The Twins, and Baseball, Through a Yankees Lens

[Ted Schwerzler]

If you’ve been watching the BBWAA Hall of Fame ballot over the past few years you have seen that Gary Sheffield is up for induction. The nine-time All-Star and 1997 World Series winner has quite the impressive resume. What you may not have yet noticed is that his son, Gary Sheffield Jr., is developing an equally impressive one of his own.

 

Image courtesy of Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports

Thinking back over his playing career, it’s hard not to view Gary Sheffield as a Florida Marlin. He became synonymous with those pinstripes, and his unique stance was one that many kids growing up in the 1990’s emulated. Sheffield is now 54 and his son, Gary Sheffield Jr., has begun to establish himself as a substantial force in the baseball world as a content creator.

Largely active on Twitter, but making consistent video and podcast appearances, Sheffield Jr. has developed a following not only for his name, but love of the Yankees. A vocal fan of the pinstripes his dad wore as a two-time All-Star during the 2004-06 seasons, he’s shown passion and shared plenty of takes with the baseball world.

Given how connected the Twins have been to the Yankees in the postseason, and New York’s dominance over Minnesota, I wanted to gather perspective on the club from the other side of the fence. Here’s what he had to say:

 

Twins Daily: Let's start with your own personal background. Where did sports take you personally, and how did you work your way into the content creation world?

Gary Sheffield Jr: My introduction and love for sports came from dad, but like any other kid, no one can keep you involved. Your love for sports, baseball for me, kept me leaning and playing all the way through college. I committed to Florida State after a big sophomore year in junior college baseball out in Arizona. I ended up hurt, took time away from school, and I wasn't able to continue on to the Division 1 level. What turned me on to content creation was hopping onto podcasts and realizing how much the game of baseball needed fresh voices. From my point of view, there were too many people sharing other people's content saying, "This is awesome!" and I found it boring. I knew there was a market for personalities like me, and that is what has driven me to continue down this path.

TD: You've probably had some cool interactions over the years through your dad and in clubhouses, but what has been your most exciting opportunity experience to come directly from your content creation work?

GS: I’ve grown up watching sports and that included plenty of basketball. As my account on Twitter has grown, more notable names start to fill your mentions and it leads to conversation with faces you never thought possible. I started a conversation about how Anthony Davis was attacking a zone defense in the playoffs — the following morning Kevin Durant is shooting me DM’s to talk basketball for hours. It made me realize that content creation is a place for people that love sports to come together and learn.

TD: As a Yankees fan, you got the Josh Donaldson experience after he was dealt from the Twins. How did you feel about the trade, his season, and the fact that he's being brought back?

GS: At first, I was happy for Josh Donaldson because I know him to be a great guy. But from a baseball standpoint, all I could do was scratch my head at the disappointment Yankees GM Brian Cashman has brought to Yankees fans the past decade. Routinely passing on stars and attempting to find the series of moves no one thought about, rather than making the obvious acquisition to make the Yankees better. Josh Donaldson played about how I expected a 36-year-old former MVP to play — flashes in the pan offensively and still found ways to contribute defensively. If it’s true he’s returning, it shouldn’t take me or any other talking head to reveal he’s not playing at a level to warrant a $25 million salary in 2023. Cashman has to find a way to rid us of his deal.

TD: For Minnesota, and plenty of other teams, the Yankees always present a measuring stick opportunity and a rivalry. How do Yankees fans view the Twins as a team and competitor?

GS: I almost feel bad because a lot of times, when it comes to Twins vs Yankees, it doesn’t feel like a lack of talent on the Twins’ part. The Yankees have come into playoff series with Minnesota and it almost feels like a dad in a fiery game of 1-on-1 with his son in the front driveway. No matter how prepared you think you are, dad always beats you. Whether he’s just better at the time or if it gets close he takes you into the post. The Twins in theory should get close one of these years but it’s gone on so long…maybe they don’t? Crazy stuff. 

TD: The last time Minnesota won a game in the postseason was nearly two decades ago, in 2004. The Yankees have bested them plenty in that stretch. Why do you think New York has had Minnesota's number in October?

GS: Just a mental edge. When you come into the postseason that’s filled with expectation and pressure, sometimes you have to rely on experience. The Yankees have experienced success against the Twins in October and even if the matchup favors Minnesota in any given year, those experiences have led to utter domination. Of course plenty around baseball would say the Twins’ rosters were just never as good as the Yankees, but that’s a conversation for another day. 

TD: Being a fan of a franchise that views success as World Series or bust, how hard has it been to put up with the drought since 2009. Are the seasons since truly a letdown even if they advance in the postseason?

