Farewell Dirty 30

I've been out window shopping for a new computer today, so I couldn't post this when it first broke. I did hear it in the car and wanted to instantly race home.

The Chicago White Sox have acquired infielder Wilson Betemit and right-handed pitchers Jeff Marquez and Jhonny Nunez from the New York Yankees in exchange for infielder/outfielder Nick Swisher and right-handed pitcher Kanekoa Texeira.

Betemit, 27, played in 87 games with the Yankees in 2008, hitting .265 (50-189) with six home runs and 25 RBI. The 6-foot-3, 230-pound switch-hitter batted .274 (40-146) with four homers and 21 RBI from the left side of the plate. He played in 36 games at first base, 14 at shortstop, nine at third, three at second and one in the outfield.

It's interesting that the White Sox would trade Swisher now. They gave up a ton of talent to get him and now trade him for less value. I am assuming that this is the first step in some radical new direction. This opens up a spot in center field, where potentially, a nice speedy leadoff hitter could be obtained.

I will miss Swisher on the South Side. He and A.J. were the two batters that kept things afloat early in the 2008 season. Luck was almost never on Swisher's side though. I can't remember any other hitter who has had so many good hits line right into some fielder's glove. Maybe Nick's luck will turn around in New York.

It wasn't all sunshine and roses. Swisher put on quite a pouting display during the last month or two of the season. This probably made the difference between sticking with him and his expandability. When you are slumping bad, if you can still infuse energy into the dugout, you are still useful. Nick kind of pooped out after his playing time diminished.

To Wilson Betemit, Jeff Marquez and Jhonny Nunez... welcome. If you stick, you'll love it on the South Side.