For a guy who doesn?t trust reporters, Gary Sheffield sure can?t stop talking to them. This Monday, in an article that will appear in New York Magazine, Sheffield gives his state-of-the-union address on who the real leader of the Yankees is, and it isn?t Derek Jeter or Alex Rodriguez. Without specifically naming himself, Sheff leaves no doubt as to who he believes the Yankees look up to. I know who the leader is on the team," Sheffield tells New York writer Stephen Rodrick. "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." The ?two players?, of course, are Jeter and A-Rod. "Why shouldn't I tell the truth??, Sheffield continues, with a swipe at A-Rod?s national endorsement deal. ? I ain't trying to get no Pepsi commercial.?. Perhaps Sheffield is trying to reincarnate the spirit of Reggie Jackson, who inflamed catcher Thurman Munson back in 1977 when he told reporters that he was ?the straw that stirs the drink? in the Yankee clubhouse. But Jackson was one of several leaders on a brawling, colorful Yankees team that fought its way to two World Championships. Sheffield is just the most discontented voice on a detached Yankees team that hasn?t won a World Series in four years. And yet ? as much as much as Sheffield?s detractors (and there are many) will condemn the outfielder for another ill-advised outburst in the midst of a pennant race ? there?s an uncomfortable ring of truth to Sheff?s words. And the truth is what Sheff has never been shy about voicing. Even if it?s a skewed view of the truth. Even if there?s no one in baseball with a bigger persecution complex. Sheff can get away with this because, as difficult a personality as he may be, in baseball, people listen to a guy who hits .300 and knocks in 100. Like Jack Nicholson lecturing hot-shot lawyer Tom Cruise in ?A Few Good Men?, Sheffield seems to be telling his underperforming teammates, ?you can?t handle the truth?. Whether Sheffield is the leader is almost irrelevant. This is an angry superstar challenging his teammates to step it up. Though he blames the media for ?ruining? the Yankees team chemistry, the team itself has become a collection of imported mercenaries with little connection to each other. Instead of a tight-knit nucleus of players who grew and won with each other, the Yanks are dependent on the annual uber-star acquisitions to secure a championship. Though some of those players from that nucleus are still in pinstripes, a couple of them, namely Bernie Williams and Tino Martinez, are shadows of what they once were. Jeter, the team captain, is still considered the heart and soul of the Yankees. Statistically, Rodriguez is the best player. But are they leading like they should? Apparently, Sheffield doesn?t think so. With their 58-50 record and a pitching staff in tatters, Sheffield knows the Yankees need a fire lit under them. It would be great to report that Sheffield has stood by his words, and opinions be damned, but he hasn?t. A day after advance copies of the story circulated, Sheff was already into misquote and denial mode. That's the life of being me," Sheffield told the New York Times. "It's tough for me to do interviews. When people have pens, they have motives. In the same article, he added, "There's a lot of things in there he just made up to juice the story,? without elaborating on what was made up. You want the truth? Even Sheff can?t handle it.