Mark Teixeira News: Pro Sports Daily

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November 6

New York Post

columnist Mike Vaccaro

"Alex Rodriguez didn't want to celebrate prematurely, he knows better, but he couldn't help himself, couldn't keep his arms from flying in the air and his mouth from opening wide, couldn't keep the roar from spilling out of his heart and through his tongue and into the frosty New York night. Not now. He watched the baseball bound along on the ground toward second base, saw Robinson Cano scoop it up, flip it to first baseman Mark Teixeira, and now it was OK to act however he pleased. He'd seen this final act on television many times before, but it always had been someone else's party, someone else's celebration. And now it was his. Now it was theirs. Now it was time for the New York Yankees ..."

Teixeira's struggles continue

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November 3

New York Post

"Mark Teixeira is in a prolonged slump right now that's starting to become alarming. The All-Star first baseman went just 1-for-5 in the Yankees' 8-6 loss to the Phillies in Game 6 last night, making the final out by striking out against Ryan Madson while representing the tying run. Teixeira is a woeful 2-for-19 with seven strikeouts in this World Series. "Just not getting hits," he said in a not-so-detailed explanation of his struggles. Teixeira has been abysmal in the postseason, hitting just .172 (10-for-58) with 16 strikeouts. Teixeira's eighth-inning double was his only hit in the last three World Series games, and though his other Fall Classic hit was a Game 2 solo homer, the Yankees ..."

Mark Teixeira needs to make up

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November 3

Boston Herald

columnist Ian O'Connor

"On any list of wild and crazy World Series questions you thought would never be posed for public consumption, this one takes first, second and third place: Is anyone around here going to give A-Rod a little help? Yes, Mark Teixeira, consider this your $180 million hint. Monday night, while representing the tying run, Teixeira advanced his wretched World Series with a game-ending strikeout recorded by Ryan Madson, who was practically sucking from an oxygen mask. The Phillies sent the Yankees and case after case of unopened champagne back to the Bronx, back to a place Joe Girardi didn't want to visit in the worst way. Game 6. No, make that Game 6 with a 37-year-old pitcher going on short ..."

Tex finally breaks out

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October 30

New York Post

"Joe Girardi didn't want Mark Teixeira focusing on his postseason numbers or trying to carry the team, and the manager said before the game that his expectations for his slumping first baseman were simply to take "good at-bats" and play well defensively. Girardi and the Yankees received a boost as their $180 million man delivered his first World Series hit in the fourth inning of last night's 3-1 Game 2 Yankees win at the Stadium, crushing a mammoth solo homer off Pedro Martinez to tie the game at 1-1. "I think it was just a high changeup and I wanted to be aggressive off him," Teixeira said of his first career World Series homer. "I was just trying to look for a strike and swing hard in ..."

Yankees' Mark Teixeira goes hitless in Game 1 of World Series against Philadelphia Phillies

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October 29

New York Daily News

"It's been almost three weeks since Mark Teixeira earned his first Yankees postseason merit badge when he drilled the game-winning homer in the 11th inning of Game 2 of the AL division series against the Twins. And even though Teixeira contributed a three-run double in a Game 5 loss to the Angles in the ALCS, his contributions at the plate have been few and far between. If the Yankees are to have a chance at winning that elusive 27th world championship, they are going to need some more bang for their 180 million bucks. But a tepid AL division series, in which Teixeira hit .167, gave way to a marginally better ALCS when he knocked in four runs and batted .222 in the six-game set with the ..."

Teixeira an upgrade for infield

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October 28

New York Daily News

"To see how much Mark Teixeira has changed the Yankee infield, just look where his fellow infielders play tonight when the World Series begins. Because of Teixeira's remarkable range, "now I can shade to the middle and cover that more and (Derek) Jeter can shade over, too," says second baseman Robinson Cano. "Mark is not just good, he's great." Teixeira's fielding, once considered a nice add-on to his booming bat, has become a theme of the postseason for the Yankees. This October, he has started big plays with throws and finished them with snares and swipe tags. During an escape from a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the division series against the Twins, Teixeira snagged a line drive for the ..."

