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Sheffield returns to Yankee Stadium

Aug 16, 2007 - 1:10 PM Detroit (66-54) at NY Yankees (67-53) 7:05 pm EDT

BRONX, New York (Ticker) - Gary Sheffield said what he had to say about New York Yankees manager Joe Torre. Now it's the fans turn to tell Sheffield how they feel.

Sheffield makes his long-awaited return to the Big Apple for the first time as the Detroit Tigers open a four-game series with the Yankees on Thursday night.

In an interview with HBO last month, the 38-year-old slugger accused Torre of treating black players different than white when he played with the club from 2004-06.

Sheffield isn't concern about going back to Yankee Stadium.

"Sheffield fans are going to be Sheffield fans," he said. "And anyone who isn't a fan of mine, they'll do what they always do, whether it's there or anywhere else. I can't say when I played there every fan was my fan. They were fans when I hit a home run, so that's all that is."

Detroit gives the ball to ace Justin Verlander (12-4, 3.58 ERA), who gave up two runs and seven hits in six-plus innings to end his four-game winless streak with win over Oakland on Saturday.

The All-Star righthander was less then impressive in his first only regular-season appearance against New York, which recorded six runs through five frames on June 1, 2006.

Veteran Mike Mussina (8-7, 4.50) counters for the Yankees, who lost two of three to Baltimore in their last series. He picked up his fourth straight decision, limiting Cleveland to two hits in 7 2/3 innings.

This contest also will feature a pair of American League MVP hopeful as New York's Alex Rodriguez looks to outshine the Tigers' Magglio Ordonez. Rodriguez leads the AL with 39 homers and 114 RBI, while Ordonez has a major league-best .359 batting average.