Saturday, April 18, 2009
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Friday, April 17, 2009
Blue Jackets off to rough start!!!
The playoff-neophyte Columbus Blue Jackets belonged on the ice with the mighty Detroit Red Wings for more than half of Game 1.
Then, Manny Malhotra made an awful decision and Columbus couldn't recover.
Detroit's Jonathan Ericsson scored the go-ahead goal with 6:39 left in the second period on a shot that Malhotra tried to snatch with his glove, the defending Stanley Cup champions scored again less than a minute later and went on to beat the Blue Jackets 4-1 on Thursday.
"I saw the shot all the way and I wanted to grab it," Malhotra said. "But I didn't get enough of it, obviously."
Obviously.
Detroit coach Mike Babcock certainly wasn't going to apologize for the fortunate break that proved to be the pivotal moment of the playoff-opening game.
"The way they're playing, everyone is playing goal and trying to block shots," Babcock said. "You can block a lot of shots, but it also ends up going off you sometimes."
Columbus' Ken Hitchcock insisted he doesn't coach his players to do what Malhotra did in front of goalie Steve Mason.
"We've made that mistake before and it cost us the same way," Hitchcock said. "That's an easy, simple save for Mason."
Chris Osgood had to make a diving save 1½ minutes into the game, bailing out a teammate who turned the puck over, and didn't give up a goal in the first period despite facing three power plays and 14 shots.
Mason stopped the first 21 shots he faced before giving up three goals -- two of which he was helpless -- in a five-shot stretch.
The rookie said the series is "absolutely" not over.
"We leave here with it being a game apiece and that will be a good accomplishment," said Mason, who finished with 30 saves.
Game 2 of the first-round series is Saturday night in Detroit.
The Blue Jackets were in control early, easily outshooting the Red Wings and not allowing a second shot until midway through the first period.
Mason turned away each of the 14 shots he faced in the first, and Osgood had 13 saves in the scoreless period.
"From there on it was all downhill," Mason said.
Detroit's Jiri Hudler fired up a restless crowd by scoring midway through the second period.
Undaunted, Columbus scored less than a minute later.
R.J. Umberger made it 1-all at 11:40 of the second period and it wasn't until Malhotra made the gaffe a few minutes later that the Red Wings truly seized the momentum.
Ericsson lifted a shot from above the right circle toward the net, Malhotra stuck out his left glove while standing in front of Mason and the go-ahead goal was in the books.
"This is playoff hockey. This is what happens," Hudler said. "Thank God it went in."
Forty-eight seconds later, Niklas Kronwall gave Detroit a two-goal lead on a shot that Mason never saw -- until it was past him -- because burly forward Johan Franzen was perched in front of him.
Less than three minutes into the third period, Franzen slipped a shot between Mason's right skate and the post to make it 4-1. He scored after two Blue Jackets went after Henrik Zetterberg behind the net.
"The fourth I'd like to have back," Mason said.
Despite the lopsided score, Columbus sounded confident about its chances in the franchise's first playoff series since joining the NHL for the 2000-01 season.
"The one thing that was a bit of a concern was guys being overwhelmed," defenseman Mike Commodore said. "We were in a tough building, but we came out and played on even terms with them.
Then, Manny Malhotra made an awful decision and Columbus couldn't recover.
Detroit's Jonathan Ericsson scored the go-ahead goal with 6:39 left in the second period on a shot that Malhotra tried to snatch with his glove, the defending Stanley Cup champions scored again less than a minute later and went on to beat the Blue Jackets 4-1 on Thursday.
"I saw the shot all the way and I wanted to grab it," Malhotra said. "But I didn't get enough of it, obviously."
Obviously.
Detroit coach Mike Babcock certainly wasn't going to apologize for the fortunate break that proved to be the pivotal moment of the playoff-opening game.
"The way they're playing, everyone is playing goal and trying to block shots," Babcock said. "You can block a lot of shots, but it also ends up going off you sometimes."
Columbus' Ken Hitchcock insisted he doesn't coach his players to do what Malhotra did in front of goalie Steve Mason.
"We've made that mistake before and it cost us the same way," Hitchcock said. "That's an easy, simple save for Mason."
Chris Osgood had to make a diving save 1½ minutes into the game, bailing out a teammate who turned the puck over, and didn't give up a goal in the first period despite facing three power plays and 14 shots.
Mason stopped the first 21 shots he faced before giving up three goals -- two of which he was helpless -- in a five-shot stretch.
