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I don't want to make this into a political commentary, but it is STILL a fact that this country does not react well to outspoken Black people.

Sheff may have pissed and moaned a bit too much, but he was great on the field. Really, how much more could he have given us? In his first 2 years, I believe he was the most feared hitter in our lineup.

And we don't like to think about it, but being Black in America is (better then it's even been but) still difficult. We don't know the life issues he, and other Black players, have had to deal with. Everyone reacts differently. Not everyone is cut is the MLK mode.

So if he has a bit of a chip on his shoulder, I can live with it. After all, how many outspoken white players are considered 'uppity honkeys'?

Boomer Wells was out-spoken. And, FWIW, I could see where some might have seen him as trashie. I want to think some more to see if I can come up with a case where a white player was considered "uppity."

Would Steve Howe qualify as being out-spoken? I just thought of him.

Any athlete who opens his mouth is going to get ripped by the media. Bottom line. It doesn't matter if he's black or white. Racism exists in this world, but I think it's a level playing field in sports. The media hates (and loves) guys like Sheffield or the Giants' Jeremy Shocky -- they want their quotes, but then they beat them over the heads with them because they said it.

The thing is -- black or white -- Sheffield is an angry jerk who's never happy. Like every other relationship he's had with a team, his time with the Yankees was great until it ended. He can't remain happy with a team because it's simply not who he is. He has a few good years and then leaves or forces a trade.

I don't think guys like Sheffield or Barry Bonds represent black baseball players in any way. I think the problem is that in a sport with a decreasing number of black players, they stand out.

One thing that made me laugh about the above blurb was the "clutch hitter" tag. Really? I recall Sheffield having some gaudy RISP numbers one year, but he sure didn't clutch up in the playoffs. While everyone was killing A-Rod for his series against the Sox in '04, they should have looked at Sheffield's numbers over the last four games. I always felt like Sheff cared a lot more about himself than the team when he was in the box. That's why I don't fear playing him in '07. He'll hit bombs off of Moose, Pettitte and Igawa, but when the game is on the line, he'll try to break the sound barrier with his swing and pop the ball up.

I thought the same thing you did, Steve: how will A-Rod react to this book? Isn't it amazing that if a butterfly flaps its wings in China, it affects A-Rod in some way? I still think Cashman was a fool not to try to force a trade to the Angels.

Would Steve Howe qualify as being out-spoken? I just thought of him.
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I wouldn't think so. Probably Jeff Nelson or Billy Martin...

Racism exists in this world, but I think it's a level playing field in sports.
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Nah. When have you ever seen the term "gritty" "gutty" or "scrappy" used with a player that wasn't white?

Remember how Rickey was killed in '87? He was playing with a torn hamstring, yet people thought he was "jaking it." Despite the numbers he put up, people always were asking for more. I still think he wasn't appreciated when he was here.

As for Sheffield, I don't think he left Atlanta on bad terms, but I could be wrong. He left Florida & San Diego in salary dump moves. The problems he had with the Yanks and Dodgers were $$/respect related.

~~~When have you ever seen the term "gritty" "gutty" or "scrappy" used with a player that wasn't white?~~~

Tony Womack?

Womack? Good question. Quick google search (gritty, gutty, "tony womack") reveals the tag applied to David Eckstein, Bo Hart, & Joe McEwing.

It's not a real in-depth search, so YMMV

~~~I thought the same thing you did, Steve: how will A-Rod react to this book? Isn't it amazing that if a butterfly flaps its wings in China, it affects A-Rod in some way?~~~

It will probably always be that way as long as he is here.

When have you ever seen the term "gritty" "gutty" or "scrappy" used with a player that wasn't white?
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I personally think of Luis Sojo and Miguel Cairo. What about Chone Figgins?

Jose Reyes? There are lots I'm sure. Those are just off the top of my head.

Willie Randolph?

".. Sheffield has a ghetto mentality of ” Give me da money “. He has that me, myself and I attitude. He’s selfish and is not a team player. Torre was right, Vlad would have been a better choice."

I cut this comment off another Yankee Blog talking about Sheff. I am not interested in pointing fingers or making accusations. My guess is, the author of this comment would not feel he is prejudiced towards Blacks. I'm sure you and I don't feel that we are prejudiced towards Blacks.

However, when Zito, Lilly, Nancy Drew and many others got huge contracts, I don't remember reading comments like: "has a ghetto mentality of Give me da money".

Racism is hard to define and harder to admit.
Last year, Sheff made the same money as Mats and Damon... and he's a greater impact player then both. I don't think he was overpaid. It is well known that 95%+ of players 'go for da money'.
Yes, Sheff often suffers from foot-in-mouth disease, but I read such strong reactions to him, and I can't help but wonder if a 'white guy' would get the same noise. Just something for us to think about.

I've heard "flashy" applied to Reyes. Randolph was always "steady" or "consistent"

As for Cairo, Figgins, and Sojo, I can't really come up with anything, using the terms I listed above.

But, Raf, do you think Sheffield's reputation is because he's black or because that's who he is (someone who's angry and has a huge chip on his shoulder)? Maybe I'm wrong here, but I personally believe Bonds and Sheffield could be Mongolian and they'd still be perceived the same way. In cases like this, I just don't think their race has anything to do with it. Bonds is, frankly, an A-hole. Sheffield, on the other hand, speaks his mind, which always gets people in trouble. He also has this odd sense of persecution. He always thinks people are out to get him and that he has to prove them wrong.

Derek Jeter is the face of baseball. He's probably considered the model player by baseball, and he sets the standard for everyone around him (not just on his team, but all teams). You don't hear anything negative about Jeter because there's nothing to be negative about. Is it all offset because he's half-white and doesn't have dark skin?

I just think the person creates his own persona in the media. It doesn't come out of thin air or racism (not totally, anyway).

I've never heard negative things about Carl Crawford, Tom Gordon, Chone Figgins, Gary Matthews Jr., Preston Wilson, Kenny Lofton (though he's considered a bit of a whiner), Reggie Saunders -- etc., etc. -- and I don't think it's about their race. I think it's about who they are as men. I think if you take Sheffield's race away from his comments the reaction by the press and fans would be the same.

Maybe I'm wrong here. I don't know. I've lived and worked with black people my entire life and have had this discussion repeatedly with them. Sometimes I agree with them and sometimes I don't, but in this case -- especially about Sheff -- I don't think it's all based on race (or not enough to suggest that if Sheffield was white he'd be thought of differently).

Just my opinion. But it's impossible to say for sure unless you get inside the minds of the media.

Thanks Raf, re: Randolph.

Gritty, Gutty, and Scrappy are on the Seven Dwarves practice squad.