Nick Swisher is hitting .243/.366/.476 with 21 HR and 67 RBI through 120 games. He has a very good on base percentage and ranks 25th in the American League. It looks like he is playing well and we hear how much he’s loved in the clubhouse with the way he loosens every one up with his personality and frolic. Nick strikes out a lot but he does seem to work the count. The Yankees sent Jeff Marquez, Wilson Betemit, and Jhonny Nunez to the White Sox for Nick Swisher and Kanekoa Texeira. Let’s look at the players the White Sox got. Jeff Marquez is getting destroyed in triple A in which he plays for the Charlotte Knights. He is 2-8 with a 9.85 ERA and a WHIP of 2.06 and is getting rocked hard since coming back from a hamstring injury. He’ll never be an ace. Wilson Betemit has only played in 20 games for the White Sox this year and played terribly. He hit an unfathomable .200/.289/.311 before being sent down to the Knights where he is still hitting bad. He has hit .241/.315/.417 in 62 games for Charlotte. Jhonny Nunez was the only good piece the White Sox got out of the deal. He is a middle reliever for the Knights and has combined record of 5-0 with a 2.57 ERA between Double A and Triple A in 39 appearances. For the Knights he has a 3.54 ERA in 13 appearances. Kanekoa Texeira balances out Jhonny Nunez because Texeira is having a good season for Trenton. He started six games and made a total of 37 appearances. He has a 8-5 record with a 2.61 ERA. Did Cashman win this deal? It’s all what you think of Swisher because Kankekoa and Nunez are both middle relievers and I’m not sure of the impact a middle reliever has. I say maybe. I say this because we did get a starting position player out of the deal that brings chemistry to the clubhouse and we all know how much chemistry plays a role in championship teams. He does seem to strike out at the most inopportune times and he makes bone headed plays in the outfield. We’ll see how he contributes in the stretch run. * I had a nice day and got a massage. I spent time for myself. It was good to get in the sun and walk as well. * Yes, the Yankees lost and I’m afraid we might see what I’ve said before, that the Red Sox will creep up on us. * I love Thursdays even more than Fridays because Thursday is my first day off for the week.
I doesn't appear the Yankees are going to miss any of those prospects they dealt for Swisher. I remember when the A's had him Billy Bean had a hard time letting him go. Swisher was a locker room leader in Oakland and imagine he does the same in New York alongside Jeter of course. He's one of those players who can spark a team with a defensive play or key at bat. I don't think anyone expected him to continue raking after a hot April start. He was delivering in April when Tex was struggling to stay above the mendoza line.
I think Swish was a great pickup. He's been erratic on offense for a good chunk of the season, but he kept us alive early in the season when we didn't have ARod and when Tex was batting terribly. And it's not like we're missing too much with those prospects.
