Ways The New York Yankees Can Turn This Slump Around
2. Create A Spark In Chemistry
One player that’s tearing it up in Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre can be the answer, and his name is Nick Swisher.
Swisher was a member of the dominant 2009 championship team but hit a bumpy road after signing a four-year, $56-million deal with the Cleveland Indians in 2012.
After being traded to the Atlanta Braves he batted .195 and he was cut in Spring Training before landing a minor-league deal with the Yankees.
Nick is being positively Swisherlicious with his .340/.370/.540 slash line with three home runs and 6 RBI in 13 games. Not only is he hitting the cover off the ball, but he’s playing loose with a child-like energy, something that will never change despite being 35-years of age.
Perhaps that’s what the New York Yankees need more than anything right now. A spirited veteran presence to help spice up this joyless team.
The Yankees will not get the 2010 All-Star version of Swisher as he’ll only be a bench option in the Bronx, but no matter what anyone says, “good chemistry” is a crucial characteristic of every winning team.
Chemistry serves as a meaningful impingement by virtue of the adversity teams go through -like the Yankee lineup is currently experiencing- and the closer a group is, the better they perform.
A shift in attitude toward having fun, while still taking care of business might be what the Yankees need the most.
Christian Kouroupakis covers the New York Yankees and is the Editorial Director for ESNY. Interact with him and view his daily work by “liking” his facebook page and follow him on Twitter. All statistics are courtesy of Baseball Reference.com unless otherwise noted. Don’t hesitate to shoot him an email with any questions, criticisms, or concerns.