The rookie said the series is "absolutely" not over.
"We leave here with it being a game apiece and that will be a good accomplishment," said Mason, who finished with 30 saves.
Game 2 of the first-round series is Saturday night in Detroit.
The Blue Jackets were in control early, easily outshooting the Red Wings and not allowing a second shot until midway through the first period.
Mason turned away each of the 14 shots he faced in the first, and Osgood had 13 saves in the scoreless period.
"From there on it was all downhill," Mason said.
Detroit's Jiri Hudler fired up a restless crowd by scoring midway through the second period.
Undaunted, Columbus scored less than a minute later.
R.J. Umberger made it 1-all at 11:40 of the second period and it wasn't until Malhotra made the gaffe a few minutes later that the Red Wings truly seized the momentum.
Ericsson lifted a shot from above the right circle toward the net, Malhotra stuck out his left glove while standing in front of Mason and the go-ahead goal was in the books.
"This is playoff hockey. This is what happens," Hudler said. "Thank God it went in."
Forty-eight seconds later, Niklas Kronwall gave Detroit a two-goal lead on a shot that Mason never saw -- until it was past him -- because burly forward Johan Franzen was perched in front of him.
Less than three minutes into the third period, Franzen slipped a shot between Mason's right skate and the post to make it 4-1. He scored after two Blue Jackets went after Henrik Zetterberg behind the net.
"The fourth I'd like to have back," Mason said.
Despite the lopsided score, Columbus sounded confident about its chances in the franchise's first playoff series since joining the NHL for the 2000-01 season.
"The one thing that was a bit of a concern was guys being overwhelmed," defenseman Mike Commodore said. "We were in a tough building, but we came out and played on even terms with them.
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Saturday, April 4, 2009
Will Bruins do damage in the playoffs?
A boost to his bank account and a stick to the head couldn't throw Tim Thomas off his game.
One day after signing a four-year, $20 million contract extension and 5½ minutes after being hit in the back of his helmet by Sean Avery, Thomas was mobbed by teammates celebrating the Boston Bruins' 1-0 win over the New York Rangers on Saturday.
The victory clinched the best record in the Eastern Conference for Boston for the first time since 2001-2002. And it may have been a preview of the first playoff round. The Rangers hold the eighth and final playoff spot in the East.
"Obviously, this stuff affects you to a certain point," Thomas said of the contract talks, "but I've been able to put it behind me and just concentrate on hockey."
He did that so well that the Bruins won their sixth straight game - five of them before he signed - and he got his fifth shutout of the season.
Blake Wheeler scored his 21st goal for Boston at 9:04 of the first period and nothing New York did could tie the game.
Then Avery hit Thomas as the goalie was stretching in front of his net during a television timeout with 5:24 left.
"I really like the fact that we kept our composure and got the win," Thomas said. "If you can react and not have it affect your game, then he didn't do his job and it didn't work."
After that, he made a save on a slap shot by Derek Morris on a New York power play and finished with 31 saves.
Thomas did chase Avery to center ice as Avery kept skating with his back to the goalie. He pushed Avery then was hit from behind by New York's Frederik Sjostrom. Thomas turned and swung at Sjostrom before officials separated players.
Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist stayed out of the action.
Thomas "looks like a pretty strong guy. When he goes after one of our guys, I looked at the bench for the OK," Lundqvist said. "I think he overreacted."
Avery was acquired on waivers by the Rangers on March 3 after being released by Dallas. While with the Stars, he was suspended by the NHL for crude public comments directed toward players dating his former girlfriends.
"I actually like the way he plays around the net. He's tenacious. He gets in right around the crease but he's not actually doing anything illegal," Thomas said, "but there's lines that you can cross and he seems to have a hard time figuring out what those lines are."
Both received two-minute penalties.
The Rangers have three games left and lead Florida, which was idle Saturday and has four games to play, by two points.
"It's a very, very important time right now," Lundqvist said. "We can't beat ourselves (up) very much right now. We're still in the eighth spot."
The victory gave the Bruins 112 points, 10 more than second-place Washington, which was idle. It also improved their record to 51-17-10, matching the fourth-most wins in team history, last achieved in 1992-93.
Thomas kept his shutout alive with an outstanding save midway through the second period. Ryan Callahan shot from about 15 feet, Thomas raised his right arm and the puck bounced off his body at 10:15.
About 8½ minutes later, he made a good glove save on Wade Redden's shot from the right circle.
