New York Yankees notes: Nick Swisher, Phil Hughes and more
by Ed Valentine on Oct 24, 2009 9:59 AM EDT
in New York Yankees Analysis
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PrintHere are a few stories around the Yankee Universe for you to ponder while waiting to see if there will be baseball tonight at Yankee Stadium.
For my part, I sure hope so. I want the Yankees to finish off the Angels tonight, so I don't have to flip between the Yankees-Angels and the NFL game between my Giants and the Arizona Cardinals Sunday night.
What to do about Nick Swisher?
So, what should the Yankees do about the slumping Nick Swisher? If he could have gotten a 9th-inning hit Thursday the Yankees would likely already be in the World Series. Swisher is now just 3-for-29 (.103) in the post-season.
Steve Politi says Swisher has to sit.
How many more at-bats can manager Joe Girardi possibly give this guy to turn it around?
Girardi has shown faith in his right fielder, rewarding his 29-home run, 82-RBI regular season. He has been a popular figure in the loosey-goosey clubhouse, one of the reasons the Yankees went from button-down to pie-in-the-face during this 103-win season.
"Guys are going to struggle during the course of the season and you just don’t give up on a guy if he is struggling because the flip side of that is they are due to get hot," Girardi said before Game 5. "We feel good about Swish."
But everything has his limits, and now the manager should play somebody else — anybody else — to try a different look. Put in Brett Gardner. He might not be an upgrade, but could he possibly be worse?
Because it is just not happening for Swisher.
Girardi has indicated he might just do that. Or, he might change the batting order. Or, he might do nothing.
"We'll sleep on it, and we'll make a decision what we're going to do," Girardi said Friday. "But Swisher is a good player and Swisher has done a lot of good things for us this year. And you look at the matchup against [Angels Game 6 starter Joe] Saunders -- he's had some hits off of Saunders.
"It's not just one guy necessarily that you think about," Girardi said. "You think about where you might put the parts. Do you flip-flop guys? I don't ever really rush into decisions, because the one thing about the playoffs is you usually have a lot of time to think about it."
My take: I don't necessarily agree with it, but I think you are going to see Swisher in the lineup against Angels' left-hander Joe Saunders. If Swisher sits, my guess is it will be Jerry Hairston in the lineup rather than Brett Gardner, simply because he hits right-handed.
Are you worried about the bridge to Mo?
Phil Hughes (nine hits in 4 2/3 innings, and a 5.79 ERA) and Joba Chamberlain (seven hits in 2 2/3 innings)have not been the lights out bridge to Mariano Rivera the Yanks hoped for this post-season.
Pitching coach Dave Eiland said the Yankees will go with what got them to this point.
"You trust it, and you go with what got you here," Eiland said. "Don't change now. We've won, what, 109 games including the postseason? We are not going to change anything."
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Batting Order
Should Matsui be batting 5th? I’m not saying he sucks. He’s got power. But his knees are a disadvantage to a big inning when runners are important. Although you can never really guess when a big inning will come in the order. His running is going to be an achilles no matter where he bats. I just hope he hits HR’s so we don’t have to worry about it lol.
On the other hand, our problem hasn’t really been our offense has it? Look at the Angels 2 wins and it falls squarely on the pitching. Blaming Swish, as much as I want to, is like blaming a kicker for an NFL loss. Yes it was his job to win it. But why were we even in that situation?
I say keep it the same. Changing things now messes with their psyche. This series should be over. The Angels needed the stars to align just to get the wins they did. We don’t need as much effort to beat them. Tonight is ours. No worries.
I was such a dangerous hitter I even got intentional walks in batting practice. ~Casey Stengel, 1967
by tarheel_highlander on Oct 24, 2009 10:33 AM EDT reply actions
I agree
keep it the same. Leave Matsui 5th. Leave Swisher in the lineup. You don’t change whats been working all season in the playoffs. Swish has been struggling, but I still believe that he can break out of it and should continue to start.
As far as who is batting 5th, I say who is going to replace him? Cano? That didn’t work this season. Swisher? Not the way he’s been hitting. Posada? Maybe against Saunders I could see Jorge batting 5th, but otherwise you’ll see Matsui in there, hitting 5th, every day.
but again, if swish was a kicker he would of missed alot of FG.
he did leave alot on base.
"I'm not superstitious, just a little stitious"- Michael Scott
Tiime for the kill
Put ARod 3rd and let Tex hit 4th. Sciosia might think twice about putting Alex on a bit more. Remember Gehrig hit after the Babe. And put Gardner in CF. Angels can run, Gardy is the best outfielder the Yanks have, great arm, blazing speed. His hitting is at least a 50-50 option compared to Nick. Would give us Nick on the bench as a PH if needed. And if he were on the bench, he would come to the PH bat full of fire at being benched and gorget his worry drone about the slump. Gotta get the best 9 out there today (or tomorrow if it rains out today).
by Nine mike charlie on Oct 24, 2009 12:11 PM EDT reply actions
Gardner has a terrible arm
his arm is not much better than Johnny Damon’s actually.
And as far as switching A-Rod and Tex, I say no to that. Tex has been struggling, and putting him behind A-Rod will make it even harder for him to get on a roll.
In the playoffs, you don’t change things. You play what got you there. Tex 3rd, A-Rod 4th, Swisher in right. Leave it the same.
swisher and lineup
I think sitting swisher is the right move at this point. As much as I like him he has been non existent so far. Gardner in the field will give u a defensive advantage and more speed on the bases. Gardner’s arm sucks but at least he can cut off the gaps. Swisher is still a great weapon off the bench since he is a switch hitter.
As for the lineup…
Jeter SS
Damon LF
Tex 1B
Arod 3B
Posada C
Cano 2B
Cabrera RF
Matsui DH
Gardner CF
.
if we are fortunate enough to get to the World Series
we would knock the crap out of Pedro
I would love to see that
If they make it, I can’t wait to hear Pedro’s introduction at the opening ceremonies. It’ll get loud for him.
“WHOS YOUR DADDY”!!!!!!!
Telling words
Put in Brett Gardner. He might not be an upgrade
If he’s not an upgrade, there’s no reason to put him in. That’s making a move for the sake of making a move. Without Hinske on the roster, there are no viable alternatives. They just have to give Swisher every chance to turn in around.
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sit Swish
I havenn’t seen anyone, anywhere “blaming” Swisher…but in his last at bat, he was clearly over matched hitting against Fuentes. HIs best hope was to draw the walk and darned near did it. But this is the playoffs…manager needs to give his team best chance to win and at this point, Hairston or Gardner is the better choice. I lean to Hairston because Scioscia makes it difficult to steal. Gardner’s been caught twice (?).
Having said all that, my take on JoeG is that he will start Swisher. Joe just does not change in that way…He will over tinker the relief / bullpen issues, but won’t fool with the starters or the lineup.
We did better 'cause we got better...Yogi
while I agree that Swish popping that ball
was a big disappointment.. and the game could of ended right there Swish did all he could. There still no excuse from that bottom lineup who are not performing well with the exception of Melky. Swish will probably start today.. The Angels are not a easy opponent anyone that thought it was going to be a sweep you guys must be dreaming. The Yankees are good real good and they can win this at home. What people and all the media forget is that taking one game from Angels home advantage is all that the Yankees needed.
true. i forgot that i justed wanted at least one win from this trip.
"I'm not superstitious, just a little stitious"- Michael Scott
It's been raining intermittently
which is so annoying. Also it’s not freezing cold out like game 1 and 2. Tonight’s game will play out.
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