I recently read an article on the SF Gate (SF Chronicle) site discussing Nick Swisher's recent attitude adjustment. I remember when Swisher was drafted in 2002, there were two statements that were constantly being bandied about in various news outlets:

1) Nick Swisher could become be the next, great A's power hitter.

2) Nick Swisher's head might be too large to make it through the A's clubhouse door.

With regards to the former statement, the Swisher reality hasn’t matched the hype. Even when giving him the benefit of the classic, A's Slow Start™, he still hasn’t performed well. In April, he was batting .218, with 17 hits, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 23 Ks and 6 walks. Now, didn't Swisher come up through the A's farm system where getting on base is next to breathing, in terms of overall importance? Well, let's insert our grain of salt here: He's a rookie, after all. Those numbers will surely pick up after Swisher settles in, right? Well... let's just say his numbers have been mediocre, at best.

This wouldn't such a terrible thing if Swisher hadn't earned a reputation for being one of the cockiest players ever to wear the green and gold. I've always been of the mindset that it's okay to be cocky as long as you have something to back it up and Swisher, though he may have all the talent in the world, wasn't backing up his mouth with actual numbers. The article mentions that Eric Chavez, in an all-too-brief stint as team leader, had a talk with some of the guys where he stated that some of the young players were “too comfortable.” Though it wasn't directed at anyone in particular, Swisher had to know that he fell into that category. I believe it was mentioned during spring training this year that as long as Swisher fulfilled his recommended daily allowance of defensive plays, he would remain in the lineup.

At the time of Chavvy’s talk, around June 9th, Swisher was batting .239 and hadn't homered in his last 29 games. Since then, he has been batting .320 over 14 games, with 5 home runs and his overall average has crept up to .246. It would appear that removing the ego has apparently lightened Swisher's load. He's getting good at bats and he appears to be concentrating more at the plate. This, to me, is further proof that if you don't humble yourself to the game, the game will definitely do it to you.

Now, I could be completely wrong and it could just be the new contact lenses he's been wearing. Whatever it is, he needs to keep it up!