Nick Swisher: Burnett's Gone, But Yankees Still Need 'Pie' Guy
NEW YORK (WFAN) -- With A.J. Burnett traded to Pittsburgh, have the Yankees seen their last celebratory shaving cream surprise?
Not if Nick Swisher has anything to say about it.
"A.J. was a good buddy of mine, a good buddy of all these guys in here," he said Sunday. "Sad to see him go, wish him the best of luck. But hey man, we're gonna have to keep something going, man, because people in New York want pie!"
LISTEN: Swisher, the Yankees' next pie guy?
Podcast
Burnett was well known for his foam-filled "pies," which would inevitably end up on the face of the Yankees' walk-off hero of the day.
Swisher may run into a dilemma this year if he's the one to knock in the game-winning run.
"That's what I'm saying!" said Swisher. "Can you pie yourself?"
The Yankees picked up Swisher's $10.25 million option in October. Free agency looms after the 2012 season -- and the popular right fielder is prepared for whatever comes his way.
"I'm sure as the season kind of starts up, I'm sure the talk will get a little more and a little more," he said. "But I think I'm ready for that, man, you know?"
The 31-year-old, though productive during the regular season for the Yankees, has been a disappointment in the playoffs. He came back from a slow start to hit .260 with 23 home runs and 85 RBIs in 2011.
"I do what I love and that's coming here to the ballpark and playing ball every day," said Swisher. "You know, whatever's gonna happen is gonna happen, man. I wish I could write it in a book and script it out, I'd be here for the rest of my career.
"That's kind of one of those things that if it doesn't happen you gotta kind of roll with the punches. But I know I'm gonna go out there, bust my a--, do everything I know I can to make that decision real difficult on them."
What do you expect from Swisher in 2012? Sound off below!