So far, Teixeira harmless to Angels

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October 25

L.A. Daily News

columnist Jill Painter

""Tex" has not been the Angels' hex this postseason. First baseman Mark Teixeira chose a$180 million contract with the New York Yankees instead of re-signing with the Angels. The move hasn't come back to haunt the Angels. Teixeira and the Angels had a fleeting relationship of just two months, but it was great while it lasted. The Angels loved Teixeira's defense, work ethic, personality, presence in the community and powerful bat. They'd just gotten a taste of what the Texas Rangers loved so much and before they knew it, it was over. It had to hurt to watch Teixeira move on, especially when he donned smiled in his new pinstripes at an introductory news conference in the Big Apple. The ..."

Struggling at plate, Teixeira picks it up with his glove

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October 24

Washington Post

"Until the seventh inning of Game 5 of the American League Championship Series, Mark Teixeira -- once a star for the Los Angeles Angels, now a star for the New York Yankees -- had scarcely helped his present team more than his former team. Teixeira, playing in his first league championship series, had been just a touch off, watching called strikes go by, skying popups, relying only on his always-sterling defense to redeem himself. "I'm obviously not hot right now," Teixeira said Wednesday, one day before he got hot. Though the Yankees lost, 7-6, in Game 5 of the ALCS on Thursday, ensuring a return to New York for Saturday's Game 6, the nerves of their teetering 3-2 series lead are calmed by ..."

Yankees' Teixeira uses glove just as well as bat

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October 23

Washington Times

"There's a reason Mark Teixeira commanded $180 million from the New York Yankees last winter and a reason the Washington Nationals were willing to go even higher than that in a failed attempt to land the free agent slugger. Teixeira isn't just a premier hitter. He's a premier ballplayer in every aspect of the game, and he's proving that this postseason. Even though he entered Game 5 of the American League Championship Series struggling at the plate -- with only two hits and no RBI against the Los Angeles Angels until his clutch, bases-clearing double in the seventh inning -- Teixeira still was making a huge contribution at first base, pulling off several spectacular plays while also saving ..."

Without Mark Teixeira, Los Angeles Angels' lineup shows flaws

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October 22

New York Daily News

"Long before the Angels and Yankees squared off in this AL Championship Series, the teams were involved in a battle of a different kind. The contest took place off the field and is the kind the Bombers almost never lose. Mark Teixeira seriously considered offers from both teams as well as the Red Sox but ultimately chose the pinstripes and the most lucrative offer. While it created a huge void on the Halos' roster, it also left them with money they didn't expect to have. The pursuit of a superstar over, general manager Tony Reagins opted to use the money toward deepening his team with a quartet of high-quality non-stars: Bobby Abreu, Brian Fuentes, Juan Rivera (whom the Angels re-signed as ..."

Teixeira needs to catch up at the plate

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October 20

New York Post

"Mark Teixeira is so good defensively at first base, the Yankees can live with his slow start to the ALCS at the plate. However, at some point the No. 3 hitter will need to produce. In yesterday's Game 3, 5-4 loss to the Angels in 11 innings, Teixeira was flawless around the bag with his glove but 0-for-3 at the plate. He is 1-for-13 (.077) in the series and 3-for-25 (.120) in six postseason games. "He has gotten some big hits late for us," manager Joe Girardi said. Teixeira's biggest hit was his leadoff homer in the 11th inning of Game 2 of the ALDS at Yankee Stadium that produced a 4-3 victory over the Twins. "You expect them to pitch him tough," Girardi said. "You expect he will get ..."

Teixiera ready to face old mates

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October 16

Florida Today

"Mark Teixeira and Torii Hunter made a date quite awhile ago. "Torii and I talked a couple of times during the offseason, and after I signed with the Yankees I said, 'Good luck to you guys. Hopefully we'll see you in the ALCS,' " Teixeira said Thursday. "And we got our wish." Hunter, his friend and, briefly, teammate in Anaheim last season, added that the date was confirmed during the regular season at Yankee Stadium. "When we were here the first time, I was on first base and he was telling me, 'Don't worry about it. We'll see each other in the ALCS.' I'm like, 'OK, I'll take that.' And it's true." Hunter didn't want Teixeira to leave. He was asked if he tried to convince the slugging first ..."

A-Rod passes his first test with flying colors

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October 12

New York Post

columnist Joel Sherman

"Alex Rodri guez is comfortable in his skin, which has allowed us to remember that skin is wrapped around the most talented player on the planet. He stopped trying to be The Man, became one of the guys and now stands out more than ever. Covered in champagne and joy, Rodriguez said last night that he took "self-inventory" of his tawdry, tired situation while convalescing from right hip surgery in spring, and look what that has meant this fall: His head is at peace and his swing is locked in. No official MVP is given for the ALDS. But no award ceremony was needed. As a be-goggled, soaked Mark Teixeira said of A-Rod in the winning clubhouse, "He carried us. What he did in this series was ..."

