Talk Bronx New York

Photo by AP

Yankees’ Nick Swisher celebrates as he crosses home plate after hitting a home run off Oakland Athletics’ Michael Wuertz in the sixth inning Wednesday.

By Cody Derespina / Newsday  |   Thursday, July 8, 2010  | http://www.bostonherald.com  |  MLB Coverage

 NEW YORK — Brian Cashman spoke in vague terms, keeping his cards close to the vest as he answered trade questions about Cliff Lee, the bullpen and the bench. But there was one trade he didn’t have a problem talking about.

When Cashman plucked Nick Swisher from the Chicago White Sox in the fall of 2008, Swisher was coming off the worst year of his career with a batting average that had plummeted to just .219. Two years later, Cashman finds himself campaigning for his World Champion right fielder to claim the final spot on the American League All-Star Squad.

“Thankfully Nick has come here and gotten back on track,” he said. “That was a good move.”

Cashman spent an hour of his afternoon at Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club in the Bronx showing approximately 125 kids aged 6-13 years old how they could electronically vote Swisher_one of the five final vote candidates in the AL_into the All-Star game. When Cashman spoke, Swisher held a slim lead over Boston’s Kevin Youkilis [stats].

“We’re here to get our man Nick Swisher, who’s been so important to the Yankees, out to the All-Star game in California where he belongs,” Cashman said. “Nick’s had a great year. He’s done so much for us on the field and off the field.”

Swisher has career-highs in batting average (.292) and slugging percentage (.502). He has 13 home runs, 50 runs scored and 47 RBIs.

In between helping the kids vote, Cashman posed for pictures and led the assembly in a “we want Swish” chant. The Yankee general manager will appear at a similar event in the Bronx Friday.

But even in such a light hearted environment, the reality and weight of Cashman’s job were apparent. He constantly texted and answered phone calls and deftly deflected questions about his future plans for the club with the non-waiver trade deadline looming less than a month away.

Near the end of the session, one of the administrators told Cashman how good he was with the kids and asked him jokingly if he wanted a job.

Cashman deadpanned: “I’m gonna need one eventually.”

SOURCE

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