Everyday until spring training begins the "Respect Jeter's Gangster" blog will review one player from the Yankees roster. We will review a total of 25 players, the 25 we believe will be on the active roster after spring training. Our reviews are all edited by Carl Pavano himself to insure they're up to the stringent "Pavano Tough" standards.
The addition of Nick Swisher to the lineup was supposed to bring the Yankees a cheap first base option as they were going to pass on Mark Teixeira. Then they signed Mark Teixeira. With first base blocked, Swisher and Nady appear to be in a log jam in right field, though one may be traded. Swisher had a rough season last year hitting .219 with 21 homeruns and 69 RBI's, but the Yankees believe that he can rebound. A career .244 hitter, Swisher is known for his high walk and high strikeout totals, and switch hitting power. Much of his difficulties from last season probably stem from a number of causes, not the least of which is being traded to a new team. Swisher was traded to the White Sox last off season, and was slated as their centerfielder and leadoff hitter despite the fact that he was majorly a firstbase/corner outfielder, and a middle of the order guy with the Athletics. To say that the Whitesox mismanaged Swisher is an understatement. Swisher was batting leadoff despite the fact that speed was not one of his tools (career high in stolen bases is 3). Though he is not particularly fast, he does draws walks, which is probably why the White Sox batted him lead off, but that would be like batting Giambi lead off because of his high walk totals, and I don't think we'll be seeing that any time soon. Swisher has the build and hitting ability of a middle of the order guy.
My Fearless Prediction:Swisher will bat close to .250 with 30 homeruns, and an OBP close to .370. I do believe that Nady will be traded, and Swisher will handle right field for next season.
Little Known Swisher Fact:
Nick Swisher considered becoming an opera singer, and had a dream to sing at Yankee stadium, but lost his dream when he lost the starting singing job to arch nemesis Ronan Tynan. Swisher decided that if he couldn't sing at Yankee stadium, he would play at Yankee stadium, and took up baseball.
9 comments:
I think my favorite part of the players preview is the little known facts. Good stuff.
The rest of it is basic information but the little known fact is pure value.
i think you mean "PURE GANGSTER!"
Pure gangster value.
.250 with 30 dingers... I pray you are correct.
I'm scared that Swisher's past successes may have had to do with PED's.
I wouldn't be too concerned with that. I think what you saw last season was a combination of unfortunate circumstances. He had to get used to a new team, in a new position, batting in a new place. He had to completely switch his approach at the plate. That was what we saw last year.
I must admit that when I saw the name "Nick Swisher" at the top of this post, I did a double take. I guess he really is a Yankee. I need to get that through my head!
Jane, I still do that with AJ Burnett. I guess his signing was overshadowed by both Sabathia and Teixeira, and it still trips me up that he's on the team.
OMG! Those stat predictions were like completely accurate!!!
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