Sheffield had this to say in USA TODAY:

"I think that [A-Rod being lowered to the 8th spot] affected the morale and psyche of the entire team, not just A-Rod," Sheffield said. ""I'm not making any excuses, but everyone was wondering what was going on. It made it a real weird day. You would like to be treated with a little respect, I don't care who you play for. ...

We were worrying about all of that stuff, and we still had a game to play. If I'm on the other side, and all of a sudden they're putting Rodriguez eighth and putting me or Jason on the bench, you wonder what's going on.

Wow. Now, I've always said I liked Sheffield and part of me certainly does, but come on here. He's not coming back - he wasn't anyway, not with Damon, Abreu, Matsui and Melky on this roster - so I say good bye, thank him for his contributions and wish him good luck.

We as fans don't know much first hand. We know what we see with our own eyes on TV, we know what the media and other people tell us. That's pretty much it. But, if there is one thing that I believe, and a major, major reason Joe Torre has managed in New York for so long, it is that he treats his players with respect. To say "you would like to be treated with a little respect" is an insult. Sheffield has got nothing but support from the Yankees. And for him to say such a thing because of him being benched in one game and Jason being benched in another with A-Rod slid to the 8th spot is unbelievably short sighted and unreasonable.

Via Steve.