Opinion: The Clock is Ticking on Sheffield
The Mets will face Nationals LHP Scott Olsen tonight, marking the first time this season the team will face a left-handed starting pitcher.
Yesterday, Jerry Manuel told reporters he will likely start the 
right-handed hitting Fernando Tatis and Gary Sheffield in the outfield, while sitting Daniel Murphy and Ryan Church.
My guess is Manuel will put Tatis in left and Sheffield in right, and bat them in the sixth and seventh slots in the lineup, while keeping Carlos Beltran batting third and David Wright batting fifth.
Either way, from what I can tell, Sheffield better have a good game, if he hopes to stay with the team beyond May 1.
Personally, I think he is causing confusion on the roster.
Look, if he was going to hit well and be a presence, it was a worthwhile signing, because it would only cost $400,000. He’s looking better at the plate, but he’s just not getting the results; and so, aside from making outs, he must also be making life difficult for Jerry Manuel, who has two outfield corners and four players to fill them, one of which is a rookie, in Murphy, who does nothing but hit and who needs to play every day if he is going to get better on defense, and another in Church, who is the second-best defensive outfielder on the team and who is also hitting .333.
I realize it has only been 15 games, but if he continues to struggle, and Manuel needs the roster spot for a relief pitcher, I say cut him and let Murphy, Church and Tatis find order in their well-earned and necessary roles on the team.
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