angels (RHP Ervin Santana (6-2, 3.24 ERA)), 10:05 p.m. ET

Starting Lineups

Minn
CF Gomez
2B Casilla
C Mauer
1B Morneau
RF Cuddyer
DH Monroe
LF Young
3B Macri
SS Harris

Det
CF :curtis:
2B :placido:
DH :sheff:
RF
1B
3B
LF :joyce:
C :pudge:
SS

67 degrees at game time. North Wind 5-10



GO TIGERS!

Stat of the day: Gary Sheffield's SLG against Minnesota this year... .667; higher than any other team.

There's probably a better stat out there, but I'm too lazy to find it.

bobrob2004 wrote:

Stat of the day: Gary Sheffield's SLG against Minnesota this year... .667; higher than any other team.

There's probably a better stat out there, but I'm too lazy to find it.

Slacker! :haha:

69 degrees right now!


GO TIGERS!

GO RED WINGS


GO PISTONS!

We are winning them all tonight!


YES!

Are you going to the game gs? Traffic is going to be hellish with everything happening today!

Go Tigers!!!!

Tigs better make Boof behave! he's a maverick!

Robertson catches the bunt pop-up, 1 out.

Can of corn for Granderson, 2 out.

Cabrera makes the play, 3 outs.

3 outs Yea Nate!

Hi brob

Where is everyone?

Base hit :placido:! C'mon :sheff:!!

Don't know, they normally trickle in, go ahead and call the plays

Keep that big leg kick Sheff, that is what they said you were missing!

:sheff: out , 2 out.

HOME RUN MAGGLIO ORDONEZ!!!

2-0 Tigers

Kiss that puppy goodbye 2 run homer for our boy Maggs!!!!

I think we have a home run contest between Maggs, Miggy and Matt Joyce!

Base hit for some Twin. There goes his no hitter...

Granderson catches it, Cuddyer out.

GoGetEmTigers wrote:

I think we have a home run contest between Maggs, Miggy and Matt Joyce!

Whatever works!

I remember a similar situation in 2000(?) between Dean Palmer and Bobby Higginson. It seemed that whenever one hit a HR the other hit one. They both ended up with the same amount at the end of the season.

Miggy, catch it with your glove, not your knee

K for Robertson, 3 out.

Hey gang, just sat down with my dinner, how are we doing?