OF Nick Swisher (All Star, World Series Champion)

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Nick Swisher, A.J. Burnett and the wisdom of 'Dumb and Dumber'
by Marc Carig/The Star-Ledger
Wednesday July 22, 2009

Noah K. Murray/The Star Ledger
Yankees right fielder Nick Swisher catches a ball hit by the Orioles' Ty Wigginton.

NEW YORK -- Think back to the movie "Dumb and Dumber," the scene just after Lloyd Christmas (Jim Carrey) trades a van for a scooter straight up, and breaks the news to his buddy Harry Dunne (Jeff Daniels). That's when Harry drops this epic line, one invoked by A.J. Burnett on Wednesday during the Yankees' 6-4 victory.

"Just when I think you couldn't possibly be any dumber, you go and do something like this...and totally redeem yourself!"

Burnett saved the quote for the perfect occasion, which on Wednesday was when the Yankees' jogged off the field in the second inning. To star the frame, Nick Swisher dropped a routine fly ball that would eventually put Burnett in a jam. He redeemed himself by making the final out of the inning, running down a Ty Wigginton drive to right to help Burnett strand runners at second and third.

"When you miss a ball like that, the first thing you want to do is forget about it and move onto the next one," said Swisher, who in addition to making up for his error, would later in the game make a leaping catch on a ball that would have hit the top of the wall. "The second opportunity I got, I wanted to do everything I could to make the play."

As the Yankees jogged off the field, Burnett waited for Swisher to come in from right. Then he wrapped his arm around his shoulder and dropped the famous movie line. As they walked in from the dugout, they were still laughing.

"I was going to punch him if he didn't catch that last one, but he did a great job out there," Burnett said. "He made a mistake and he made up for it. That's the good thing about these guys, they never give up out there."

Nick Swisher, A.J. Burnett and the wisdom of 'Dumb and Dumber' - NJ.com

 

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Swisher has few fond memories of Chicago
By Peter Abraham ? [email protected] ? July 31, 2009

CHICAGO - Nick Swisher thought the Oakland Athletics had done him a great favor when they traded him to the Chicago White Sox before the 2008 season.

The White Sox were a contending team in an exciting city and Swisher would be playing every day. A native of Ohio, going to a team in the Midwest was what he wanted.

"Perfect, right?" he said. "I was thrilled when I heard the news."

But Swisher lasted only one season with the White Sox, a year he now calls the worst of his career. He hit .219, played out of position and bickered with manager Ozzie Guillen. The White Sox dealt him to the Yankees in November, happy to be rid of a player they considered a malcontent.

Swisher returned to U.S. Cellular Field with the Yankees last night with no mixed emotions.

"I met some nice people but I'm very, very glad to be out of there and with the Yankees," he said. "I don't have many good memories here."

Swisher started last season as a center fielder and leadoff hitter, two spots he believed he was not particularly well suited for. But he was eager to make a good impression on his new team and did what he was told.

"I didn't feel like myself batting first," Swisher said. "I was used to hitting second or maybe seventh. I was trying to be something I was not and it got to me."

Swisher has few fond memories of Chicago | lohud.com | The Journal News

 

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Swisher hopes he's found home
Slugger enjoying Bronx after seasons in Oakland, Chicago
By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com
08/17/09

OAKLAND -- When Nick Swisher cleared the fence on Sunday, slugging a two-run homer to dead center at Safeco Field in Seattle, it marked the fifth consecutive season that he has sent 20 or more blasts into the seats.

There's nothing the switch-hitter would like to change about that, except for this -- Swisher is wearing his third uniform in three years. As he plays through his first season with the Yankees, he hopes his next 20 homers will also come in New York colors.

"I think it's pretty cool, just getting that opportunity," Swisher said. "I've been bouncing around from team to team the last couple of years, but knock on wood, hopefully I've found a home. I really feel honored to be part of this tradition."

Swisher played his first four seasons with the Athletics, belting his first 80 home runs, before suiting up for the White Sox last season and cracking 24 dingers.

