Girardi sticks with Swisher

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After sleeping on it overnight, Yankees Manager Joe Girardi decided to stick with the slumping Nick Swisher, leaving him in the lineup for tonight’s Game 6 of the American League Championship Series.

‘Swisher is not a platoon player,’ Girardi said. ‘Swisher has been an everyday right fielder that has put up good numbers for us. Yeah he’s struggled. But he’s had some good at-bats.’

After hitting .249 with with 29 homers and 82 RBIs during the regular season, Swisher is batting .103 in the postseason. But he’s not alone. Mark Teixeira, who led he American League in home runs and RBIs during the regular season, is hitting .171 in eight playoff games and Robinson Cano and Johnny Damon are hitting .212 and .211, respectively. But Swisher’s slump drew more focus when he popped up with the bases loaded to end Game 5, a 7-6 Angels win.

‘People were asking me if I was going to give up on Johnny Damon,’ Girardi said. ‘Johnny Damon has turned it around. And Tex had a big hit for us.’

-- Kevin Baxter