Swisher Still Fighting for Everyday Job

Yankees role player Nick Swisher had no place to go but up after batting only .219 with the White Sox. Now a member of the Yankees, he has hit the ground running as a role player and is starting to turn some heads into believing that he should be fighting Xavier Nady for the everyday spot in right field.

Now granted we are only a few games into the season, but how do you bench a guy that has seven hits, three doubles, one triple, and two homers in just 13 AB’s. I would think his nine RBI’s and .538 batting average in five games will force Manager Joe Girardi to find ways to keep him in the lineup.

Nick has had his share of success in the past hitting 35 HR and 97 RBI’s in 2006 while batting with the Oakland Athletics. There should definitely be appeal to having a third switch hitter with power in the batting order to compliment Jorge Posada and Mark Texiera. If the Yankees were to bat them fourth, fifth, and sixth in the order ,it would make it impossible for opposing teams to mix and match pitching against the middle of the lineup  late in a close game.

At any rate, Swish is definitely on fire. His play in the field, as he showed playing at first base yesterday, and at the plate is more convincing evidence that he should be the everyday guy in the lineup. Yesterday Swisher scored three times on two hits that included a triple and a HR. He also had three RBI’s and walked twice in the Yankees 6-1 win over the Royals.

I’m going to go out on a limb and predict that Swisher might play in today's series finale.