I continue my player evaluations tonight with some analysis on the Yankees corner outfielders. This post will focus on Brett Gardner and Nick Swisher, two very different players who can both contribute greatly to the team's success in 2012.
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One thing about Gardner that I would like for him to improve on in 2012 are his base-running skills. There is no doubt that he is one of the fastest, if not the fastest, player in baseball. He needs to take that skill and apply it by stealing more bases. He is hesitant to run early in counts, second guessing himself about whether or not he will be thrown out. I say that he needs to run every time he gets on base. He stole 49 bases in 2011 without being aggressive 100% of the time on the base paths! Imagine the numbers he can put up with more aggressiveness on the bases.
Nick Swisher is going into his age 31 season, meaning that he is just leaving his prime. Swisher has been a great player for the Yankees. He is a great clubhouse presence who breaks the mold of the old days of Yankee Stadium. He is loud, easy-going, and loves getting pied. There is no doubt that Swisher has been a clutch player for the Yankees in the regular season, but the postseason is another story.
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Entering his walk year, Swisher needs to prove that he can put his mental lapses aside and show up every day. This means that he will have to have a great postseason for the Yankees to even consider resigning him to another deal past this year. Swisher has a lot to prove going into this season. How he does under the pressure will ultimately decide his fate in the Bronx long term.
My predictions for Gardner: .280 BA, 12 HR, 58 RBI, 56 SB
My predictions for Swisher: .274 BA, 27 HR, 90 RBI
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