Swisher trying to stay calm and let the hits come
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Podcast on Apr 28, 2011 
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To some extent, everyone knows Nick Swisher. The guy wears his personality for everyone to see. It’s easy to tell when he’s happy — which is most of the time — and it’s easy to tell when he’s frustrated.
Lately, at the plate, he’s been frustrated.
“Maybe I’m handling it in the wrong way,” he said. “But I think the past couple of days I’ve really, really been in that cage trying to get that feel back.”
Swisher is hitting .208 with only two extra-base hits, neither of which is a home run. He’s walked once and struck out seven times in the past four games. When he starts trying to force himself to break out of something like this, “that’s when I suck,” he said.
“This past week, that homer’s really, really been in the back of my mind,” Swisher said. “And I think I’ve tried really hard and a lot harder to try to make that happen. Obviously that’s not working. I’ve got to go back to that mindset of just trying to get base hits, and then the next thing you know, you start getting a little more extension and the home runs come. A lot more games left to play, man.”
It’s easy for an athlete to tell himself to relax, and it’s even easier for an outsider to tell him to relax, but players start pressing when they get off to a slow start. It happens. Swisher seems to have been pressing the past week or so.
The past two days, he’s been on the field with Kevin Long for early batting practice. Yesterday, even though there was a left-handed starter going against the Yankees, he was working on his left-handed swing because that’s given him the most trouble (he’s actually hitting .458 right-handed). If you listen to the audio below, you’ll notice that Swisher doesn’t sound like a guy who’s still tense. He sounds more like a guy who’s working and waiting to break out of it.
Swisher said he’s talked to his father and Long quite a bit in the past few days.
“They both said it’s one swing away,” he said. “And then the next thing, everything kind of clicks in.”
Here’s Swisher.
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Associated Press photo
Could we bat all 4 of Swisher, Gardner, Jeter and Posada 9th?
Jeter says….over my last 5 games I’m hitting .400 with a .478 OBP!
Has anyone ever looked at the splits of switch hitters overall? I wonder if its worth the aggravation…
Sorry, I have a hard time getting excited over IPK’s success while he’s pitching in AAAA.
——
He had a 111 ER
I don’t know if anyone has ever compounded all the data for all switch hitters. I do think it’s overrated in general as most guys have a dominant side that they are better from…..it makes you wonder that if they spent all their time honing one swing instead of trying to balance 2 then would they be better overall hitters despite having to face the “same side”.
Japan is AAAA baseball. The NL is not…..the whole NL/AL thing is way overblown IMO. The players all come from the same draft and all the teams get players from the same places….sure you get to face the pitcher 2 or 3 times a game but the rest is legit big leaguers.
Sorry, I have a hard time getting excited over IPK’s success while he’s pitching in AAAA.
——
He had a 111 ERA+ last year.
People can say whatever they want about the AL West, but the kid is pitching well and the Yankees would be extremely lucky to have him right now.
Of the “Big 3″, Ian is performing the best and is currently the most valuable.
I think (well I hope) the Captain is coming around….
MTUApril 28th, 2011 at 1:18 pm
61-
My apologies.
Just tell your Wife I’m crazy. That should take care of it.
MTU,
Hell hath no fury like a French woman insulted! I explained that I knew you from many, many posts over the last year or two, and that there was something not quite right there. So she’s now put away le grand couteau et les autres engins meutrier.
All kidding aside, have a good day!
If the Yankees had an OF who was a top prospect, now might be the time to work him into the mix, but they don’t, so patience is the best option.
Exactly Blake, Im curious at the batting stats for the non switch hitters across the league against their same sided/opposite delivering pitchers too.. Doesnt arod hit better off right handed pitchers?
A-rod’s career OPS is .962 against righthanders, .952 against lefthanders.
Guys who can hit don’t care which hand the pitcher uses.
blake April 28th, 2011 at 1:46 pm
“…..the whole NL/AL thing is way overblown IMO. The players all come from the same draft and all the teams get players from the same places….sure you get to face the pitcher 2 or 3 times a game but the rest is legit big leaguers.”
******************
Agree totally. Facing a pitcher skews the stats some but that’s the extent of it. Facing Tulo, Fielder, Ethier, Votto, Pujols, Holliday, Braun, etc., is no walk in the park for any pitcher.