Teixeira's homer is fastest to leave park in MLB game this year

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October 11

New York Daily News

"If Mark Teixeira's game-winning homer in the 11th inning Friday night still seems like a blur, that's because it truly was one. According to Greg Rybarczyk of hittrackeronline.com, a Web site that crunches numbers to determine speeds and true distances of home runs, Teixeira's walkoff blast against Twins lefty Jose Mijares that hit the top of the wall and skipped into the left-field seats did so in just 2.88 seconds - making it the fastest home run to leave the yard in a major-league game this year. "As soon as it was hit, it took off the bat and I said, 'Oh my God. Please get up,'" hitting coach Kevin Long said Saturday at the Metrodome. "(Teixeira) said he didn't think it was going to ..."

Mark Teixeira's 11th-inning homer gives New York Yankees 4-3 win over Minnesota Twins in AL division series

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October 10

St. Petersburg Times

"There's so much the Yankees have going for them. Alex Rodriguez, suddenly looking like the new Mr. October, hit a two-run tying homer in the ninth. Then Mark Teixeira, showing thus far to be worth every one of his $180 million, led off the 11th with a homer, giving them a 4-3 win over the Twins on Friday and a decisive 2-0 lead in the best-of-five division series. So it hardly seems right for them to get so much help. Certainly from the Twins, who left 17 men on base, saw their All-Star closer blow a save and make an errant throw and cost themselves a run with a stupid base"

A-Rod, Teixeira erase Yankees' mistakes

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October 10

New York Post

columnist Joel Sherman

"MARK Teixeira and Alex Rod riguez have enjoyed high-profile, middle-of-the-order relationships in their careers. Teixeira rattled off how blessed he has been to have 3-4 unions at previous stops with Michael Young, Chipper Jones and Vladimir Guerrero. A-Rod actually hit second for most of his time in Seattle in front of Ken Griffey and Edgar Martinez, and had his 3-4 dance card punched mainly by batting in front of Rafael Palmeiro in Texas and behind Gary Sheffield and Bobby Abreu in New York. All in all, they have not lacked for fame or talent surrounding them. Yet, it just feels as if they have found their best partner in the right place at the right time in their careers. Teixeira ..."

Tex, A-Rod have blasts in ALDS win

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October 10

New York Post

"Mystique, aura and the ghosts have taken up residence in the latest Yankee Stadium. How else can you explain last night's 4-3, 11-inning victory over the Twins in Game 2 of the ALDS? First, Alex Rodriguez tied the score, 3-3, with a two-run homer in the ninth off closer Joe Nathan, then, Mark Teixeira won it by tucking a searing line drive inside the left-field foul pole leading off the 11th. And those two events were mainstream compared with David Robertson escaping a bases loaded, no-out jam in the 11th and left-field umpire Phil Cuzzi incorrectly calling Joe Mauer's leadoff fly ball to left in the inning foul. "That was crazy. Are you kidding me?" CC Sabathia said after the Yankees ..."

A-Rod, Teixeira thump Twins

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October 10

Toronto Sun

"Well, they don't have Alex Rodriguez to kick around any more. For all A-Rod's many missteps, the only failing that truly mattered to Yankees fans was his inability to deliver in the playoffs. Put a checkmark beside that one. Rodriguez belted a two-run, ninth-inning, game-tying home run last evening, setting the stage for Mark Teixeira's walk-off game-winning homer two innings later in a 4-3 Yankees win over the Minnesota Twins. The Yankees lead the best-of-five series 2-0. Rodriguez came into the playoffs weighed down by the statistical baggage of Octobers past, in which he had not produced as expected. In just two games this fall, he has erased those misgivings. He had two RBI singles ..."

