Mar 24 2009
WANG A LITTLE OFF, SWISH A GREAT ADDITION
So Wang didn’t have the best start yesterday against the Phils, giving up a few runs through 5, but no worries. He’ll be fine, just has to keep the ball down and mix it up while changing speeds. I just hope he’s not letting the injury from last year creep around in the back of his mind, because that can mess up a pitcher’s flow. As soon as they start worrying about reinjuring themself, it affects the mechanics and can lead to bad results. It may take a few regular-season starts, but the Wanger will get back in a groove before you know it.
A couple of other important things to note - Jorge Posada is feeling good again, and is able to throw out runners for the first time in a while. He sounds confident, and his bat has certainly not been slowed, as he’s spraying the ball all over the diamond. This is great news for the team, since they want to DH Matsui full-time (liability in the outfield), and Tex is going to be at 1st everyday. You also can’t underestimate the leadership that Jorge provides for this team, and that’s going to be felt and embraced by the clubhouse. The other news to note: Xavier Nady is named the everyday rightfielder. We pretty much knew this would be the case anyway, so not a shocker. However, if Damon gets hurt at some point (quite possible), you could still see Swisher starting in the outfield along with Nady and Gardner. Don’t feel bad for the Swish, he’s still going to be a very big part of this team. This brings us to my next point….
I absolutely loved the move when they got Nick Swisher from the White Sox, and I still love the move. I’ve listened to a few interviews with him now, and he’s a fantastic personality for this town. The great thing about him is that he doesn’t let anything get to him, he’s loose as a goose. He’ll do whatever Girardi needs him to do. I mean obviously he wants to play everyday, but he’s not going to whine and throw a tantrum if he’s on the bench. Mark my words - Swish will become a fan-favorite here, and he’ll also be a nice switch-hitting bat off the bench. The Yankees have not had this kind of depth, nor have they had a group that meshes so well in a long time. “Let’s Go Swish” will be a chant that echoes throughout the new stadium this year, just wait and see.
