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Injury leaves Sheffield considering retirement

By JOE VARDON
BLADE SPORTS WRITER

DETROIT — In the span of a few moments, Gary Sheffield talked yesterday about the possibilities of returning to the Tigers lineup tonight and walking away from baseball for good.

Sheffield missed his fifth consecutive game yesterday, an 8-2 win for Detroit over Texas, because of a persistent pain in his surgically repaired right shoulder. After getting cortisone shots in both shoulders Tuesday, he received another one in his right shoulder Wednesday night.

Sheffield, 39, said he’s hopeful his latest cortisone shot — given in the front of his shoulder, where he says the pain is — will enable him to return as the designated hitter when the Tigers open up a three-game series against the Los Angeles Angels tonight.

But if the pain persists, Sheffield could go on the disabled list, or possibly retire.

“If this shot doesn’t fix [the pain], I need to take whatever time I need to get it right,” said Sheffield, who is in his 20th major league season.

He also said: “I need to find out if I’m wasting my time trying to play. I am not going to put myself through [playing with pain] like the past. I don’t need to play. This is just another opportunity to win, and that’s why I’m here.”

Sheffield underwent surgery on Oct. 8 but said he’s been in pain since July. He said he will consult with Dr. John Uribe, who conducted the surgery, to see if he’ll ever play pain free.

Sheffield, a nine-time all-star with 481 career home runs, is batting .192 with a homer and two RBIs in 52 at-bats. He conceded he’s been mulling retirement for the last four years.

“I’ve got to think it all the way through, and I haven’t done that yet,” he said.

Paging Mr. Bonds...

Of course, Guillen to DH and Inge to 3B might work, too.

Sheffield gets third cortisone shot
04/24/2008 2:45 PM ET
By Jason Beck / MLB.com

DETROIT -- Gary Sheffield received three cortisone shots last year as he tried to play through a midseason shoulder injury that sapped his offense down the stretch. He has now received three cortisone shots this week.

Sheffield received a second shot in his right shoulder on Wednesday after getting one in each shoulder earlier this week. This one was more focused on the spot where he had labrum tears surgically repaired last fall.

He's hoping this shot finally allows him to swing a bat pain-free and return to the Tigers lineup, possibly by Friday, but the lack of progress is enough that he's considering the worst-case scenarios.

"I'm doing what I need to do to get it strong," Sheffield said on Thursday morning. "If it hurts, I have to let people know it hurts. I can't continue to go out there and play like that."

Thursday marked Sheffield's fifth consecutive game out of the lineup, but he has been dealing with shoulder issues pretty much since returning to action in Spring Training. He visited earlier this week with team physician Dr. Stephen Lemos, who found no structural damage, and he underwent cortisone shots in each shoulder to alleviate the soreness.

The shot in his right shoulder had little effect. Sheffield said he still felt pain even without doing baseball activities. Simply crossing his arms, he said, he could feel it.

It's enough of a concern now that Sheffield said he and team medical officials have contacted Dr. John Uribe, the surgeon who repaired his labrum last October, to get his take on the matter and make sure there isn't something worse to worry about.

If it becomes a longer-term issue, Sheffield said, then the end of his career becomes a consideration.

"Am I wasting my time trying to play? That's another thing," Sheffield said. "I might have to make a decision again. I'm not going to put myself through [more surgeries and rehabs] like the past. I'm not going to do that. I don't need to play. It's just a matter of having an opportunity to win again. That's the only reason I'm here."

Asked if he's thinking about retirement, Sheffield said, "I've been thinking about that for four years, but it just doesn't seem to happen. I can't really think emotionally about it. I have to think it all the way through, and I don't think I've done that yet."

This one is more optimistic.


Another day ...
Another shot for Gary Sheffield . Make that two injections of cortisone in his sore right shoulder this week and one in his left as he tries to return to the lineup.

Sheffield's absence grew to five games. But he hopes the second shot he received Wednesday night will clear the way for his return against the Angels this weekend.

But he's not sure yet that it will.

"I don't know what it's going to do," Sheffield said. "I don't know how damaged my shoulder is. When I got the shot in that area last year, my shoulder wasn't in the type of situation that it is now.

"At that point, it was for maintenance. I had a little tendinitis. It knocked it right out. This is after surgery. I need to find out why it's pinching in that area. That's what I want to know."

"Am I wasting my time trying to play? That's another thing. Once again, I have decisions to make. I'm not going to put myself through ... like the past. I'm not going to do it. I don't need to play. It's just a matter of having an opportunity to win again.

"That's the only reason I'm here. I could probably have gone to 15 other teams. I could have asked the Devil Rays to bring me home. I could have done a lot of different things, but I didn't.

"I came here with the hopes of a championship. Just getting a hit or home run doesn't make me feel good. Winning makes me feel good."

That's not to say Sheffield is on the verge of retirement. He believes his shoulder is going to feel better. That's what the cortisone is for.

"When it feels better, I'll play," he said.

But someday if the shoulder no longer responds to such measures, that'll be the time he walks away fully at peace with it, even as he is now.

"I'm not upset about it," he said. "I'm not irritated about it. I'm just going to wait and see how it goes. But I'll take whatever time I need to get it right. I think the shot hit right on the spot this time."

It's nothing new, of course, for Sheffield to allude to the possible end of his career.

"I'm always thinking about that," he said. "I've been thinking about that for four years. But it doesn't seem to happen. I have to think it all the way through, and I haven't done that yet."

I don't see it as a huge loss cuz he doesn't play the field. We're loaded with guys who can dh.

Let him retire and pick him up right before we need to name our playoff roster. :)

I hate to say this, but Sheff has been a bust with the Tigers. I like him, but he has done next to nothing for us.

I'd be down with Bonds. Pro-rated minor league deal, create some special media terms in his contract, and simply release him if he becomes a problem...

No Risk, High Reward situation.

If theres anybody who can manage a personality-filled clubhouse, I'd put my money on Jimmy...

If Sheff does retire, the only thing we can do is thank God that Humberto Sanchez's arm turned out to be made of playdough...

I hate to say this, but Sheff has been a bust with the Tigers. I like him, but he has done next to nothing for us.


I disagree, he was a huge part of our success last year. And a HUGE part of why Maggs won the batting title. He can draw a walk better than anybody in this league, and just his presence in the batters box is enough to put some fear into pitchers minds...

SI had a players poll back in March, "Who is the most intimidating hitter in the AL"

Number one, not Big Papi, not A-Rod, not Manny...

It was Gary Sheffield.

Why do people keep saying last year when they really mean two years ago...

And I agree, he was anything but a bust. That year.

He's not a bust here, but it wouldn't be the end of the world either. I hope he can stay and bat well.

Why do people keep saying last year when they really mean two years ago...

And I agree, he was anything but a bust. That year.

2 Years ago he hardly played for the Yankees....this is only his second year as a Tiger...

Wait for real? He wasn't part of the WS run?

Wow, my memory is fukked. I guess you are right. lol I can't believe I don't remember that.