Luvofthegame
09-02-2006, 08:53 PM
September 2, 2006
By MATT EAGAN, Courant Staff Writer NEW YORK
Gary Sheffield had a box of bats delivered to his locker at Yankee Stadium Friday afternoon but he won't be able to use them for at least another week.
Sheffield, who has been on the disabled list since May 14 because of a torn ligament and dislocated tendon in his left wrist, will be examined next Friday and expects to be cleared for batting practice at that time.
Once that happens, he says it won't take long to get ready.
"I don't have a doubt," Sheffield said. "Once I start batting practice I can jump on the field pretty quick."
Sheffield has been swinging a bat underwater during his rehabilitation and working out at first base, which seems his most likely position when he returns.
Bobby Abreu has solidified right field, Sheffield's old position, and Hideki Matsui is close to returning in left field.
Sheffield said he doesn't expect to have any problems adjusting to the infield.
"I played shortstop," Sheffield said. "Come on, first base. That's simple."
Yankees manager Joe Torre said he will not hesitate to put Sheffield in the lineup when he is cleared to play.
The Yankees have a comfortable lead over the second-place Red Sox in the AL East, and with minor league seasons about to end, Sheffield will probably not get a chance to go through an extended rehabilitation assignment.
He wouldn't want it anyway.
"Once he starts it's going to be a knife-through-butter type of thing," Torre said. "He's been chomping at the bit and has been a little impatient but from what I understand, he's been a good patient."
Sheffield said he asked to wait the extra week so that he could be certain the wrist has fully healed.
"My career is at stake," Sheffield said. "It's not like I have four or five years left on my contract. This is it for me."
Sheffield said he hopes to play three more years.
"Then I'm calling it quits," he said.
By MATT EAGAN, Courant Staff Writer NEW YORK
Gary Sheffield had a box of bats delivered to his locker at Yankee Stadium Friday afternoon but he won't be able to use them for at least another week.
Sheffield, who has been on the disabled list since May 14 because of a torn ligament and dislocated tendon in his left wrist, will be examined next Friday and expects to be cleared for batting practice at that time.
Once that happens, he says it won't take long to get ready.
"I don't have a doubt," Sheffield said. "Once I start batting practice I can jump on the field pretty quick."
Sheffield has been swinging a bat underwater during his rehabilitation and working out at first base, which seems his most likely position when he returns.
Bobby Abreu has solidified right field, Sheffield's old position, and Hideki Matsui is close to returning in left field.
Sheffield said he doesn't expect to have any problems adjusting to the infield.
"I played shortstop," Sheffield said. "Come on, first base. That's simple."
Yankees manager Joe Torre said he will not hesitate to put Sheffield in the lineup when he is cleared to play.
The Yankees have a comfortable lead over the second-place Red Sox in the AL East, and with minor league seasons about to end, Sheffield will probably not get a chance to go through an extended rehabilitation assignment.
He wouldn't want it anyway.
"Once he starts it's going to be a knife-through-butter type of thing," Torre said. "He's been chomping at the bit and has been a little impatient but from what I understand, he's been a good patient."
Sheffield said he asked to wait the extra week so that he could be certain the wrist has fully healed.
"My career is at stake," Sheffield said. "It's not like I have four or five years left on my contract. This is it for me."
Sheffield said he hopes to play three more years.
"Then I'm calling it quits," he said.