Gotta Love Nick Swisher

 

I didn't want to sound like a sports talk radio caller. Callers to WFAN frequently propose ridiculous trades. But there was one guy I wanted the Yankees to trade for this past offseason: Nick Swisher. When last season ended I read quotes about how he was unhappy with his role there and didn't get along with Ozzie Guillen. I knew this was an example of what the Yankees never do: buy low. But they went out and did so, basically only giving up Wilson Betemit in the process. I would have given up a bag of balls for Wilson Betemit.

Swisher has been much more valuable than a bag of balls. Although I thought they would acquire him to play first base full-time, the Teixeira acquisition put the kielbasa on that. I was upset when I heard he wouldn't be starting in right and hoped that Joe Girardi would find some room for him in the lineup 4-5 days a week at least. Well Swish has succeeded every time he's been in there so far this season. He drinks a ton of Red Bull on the bench and then uses that energy on the field. He fires up his teammates. He seems to play with a passion that the Yankees have seemed to miss since the Paul O'Neill days.

And he's filled in wherever they needed him. They wanted to start him as a pitch hitter off the bench? He did that and in two pinch hit ABs, he had a double and a walk. Start him in right? Did that and got 5 RBIs. Start in left? Yup. First base when Tex got injured? Check. And last night he took one for the team and went in to pitch.

I would have missed this had it not been for blog contributor Wolinsky sending me a message to tell me to turn it on. It was hilarious with Swish shaking off the signs and throwing 75 mile per hour pitches over the plate. He actually struck out Gabe Kapler. And then what did he do? He threw the ball into the dugout to save as a memento of his first strikeout. Sadly, it was pointed out on the broadcast that he was the only pitcher the Yankees brought in yesterday who didn't give up a run. 

Now there is some risk here. Swisher wrote on his Twitter account (where he is great) that his arm killed last night and visions of Jose Canseco came into my mind. But the energy and passion he goes about his game and the ability and flexibility he gives this team is huge.

 

Peter Abraham has a great write-up on Swish's night. Also, MLB.com FINALLY posted video of the event (not able to embed but can check out the link)