With 10:10 left in the game, Lauri Korpikoski's shot from the left circle clanged off the post to the right of Thomas. Just 21 seconds later, the Rangers went on a power play when David Krejci was called for holding, but managed just one shot. And Markus Naslund's shot hit a post with just over three minutes left.
Lundqvist also played an outstanding game, but Wheeler's goal was enough to beat New York, which fell to 1-3-1 in its past five games. Defenseman Dennis Wideman passed the puck from the right corner to Wheeler, who connected on a slap shot from 10 feet above the right circle.
"I feel pretty out of place up there, so I was just happy to get the puck off my stick," Wheeler said.
The puck went under Lundqvist's pads.
"I should have gone down and blocked the shot," he said. "I moved for it like the normal pad save. It just took a right turn."
Lundqvist kept the Bruins from extending the lead when he stopped Milan Lucic, skating in alone on him, at 6:52 of the third period.
One day after signing a four-year, $20 million contract extension and 5½ minutes after being hit in the back of his helmet by Sean Avery, Thomas was mobbed by teammates celebrating the Boston Bruins' 1-0 win over the New York Rangers on Saturday.
The victory clinched the best record in the Eastern Conference for Boston for the first time since 2001-2002. And it may have been a preview of the first playoff round. The Rangers hold the eighth and final playoff spot in the East.
"Obviously, this stuff affects you to a certain point," Thomas said of the contract talks, "but I've been able to put it behind me and just concentrate on hockey."
He did that so well that the Bruins won their sixth straight game - five of them before he signed - and he got his fifth shutout of the season.
Blake Wheeler scored his 21st goal for Boston at 9:04 of the first period and nothing New York did could tie the game.
Then Avery hit Thomas as the goalie was stretching in front of his net during a television timeout with 5:24 left.
"I really like the fact that we kept our composure and got the win," Thomas said. "If you can react and not have it affect your game, then he didn't do his job and it didn't work."
After that, he made a save on a slap shot by Derek Morris on a New York power play and finished with 31 saves.
Thomas did chase Avery to center ice as Avery kept skating with his back to the goalie. He pushed Avery then was hit from behind by New York's Frederik Sjostrom. Thomas turned and swung at Sjostrom before officials separated players.
Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist stayed out of the action.
Thomas "looks like a pretty strong guy. When he goes after one of our guys, I looked at the bench for the OK," Lundqvist said. "I think he overreacted."
Avery was acquired on waivers by the Rangers on March 3 after being released by Dallas. While with the Stars, he was suspended by the NHL for crude public comments directed toward players dating his former girlfriends.
"I actually like the way he plays around the net. He's tenacious. He gets in right around the crease but he's not actually doing anything illegal," Thomas said, "but there's lines that you can cross and he seems to have a hard time figuring out what those lines are."
Both received two-minute penalties.
The Rangers have three games left and lead Florida, which was idle Saturday and has four games to play, by two points.
"It's a very, very important time right now," Lundqvist said. "We can't beat ourselves (up) very much right now. We're still in the eighth spot."
The victory gave the Bruins 112 points, 10 more than second-place Washington, which was idle. It also improved their record to 51-17-10, matching the fourth-most wins in team history, last achieved in 1992-93.
Thomas kept his shutout alive with an outstanding save midway through the second period. Ryan Callahan shot from about 15 feet, Thomas raised his right arm and the puck bounced off his body at 10:15.
About 8½ minutes later, he made a good glove save on Wade Redden's shot from the right circle.
With 10:10 left in the game, Lauri Korpikoski's shot from the left circle clanged off the post to the right of Thomas. Just 21 seconds later, the Rangers went on a power play when David Krejci was called for holding, but managed just one shot. And Markus Naslund's shot hit a post with just over three minutes left.
Lundqvist also played an outstanding game, but Wheeler's goal was enough to beat New York, which fell to 1-3-1 in its past five games. Defenseman Dennis Wideman passed the puck from the right corner to Wheeler, who connected on a slap shot from 10 feet above the right circle.
"I feel pretty out of place up there, so I was just happy to get the puck off my stick," Wheeler said.
The puck went under Lundqvist's pads.
"I should have gone down and blocked the shot," he said. "I moved for it like the normal pad save. It just took a right turn."
Lundqvist kept the Bruins from extending the lead when he stopped Milan Lucic, skating in alone on him, at 6:52 of the third period.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Carter helps Leafs get closer to maybe Tavares???
Criticized by their general manager, the Philadelphia Flyers answered the challenge.
