SWISHER'S BACK & HIS ROLE IS SWEET!

Photo: New York Times

Nick Swisher is loved in New York. Now, he's back with the Yankees in a very important and cool role.  Big props to Pinstriped Prospects. Here is some from that story:

Photo: NJ.com

"That guy is Nick Swisher, the former big league all-star and Yankees fan-favorite is now a special adviser to General Manager Brian Cashman. While he no longer finds his name filled into a lineup card these days, Swisher still brings the same contagious energy that has become somewhat of a signature for the former big-leaguer.

With an unmistakable glow in his face as he addressed the local Trenton media on Thursday night about his new gig, it was clear that Swisher is elated to have the chance to put on the pinstripes again and tutor the next generation of talent before they hit the Bronx.

Photo: Getty Images

'I’m here to watch the guys and report back to the boss,' said Swisher. 'Having the opportunity to be a special assistant to Brian Cashman is something that I take a lot of pride in.' Swisher added, 'It’s an honor for me to be able to do this. I feel like I am part of the band again; back in the band. When you retire, there is a hole, and to have this opportunity given to me by Cash, it means a lot to me, and I want to make the most of this.'”

I appreciate this. I like this.  I always felt as though Swish would be a permanent fixture in the Yankee family.  He's a baseball dude. His dad Steve Swisher played. 

He's always been surrounded by the game.  This is just another great accomplishment in his baseball and Yankee life and I love that Swisher is there!

The best to Nick... one of the good ones.

RAUL IBANEZ: WE COULDN'T ASK FOR ANYTHING MORE

This past off-season, upon the retirement of Jorge Posada, the Yankees were left with a void to fill.  No, I’m not talking about the catcher position.  Posada had pretty much already vacated that spot and it was handed to Russell Martin et al.

I’m talking about the designated hitter spot. 

In 2011, Posada was the DH in 90 games for the Bombers.  He hit 14 hrs and contributed 44 RBI during the season with many of the hits and RBI’s seemingly coming at key points in games.

Then, he left.  Or rather, the Yankees decided to move on – leaving our team not only with statistics to fill in the lineup, but with an emotional leader to be replaced.  Posada was more than just a catcher-turned-dh, he was a veteran who conducted himself with class both on and off the field.  He was someone with a strong work ethic, and who quietly led by example with grittiness and heart.

Those were pretty large shoes to fill if you ask me.

The search for a replacement began with rumored checks into former Yankees Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui.  Reports surfaced that free-agent/free-swinger Vladimir Guerrero also lobbied for the role. 

Through it all, one name kept recurring:  Raul Ibanez.

On February 21^st, GM Brian Cashman inked Ibanez to a one-year $1.1 million contract and the DH role was filled.  Little did the Yankees know just how much more they were getting with the former Philadelphia Phillie.

April started with much less than a bang for Ibanez.  Through the second week of the season he was hitting .158 and social media sites were alive with questions regarding his advanced age (40) and the wisdom of the acquisition.  Through the early struggles Ibanez kept his composure and all you heard from the Yankee side was how he set an example as a hard-worker.

His hard work would pay off.

By the end of that first month, his average was .241 and he hasn’t looked back.  In spite of his age, it seems that the veteran slugger has only gotten better – so much so that in August he is hitting .310 with a .929 OPS.  His totals for the year read: .250 avg., 15 HR and 51 RBI.  He has already exceeded what Posada gave the team in 2011 and there are still 43 games remaining on the schedule.

In addition to his offense, Ibanez has been a pleasant surprise in the field.  With injuries to Brett Gardner keeping the budding superstar on the disabled list, Ibanez has been unexpectedly called upon for significant playing time in left and right fields.  To date, Raul has played 70 games in the Yankees outfield, and has had 105 total chances without committing an error.  It is difficult to imagine Johnny Damon, Hideki Matsui or Vladimir Guerrero giving us such valuable consistency.

Past signings for the spot have not been as rewarding for the Yankees.  Remember Randy Winn?  He was signed by Cashman in February 2010 and released before the end of May after hitting a forgettable .213 for New York. 

(In Photo: Xavier Nady)

Or what about Xavier Nady?  In 2008 he was came to the Yankees as part of a six-player deal and in two seasons played in a total of 66 games due to a variety of injuries. 

See how lucky we are to have Raul Ibanez?

For the better part of two seasons with the Phils, Raul Ibanez was one of the NL’s premier sluggers.  In 2011 his performance at the plate slipped and Philadelphia let him slide to free agency.  

Their loss has been the Yankees gain, and we can only hope that the cries of “RAUUUULLLL!!!!!” echo within Yankee Stadium through late October. 




--Steve Skinner, BYB Guest Writer
Twitter: @oswegos1

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WHY BETTY SWISHER KNEW BEST & ESPN'S BIG FAIL

"Just hit the damn ball." --Nick Swisher's Grandma Betty Swisher

Here's a really fun nugget, yet a story about a true appreciation for family and personal drive that was totally missed by ESPN. Luckily, it wasn't missed by BYB. Enjoy this.