Posada is the one who worries me the most, because not only is he not hitting, but he can’t run.
I’d like to see him visit the DL for awhile, and give the other Jorge a couple weeks’ worth of at bats. He’s hitting .337 with 8 HRs and 25 RBIs in 20 games with SWB.
LGY April 28th, 2011 at 1:47 pm
Sorry, I have a hard time getting excited over IPK’s success while he’s pitching in AAAA.
——
He had a 111 ERA+ last year.
People can say whatever they want about the AL West, but the kid is pitching well and the Yankees would be extremely lucky to have him right now.
Of the “Big 3?, Ian is performing the best and is currently the most valuable.
THANK YOU!!! You’re saying everything I’m thinking!! lol
IPK was too good of a talent to trade away, granted Granderson is great and all, but until he does it for a full season it’s still just potential.
Jeter’s recent hits still aren’t getting me too excited, he’s not getting any extra base hits and he’s still hitting wayyy too many weak grounders. I’m actually really concerned about him at the plate these days
Thanks niblick,
One for the anti switch hitters..
Yes Alex actually has better numbers for his career against RHP….that’s probably not the norm but I’d like to know what the average margin of difference is.
Of course each guy is different, some guys may struggle more against the same hand than others and LH hitters I would think tend to have more trouble with lefties than righties do with righties….probably because they don’t see them as often.
However the point is for a guy like Tex…who is a much better natural RH hitter, would he be a better overall hitter if he just concentrated on that swing instead of spending so much time working on his LH swing? Maybe, maybe not…..but I don’t think it’s a coincidence that most of your all time great hitters just hit from one side.
until he does it for a full season
IPK has one good season and you are all teary eyed about his departure, in the same breath you completely write off Granderson’s prior successes in the majors saying he needs to do it more?
Teach Montero right or left field and sign Pujols to play whatever corner Montero isn’t in next year.
An outfield of Pujols, Montero and Grandy next year. Hot damn!!!!!
Pujols can’t play the outfield, he has no elbow.
Obvioulsy Mantle was the greatest switch hitter ever…..but who is the 2nd best? Murrey, Chipper……Tex?
Irreverent Discourse April 28th, 2011 at 1:58 pm
until he does it for a full season
IPK has one good season and you are all teary eyed about his departure, in the same breath you completely write off Granderson’s prior successes in the majors saying he needs to do it more?
Question for you – what’s his lifetime average? What’s his best season statistics, and when was that??
Right Blake, my thoughts w Tex too.
Two different swings, a great athlete like him could rake by concentrating on his natural side you’d have to believe..
We need some bean counter to analyze the overall numbers… I’m sure it’s done for a reason , it’s just doesn’t seem apparent enough at times.. Yea, some players are obviously bad against their same handed pitcher , but overal statistically who knows…
Apparently Montero makes Posada look like Gardner.
Thought it’s my own fault for reply earnestly to a post suggesitng Pujols play OF.
“An outfield of Pujols, Montero and Grandy next year. Hot damn!!!!!”
man Granderson would have to cover some ground out there and those guys would have to hit like crazy to make up for all the balls that would be dropping.
“We need some bean counter to analyze the overall numbers”
where is LGY or Jerkface when you need them?
I was surprised to hear chipper and Murray were the few/ only to have 2500 hits and 1500 rbis as switch hitters…
Usually the mention of bacon will lure Jerkface and LGY out. I think it is the official food of saber guys
RE: Irreverent Discourse April 28th, 2011 at 1:58 pm
I’m not saying Granderson is not a good player, I’m just saying he still hasn’t put together a solid full season, his lifetime average is what .260 something? maybe lower
2010 American League
RHB vs RHP: .258 BA .723 OPS
LHB vs RHP: .266 BA .757 OPS
RHB vs LHP: .261 BA .740 OPS
LHB vs LHP: .244 BA .669 OPS
Rich in NJ……Am I off track but I thought Heathcott was considered a top prospect OF ????
“Solid” was wrong term – “Elite” is what i mean, he’s very solid but not elite, not someone that trading multiple prospects is worth, as of yet at least
see, it worked!