Though Swisher is hitting just .242 in 111 games this year for New York, the numbers go beyond batting average. He has driven in 64 runs and is tied for the American League lead with 75 walks entering play on Monday.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi said that Swisher has given him about what was expected. While Swisher clashed with former skipper Ozzie Guillen in Chicago, Girardi said that Guillen did have positive things to say after the Yankees acquired Swisher in a November swap.

"I knew that he was an on-base guy that took a lot of walks and had power," Girardi said. "I talked to Ozzie at the Winter Meetings, and he said that he was a better defender than he got credit for, wherever you put him.

"I expected production. I wasn't exactly sure how we were going to use all the people that we had, but I knew that I was going to get him at-bats and he would provide depth at a lot of places."

Swisher hopes he's found home | MLB.com: News

 

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Swisher Has Some Unusual Numbers
By CHRIS HINE
Published: August 25, 2009

Most of the Yankees have taken full advantage of the inviting right-field porch at their new stadium this season. The left-handed-hitting Johnny Damon and Robinson Cano, and the switch-hitters Jorge Posada and Mark Teixeira have all hit more home runs at Yankee Stadium than they have on the road.

Then there is Nick Swisher, a switch-hitter who has had a strange statistical year. Entering Tuesday night?s game against Texas, Swisher had 21 home runs this season, but only three of them at Yankee Stadium. How does he explain that?

?I don?t,? Swisher said. ?I guess I?m a road warrior. But I do know that on the road, it seems like I get my stroke going on the road. And I think that?s one thing I?ve got to be strong enough mentally to keep that same stroke here.?

He added: ?A home run?s a home run, whether you hit them here or on the road, you know. I?ll take them.?

His statistical anomalies do not end there.

Swisher, batting .248 before Tuesday, had 207 plate appearances at home, 259 on the road. His average at home was .206, and on the road it was .277.

But his on-base percentage was .385 at home and .360 on the road ? .371 over all. Swisher has drawn 13 more walks at Yankee Stadium than he has on the road. He tried to come up with an explanation for the difference, but had none.

?I don?t really know what to say about it,? Swisher said. ?Just keep going, just keep banging it out, man, just keep playing the game hard. You never know, maybe September?s my month.?

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/26/sports/baseball/26yanksnotes.html

 

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Swisher Continues His Road Show at Camden Yards Sign in to
Joe Giza/Reuters
Nick Swisher hitting a two-run homer in the seventh inning Tuesday. He has 13 homers in 26 career games in Baltimore.

Swisher broke a tie with a two-run homer to right center in the seventh inning Tuesday, lifting the Yankees to a 9-6 victory over the Baltimore Orioles. The Yankees (84-48) have won five games in a row, and Swisher has homered in the last two.

Naturally, both games have been at the park Swisher treats like a sandlot. He has 13 home runs in 26 career games in Baltimore, feasting off the Orioles? wretched pitching and, this season, basking in the cheers of Yankees fans.

The fans must trek down Interstate 95 to see Swisher at his best. He is batting .200 with just three homers at the new Yankee Stadium, which was made for home run hitters. But he has 20 home runs on the road, including four at Camden Yards, where he is hitting .440 this season.

?I don?t even want to talk about it; I just want to keep it going,? said Swisher, who added of his struggles at home, ?I?m just trying to prove to everybody that hitting home runs in Yankee Stadium?s not that easy.?

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/02/sports/baseball/02yankees.html

Swisher baffled by homers on the road
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com
09/02/09

BALTIMORE -- Maybe Nick Swisher really just loves eating meals off a room-service tray? It's as good an explanation as anyone has been able to come up with for his bizarre home run stats in 2009.

While the rest of the Yankees seem to have fallen in love with hitting for power at the new Yankee Stadium, Swisher has gone in the completely opposite direction. He now owns 23 homers in his first season with the Bombers, 20 of which have come away from the Bronx.

"I'm just trying to prove to everybody that hitting home runs in Yankee Stadium is not that easy," Swisher said, laughing.