Jeff Carter scored three goals, Danny Briere had a goal and three assists, and the Flyers beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 8-5 on Friday.
Simon Gagne, Randy Jones, Claude Giroux and Scott Hartnell also had goals for the Flyers, who passed Carolina for fourth place in the Eastern Conference. The top four teams get home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
On Thursday, GM Paul Holmgren made it clear the team's best players had to step up their performance after three losses in four games.
With his sharp words still ringing in their ears, the fired-up Flyers came out strong. Five players scored in the first period as Philadelphia made sure it didn't lose consecutive games to Toronto, which isn't going to the playoffs for the fourth straight year. The Leafs won the first game of the home-and-home series 3-2 Wednesday night.
"We were sitting comfortably in fourth place and sometimes you lose that intensity," Briere said. "That was a wake-up call and we responded."
Carter's first NHL hat trick gave him 44 goals. Only Washington's Alex Ovechkin has more this season.
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Luke Schenn, Boyd Devereaux and Mikhail Grabovski scored for the Leafs in the last four minutes of the second period to cut a 6-0 deficit in half. Nikolai Kulemin and Jamal Mayers also had goals for Toronto.
"We had some guys who basically mailed it in tonight and didn't want to compete," Leafs coach Ron Wilson said. "We knew that they would come hard."
The Flyers scored three times in a span of 4:38 to take a 3-0 lead. Jones got the first one on a backhander after the rebound from Briere's shot kicked right to him inside the left circle.
Briere helped set up the next goal by speeding up ice and sending a perfect crossing pass to the streaking Arron Asham, who quickly pushed the puck to Giroux. The rookie forward deked goalie Martin Gerber with a nifty fake and scored his eighth goal.
Gagne scored his 32nd goal on a power play, firing a slap shot from the slot through a screen. That was it for Gerber. He was replaced by Curtis Joseph after allowing three goals on nine shots. Joseph wasn't much better. He gave up two goals on five shots and returned to the bench for the start of the second period.
"It feels like playing soccer, the net keeps getting bigger and bigger, but you never know, you try to keep it close," Gerber said.
Hartnell made it 4-0 with his 30th goal later in the first. Carter scored on a breakaway 1:27 after that.
"Obviously, Homer said we needed to play better," Flyers coach John Stevens said. "It was a wake-up call."
With the son of one of the notorious Hanson brothers from the movie Slap Shot making his NHL debut, this briefly turned into a boxing match. Two fights broke out in the final minute of the first period, but the fisticuffs didn't carry over.
Christian Hanson, the son of Dave from movie fame, played his first game for the Leafs after signing a two-year deal on Tuesday. His father sat in the stands and drew loud applause when he was introduced in the third period.
Schenn's wrist shot from just inside the blue line started Toronto's comeback attempt. Devereaux scored on a one-timer 97 seconds later. Grabovski got a long rebound and slapped it past Martin Biron to cut the deficit in half.
But Carter scored early in the third and the Leafs couldn't get within two goals.
"I've had a lot of two-goal games. I'm just happy to get it out of the way," Carter said of his hat trick.
Jeff Carter scored three goals, Danny Briere had a goal and three assists, and the Flyers beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 8-5 on Friday.
Simon Gagne, Randy Jones, Claude Giroux and Scott Hartnell also had goals for the Flyers, who passed Carolina for fourth place in the Eastern Conference. The top four teams get home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
On Thursday, GM Paul Holmgren made it clear the team's best players had to step up their performance after three losses in four games.
With his sharp words still ringing in their ears, the fired-up Flyers came out strong. Five players scored in the first period as Philadelphia made sure it didn't lose consecutive games to Toronto, which isn't going to the playoffs for the fourth straight year. The Leafs won the first game of the home-and-home series 3-2 Wednesday night.
"We were sitting comfortably in fourth place and sometimes you lose that intensity," Briere said. "That was a wake-up call and we responded."
Carter's first NHL hat trick gave him 44 goals. Only Washington's Alex Ovechkin has more this season.
Advertisement
Luke Schenn, Boyd Devereaux and Mikhail Grabovski scored for the Leafs in the last four minutes of the second period to cut a 6-0 deficit in half. Nikolai Kulemin and Jamal Mayers also had goals for Toronto.
"We had some guys who basically mailed it in tonight and didn't want to compete," Leafs coach Ron Wilson said. "We knew that they would come hard."
