Neyer: Swisher Should Start

Earlier today it was reported and mentioned in my game thread, that Joe Girardi said that if the season started tomorrow Xavier Nady would be starting. Rob Neyer of ESPN does not think Girardi is making the correct decision.

Xavier Nady's been around for a while and is exceptionally easy to project. Given regular duties in the middle of a good lineup, he'll hit 25 homers and drive in 100 runs. He doesn't draw many walks, and he will reach base roughly 33 percent of the time.

Swisher would also hit 25 to 30 homers and wouldn't drive in as many runs because he'll take his walks but might score more because he'll reach base 35 percent of the time.

According to everything I can find, Swisher's the slightly better fielder. And according to everything I can find, Swisher's the better baserunner. Also -- and here's the nut if you're looking for one -- Swisher's the better hitter against right-handed pitchers, and last time I checked, there were more right-handed pitchers than left-handed pitchers.

Swisher's also (almost exactly) two years younger than Nady, which means he's got a better chance of improving over what he did last year (which, by the way, was a terribly unlucky year for him, coloring all the projections you'll find for him).

So, let's see … younger, better against right-handed pitching, better fielder, better baserunner … gee, why would you want to give that guy a regular job?

Neyer makes some good points, doesn't he?

Maybe Swisher should be starting. And if Swisher is that much better against righties maybe Nady should play against lefties and Swisher should start against righties. That would work, wouldn't it?

In a related story, here's what Nick Swisher had to say about the news that Nady would be the starting right fielder:

“You might say something that will come out the wrong way. I’m not going to do that,” he said. “This is a great team and we have an opportunity to do some wonderful things this year. I want to be a part of that; I want to win. Coming over here, that was the biggest thing, I want to win. But I also want to be a part. I’ve played every day pretty much my whole career. I think there’s going to be a lot of at-bats out there for me. I’ve got to be ready when I’m told I’m ready to play.

“I don’t know how to put it. I don’t know how I’m feeling or whatever. I just know I want to be in there everyday. That’s it, that’s what I can say.”

You can understand why Swisher isn't too happy. Like anyone he wants to play everyday. At least he took the high road, and he should still be able to get his at-bats throughout the year. Someone will get injured, and players will need their off days.