Some of Swisher's most prodigious power work has come within the Baltimore city limits, which will be bittersweet for him as he reports for the Yankees' series finale on Wednesday at Camden Yards, where he has one more home run in 2009 than he does in his home ballpark.

Swisher pelted his 23rd round-tripper, a two-run shot, in the seventh inning on Tuesday off Chris Ray and now has homered in nine of his past 17 games with an official at-bat at Camden Yards. In 42 career games against the Orioles, Swisher has 15 homers and 35 RBIs.

"It's mind-boggling," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "It's hard to understand, but baseball sometimes is hard to understand. We've hit more home runs than any team on the road and Swish might be a big reason."

Swisher has been baffled for months by his apparent power outage at home, troubles which seem to vanish as soon as the team charter plane has its wheels leave the runway.

"I really have no clue," Swisher said. "It's just one of those things. I feel comfortable and a lot of my home runs have been going to center field and left-center. In Yankee Stadium, that's a long way.

Swisher baffled by homers on the road | yankees.com: News

 

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Swisher's walk-off give Yanks 90th win
By Brittany Ghiroli / Special to MLB.com
09/09/09

NEW YORK -- With 47 home victories, just one shy of their total from last season, the Yankees have already ensured that the inaugural season at the new Yankee Stadium has witnessed a fair share of thrilling moments.

Seemingly every hitter has thrived in the homer-happy confines, with a franchise-record seven players having hit 20 or more homers, a single-season Major League record shared by the Yankees.

But for the first 139 games of this season, Nick Swisher has been an anomaly, becoming the first player in club history to hit 21 of his first 24 homers on the road, a lopsided ratio that has even manager Joe Girardi scratching his head.

So it was only fitting in a season full of promise at a stadium creating history by the second that Swisher would be the Yankee to deliver Tuesday's final blow. The switch-hitting outfielder drove a pitch from Rays reliever Dan Wheeler just over the right-field stands in the bottom of the ninth inning on Tuesday, connecting for his second homer of the game and giving the Yankees a 3-2 walk-off win over the Rays in front of 45,350.

"I think when you get in a situation like that, you're looking for guys like Johnny [Damon], or [Alex Rodriguez] or Melky [Cabrera]," said Swisher, who had been already been victim to some good-natured ribbing following his fifth-inning homer.

"The guys have been busting me a little bit, saying, 'Hey, you're at home -- you already hit your one [homer] for the month. You're done,'" said Swisher. "So it was nice to get that second one."

Swisher's walk-off give Yanks 90th win | MLB.com: News

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTZmBU2p0sk]YouTube - Baseball Player Profile: Nick Swisher[/ame]

 

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Fun-loving Nick Swisher having time of his life with Yankees
By Anthony Mccarron
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
Wednesday, September 16th 2009

Antonelli, Ron
Nick Swisher has inject some life in the Yankees' clubhouse this season ...

Antonelli/News
... and has loved every minute of it.


Nick Swisher is bouncing - there is no other word, really - through the Yankee clubhouse before a recent game, pausing briefly to high-five a reporter and bark at Phil Hughes about college football. Swisher stops at his funhouse of a locker, and when another writer asks to talk to the Yankee right fielder for a story focusing on his personality, Swisher looks up and says, deadpan, "You'd better have a lot of pages."

Then Swisher cackles and sits down. Life is good for Swisher these days and why not? He is having a terrific season, re-energizing a promising career that took a step backward in 2008 with the White Sox, and helping to inject life into the team's clubhouse, a mostly staid place in recent years.

He's been embraced by fans who enjoy his gregarious nature - Swisher regularly rolls down the window of his car as he leaves the ballpark, joking and waving to onlookers. Some fans put together a Web site devoted to getting him voted to the All-Star Game. He has 827,723 followers on the Internet service Twitter; the Yankees' own Twitter page has about 1,500 followers.

His "Swisher's Salute" during the roll call popularized by fans in right field has been immortalized in a T-shirt that those fans made. Swisher has five of the shirts hanging in his locker.