The Flyers scored three times in a span of 4:38 to take a 3-0 lead. Jones got the first one on a backhander after the rebound from Briere's shot kicked right to him inside the left circle.
Briere helped set up the next goal by speeding up ice and sending a perfect crossing pass to the streaking Arron Asham, who quickly pushed the puck to Giroux. The rookie forward deked goalie Martin Gerber with a nifty fake and scored his eighth goal.
Gagne scored his 32nd goal on a power play, firing a slap shot from the slot through a screen. That was it for Gerber. He was replaced by Curtis Joseph after allowing three goals on nine shots. Joseph wasn't much better. He gave up two goals on five shots and returned to the bench for the start of the second period.
"It feels like playing soccer, the net keeps getting bigger and bigger, but you never know, you try to keep it close," Gerber said.
Hartnell made it 4-0 with his 30th goal later in the first. Carter scored on a breakaway 1:27 after that.
"Obviously, Homer said we needed to play better," Flyers coach John Stevens said. "It was a wake-up call."
With the son of one of the notorious Hanson brothers from the movie Slap Shot making his NHL debut, this briefly turned into a boxing match. Two fights broke out in the final minute of the first period, but the fisticuffs didn't carry over.
Christian Hanson, the son of Dave from movie fame, played his first game for the Leafs after signing a two-year deal on Tuesday. His father sat in the stands and drew loud applause when he was introduced in the third period.
Schenn's wrist shot from just inside the blue line started Toronto's comeback attempt. Devereaux scored on a one-timer 97 seconds later. Grabovski got a long rebound and slapped it past Martin Biron to cut the deficit in half.
But Carter scored early in the third and the Leafs couldn't get within two goals.
"I've had a lot of two-goal games. I'm just happy to get it out of the way," Carter said of his hat trick.
Sheff back in NY, Good or Bad???
Gary Sheffield plans to go for No. 500 with the New York Mets.
One home run shy of the milestone, Sheffield reached a contract agreement with New York on Friday, three days after he was released by the Detroit Tigers in a surprising move.
Just hours before opening their beaming new ballpark Friday night with an exhibition game against Boston, the Mets made another splash by acquiring the outspoken Sheffield. He is expected to be in New York on Saturday and the deal is contingent on him passing a physical, general manager Omar Minaya said.
The Mets get Gary Sheffield, who is one HR shy of 500, for $400K. (Getty Images)
"Gary gives us another element in the lineup and he gives us a different intensity, just because of the competitive guy that he is," Minaya said at Citi Field.
The 40-year-old slugger provides the Mets with a right-handed power bat, something they need to help balance the batting order. But his role on the team will be tricky: New York was already set at the corner outfield spots with Ryan Church in right and Daniel Murphy in left -- both left-handed hitters.
Mets manager Jerry Manuel said the team would give Sheffield time to get in shape to play the outfield, which he hasn't done regularly since getting hurt in 2006. Once he shows he's ready, Sheffield will probably see action in right, Manuel said.
"What this does for us, it really creates some depth in the team," Manuel said. "I believe that in the course of 162 regular-season games, depth is the one thing that is normally overlooked."
Manuel spoke to Sheffield and explained exactly what sort of role he envisions for the nine-time All-Star.
"If he can be close to something that he's been, that could be a tremendous, tremendous help," Manuel said. "He lengthens us out a bit with presence."
Church seemed comfortable with the move, too.
"He's more than welcome. He's a great player. He's just another piece for us," Church said. "I can't control what they do."
Sheffield is one big swing from becoming the 25th player to reach 500 home runs. The Tigers will have to pay $13.6 million of his $14 million contract this year while the Mets get him for the major league minimum of $400,000.
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Minaya said Sheffield has always wanted to play for the Mets ever since his uncle, Dwight Gooden, was a star pitcher for them in the 1980s and 90s. Sheffield played across town with the Yankees from 2004-06, putting up two big seasons followed by an injury-shortened one before he was traded to the Tigers.
Sheffield was Detroit's designated hitter before he was released. Shoulder injuries and other problems limited him to 114 games and a .225 average with 19 homers and 57 RBI last season. He hit .178 with five homers in 45 spring training at-bats this year.
When the Tigers released him, they said it was because they wanted to be a more versatile team. Now back in the National League, Sheffield will have to readjust to playing the field. How well he can do that remains to be seen.
"It's good. I hope he comes in with a good attitude," Mets first baseman Carlos Delgado said. "I'm sure he wants to prove to people that he can play."