As you know, Nick Swisher is off to a slower start this season, a .243 average, only 36 hits in 148 at bats  to put it in perspective.  Not exactly wonderful.  But in working through extra batting practice with Kevin Long, it was revealed that Swisher thinks fondly of advice that his grandmother gave him once....quite simply she told him,  "Just hit the damn ball."   He took that advice literally on Friday night and thank God he did, because maybe that home run he hit (read HERE) jolted him to have a terrific year.

It's funny though, reading this piece by ESPN (HERE), I was touched, so I did some research because I wanted to know more about Betty Lorraine Swisher, this strong woman who Swish was so crazy about.  So I Googled her.  To my disappointment, I realized that Betty passed away in 2005 to cancer. Why did ESPN fail to mention that?  The way the piece reads, you'd think Swisher just got off the phone with his grandmother on Thursday night and then hit homer on Friday, like clockwork. There happens to be a big gaping hole in that piece, what a bunch of bunk.

Just so you understand the background, Nick's dad Steve Swisher and his mom divorced when Nick was 11, his grandparent's practically raised him and after Betty passed away, Nick had a tattoo made right above his heart on his chest that reads BLS in honor of his grandmother.  WOW, I was blown away by that.  Not only was I touched by that story, I truly appreciate how Nick still holds his grandmother's memory do dear to him.  Sure, some of you may already know this, I don't know how I missed it, but that being said, I was moved.

Look, I like Nick Swisher and I believe he can overcome this slow start.  To me, it's simple baseball. Sometimes when you over think, you can't function on the field.  I've learned that in my own short lived career and you hear so many players say it all the time... "Don't think, do", much like Betty Swisher's "Just hit the damn ball" it goes back to basics.   Read YANKEE BASEBALL: THE BASICS OF HITTING.  If you just take that moment, remember the basics and go out and play, most of the time, you succeed.  It's almost like a reprogramming of yourself.  Through a career you're given so much advice and sometimes it all gets mucked up.  To me, I love the way Swisher carries with him that basic vision from Betty, especially when there's that tendency to over think always in the back of his mind.

And sure, maybe I was over thinking trying to pin down ESPN for their lack of information in a piece about Nick Swisher's grandmother, but let's face facts; I found it to be incredibly irresponsible to have a piece titled Swisher: Thanks Grandma, and yet her words "Just hit the damn ball" are just a mention. If you delve into Nick's life even more, you realize just how important those words are...that personal story was totally missed. Wow, that happens to be the "meat" of the story... Disappointed doesn't even begin to describe that piece...Nick Swisher deserves better...knowing what I know now.

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WHY I DIG BRANDON LAIRD

"I'm still speechless. It's just a dream come true." --Brandon Laird tells ESPN

(Photo: Getty)
Last night was very cool for a 23 year old like Brandon Laird. Sure, he was a New York Yankee and that was great, but he was playing in the Bronx in front of us fans and in front of his family. That would be enough to give you chills, but to top that off, he got his first hit and his first RBI of his Major League career and I think we have something here. The best part is, today he will start his first game and no one is happier than me.

ESPN had a great nugget which I missed last night. It turns out Laird was a pinch hitter in the seventh inning for Derek Jeter. That's not the nugget, the nugget is the reaction from Nick Swisher:

"When he picked up a helmet in the Yankee dugout, Nick Swisher was confused. 'I was like, 'What do you think you're doing?' Swisher said with a laugh."(Photo: Getty)
Brandon Laird was called up during the Rays series and I quickly wrote WHY I CHOOSE LAIRD OVER NUNEZ. I was immediately debated publicly on Facebook which is the reaction I was going for. But again, let me reiterate. I'm not saying I don't like Eduardo Nunez. What I don't like are his errors and all I am suggesting is we give Brandon Laird a shot at 3rd, just to see what the kid's got. After all, Nunez didn't exactly earn the third base role for his defense, we all know it's for his offense, which is superb. Luckily for us, we will see if Laird has what it takes to be a big league third baseman, today is his day.

Laird by the way is a former 27^th round pick. Brandon's brother Gerald is a member of a St. Louis Cardinals. This is a baseball family. Like so many families before; the Hairston's which consisted of Jerry Hairston, who played for the White Sox in the 80's and his sons Jerry Hairston Jr. and Scott Hairston. Then you have of course, the Griffey's and the Swishers. Yup. Nick Swisher's dad Steve Swisher played before him. There are so many baseball families. If you're a card collector, have fun looking for those gems. Check out Steve Swisher below. The point is, I like the trend and I'm rooting for Laird. If Brandon can compete on a major league level and share responsibility with Nunez at third, the worry of filling the void until A-Rod comes back goes away, plus, Laird can also fill in at first base and outfield. Diversity is important and it's an advantage for Laird.

Good luck today pal, do your thing today, you know I'm rooting for you.

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