"Nick's got a different personality, I would say, than we've seen on this club," Andy Pettitte says. "Nick loves to talk, that's for sure. He's been fun to be around and very respectful, still. It's just been a good situation."

"He's had an impact on the clubhouse," adds Johnny Damon, whose locker is next to Swisher's. "When I came over, I mean, this place was kinda dead, you know? I almost had to watch everything I said. I didn't want to upset anyone. But having characters in here has helped everyone. It's kind of like how Kevin Millar helped me in Boston - we changed the way things were in Boston, but it took another guy to put it full throttle.

"It's completely different in here now. It's great, we're in this new stadium and there's a lot of room to have fun."

Swisher, 28, is not the only Yankee who deserves credit for the friendly feel in the clubhouse. As Jorge Posada puts it, "We're not boring guys in here." Damon livened things up with the wrestling belt that's given to the star of each win - a gift, Damon says, from A.J. Burnett's kids as a thank-you for Damon wrestling with them at a party. Burnett smacks whipped-cream pies in teammates' faces after walk-off wins.

But Swisher might have attracted the most attention because, well, he's the most effervescent of the bunch. And he's been that way since he was a kid, according to Bob Todd, who coached Swisher at Ohio State and has known him since Swisher was an elementary-school classmate of his daughter.

"When it came to Christmas plays they'd put on, I'd watch and Nick wanted to be in the spotlight," Todd says. "And he was good at it."

Read more: Fun-loving Nick Swisher having time of his life with Yankees

 

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Swisher's grit a winning fit
October 1, 2009

NY Post: Charles Wenzelberg
POWER PERSONALITY: Nick Swisher watches his fifth-inning, two-run home run during the Yankees' 4-3 loss to the Royals last night in The Bronx. Swisher has brought a winning combination of high jinks and toughness to the Yanks' locker room.

WHEN Nick Swisher stands in right field to salute the Bleacher Creatures, he's not just doing that to get a pre-game ovation.

He's there to salute his grandfather as well as the fans. From that single gesture, you can tell this Yankees team offers more substance and appreciation of the game than the last three playoff teams that were bounced in the first round. Before the ALDS begins, there will be analysis of every aspect of the Yankees.

Through it all, don't overlook the obvious. This club has more fight than the last three postseason productions.

Swisher's grit a winning fit

 

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Photo: Getty Images
With the Major League Baseball postseason just one week away, we're doing our best to sleep as much as possible so we can make it through the nightly 3 a.m. bedtimes baseball playoffs force upon us. And to preview the Yankees' first postseason in two years, we're taking a daily look at players vital to the team's October success. Today: Nick Swisher.

When you think back through the annals of Yankees playoff history, you don't come across a lot of guys like Nick Swisher. We think of low-key heroes like Scott Brosius, or Tino Martinez. We don't think of wildly gesticulating Twittering dingbats who like to make mock-wrestling poses when fans chant their name. (We see nothing wrong with this, by the way. We do the same thing every time we finish a post.)

But as much fun as Swisher has been this year ? and, more to the point, as much fun as he's obviously had ? it's time to get serious now. Swisher's a notoriously streaky player, and now would be a nice time for one of his hot streaks. He was fantastic in April and September, awful in May, and above average in June, July, and August. We would take above average.

If Swisher can homer this weekend, he'll be only the second Yankee to reach the 30-homer mark for the season. (Which is kind of amazing, really; with that short porch, only two guys with 30? To be fair, the Yankees have nine guys with at least thirteen, and seven with at least 22.) He's been, essentially, house money for the Yankees on the season; it is safe to say that no one misses Wilson Betemit, the man they traded for Swisher.

But if Swisher is going to truly make the leap into eternal folk-hero status, he needs to work his magic in the postseason. As a switch hitter, he also is a power threat against left-handers, mixing up any late-game bullpen shenanigans opposing managers might try to pull.