Usually the mention of bacon will lure Jerkface and LGY out. I think it is the official food of saber guys
——————–
I finished a sandwich that had bacon on it mere minutes ago. I’m fueled up and ready to go.
rsoll82 – I’m sure you are capable of looking up all of those things yourself.
Batting average? Come on. I’m not even entertaining that.
I’m just saying he still hasn’t put together a solid full season
Maybe you should try actually looking at his career stats then?
Of the “Big 3?, Ian is performing the best and is currently the most valuable.
——————————————-
Which is crazy when you think about it
raymagnetic April 28th, 2011 at 1:59 pm
Teach Montero right or left field and sign Pujols to play whatever corner Montero isn’t in next year.
An outfield of Pujols, Montero and Grandy next year. Hot damn!!!!!
—————————————————–
This sounds reasonable. I bet this is how it plays out.
rsoll82, please look at Curtis Granderson’s 2007 and 2008 and tell me how those are VERY good seasons for a centerfielder..?
Pat
He might be, but I actually meant ML ready.
Irreverent Discourse April 28th, 2011 at 2:12 pm
You’re absolutely 100% full of it dude, just totally clueless
lgy, thnx for #s….
its amazing how facts can bring clarity…i guess statistically it does matter…now can you find the switch hitter#s?
haha YANKEE world baby, this is why i dont do message boards, just bunch of lemmings who follow everything the yankee PR crew tell em, aight peace
blake says:
April 28, 2011 at 2:03 pm
Obvioulsy Mantle was the greatest switch hitter ever…..but who is the 2nd best? Murrey, Chipper……Tex?
——-
Rose, imo. And for the record, I don’t like the guy for how he handled (threw away) his fame and fortune. But the guy could hit, pea brain and all.
chance of rainout #4 tonight?
tampayank April 28th, 2011 at 2:17 pm
chance of rainout #4 tonight?
———————————————–
chance, yes, but we’ll likely get it in.
rsoll82,
Granderson has put together 2 solid seasons. Kennedy’s 3.80 ERA in the AL West would translate to a 4.50 or worse ERA in the East. Yea we will really miss him.
Now Tabata is someone I would like to have back
rsoll82,
If you don’t do message boards then why are you here?
Tex: career batting as a righty against lefthanded pitchers: OPS .903
career batting as a lefty against righthanded pitchers: OPS .936
Guess what, Abe? He isn’t a better right hitter.
Is there a reason why people keep saying AL West when Kennedy pitches in the NL West?
LGY,
thanks. As I suspected….the lefty on lefty is the only really significant split.
Aldo,
Ah yes, forgot about Rose.
Carlo,
I meant NL
Swish, should take two and hit to left.
“Guess what, Abe? He isn’t a better right hitter.”
Tex will say himself that he’s a better right handed hitter. He hits a lot more from the left side because he obviously sees more RH pitching. He can fall out of bed and hit right handed and therefore likely doesn’t work from that side as much…..he swing is and always has been better from his natural side.
eh NL west, Al west, its all the same…isn’t it???
Triple Short of a Cycle April 28th, 2011 at 2:35 pm
Carlo,
I meant NL
————————-
wasnt trying to be an ahole…..just saw it happen a few times in the thread and thought maybe it was an inside joke or something.
I’m not certain…but I think Chipper’s natural side is righty as well. I heard him in an interview not long ago say that he’s more comfortable lefty now because he’s hit so much more from that side…..the point is, what if he had spent all that time he used to work on his LH swing on his natural RH swing…..would the net result have been better. Can’t argue with his career because he’s a HOFer either way but I do think it’s an interesting question….probably not one that can be answered though.
Robbie Alomar’s a forgotten switch hitter…He was very good
Tom
In a way, it may seem strange to think that Alomar is underrated, but he might be. For a while, he was probably a top three player in the game.
Yea forgot Alomar as well…though as a hitter I’d put Chipper ahead of him……
Alomar was as good at 2B as Ozzie was a SS and was a much better hitter……he was dang good.
Writing “aight” proves two things: you are illiterate and a troll.
His “swing” may be better from the right side, in his opinion, but in baseball it’s results that count. And the results don’t indicate that he’s better right handed.
