Swisher benched for Game 2
Published: October 30, 2009
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Elise Amendola / ASSOCIATED PRESS Philadelphia Phillies' Cliff Lee warms his hand during the fifth inning of Game 1 of the World Series on Wednesday.
David J. Phillip / associated press New York Yankees' Phil Hughes gives the game ball to manager Joe Girardi, left, after being relieved by Damaso Marte during the eighth inning of Game 1 of the World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday in New York. Derek Jeter, second from right, and Robinson Cano look on.
NEW YORK - The numbers finally caught up to Nick Swisher.
Joe Giardi is hoping they don't lie about Jerry Hairston Jr.
Looking to light a fire in a lineup that hasn't gotten much production outside of Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez this postseason, Girardi benched his regular right fielder for Game 2 of the World Series against the Phillies.
The move, the Yankees manager said, came down to simple mathematics. Swisher had been just 4-for-35 with 12 strikeouts and one RBI in the postseason.
Meanwhile, Hairston had hit the Phillies' Game 2 starter, Pedro Martinez, well throughout his career, going 10-for-27 with two doubles and a triple against the Hall of Fame-bound right-hander.
"He's had a lot of success off of Pedro," Girardi said. "We also like the way they match up against each other, and that kind of shows up in the numbers."
Swisher entered the postseason as one of the key components in a Yankees lineup notoriously tough on opposing pitchers. During the regular season, he hit just .249, but he did slug 29 home runs, knock in 82 and post a .371 on-base percentage.
A night after the Yankees were dominated by Phillies ace Cliff Lee in a 6-1 loss in Game 1, Girardi insisted his team hadn't reached for the panic button yet. But the Yankee whose locker is closest to Swisher's knows that there is a delicate balance to be struck between sticking with what has worked and finding something that will work.
"The postseason is definitely tougher to hit, and obviously, Nick wants to be the guy who can help carry us to a world championship," outfielder Johnny Damon said. "I'm sure we'll see Nick in the ballgame tonight, and he's going to be ready.
"But at this time of year, it's about team. Right now, we're just trying to win as a team, and hopefully what we're doing tonight will work out for us."
There was one lineup change for the Phillies, too. Raul Ibanez, who knocked in a pair of runs as the designated hitter in Game 1, moved back to left field, and veteran Matt Stairs got the call as the Phillies' DH.
Manager Charlie Manuel said it ranked as one of his easier decisions. He wanted an extra left-handed bat in the lineup against Yankees starter A.J. Burnett> Lefty-swinging Greg Dobbs is battling the flu and Stairs has had good career numbers against Burnett (3-for-11, two homers, three RBIs).
No relief from Phils
The way Lee pitched Wednesday, it hardly mattered that the Yankees bullpen continued its postseason struggles.
Maybe this time though, they have an excuse.
The Phillies have battered opposing bullpens this season. They scored six runs against Colorado relievers in the NLDS, scored 12 times in 19 innings against the Dodgers in the NLCS and plated four runs in two innings against a slew of Yankees relievers in Game 1.
"We do a pretty good job of finding ways to score runs on middle relievers," Phillies shortstop and former Red Baron Jimmy Rollins said. "It helped (Wednesday) that they weren't throwing strikes. When its 2-0, 3-1 all the time, that helps a lot. But when we have the chance to swing, we do, and we put the bat on the ball."
Ultimate irony
For a guy who has spent the last two seasons working in Cleveland and Philadelphia, Cliff Lee has certainly made a lot of history on River Avenue in the Bronx.
Lee started the 2008 All-Star Game last July - the final All-Star Game played at the old Yankee Stadium. He also pitched for Cleveland against the Yankees in the first regular-season game at the new Yankee Stadium in April. And on Wednesday night, he threw a complete game to register the first win in a World Series game at the current stadium.
"I think it's just ironic," Lee smiled. "It was my first All-Star Game, so it's not like I was making every one. It's just ironic that it was here.
"Then, it was my turn to pitch the first time we came to New York (in April). Kind of ironic.
"And, I mean, the Yankees had to get here (to the World Series). That's kind of ironic, too. It is kind of ironic that I had two firsts and one last at Yankee Stadium."
Riled up reliever
As he stormed off the mound after a disappointing Game 1 performance, Yankees releiver Phil Hughes shouted at home plate umpire Gerry Davis, obviously upset about the strike zone after walking both batters he faced.
For good measure, television cameras caught Hughes screaming at Davis from the dugout.
Hughes has a 9.64 ERA and has allowed 13 baserunners in 4â innings during the postseason, and his reaction might be easily attributable to frustration. But Girardi doesn't see it quite in a negative way.
"The one thing you don't want to take away from a player is emotions," Girardi said. "It's not something you want your players to do, but all that does is tell me that he really, really cares about what he's doing out there for this team."
As far as searching for another set-up man based on Hughes' struggles, Girardi balked. Asked if he'd use Hughes in the eighth inning in Game 2, he responded bluntly.
"Yes," he said. "I would."
Contact the writer: dcollins@timesshamrock.com
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