On Baseball

Bill Burt

BOSTON - Gary Sheffield, one of the most hated Yankees in recent Red Sox-Yankees lore, really wanted to play in Boston. No, I mean he really wanted to play.

Sheffield said despite some of the problems he's had in visits here with the Yankees - fans chanting "Sterrrr-oids! ... Sterrrr-oids!" and his tiff with a fan in right field for interfering with a fair ball in 2005 - the Red Sox were "secretly" first on his list of potential teams after he was finished in the Bronx.

In fact, some of his desire to exit New York centered on some "disingenuous" comments made by Yankees general manager Brian Cashman in Tampa in February.

"The media was making a big deal about my option year, so Cashman called me into his office to talk about it," said Sheffield, who did a book signing at noon yesterday in downtown Boston promoting his new autobiography "Inside Power," written along with David Ritz. "He said they were going to hold off on picking it up a little bit to see how I was doing. If things were going well, they would pick it up. I wasn't happy, but there was nothing I could do.

"So I asked Cashman what I should say to the media," said Sheffield. "He said, 'Tell them what we talked about.' So the media is waiting and I tell them what Cashman said, that they would wait and see about picking up my option. The next thing I know, Cashman tells the media he didn't tell me anything about picking it up during the season."

So guess what happened? Sheffield got angry.

"I'd averaged 35 homers and 125 RBIs the previous three years and he's telling me we have to wait?" said Sheffield. "Then he lies to the media? I was ticked off. I just shut my mouth and played."

He also got hurt, playing in only 39 games.

And, he says, he secretly thought about playing in Boston.

"I love the atmosphere here," said Sheffield. "This park is always full. The fans are always into the games. I never had a problem; it was only a few people. The thing I liked about here is the Red Sox want to win."

The plan was to play out his contract with the Yankees letting him go after last season, as Cashman implied would happen.

"I didn't say anything about the Red Sox, but people began talking about it," said Sheffield. "I really thought it was going to happen. But Cashman picked up the option and they traded me to Detroit."

While it wasn't Boston, it was a very good consolation prize.

The Tigers immediately extended his contract two extra years at a $28 million price tag.

"I am lucky because Detroit is a very good place to play baseball," said Sheffield. "The reason is (Jim) Leyland. The guy tells the truth all of the time. When he says something, he means it. We have a very good team here. The city has been very supportive of the team. And we're winning. I am lucky things worked out."

Those who know Sheffield say the perception that he is a malcontent is just that, a perception - a false perception.

"I will take a team full of Gary Sheffields every day of the week," said Tigers first baseman Sean Casey. "He cares about winning. Are you kidding me? I love being around him. Gary is a very quiet, proud guy. I don't know where that stuff comes from, but I consider him one of my favorite teammates."

Sheffield said 99 percent of the people who came to yesterday's book signing were great.

"To be honest, I was expecting more Yankees fans," he said. "I saw a lot of people wearing Red Sox hats and jackets. They were very nice. A lot of them told me they wished I was here, but that they were glad I was out of New York."

Sheffield says he won't confuse the Red Sox-Tigers rivalry - which very well could heat up again in October - with the one he participated in the previous three years down Interstate 95. That experience was better than special.

"The fans hate each other and that's fun, to be honest," said Sheffield. "I've told a few guys (on the Tigers), who think this place is exciting (this week). I've told them about the Sox-Yankees rivalry. There is nothing like it."

What might have happened if the Yankees let him go and he signed with the Red Sox? J.D. Drew probably would be making $14 million a year with the Dodgers, and the Red Sox would have one of the most feared hitters in the game at the No. 5 spot, behind David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez.

"Yeah, I thought about that," said a smiling Sheffield. "It would have been something."

After a slow start this season - he hit only .200 with two homers and eight RBIs in April - he is putting up Sheffield-like numbers again in the first half of May, hitting .313 with four homers and nine RBIs.

"I believe this Red Sox team is the best team I've seen them have since I joined the Yankees (in 2003)," said Sheffield. "Their starting pitching is very, very good. I don't see any holes."

"But," he added, before heading out of the clubhouse. "We have a good team, too. We have very good starting pitching, too. It could be very interesting."

Anytime Sheffield is involved, even if he is smiling more these days, count on interesting.

Bill Burt is executive sports editor of Eagle-Tribune Publishing. E-mail him at bburt@eagletribune.com.