Playoff Pulse: Swisher Sweet

Playoff Pulse is our morning rundown of the night that was and the night that will be during the MLB postseason.

Looking Forward ...

Could some bad blood, or maybe even just a little chippiness, develop in the World Series? You wouldn't think so, especially with Derek Jeter and Jimmy Rollins and Ryan Howard and Alex Rodriguez looking so chummy at different times during Game 3.

But A-Rod was plunked, not once but twice, by Phillies pitchers Saturday night and then there was Jayson Werth's emphatic reaction to his second home run of the evening -- slamming his bat to the ground along the first-base line before entering his home run trot.

OK, so Werth's emotion may have been directed more at his teammates, and it would be shocking if these two clubs, who are not natural rivals in the least, actually confronted each other in some way, but the seeds could be there.

In Their Own Words
"Looks like Phillies in six." -- Jimmy Rollins, who predicted that his team would beat the Yankees in five games before the start of the World Series.
By the Numbers
9 Strikeouts by Ryan Howard so far in the Fall Classic. The World Series record is 12. *-- Ed Price*
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Looking Back ...

Two days after he was benched in favor of Jerry Hairston Jr., Nick Swisher earned a little vindication by doubling and homering in the Yankees' win.

FanHouse's Frankie Piliere has more on the how below, but Swisher's performance is another shining example of why it's silly to get too worked up over a handful of at-bats, even such vital ones in the postseason.

Scout's Eye View ...

Two players with key roles in the Yankees' Game 4 victory came into the night with something to prove. Most Yankee fans would admit having their doubts about Joba Chamberlain of late, and the entire baseball world knows of the playoff struggles of Nick Swisher at this point. Chamberlain played a key role in shutting down the potent Phillies lineup in the seventh inning, an inning that's been shaky for the New York 'pen this post-season. And Swisher made what appeared to be an effective change in his batting stance as he came up with a double and a homer.

It was a subtle change, but Swisher definitely had a different stance in Game 4. Swisher typically has his bat wrapped back behind his head, holding his hands above the ear. With such an approach, he has a powerful lower hand. That's how he's able to produce that good backspin that power hitters strive for. But, of late it looked as if that bottom hand was getting a little dominant in his swing, causing him to pop a lot of balls up. In this game we saw the hands somewhat lower and more relaxed. There was a lot more waggle to the bat as his top hand got more involved. When a hitter can keep his hands loose and use his top hand that's when you see more consistent line drives, which is what Swisher appeared to have going for him in this game.

Chamberlain had the velocity at 95-96 mph, but more importantly we saw a more aggressive pitcher as he used his fastball and attacked the zone. Joba tends to fall in love with that good slider and has been hurt on it early in counts this postseason. The Yankees have to be glad to see him pitching more aggressively with his fastball the way he did Saturday night.

-- Frankie Piliere

Sunday's Tale of the Tape ...

Yankees (CC Sabathia) at Phillies (Joe Blanton), 8:20 PM ET: Sabathia will be making his second start of the postseason on short rest, the first coming in Game 4 of the ALCS. The big lefty has been terrific on three days' rest in his career, going 3-1 with a 1.01 ERA. Last year, when he made his final three starts of the season on short rest to get the Brewers to the playoffs, he actually pitched deeper into the game in each successive start. Blanton pitched in the AL until the middle of last year, so he has plenty of experience against the Yankees, not that it figures to be helpful. New York's 3-4 combo of Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez has worn out Blanton, going a combined 13-for-34 with five home runs.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

11-01-2009 @ 11:02AM

WILDMAN KAK said...

Baseball is still going on? The great summer American Waiste of Time just does not want to go away. Half way through the NFL season, and these money grubbing MLB execs. are still trying to squeeze out ever cent they can out of people even during a reccession. Women are even whoring themselves for a lousey ticket. By the way. Maybe they should call them the Steroid Yankees. Don't they have 3 guys busted for Steroid use. Gayrod, Peterist and Chiumpy. Where did all those New York based talk radio guys go that were screaming and crying about putting an * Asterich * after all these guys records a few years ago or when there wasn't much going on. Oh I get it they have a game to talk about in New York. Yea for the big apple fony balloney Baseball Idiots.

11-01-2009 @ 12:52PM

ftheyanks said...

GREAT COMMENT........At a time when amicans are STRUGGLEING to feed themselves the NY YANKEE organization continues spending money like its water.TRYING to buy itselve another CHAMPIONSHIP.HOW GOOD THAT MUST FEEL TO THAT PIG OF AN OWNER.With all the problems we have in this country.TWO WARS,UNEMPLOYMENT OUT OF CONTROL.The FANS need to understand its not them we hate but what thier team stand for.again ftheyanks

11-01-2009 @ 1:39PM

johnottr28 said...

Hey Wildman, you are one jerkoff! Sounds to me like you have never gotten laid. Too bad for you. Youre a coward anyway.

11-02-2009 @ 12:32AM

kerryann1072 said...