Mark Teixeira wastes little time making impact in ALDS

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October 10

New York Daily News

"It took Alex Rodriguez six years to achieve a signature playoff highlight in pinstripes. It took Mark Teixeira two games. After Rodriguez set the table with a two-run homer in the ninth inning to tie Game 2 of the ALDS against the Twins last night, Teixeira led off the 11th inning with a homer that gave the Yankees a 4-3 win and a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five division series. This was the first time this year that Teixeira had gotten a postgame pie from A.J. Burnett. And it was completely fitting as Burnett had given the Yankees a stellar pitching performance, going six innings and giving up just one run on three hits, while striking out six. Teixeira, Burnett and CC Sabathia are the ..."

Teixeira's home run gets Brett Gardner off hook

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October 10

New York Daily News

"There was perhaps no one at the Stadium Friday night happier than Brett Gardner when Mark Teixeira's liner found the left field seats to give the Yankees a 4-3, 11th-inning victory over the Twins Friday night. "I'm sure there were a lot of happy people in the building," Gardner said. "The 25 of us, the coaches and about 50,000 people. But yeah, I was very happy to see that." If David Robertson didn't pull his Houdini act in the top of the 11th inning, Gardner was all set up to be the goat in what would have been a painful Game 2 loss in the ALDS. The Yankees were seemingly set up for another dramatic walk-off win in the last of the 10th and Gardner was right in the middle of it. In to ..."

Teixeira beats Twins in extras after Alex Rodriguez rescues Yankees in the 9th

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October 10

New York Daily News

"Two innings after Alex Rodriguez authored his signature Yankee moment, Mark Teixeira wrote his own. The first baseman drilled a line drive homer to left field to lead off the 11th inning, giving the Yankees a memorable 4-3 win over the Twins Friday night in Game 2 of the AL division series. The Yankees hold a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series, which now heads back to the Metrodome, where Andy Pettitte will try to complete the sweep against former Yankee bust Carl Pavano tomorrow. Friday night, A-Rod continued to erase his failures of playoffs past with a game-tying two-run homer off All-Star closer Joe Nathan in the bottom of the ninth, setting up Teixeira's extra-inning ..."

Mark Teixeira doesn't produce in first playoff game as a Yankee

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October 8

New York Daily News

"Mark Teixeira's first playoff game in pinstripes may not have gone well for him on a personal level, but the first baseman didn't seem too concerned about his 0-for-4 after the Yankees' 7-2 win over the Twins. "That's the way it's been all year; the thing about our lineup is there's not one guy who has to carry us," Teixeira said. "We got contributions up and down the lineup, played solid 'D' and got good pitching. That's kind of been our recipe all year." Teixeira grounded out to shortstop in the first, then nearly hit into a double play in the third, beating the throw to first after Orlando Cabrera made a low feed to Nick Punto at second. He stranded his second runner in scoring ..."

Big three plus Swisher add spark to title quest

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October 7

New York Post

columnist Kevin Kernan

"EVERYONE gets blinded by the money ($423.5 million) when it comes to Mark Teixeira, CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett. That's understandable. But leave it to Derek Jeter to make it clear why the Big Three have been successful in their Yankee debuts this season as free agents."They can play," Jeter said. "They've pretty much done what they've always done," added the king of baseball common sense. "That's why we got them." Of course, ultimate success comes only in the postseason in The Bronx. That's when free agents earn their pinstripes and their cash. All this can still blow up in the face of the newcomers. It all starts with Sabathia's Game 1 performance today. "I think CC's been that true ..."

Plunking peeves Teixeira

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October 3

New York Post

"Three-plus hours after taking a David Price pitch off his left hand, Mark Teixeira had calmed down enough to be vague on what he thought Price's intentions were. But immediately after getting hit, Teixeira was more than annoyed that the left-hander with great control had hit him with two outs and nobody on base in the first inning. CC Sabathia broke two of Carlos Pena's fingers in the first game of a Yankee Stadium double-header on Sept. 7, ending his season. Was it possible Price was retaliating against Teixeira, who is tied with Pena for the AL lead in homers at 39? "That's for you to decide and ask him," said Teixeira, who exited last night's 13-4 blowout loss in the fourth inning, but ..."

Sabathia awful; Tex error costly

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October 3

New York Post

"The big left arm hanging from CC Sabathia's shoulder is fine, according to the pitcher. So there is no concern in the Yankees' universe that the ace isn't healthy going into next week's ALDS. Nevertheless, watching the Rays spank Sabathia in last night's 13-4 loss in front of an announced crowd of 22,704 at Tropicana Field was stunning. Sabathia, who hadn't lost since July 28, was 9-0 since and was looking for his first 20-win season, was rocked for nine runs (five earned) and eight hits in 2 2/3 innings. He walked five (one intentionally) and hit a batter. It was Sabathia's second shortest stint of the season. He lasted 1 1/3 innings on June 21 against the Marlins and was lifted with ..."

