This report from ESPN notes that apparently, Gary Sheffield wants to talk to the Boss but Yankee "middle-men" won't allow it. Well, think about it Gary - if the newspaper reports are to be believed, Cashman never wanted you here; he wanted Vlad. The only reason you got picked up was due to Steinbrenner making the call. Cashman would be a fool to let that happen again so sorry, Gary, that well is dry.

Still, the most interesting (and annoying part of the article) is the following quote from Sheff:

"My situation, honestly, the truth about it, I never was comfortable," Sheffield said Wednesday night at the opening of the Brooklyn Diner's Times Square location. "I was always feeling a little insecure about where I fit here and where I belonged, or do they want me here? And I had to play on those terms, and I was being a man about it and going out and trying to do my job under the conditions."

Listen, I was for the guy when he was carrying the Yanks to the postseason with a bum right arm and striking fear into the hearts of opposing pitchers. However, I have always liked Vlad more and this just keeps piling on to that. Gary is complaining about the fact that the Yankees will be forcing him to honor his $13 million contract (which he negotiated and signed) and now he has the gall to come out and say that he's being a man about this? Give me a break! His actions are the same ones you see spoiled children do at recess. For a while, he played nicely with others but once something changes and he's not getting his way, he wants to take his ball and go home (be declared a free agent) or run crying to a grown up (complain to George).

Still, if nothing else comes of this, it's really been very impressive how quickly Sheff turned the good will towards him into bitterness - he could run a how to clinic on the process.