Yankees Playoff Preview: Nick Swisher -- The Sports Section

The Value of Nick Swisher
By Mike Silva ~ October 2nd, 2009.

One of general manager Brian Cashman?s goals after last season?s terrible failure was to add players that have more grit, players willing to get their pinstripes dirty. It?s not just about talent; it?s about having a burning desire to win, yet knowing how to have fun. It takes more than talent to succeed in the postseason. ? Kevin Kernan NY Post

That quote was part of a Kevin Kernan column which highlighted some of the hidden value of a Nick Swisher. Many believe he is one of the main reasons the Yankees clubhouse resembles a fraternity instead of the Pentagon. Swisher is the antithesis of Kevin Brown, Randy Johnson, and Gary Sheffield. The key with Swisher is that he also has produced at a high level on the field as well. His 29 homers, 82 RBI, and OPS of .870 is arguably his best professional season. Sure he plays the outfield like he is on roller skates, but if Lonnie Smith can play defense for a championship team than the Yankees shouldn?t have a problem with Swisher.

Many will laugh at the whole concept of ?desire to win?, but I think fans who have watched this team all season would agree. I saw his enthusiasm that very first game in Baltimore when he started a Yankees comeback, albeit a failed one, but a comeback nonetheless. Need stats? Swisher?s 3.8 WAR, spotty defense and all, puts him ahead of David Wright, Jason Bay, and Justin Morneau. At 28 years old Swisher might be finally coming into his own. Considering the Yankees gave up Wilson Betemit and two minor leaguers you have to consider the deal a complete steal. He has a lot of Jason Giambi in him without the steroid induced decline.

The lack of attention Swisher seems to receive is amazing considering the solid combo of intangibles and production. Maybe it?s a product of being on a team with Jeter, Teixeira, and A-Rod. The Yankees lineup lacks a whole lot more depth without him. He also might become more important as the Yankees veterans continue to ascent north of age 35. In any event, I think it?s important to give Swisher his due.

Mike Silva’s New York Baseball Digest ? Blog Archive ? The Value of Nick Swisher

 

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NY Yankees' boisterous utility man Nick Swisher filling voids, embracing spotlight
By Andy McCullough/The Star-Ledger
October 06, 2009

William Perlman/The Star-Ledger
The Yankees' Nick Swisher, right, talks with manager Joe Girardi at the Yankees' pre-playoff workouts Tuesday.

NEW YORK ? He was acquired on the cheap during the offseason, asked to switch positions, was beaten out for a starting spot during spring training and shifted around in the batting order during the regular season.

Nick Swisher swears he doesn?t mind. He?s malleable.

?My role is to come over here and to help this team,? said Swisher, the Yankees? starting right fielder. ?That?s what I try to do. Play different positions. Hit in different spots in the lineup. Come in here and be energetic. Just try to be myself.?

This is who Swisher is: He leads the team in walks (97) and is third in home runs (29). He switch-hits. He cuts up the clubhouse and hams it up with the fans.

He provided an affordable, comparable alternative to Bobby Abreu, the player he replaced in right. The Yankees paid Abreu more than $30 million in 2007-2008 and let him walk as a free agent.

For $10 million less a year, they got Swisher. In November, the Yankees dealt Wilson Betemit and a pair of minor-league pitchers to Chicago to pick him up.

He now serves as a tough, dangerous out at the back end of the team?s lineup.

?There aren?t many guys in baseball that can do what Nick does: see a lot of pitches but also hit for a lot of power, get on base,? first baseman Mark Teixeira said. ?He can be a cleanup hitter on some teams. He can even be a leadoff hitter on some teams, because he gets on base so much. So having him in the back end of our lineup is huge.?

NY Yankees' boisterous utility man Nick Swisher filling voids, embracing spotlight | New York Yankees - - NJ.com

Swisher wiser after trade to New York
Difficult season with White Sox a memory for veteran slugger
By Scott Merkin / MLB.com
10/06/09

NEW YORK -- The computer screen that is part of Nick Swisher's high-tech locker in the luxurious home clubhouse at the new Yankee Stadium features the following statement: "Hello, my name is Swagger," the words forming together in the shape of a name tag.

