Swisher had already gotten ABs in every single game while Nady was starting, and he had hit .458/.536/1.208 over that stretch.

i am simply saying that Girardi’s statements in spring trainging may not have meant all that much in the face of Swisher hitting an XBH almost every time he came to the plate during that stretch.

i just don’t see why it is so hard to think that Swisher would have hit his way into the starting lineup with his red-hot April.

I wouldn’t go so far to say that the Yankees don’t get past the Phillies without Marte, but he got so many big outs, that I probably wouldn’t undo the trade knowing what I know now. I understand the shortcomings of that reasoning, but he was still a significant piece of a World Series team even if the Yankees “overpaid” for a handful of (key) outs.

He did a good job managing the 2 guys for one spot in CF.

and it’s not like Swisher didn’t have long stretches of the season where he stunk (including all of October). Having another good player to take some ABs during that stretch might have been a good thing.

Of course, the results are on your side of the argument, and I wouldn’t change a thing if I could. I am just hesitant to assume that Girardi couldn’t have made this work. That probably also includes giving some of Damon’s ABs against LHP to Nady, which wouldn’t have been bad either. Again, I wouldn’t change anything, so I don’t disagree with you that his injury probably did help.

Depending on how the off-season shakes out, I wouldn’t mind having him in the mix for LF if he can be had cheap, and he shows he can actually throw. I’ve heard (can’t remember where) that recovery rates from TJ #2 suck. But then that’s probably mostly pitchers. Anyway, a LFer who can’t throw (yes, yes, Damon, I know) becomes a DH, and Nady as a DH does not thrill me.

I feel bad for the guy, but the injury might have actually helped the Yankees. Not b/c their roster was stronger without him – it wasn’t. But because it appeared that Joe Girardi actually thought he was a better player than Nick Swisher. Given the year Swish had, I’d be less worried about it now.

Nady’s career numbers have always been fairly averagish, mostly due to a severe platoon split. He’s a RH bat that has always hit lefties very well. Not an uncommon trait.

However, over the last 4-5 seasons, Nady has slowly, but steadily, started to improve against RHP, the results of which were a “breakout” season in 2008.

Now, he will never be an elite player simply b/c he doesn’t take enough walks, but I suppose my question is this:

Is Nady’s improvement against RHP “real”? Or is it just noise from a relatively small sample? How can we tell? I’m not pretending I know the answer, I am asking if Nady’s career numbers might be selling him a little short (without factoring in the injury, of course)??

i’d say they have quite a few already in the mix. and another handful on the way in the next 2-3 years. how many other clubs in baseball can claim that? 2? be very afraid of this team, because soon you won’t only be crying about money.

Baseball Tonight makes him seem like a god with his “The Untier!” nickname. *rolls eyes* Though I suppose he did post a positive Clutch rating in ’08 when they first started annoying me with the nickname.