WILDMAN & FTHEYANKS...typical DUMBASS Yankee haters....Did you think about the HUNDREDS of employees that work at these stadiums? I am sure they are grateful that MLB games continue as they bring home their paychecks and tips to their families. Maybe the HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of fans that spend their money and attend these games find it more enjoyable and a positive aspect of the lives, then having to sit home and dwell over the economy and war. Yankees bring revenue to every city and stadium they play in! By the way it was a Phillies female fan that offered sex for the WS ticket in Philly! Don't be blaming NY!

11-01-2009 @ 12:21PM

You are dead on THE YANKEE ORGANIZATION STANDS for everything wrong with world.At a time when people are STRUGGLING just to feed themselve.Two wars, unemployment out of control.thier pig owner continues to spend more money,like its water.Even the real die hard yankee fans cant aford to see thier team play.AGAIN FTHEYANKS........AND GO PHILLIES.......

11-01-2009 @ 4:06PM

David S. said...

I guess those Phillies players work for free, and the stadium in Philadelphia runs itself. So what if the Yankees get paid alot? Every ball team would love to have their money to pay their players. Everyone gets indignant about money unless its being spent on their home team, eh?

11-02-2009 @ 1:00AM

tonytiger18 said...

fthyanks is the worst case of hometown Phillie sore loser.

Three days ago you stated Phillies in five!!

Then next day you were complaing about the umps and all the bad calls.

Yesterday, you said the Phillies in six!!!

Now, you are blaming the Yankees for the problems of the world.

Tell me, is it possible that just maybe the Yankees have a good team with a great articulate and composed manager, as opposed to an dumb and illeterate Manuel?

Did you listen to his postgame comments?
I guess that is why his htting coach or bench coach or even his pitching coach are interviewd during the game on TV and not him.

He should take some speech lessons or lay off the beer.

11-01-2009 @ 1:28PM

outbreak2020 said...

Those first three comments are from a bunch of liberal whiny crybabies. So uh Hows That Hope and Change Working For You HUH? Bunch of flipping Sissy's!!!

11-01-2009 @ 1:46PM

Tori Hunter said, "how can you hate the Yankees, they play baseball the way its suppose to be played" Little did he know that their are always insecure, jealous people, in the world. I have to tell you though. After watching the Yankees win six championships in my lifetime, yes, I am that old. I have never seen fans like Philly fans. I mean insecurity reeks from their pores. I feel sorry for them. To be that inscure has to a brain disorder.

11-01-2009 @ 2:02PM

Hey outbreak2020, thanks for telling us youre a conservative. I have often wondered why conservatives live in NYC. The most liberal city in the world. Maybe you can tell me! Shouldnt you live in places where their are lots of conservatives, like San Diego or Tehran.

11-01-2009 @ 2:21PM

william riley said...

arods hr should have been gr dbl.the camera was over the rail and in the field of play causing interference.

11-01-2009 @ 3:35PM

Ralph Garcia said...

You Yankee haters need to get a life. First of all, Giambi doesn't play with the Yankees anymore. Second of all, if the Yankees win you say that it was good for them spending a billion not winning. Then you add that you wish that they go broke. Now when the Yankees win, you become disciples of Marxism, Lennin, Stalin, Castro and all your commie friends by wanting a salary cap. Would you like some cheese with that whine!You're probably a BOASTON Red Sox fan, a member of the Big bRAG machine. Wah!!!! By the way, GO YANKEES!!!!!!

11-01-2009 @ 3:37PM

stjames111 said...

1)Among things not baseball the Yankees prove what the framers of our Constitution based this graet Country on- Capitalism works!
2) Yes the camera may hang over the field of play by a few inches - but the ball was travelling on a path that lands it - at worst - hitting the topof the railing and continuing in to the stands.
3) I am a Yankee fan- my felow Yankee fans sometimes behave like spoiled brats- You get spoiled when you are accustomed to having the best.
4) George Steinbrenner purchased a losing franchise for 18 Million- He spent his own money to put a better product on the field(within the rules demanded by the Players Union)and now the franchise is worth 1 Billion- That sounds like a very smart fellow to me!

11-01-2009 @ 4:42PM

Honey Bunny said...

If you got it, $pend it. Keep the economy rollin'
Go YANKEES!!!! YANKEES IN 5 :)

11-01-2009 @ 9:07PM

BOB said...

Okay, for the upteenth time, Jeter, Posada, Cano, Pettite, Rivera, Hughes, Chamberlain, Cabrera, AND OTHERS Home grown. Hope I don't have to say this again.

11-02-2009 @ 8:48AM

Mr tiger,Its time MLB imposses a salary cap that makes sense, just to restrict that pig owner from buying his way thier every few years.424 million for cc sabathia,Aj burnett,Mark teixeira.Is just a little out of control even for that pig.So you NYers you feal good about this.fake win. your pockets are big but your integrity so small. again ftheyanks!!!!!!!!

11-02-2009 @ 4:41PM

moe said...

Boy, you Yankee front runners get real defensive when your payroll's brought up. Money might not guarantee a championship, but it sure doesn't hurt your chances! Congrats on buying another one soon.

11-02-2009 @ 4:47PM

kansas city said...

Hmm, let's see -- A-rod, Matsui, Burnett, Texiera, Sabathia, Damon.....all home grown, right? Sure, everybody buys players. But the Yanks can afford the best. What a handicap.