Booing: The new tough love.

For as long as I have been able to comprehend sports, I have never fully understood booing. Why degrade when clearly the player needs support? They're like toddlers potty training. They need positive reinforcement.

Could the fate of my Yankees have been swayed by a little post season jeering? I think so. It definitely didn't do any good. Soft hearted guys like Nick Swisher and Robbie Cano were affected, for sure.

They're still young guys, most of these athletes. You tell me where in the world have you ever been told "You suck!" a hundred times and turned around and did your job incredibly. How would YOU feel? And, yes, they make millions to play a game so many of us would play for free, but there's a reason they're getting paid and we're not.

I'm not saying baby them, but can we just stick to a solid "boo" and not personal attacks on family? In what household did you grow up in? Tell me when it's ever ok to throw insults to people, especially people we don't even know. I know, as fans, most feel like players are property to be owned and sold, but they're still PEOPLE.

And, call me crazy, but I'm pretty sure the actual player that you're booing is beating himself up enough and wondering what you're wondering. "What is the problem?" "What am I doing wrong?" So...seriously, what good does it do to put that on someone when they're most likely giving it to themselves?

The post season decline of Nick Swisher.

"Swisher! *clap, clap* Swisher! *clap, clap* Swisher!"

...is a familiar chant in Section 203 before first pitch at Yankee Stadium. The chant is soon followed by a salute of respect to the crowd. But, now those adoring chants are overshadowed by jeers and boo's. Why? .154, that's why. The salute that follows lately is half hearted.

.154 is Nick Swisher's post season batting average as of last night and in no way, a number to smile about. But, the boo's don't help a guy like Swisher. He's sensitive. Remember, this guy's not like Alex Rodriguez who seems un-phased by his own post season mediocrity. Swisher is affected by the chants of "Goodbye!" in right field by a group he called his "creatures". He might even know that his time in New York is up. He's voiced his upset at his own struggle in several interviews. "Fans" whom he used to connect with on Twitter have even gone so far as to insult his wife; Joanna...and Nick is all too aware of it.

So, if you're soft hearted, try getting up to bat with all that on your shoulders...and not to mention the pressure of the game itself. The guy feels bad. Clearly. Sometimes, declines of this magnitude genuinely have no explanation at all. But in a lineup full of declining but well paid superstars...it's hard to feel badly for the once smiling Swisher when all the man has to do is produce at the plate and make plays in right field. Catch balls. Hit balls. Get into some form of physical contact with the ball in general in a 3 hour period.

Still, I feel bad. When I think back to playing organized sports as a kid and even as a teenager, there was always that one person on my team whose positivity brought us all together. Sometimes it was me. Sometimes it was the girl who hugged the bench all season. My point here is, every team needs that one voice of "Hey, we can do this!" or "Hey, we're lucky to be here at all so let's enjoy it!" because it's supposed to be fun, right? Right?

Unfortunately, professional baseball is a business. A serious business. Players are investments who can be purchased and exchanged for a newer model for any reason at any time. Baseball fans are investors in these players as well. The revenue they produce for the team creates the salaries of these acquired players. So, as with any purchase made with hard earned money, fans want a product that holds up for a while. And if they get a lemon...they let the management know about it.

Such is the case of Nick Swisher. A once fan favorite who isn't producing. What do you do with a guy who is just so happy to be on a baseball field that he smiles from ear to ear even when striking out? I think the answer is obvious, though, it makes me sad for him. I feel his days are numbered in the Bronx.

Perhaps it's as simple as tweaking his swing in the off season. Maybe we'll get one more season to find out. Hopefully the fans in right field can wait til then...