But if he thought there was pressure to perform in April and May on the South Side, he hasn't seen anything yet. The Sox are in a dogfight with the Minnesota Twins for their division title lives, and have just over two weeks to settle the score.

Add to the fact Joe Crede, Carlos Quentin, and at least for now, Paul Konerko, are on the shelf with injuries, Swisher's .223 average entering Friday was now sticking out like a sore thumb.

What the switch-hitter can hang his hat on, however, is that with so much at stake and so little time left, a hero can emerge.

As far as Swisher is concerned, why not him?

"No one ever remembers the start, just the finish," Swisher said. "So yeah, the next couple of weeks if I'm able to go out there and turn this thing around, do what I'm capable of doing, then all of a sudden no one even brings up all this stuff. We get into the playoffs, numbers don't matter."

So that must mean Swisher is going to put the dugout dancing on hold for a bit, at least until the decision has been clinched one way or the other? Not a chance.

"The more you try to bear down, the more you tighten up I think," Swisher added. "That's not really our style here, I don't think. We have to keep continuing to be the loose team we are, and the more fun we continue to have in here, the more it shows up out on the field."

TIGERS at WHITE SOX, PPD: Friday's game was postponed by rain and will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Saturday.