NEW YORK – Nick Swisher is off to a great start in pinstripes – one he hopes continues this weekend when the Bronx Bombers renew old acquaintances in Boston.
The fun-loving outfielder told BronxNet earlier in the week that he and the Yankees are ready for the Red Sox. “We know Oakland’s been struggling, but it was still good to play well in this series and finish the homestand strong,” said Swisher, who already boasts a nine-game hit streak and has reached base safely in all 15 games in which he has appeared this season. “We’re definitely ready for Boston. We’ve played some good teams early in the season, but this will be a good test for us. I was impressed by Tampa, but even there, we played well. We've shown we can play with anyone.
“Right now, the focus is on having everyone get into a groove,” he added. “We know Boston is hot, but we’re playing pretty good baseball ourselves.”
The Yankees traded infielder Wilson Betemit and minor league pitchers Jeff Marquez and Jhonny Nunez to Chicago in exchange for the switch-hitting Swisher and minor league pitcher Kanekoa Texeira this winter.
The 27-year-old Swisher struggled in Chicago, batting .219 in 2008, but he did hit 24 home runs in 153 games. He’s been great for the Bombers so far, hitting .306 with four dingers and 12 RBIs.
He’s not the only new Yankee gearing up for the first taste of the Yankee-Red Sox rivalry. “We’re all excited,” Swisher said. “How could you not be?”
Like Swisher, newcomers AJ Burnett, CC Sabathia and Mark Teixeira will all get their first look – from a Yankee perspective – at the greatest rivalry in sports. Teixeira figures to get the brunt of the fan reaction all weekend, having shunned the Red Sox's advances to sign an eight-year, $180 million contract with the Yankees.
Sabathia's turn in the rotation doesn’t fall this weekend, but Burnett will pitch Saturday against Red Sox ace Josh Beckett.
Boston comes into tonight riding a seven-game win streak. Both clubs are 9-6 through the first 15 games with the Yankees feeling pretty good about themselves, too, after Melky Cabrera’s walk-off home run Wednesday that sank Oakland in 14 innings.
New York will send Joba Chamberlain to the hill. The hard-throwing right-hander is looking for his first win of 2009. The highlight of Chamberlain’s brief big league career as a starter came at Fenway Park last July 25, when he handcuffed the Red Sox for three hits in seven scoreless innings, walking one and striking out nine.
He is 2-0 with a 3.12 ERA in six games (two starts) against the Red Sox in his career. Jon Lester will throw for Boston.
First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m. tonight. Brace yourselves Bronxites for another tussle at Fenway.
The fun-loving outfielder told BronxNet earlier in the week that he and the Yankees are ready for the Red Sox. “We know Oakland’s been struggling, but it was still good to play well in this series and finish the homestand strong,” said Swisher, who already boasts a nine-game hit streak and has reached base safely in all 15 games in which he has appeared this season. “We’re definitely ready for Boston. We’ve played some good teams early in the season, but this will be a good test for us. I was impressed by Tampa, but even there, we played well. We've shown we can play with anyone.
“Right now, the focus is on having everyone get into a groove,” he added. “We know Boston is hot, but we’re playing pretty good baseball ourselves.”
The Yankees traded infielder Wilson Betemit and minor league pitchers Jeff Marquez and Jhonny Nunez to Chicago in exchange for the switch-hitting Swisher and minor league pitcher Kanekoa Texeira this winter.
The 27-year-old Swisher struggled in Chicago, batting .219 in 2008, but he did hit 24 home runs in 153 games. He’s been great for the Bombers so far, hitting .306 with four dingers and 12 RBIs.
He’s not the only new Yankee gearing up for the first taste of the Yankee-Red Sox rivalry. “We’re all excited,” Swisher said. “How could you not be?”
Like Swisher, newcomers AJ Burnett, CC Sabathia and Mark Teixeira will all get their first look – from a Yankee perspective – at the greatest rivalry in sports. Teixeira figures to get the brunt of the fan reaction all weekend, having shunned the Red Sox's advances to sign an eight-year, $180 million contract with the Yankees.
Sabathia's turn in the rotation doesn’t fall this weekend, but Burnett will pitch Saturday against Red Sox ace Josh Beckett.
Boston comes into tonight riding a seven-game win streak. Both clubs are 9-6 through the first 15 games with the Yankees feeling pretty good about themselves, too, after Melky Cabrera’s walk-off home run Wednesday that sank Oakland in 14 innings.
New York will send Joba Chamberlain to the hill. The hard-throwing right-hander is looking for his first win of 2009. The highlight of Chamberlain’s brief big league career as a starter came at Fenway Park last July 25, when he handcuffed the Red Sox for three hits in seven scoreless innings, walking one and striking out nine.
He is 2-0 with a 3.12 ERA in six games (two starts) against the Red Sox in his career. Jon Lester will throw for Boston.
First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m. tonight. Brace yourselves Bronxites for another tussle at Fenway.
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