GS: Very. It’s all about perspective as fans of these other organizations would love what we have. But those fans have to remember every team has a different set of standards and the Yankees standard, that Derek Jeter seemingly always talked about, was to win the World Series or be a deemed a failure. It’s a harsh reality that often feels spoiled, but it’s necessary if you want to go from winning 100 games every year to winning when it matters. 

TD: What's the number one thing on Brian Cashman's shopping list this offseason in your mind? Let's exclude Aaron Judge from that conversation, but for him specifically, what's the deal he should agree to?

GS: Other than Judge? It should be bats you would consider to be “consistent.” The Yankees issue over the years has been their inability to put pressure on quality arms. When you face the ace of a staff, sometimes you have to find ways to create traffic and help your best players succeed. Well, filling a lineup with “boom or bust” style hitters only creates more pressure for your lineup’s biggest names to carry the load. It’s a style that’s proven to fail in October and the Yankees need to prioritize that lineup if they want that break through against teams like Houston.

TD: Last but not least, what are you doing over the offseason outside of baseball to get you through until we have the first pitch on Opening Day 2023?

GS: I’m starting a podcast of my own. The best way for people to get to know you is by spending quality time listening to your more nuanced takes. Twitter, Facebook and Instagram almost oversimplify all of us and it makes you dislike people. That’s why I’m killing time podcasting because the more people that listen the more likely they understand me.

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[Riverbrian]

4 hours ago, Ted Schwerzler said:

Routinely passing on stars and attempting to find the series of moves no one thought about, rather than making the obvious acquisition to make the Yankees better

Interesting. A Yankee fan not happy. Actually sounding like some of our Twins fans in his complaint.

I was listening to MLB network a couple of days after the Judge signing and some caller was stating that Hal is to cheap to address the pitching. This was AFTER the judge signing. 

Is it possible that you can never spend enough to stop these sentiments?

Is it possible this attitude can't be satisfied and is therefore perpetual?

Is it possible that this attitude is prevalent in every single fan base?

Is it possible that it's just part of the human condition. 

 

 

 

 

[Squirrel]

20 minutes ago, Riverbrian said:

Is it possible that you can never spend enough to stop these sentiments?

Is it possible this attitude can't be satisfied and is therefore perpetual?

Is it possible that this attitude is prevalent in every single fan base?

Is it possible that it's just part of the human condition. 

yes

[ashbury]

1 hour ago, Squirrel said:

yes

I assume that to be a Chief-like "rhetorical yes" to Brian's rhetorical questions.

[Riverbrian]

15 minutes ago, ashbury said:

I assume that to be a Chief-like "rhetorical yes" to Brian's rhetorical questions.

My wife doesn't always understand my rhetorical questions?

Mrs. Riverbrian: Can you just talk like a normal person

Riverbrian: I like Rhetorical Questions.

Mrs. Riverbrian: Who Cares?

Riverbrian: Who Cares... Exactly... That's a classic!

Mrs. Riverbrian: Can you just talk like a normal person?  

[Squirrel]

1 hour ago, Riverbrian said:

My wife doesn't always understand my rhetorical questions?

Mrs. Riverbrian: Can you just talk like a normal person

Riverbrian: I like Rhetorical Questions.

Mrs. Riverbrian: Who Cares?

Riverbrian: Who Cares... Exactly... That's a classic!

Mrs. Riverbrian: Can you just talk like a normal person?  

Well, I can sometimes relate ... if we are being honest ... but I mean that in the nicest possible way. (Because I don't always get it. This time I did, though.)

[Squirrel]

1 hour ago, ashbury said:

I assume that to be a Chief-like "rhetorical yes" to Brian's rhetorical questions.

possibly

[ashbury]

1 hour ago, Riverbrian said:

My wife doesn't always understand my rhetorical questions?

Mrs. Riverbrian: Can you just talk like a normal person

Riverbrian: I like Rhetorical Questions.

Mrs. Riverbrian: Who Cares?

Riverbrian: Who Cares... Exactly... That's a classic!

Mrs. Riverbrian: Can you just talk like a normal person?  

Put a question mark on Mrs's first remark, give yourself a snappy comeback to that too, and you've got the makings of an Abbott and Costello routine.

[Riverbrian]

50 minutes ago, ashbury said:

Put a question mark on Mrs's first remark, give yourself a snappy comeback to that too, and you've got the makings of an Abbott and Costello routine.

• Ralph: That's the trouble with you, Alice. You don't know the latest developments!
  Alice: I don't know the latest developments??! Who is it that lets your pants out every other day??