New York Yankees: What Is the Deal with Nick Swisher?

One of the toughest parts about being a fan is seeing a player you like struggle on your team. It's even harder to admit it and criticize it because you are admitting that the struggle is real.

Unfortunately, it's time to face facts about a certain New York Yankee.

Since arriving via a trade from the White Sox before the 2009 season, Nick Swisher has been one of the most popular players in the Bronx. His energy and enthusiasm helped change the culture of the Yankees locker room and clubhouse, something that was a major part of the 2009 World Championship team.

His first two seasons with the Yankees were very productive, hitting .249 with 29 home runs and 82 RBI in 2009 and .288 with 29 home runs and 88 RBI in 2010.

So far in 2011, Swisher has been anything but productive in New York, hitting just .218 with two home runs and 14 RBI.

What's even more concerning is Swisher has been on a major decline since April 20, where he was hitting .273.

Now, he's dropped over 50 points in average and is striking out at a more frequent rate. In his 31 at-bats in May, Swisher has struck out 10 times and managed only six hits (.193).

It's obvious Swisher is struggling tremendously, but now he's almost becoming an automatic out at the plate.

His power has clearly not been there and it's affecting not only the Yankees lineup, but Swisher's wallet, as well.

He is in the final year of his contract and will be a free agent at the end of the 2011 season. Most players who are a pending free agent want to step up their play in that final season so they can get a decent pay raise.

If you asked most Yankee fans before the season started, they probably would have told you that they would want the Yankees to re-sign Swisher when he hits free agency.

I wonder if the fans will feel the same way if Swisher continues this trend with the Yankees.

After all, when Swisher left the White Sox in 2008, he hit .219 in 153 games with Chicago, so it's not the first time Swisher has had this disappointing type of season.

Another red flag about Swisher is his postseason production, or lack their of.

In the 2010 ALCS against the Rangers, Swisher went 2-for-22, (.091) with seven strikeouts. In the entire 2009 playoffs, where the Yankees won the World Series, Swisher went 6-for-47 (.127) with 15 strikeouts.

More strikeouts than hits— that's not going to get it done. Not for a team that contends every year to win a championship.

Swisher will be 31 when he will hit free agency this coming winter, so you have to wonder if this is just a bad patch in the beginning of the season or is he in the start of a decline?

Most Yankee fans would hope that this is just a rough start for Swisher because he is an important part of the order. Remember, this is a guy who has averaged almost 30 home runs and 90 RBIs a season for the Yankees. He also can walk anywhere from 80 to 100 times in the season.

But the downfall to Swisher's game is that he strikes out quite a bit (126 and 139 times in his first two season with the Yankees).

Now, if Swisher goes on a tear for the Yankees and starts hitting near .280 again, this will all be forgotten and maybe re-signing Swisher will become a top priority after 2011.

But, I'll raise the question again.

What if this isn't just a rough patch for him?

What if this is a sign of things to come for Swisher?

What if he ends the season hitting .215?

What if he has another two-for-22 outing in the postseason?

Would his popularity alone justify enough reason for the Yankees to keep him long-term?

Right now, my gut feeling says probably not, but I've been wrong before. I'm sure we'll talk more about Swisher's future in pinstripes as the season progresses, so now I'll leave it all up to you to discuss.

Is Swisher just in an early season slump? Or is this an unfortunate sign of things to come?