Detroit slugger Gary Sheffield had an idyllic view of the New York Yankees when he joined the team before the 2004 season.
Sheffield also had a strong friendship and trust with Barry Bonds when he went to California and to train with the slugger one off-season.
Those opinions quickly changed, and once again, Sheffield isn’t shying away from sharing his thoughts.
The latest controversy surrounding Sheffield surfaced Friday, with comments he made to HBO’s Real Sports, in an episode scheduled to air Tuesday night. Sheffield had strong words for Yankees’ manager Joe Torre and shortstop Derek Jeter, as well as Bonds.
“They came to me, they asked me certain questions and whatever you ask me I’m going to answer,” Sheffield said before Friday night’s game in Seattle. “Whether you like it or not I’m going to answer.”
Sheffield’s strongest opinions were about the Yankees and Torre. Sheffield said Friday he felt disrespected from the time he arrived in New York, claiming early in his New York tenure that Torre said the Yankees should have instead acquired Vladimir Guerrero.
“When you’re hearing that from your manager when you are out there busting your butt for him, that’s disrespectful,” Sheffield said. “But no one came to my defense to say it was disrespectful.”
Sheffield claims black and white players in the Yankees clubhouse were treated differently, specifically how players Tony Womack and Kenny Lofton were handled by Torre. In the interview with HBO, Sheffield says the black players on the Yankees’ roster would be “called out” in the clubhouse by Torre, while the white players would be called into Torre’s office to discuss matters.