Sheffield hints he's Yanks' straw

By wire services
Published August 6, 2005

TORONTO - Gary Sheffield knows who leads the Yankees, and it apparently isn't Derek Jeter or Alex Rodriguez.

Sheffield all but appointed himself the Yankees' most valuable player in an interview with New York magazine, accusing reporters of distorting truth and ruining team chemistry.

"I know who the leader is on the team," Sheffield told the magazine. "I ain't going to say who it is, but I know who it is. I know who the team feeds off. I know who the opposing team comes in knowing they have to defend to stop the Yankees.

"I know this. The people don't know. Why? The media don't want them to know. They want to promote two players in a positive light, and everyone else is garbage."

Sheffield said Friday in Toronto that Jeter is not the leader. "Jeter is our captain. He's not the leader," Sheffield said.

Sheffield, however, said the magazine writer made up things to "juice the story." He said he had an assistant with him to make sure the interview stayed positive.

"It's typical. That's the life of being me," Sheffield. "It's tough for me to do interviews when people have pens that have motives. It was supposed to be a positive interview."

""New York magazine stands 100 percent behind Stephen Rodrick's story. Mr. Sheffield's statements are on audio tape," magazine spokeswoman Serena Torrey said.

Sheffield said he talked to Jeter after hearing about the article from his assistant. He said he couldn't get a hold of Rodriguez.

BROADCASTER UNDER FIRE: A talk-show host for the Giants' flagship radio station was suspended for a week without pay for racial remarks he made about the team's Latino player, though the station said he would not be fired.

Late Wednesday after a loss, Larry Krueger of KNBR went off about the struggling club and its "brain-dead Caribbean hitters hacking at slop nightly." Later, he said, "You have a manager in Felipe ( Alou) whose mind has turned to Cream of Wheat."

Krueger apologized, but that meant little to the Giants. "I think an apology is not going to be enough for that type of comment," Venezuelan shortstop Omar Vizquel said.

SUSPENSIONS: Indians starter Kevin Millwood was suspended for five games and reliever David Riske for four for intentionally hitting batters during a game against the Mariners on July 29. Indians manager Eric Wedge and bench coach Robby Thompson were each suspended one game because the beanings came after plate umpire Chris Guccione issued warnings to both teams. Mariners right-hander Shigetoshi Hasegawa was fined an undisclosed amount but was not suspended for intentionally hitting Grady Sizemore earlier in the game.

Meanwhile, Tigers catcher Ivan Rodriguez was suspended for four games for arguing with the plate umpire during a July 30 game against Oakland.

JAYS WAIT FOR ACE: Toronto right-hander Roy Halladay will not return from the disabled list Sunday as hoped. Halladay, recovering from a fractured left leg, still has pain while planting during his delivery.

[Last modified August 6, 2005, 01:36:22]