There's no question this place belongs to the 28-year-old Yankees right fielder, who never lacked for charismatic bravado in his previous stops with the Athletics and White Sox. But there's something almost imperceptibly different concerning the switch-hitting slugger.

Swisher wiser after trade to New York | yankees.com: News

Q&A with Nick Swisher
Yanks outfielder relaxed on eve of Game 1 of ALDS
By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com
10/06/09

With his boisterous, relentlessly positive attitude and eclectic musical taste, Nick Swisher has stepped in to become an instant fan favorite in his first season with the Yankees.

Taking over as the club's starting right fielder in April, Swisher fit right into the potent lineup, bringing a patient switch-hitting approach that saw him become one of five Yankees players to belt 25 or more home runs while driving in 82 runs for the American League East champions.

Throughout the 2009 postseason, Swisher will take part in a Q&A with MLB.com, sharing his thoughts after every Yankees game. On Tuesday, Swisher gave his thoughts after the club's full-squad workout on the eve of Game 1 of the American League Division Series.


MLB.com: How would you sum up the general feeling around the clubhouse as you guys get ready to begin the playoffs?

Swisher: It's chill, man. Relaxed. It's exactly the same way we've been going about everything all year. I know myself, this is going to be a lot of fun. I know I'm really excited about it, and just to be able to open the brand new Stadium going to the playoffs is a great thing. I think for all of us, we'll be ready. We'll go back, get some sleep, and we had a good workout today. Guys seem in good spirits, everybody is healthy, and we'll just get ourselves ready for tomorrow night.

Q&A with Nick Swisher | yankees.com: News

 

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Nick interview from yesterday...talks Buckeye football at 2:52 mark

congrats on the big hit tonight...


[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gV04T30ojFg]YouTube - Nick Swisher gets ready for Playoff Baseball[/ame]

 

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Q&A with Nick Swisher
Yankees outfielder excited about sweep, facing Halos in ALCS
By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com
10/12/09

MINNEAPOLIS -- With his boisterous, relentlessly positive attitude and eclectic musical taste, Nick Swisher has stepped in to become an instant fan favorite in his first season with the Yankees.

Taking over as the club's starting right fielder in April, Swisher fit right into the potent lineup, bringing a patient switch-hitting approach that saw him become one of five Yankees players to belt 25 or more home runs while driving in 82 runs for the American League East champions.

Throughout the 2009 postseason, Swisher will take part in a Q&A with MLB.com, sharing his thoughts after every game. Soaked with champagne and beer on Sunday, Swisher gave his thoughts after the Yankees defeated the Twins, 4-1, to advance to the American League Championship Series.

MLB.com: You're spraying champagne around the room, yelling, big smiles all around. Is this the kind of party you can get used to having?

Swisher: My gosh, it doesn't get any better than this. Just to be able to be part of this -- man, I'll tell you what. We've got such great guys on this team. Everybody goes out and gives it 150 percent every day. These are the benefits you get from that. We've got a great group of guys together, and I could not be more honored or more proud to put on the uniform and play with these guys every day.

MLB.com: How closely were you watching the Angels game today? Was there a sense that you wanted to get this done tonight?

Swisher: We wanted to go out and win, but you want to go out and win every game. Against a team like this, to come in here with this crowd and be able to pull off a win today is pretty special. For us to be able to go out and win tonight is exactly what we wanted to do. We didn't want to have to come in here and play Game 4 tomorrow, and then go back to New York. We wanted to take care of business tonight, and that's exactly what we did.

Q&A with Nick Swisher | yankees.com: News

 

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Q&A with Nick Swisher
Yankees outfielder blocks out chilly weather in Game 1
By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com
10/17/09

NEW YORK -- With his boisterous, relentlessly positive attitude and eclectic musical taste, Nick Swisher has stepped in to become an instant fan favorite in his first season with the Yankees.