Philadelphia, the Mets' biggest rival in the NL East, expressed interest in Sheffield soon after he was cut. The Phillies also could use a right-handed bat.
Cincinnati manager Dusty Baker, a longtime friend, called Sheffield to offer a part-time role with the Reds.
"Sheff just called me, too, left me a message," Baker said Friday in Zebulon, N.C., before the Reds' exhibition game against a collection of their top minor leaguers. "He told me he was going to sign with the Mets because he has a home in New York. He thought that was the best situation for him. I'm glad for him, and sad for us because I know him personally."
The addition of Sheffield could mean Marlon Anderson's days with the Mets are numbered. A pinch-hitting specialist, he batted .210 with a homer and 10 RBI last year.
Sheffield has also played for Milwaukee, San Diego, Florida, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta. He is a .292 lifetime hitter and ranks 27th on the career list with 1,633 RBI.
"He'll be a great asset. He plays hard every day," Delgado said.
One home run shy of the milestone, Sheffield reached a contract agreement with New York on Friday, three days after he was released by the Detroit Tigers in a surprising move.
Just hours before opening their beaming new ballpark Friday night with an exhibition game against Boston, the Mets made another splash by acquiring the outspoken Sheffield. He is expected to be in New York on Saturday and the deal is contingent on him passing a physical, general manager Omar Minaya said.
The Mets get Gary Sheffield, who is one HR shy of 500, for $400K. (Getty Images)
"Gary gives us another element in the lineup and he gives us a different intensity, just because of the competitive guy that he is," Minaya said at Citi Field.
The 40-year-old slugger provides the Mets with a right-handed power bat, something they need to help balance the batting order. But his role on the team will be tricky: New York was already set at the corner outfield spots with Ryan Church in right and Daniel Murphy in left -- both left-handed hitters.
Mets manager Jerry Manuel said the team would give Sheffield time to get in shape to play the outfield, which he hasn't done regularly since getting hurt in 2006. Once he shows he's ready, Sheffield will probably see action in right, Manuel said.
"What this does for us, it really creates some depth in the team," Manuel said. "I believe that in the course of 162 regular-season games, depth is the one thing that is normally overlooked."
Manuel spoke to Sheffield and explained exactly what sort of role he envisions for the nine-time All-Star.
"If he can be close to something that he's been, that could be a tremendous, tremendous help," Manuel said. "He lengthens us out a bit with presence."
Church seemed comfortable with the move, too.
"He's more than welcome. He's a great player. He's just another piece for us," Church said. "I can't control what they do."
Sheffield is one big swing from becoming the 25th player to reach 500 home runs. The Tigers will have to pay $13.6 million of his $14 million contract this year while the Mets get him for the major league minimum of $400,000.
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Minaya said Sheffield has always wanted to play for the Mets ever since his uncle, Dwight Gooden, was a star pitcher for them in the 1980s and 90s. Sheffield played across town with the Yankees from 2004-06, putting up two big seasons followed by an injury-shortened one before he was traded to the Tigers.
Sheffield was Detroit's designated hitter before he was released. Shoulder injuries and other problems limited him to 114 games and a .225 average with 19 homers and 57 RBI last season. He hit .178 with five homers in 45 spring training at-bats this year.
When the Tigers released him, they said it was because they wanted to be a more versatile team. Now back in the National League, Sheffield will have to readjust to playing the field. How well he can do that remains to be seen.
"It's good. I hope he comes in with a good attitude," Mets first baseman Carlos Delgado said. "I'm sure he wants to prove to people that he can play."
Philadelphia, the Mets' biggest rival in the NL East, expressed interest in Sheffield soon after he was cut. The Phillies also could use a right-handed bat.
Cincinnati manager Dusty Baker, a longtime friend, called Sheffield to offer a part-time role with the Reds.
"Sheff just called me, too, left me a message," Baker said Friday in Zebulon, N.C., before the Reds' exhibition game against a collection of their top minor leaguers. "He told me he was going to sign with the Mets because he has a home in New York. He thought that was the best situation for him. I'm glad for him, and sad for us because I know him personally."
The addition of Sheffield could mean Marlon Anderson's days with the Mets are numbered. A pinch-hitting specialist, he batted .210 with a homer and 10 RBI last year.
Sheffield has also played for Milwaukee, San Diego, Florida, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta. He is a .292 lifetime hitter and ranks 27th on the career list with 1,633 RBI.
"He'll be a great asset. He plays hard every day," Delgado said.
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