Carlo,
no worries
“Granderson has put together 2 solid seasons. Kennedy’s 3.80 ERA in the AL West would translate to a 4.50 or worse ERA in the East. Yea we will really miss him.”
Kennedy would be a #5 in a healthy Yankee rotation.
RMS,
I’d rather take my chances with Nova. Kennedy has yet to do it in the AL. Brad Penny was lights out when he went back to the NL
Cash might love to get rid of swish and his 10.25 deal next year, if he could find a cheap replacement.
“His “swing” may be better from the right side, in his opinion, but in baseball it’s results that count. And the results don’t indicate that he’s better right handed.”
Actually Tex’s career OPS as a LH hitter is .903 and it’s .936 as a RH hitter. You had it reversed. He’s a career .305 hitter righty and a career .276 hitter lefty.
Also…..Tex has a career .970 OPS hitting righty vs righty (in 26 AB’s
)
Rose, imo. And for the record, I don’t like the guy for how he handled (threw away) his fame and fortune. But the guy could hit, pea brain and all.
===============================
He played the game with an intensity that no player has matched since.
And he was clutch. A winner, plain and simple.
Teixera:
hitting lefty: .276/.368/.536/.903
hitting righty: .305/.398/.539/.936.
he’s a better RH hitter and the numbers do indicate that. He also has over twice as many plate appearances from the left side…..
In his career Tex hits for a higher average and gets on base more right handed, but hits for more power left handed. Makes sense given the parks he has played in. He is a .300 hitter from the right side with a .400 on base.
Left side .270 or less but with more pop.
Tex’s right handed swing is more level and seems a lot faster, so he isn’t going to hit the kind of deep flies he hits batting lefty.
Jerkface,
probably also because of the extreme down and up swing plane he has left handed….he’s much flatter from the right side. He can hit the ball to all fields righty…..he really can’t do much but pull the ball lefty because of his swing plane.
blake-
I wonder what effect the shift has on Teixeira when he’s batting from the left side. I don’t recall the shift being used 15-20 years ago.
.he really can’t do much but pull the ball lefty because of his swing plane.
==========================
might be tayloring it for the Stadium
My point was that if he had spent all the time he’s spent honing his LH swing on his RH swing then maybe he would have learned to create more backspin or to hit for more power from that side……..who knows…..it was just an example when we were discussing the merits of switch hitting.
Trader,
I don’t know…he really doesn’t change his approach to try and beat the shift, he basically tries to hit through it or over it ala Ted Williams
Don’t forget Pete Rose, Bernie Williams and Chili Davis.
blake-
At Yankee Stadium Tex pulls everything from the left side.I can understand he’s trying to land one in the seats. If when away from home he laid down a bunt against the shift once in a while, even with his “turtle” speed-now that’s an oxymoron-he’d get a few more hits. He was supposedly working with Long to go the other way, but that doesn’t seem to be working.
“Obvioulsy Mantle was the greatest switch hitter ever…..but who is the 2nd best? Murrey, Chipper……Tex?”
Chipper by a pretty good margin.
anyone hear john sterling call jeters hit yesterday?…by the way he said it I thought jeter hit a laser thru the right…watch the hit on the HL i was sad but not surprised to find out it was a weak dribler past the second baseman
Mell-
Here’s one author’s take on the ten best switch hitter’s of all time:
http://bleacherreport.com/arti.....lb-history
# Niblick April 28th, 2011 at 2:27 pm
Tex: career batting as a righty against lefthanded pitchers: OPS .903
career batting as a lefty against righthanded pitchers: OPS .936
Guess what, Abe? He isn’t a better right hitter.
**************
Hold on there, you either wrote this wrong or read it wrong. The .936 OPS is as a RHB vs a lefty pitcher.
Also, not that this means anything, but Tex has a OPS of .970 as a righty against a righty (I assume a knuckleballer?
Thanks YT. That’s a good list. I can see Teixeira sliding into that list just ahead of Murray at some point. I think #1 and #2 are locked in for awhile.
Rays leading Twins 13-1 in game 1 of a doubleheader. They started out as miserably as Boston but have better pitching.
Mell,
I agree.
Trader,
I wouldn’t mind seeing that as well. He really can’t hit the ball the other way with his lefty swing….at least it’s very difficult.