Taking over as the club's starting right fielder in April, Swisher fit right into the potent lineup, bringing a patient switch-hitting approach that saw him become one of five Yankees players to belt 25 or more home runs while driving in 82 runs for the American League East champions.


Throughout the 2009 postseason, Swisher will take part in a Q&A with MLB.com, sharing his thoughts after every game. Finally able to retreat to the clubhouse and find warm clothes, Swisher gave his thoughts after the Yankees defeated the Angels, 4-1, on Friday to take a 1-0 lead in the American League Championship Series.

MLB.com: What's it like to hit on a raw night like tonight? What's the sensation like of making contact with the ball?

Swisher: You'd better find the barrel [laughing]. Actually, once you got moving around out there, it wasn't all that bad. I think there was a lot of talk that it was going to rain a lot today, and this and that, so I'm glad that held off. Overall, it was just a great game for all of us. For a guy like Johnny [Damon] to start catching on fire, which is nice, he had two nice hits for us tonight and made a great diving play. [Alex Rodriguez] had another sac fly and another RBI. It seems like we're playing great baseball at the right time, and we just want to keep it going.

Q&A with Nick Swisher | MLB.com: News

 

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Q&A with Nick Swisher
By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com
10/20/09

ANAHEIM -- With his boisterous, relentlessly positive attitude and eclectic musical taste, Nick Swisher has stepped in to become an instant fan favorite in his first season with the Yankees.

Taking over as the club's starting right fielder in April, Swisher fit right into the potent lineup, bringing a patient switch-hitting approach that saw him become one of five Yankees players to belt 25 or more home runs while driving in 82 runs for the American League East champions.

Throughout the 2009 postseason, Swisher will take part in a Q&A with MLB.com, sharing his thoughts after every game. Swisher spoke briefly after the Yankees' 5-4, 11-inning defeat in Game 3 of the American League Championship Series, won by the Angels on Jeff Mathis' RBI double off Alfredo Aceves.

MLB.com: After five consecutive wins to open the postseason, does this seem like a feeling this team hasn't had for a while?

Swisher: That's a good team over there, you know? You can't take away any credit from them. They played great today and we've just got to be ready to go tomorrow.

MLB.com: What did Jered Weaver do in your two at-bats with runners on in the second and fourth innings that made them tough?

Swisher: He made good use of his offspeed pitches, and the command of his offspeed pitches was good today. Every run in the postseason is big. I had an opportunity a couple of times and I didn't get it done.

Q&A with Nick Swisher | MLB.com: News

 

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Q&A with Nick Swisher
By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com
10/21/09

ANAHEIM -- With his boisterous, relentlessly positive attitude and eclectic musical taste, Nick Swisher has stepped in to become an instant fan favorite in his first season with the Yankees.

Taking over as the club's starting right fielder in April, Swisher fit right into the potent lineup, bringing a patient switch-hitting approach that saw him become one of five Yankees players to belt 25 or more home runs while driving in 82 runs for the American League East champions.


Throughout the 2009 postseason, Swisher will take part in a Q&A with MLB.com, sharing his thoughts after every game. Swisher spoke after the Yankees' 10-1 victory in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series, putting New York one win from advancing to the World Series.

MLB.com: So many good things happened in this game for the Yankees. Where do you begin breaking it down?

Swisher: It starts off with our good pitching. I think these guys have just done a tremendous job. They've been the key to our success all year long. I've been saying this for a long time. These guys have done a great job, and it's fun to be part of the team when those guys are pitching. They've really done a tremendous job and you can't give enough credit to a guy like CC [Sabathia], pitching on three days' rest. It looked like he'd been resting for a week or so. He had life on his stuff, his offspeed stuff was sharp, good location, and it's just fun, man. [Alex Rodriguez is] having a great postseason -- he [just] keeps things going -- and Melky [Cabrera] picked us up in a couple of situations. It's just big things. We feel good about where we are, and we're going to keep battling.

Q&A with Nick Swisher | MLB.com: News