Teixeira talks about getting older, and how it's not as easy when he was younger:
"I looked at the first six or seven years of my career, I was in my 20s, it was easy. I wasn't searching for the right formula. To think that I'm going to get remarkably better, as I get older and breaking down a little bit more, it's not going to happen,"
Now, I'm huge fan of Teixeira's; I like him a lot -- I think the New York Yankees lose something when he's not in the lineup or on the field. Though, this is something you don't want to read if you're a Yankee fan like myself.
I understand his honesty and I love his honesty, but I don't want to hear that when we're about to start spring training and have to think positive when we have a broken down Alex Rodriguez; an older Derek Jeter who just came out of ankle surgery; Mariano Rivera coming off an ACL injury and having an older pitching staff.
I don't want to hear that coming out of my first baseman, whose only 32-years old -- mind you... That's not old.
Listen, I'm informed that Teixeira is getting older and has had nagging injuries in the past couple of years. He's absolutely right what he said. I just think he should have more of a leader role, at this time in the Yankee world with the whole A-Rod situation; be more depended. He should be getting Yankee fans pumped about the 2013 season. Not worried.
Teixeira adds more to the column:
"Maybe I'm slowing down a tick. Look, I'm not going to play forever. Eventually you start, I don't want to say declining, but it gets harder and harder to put up 30 [homers] and 100 [RBI],"
This is worrisome to me. Again -- a 32-year old, first baseman, shouldn't be saying this.
"This is my 11th year," Teixeira said. "I'm not going to play 10 more years. I want 5 or 6 good ones. So that would say I'm on the backside of my career. And instead of trying to do things differently on the backside of my career, why not focus on the things I do well, and try to be very good at that?"
Him wanting "5 or 6" good years left sounds better than he telling us he's X-ing the day on his calendar to he'll retire.
"I have no problem with anybody in New York, any fan, saying you're overpaid. Because I am," Teixeira said. "We all are."
"Agents are probably going to hate me for saying it," he continued. "You're not very valuable when you're making $20 million. When you're Mike Trout, making the minimum, you are crazy valuable. My first six years, before I was a free agent, I was very valuable. But there's nothing you can do that can justify a $20 million contract."
I agree 100%. Once you're making over $20 million dollars in the MLB, you have to either win or take your team to the World Series every year. If not, you're a waste of money.
"You can't make everybody happy no matter what. I need to concentrate on what I do well. And what I do well is hitting home runs, driving in a lot of runs, and playing great defense," Teixeira said.
And that's what Teixeira does. Some fans complain about him not hitting for average, but he doesn't have to hit .300 in order in to be successful. As long as he's hitting 30-40 homeruns and driving in 100 RBI, that's all it matters. Besides, he's not that type of player. He's looking to hit the ball out of the ballpark; that's what he does.
Would I like him to hit the ball the opposite way with runners on as some points? Yes. But he's not going to put up Miguel Cabrera numbers. He's not going to win a triple crown, if that's what you want.
After reading the column, I began to notice that Teixeira is going to be the new 'marked man' if Alex Rodriguez can't or won't comeback to the Yankees. Barring Robinson Cano getting his contract extended that will pay him over $20 mill, right now, Teixeira is the new A-Rod where he's gonna be aimed by Yankee fans, if the team is having poor offensive nights.
Part of me is glad Teixeira said what he said, in a way. This is him basically telling those ignorant fans who bash him: 'you know what, I'm getting older. And just because I make more money than all the other position players with A-Rod out, doesn't mean you can after me when the rest of the lineup scores one run'.
I love Teixeira. I'm glad the Yankees signed him. But this interview made him look scared -- and I hate to say that. I understand this something A-Rod should be more, which is honest, but man, this may be a little too honest.
Nevertheless, I will be behind Teixeira.
Counting down the days for opening day. Can't wait!
NOTE: To read the full article, click on this link:http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323701904578278350297928128.html
