http://www.sbnation.com/users/Natebond008 Posts made by Natebond008 on SB Nation http://www.blessyouboys.com/2008/5/8/482303/gary-sheffield-need-to-be Natebond008 Thu, 08 May 2008 04:28:46 -0000 <p>I'm sick of cheering Gary on, hoping he gets a hit.&nbsp; At this point Id rather boo him and scream for a pinch hitter</p> <p>Today was the cumulation of the frustration with Gary.&nbsp; Bottom of the 8th, down by one run, full count, men on first and second.&nbsp; Jim Leyland calls for the hit and run.&nbsp; The pitch by the left hander Okajima was a fast ball, belt high and right down the center of the plate.&nbsp; Gary Swings!... and misses.&nbsp; Maggs is thrown out at third by a mile because Gary couldn't even make <i>contact </i>with a fastball right down the middle.&nbsp; That cost us a scoring chance and almost the game (thank you Polanco).&nbsp;</p> <p>It doesn't seem to matter where you stick Gary in the lineup or the field, he is becoming a liability on offense.&nbsp; I don't know if i can excuse it for injury or what, but his bat does not seem to be feared by anyone anymore.&nbsp; He seems to pop out or strike out every other at bat.&nbsp; The only reason his batting average isn't under .100 is because he has so many "non at bats" because of walks.&nbsp;</p> <p>The problem is, what do you do with him.&nbsp; He is getting paid a ton of money to do one thing, hit.&nbsp; Jim Leyland seems to have the ultimate trust in him, but a two month slump is past a slump.&nbsp; I am sure the Tigers do not want to eat his salary by designating him.&nbsp; So really the only alternatives are DL, bench, or continue to play him and hope.&nbsp;</p> <p>The first option leaves us without Gary for at least 15 days.&nbsp; Thames could easily fit in Left or i suppose you could use Brandon as well.&nbsp; But this option would likely bring out the headcase that is Gary Sheffield.&nbsp; Benching also has the same problems of him not seeing live pitching for a certain amount of time, probably not real helpful to get his swing straight.&nbsp;</p> <p>Playing him is like batting a pitcher right now.</p> <p>My solution?&nbsp; None of those options.&nbsp; Gary is one of the strangest, craziest individuals in the world.&nbsp; He is probably completely backwards of any of us.&nbsp; Gary once said last year during his April slump that he <i>wanted </i>the Detroit fans to boo him for his poor performance.&nbsp; So my solution is boo the crap out of him until he starts hitting.&nbsp; During the games I watch and the games i have been to, the urging chant "GARY!&nbsp; GARY!" is predominant during any clutch situation he comes into.&nbsp; Gary hates being rooted for.&nbsp; Do the opposite!&nbsp; Boo him until we can cheer for him.&nbsp;</p> <p>His "best" series thus far has been the New York series.&nbsp; The New York fans hate Gary, for all kinds of reasons.&nbsp; They booed him every time he went up to bat.&nbsp; He even managed to get a HR during that series.&nbsp;</p> <p>I know this is completely opposite of how us Detroit fans normally act.&nbsp; We are very forgiving and optimistic about our athletes.&nbsp; We like to cheer for them.&nbsp; The best example is the fact that Detroit fans root for athletes everyone else hates, like Rasheed and Chelios.&nbsp; But we have to act more like New York fans wheneven A-rod goes 0-4.</p> <p>BOOOOOOO!!!!!!&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; BOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!</p>