Teixeira's Value Is Apparent, With or Without Award

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September 22

New York Times

columnist Tyler Kepner

"There are many things Mark Teixeira can do on a baseball field, many virtues that enticed the Yankees to pry him from the Los Angeles Angels last December with an eight-year, $180 million contract. But one attribute stands out to him most. It is nothing as subtle as scooping bad throws at first base or wearing down a pitcher with walks. It is the least subtle skill of all. Teixeira loves to hit home runs. "You can try to hit for as high an average as you want," Teixeira said. "You can try to work walks. But at the end of the day, if you can hit home runs, you want to hit home runs. That's something not many people can do." Teixeira knows from experience the value of power. He hit .467 for ..."

Tex rips into Halos -- finally

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September 15

New York Post

"Mark Teixeira had been awful this season against the Angels, so it's a good thing his former team and Yankees had a makeup game last night. Teixeira was a monster in the Yankees' 5-3 victory in The Bronx, delivering three hits and two RBIs, setting up the game-winning rally with a double in the eighth inning and helping to save a run with a terrific scoop at first base. "He had an unbelievable game, offensively, defensively," manager Joe Girardi said, "and he's really done that for most of the year this year." Teixeira spent the latter part of last season with the Angels after they acquired him from the Braves, and he wanted to return to Anaheim as a free agent. But the Yankees offered ..."

Mark Teixeira takes cuts with Letterman, then hacks at self

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August 25

New York Daily News

"Here's how well things are going for Mark Teixeira - the Yankees' first baseman yukked it up with David Letterman Monday night on the "Late Show" on CBS, even taking a little batting practice with Letterman outside the Ed Sullivan Theater during the taping. When Letterman tried to get what he called "a little bulletin-board material" out of Teixeira, the slugger demurred, and it led to a funny conversation about Teixeira's notorious slow starts. "What's the problem? Aren't you getting the work in in spring training?" Letterman asked. "I don't know," Teixeira replied. Letterman got laughs when he then asked, "Hey, do you even go to spring training? You know, that's why it's down there." ..."

Mark Teixiera's three RBI help Yankees edge Oakland A's, 3-2

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August 20

New York Daily News

"Two Yankees have emerged as potential MVP candidates this season, helping carry a lineup that ranks at or near the top of the AL in runs scored, batting average, home runs, on-base and slugging percentages. Derek Jeter and Mark Teixeira each furthered their respective cases Wednesday night against the A's, setting the tone in a 3-2 win. The Yankees went 5-2 on their West Coast swing, with three games remaining on the road trip this weekend at Fenway Park. The Bombers maintained their seven-game lead on the Red Sox, who will be desperate to make up ground beginning tomorrow night. Teixeira homered and drove in all three Yankees runs, moving him into a tie with Tampa Bay's Carlos PeÃ±a for ..."

Strict Game-Day Regimen Key To Teixeira's Success

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August 15

New York Post

"By the time Mark Teixeira is done driving home from games, he has drunk three bottles of water. He has two immediately following the game and one in his car during his drive. The Yankees' superstar first baseman has a regimented routine before and after each home game. When the Yankees have night games in The Bronx, Teixeira leaves his house at the same time, splits up his car radio routine a certain way, is in the hot tub at the same time and wolfs down at least one peanut butter-and-jelly sandwich at the stadium. Regimented? Teixeira is as strict with his routine as a rooster in the morning. He said his pregame habits have prompted Derek Jeter to dub him "The Robot." "I think it's ..."

Teixeira's Blast In The Ninth KO's M's

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August 15

New York Post

"What does an MVP look like? He stands in the box in the top of the ninth with the score tied on the road and crushes a home run that vaults his club to a victory. Say hello to Mark Teixeira whose leadoff homer in the ninth against right-hander Mark Lowe propelled the sizzling Yankees to a 4-2 victory over the Mariners last night in front of 36,769. "I had one thing in mind," Teixeira said of his approach to the right-handed Lowe. "I hoped he made a mistake, if he doesn't, you walk. I had one thing in mind and he left a pitch in the middle of the plate." As soon as the 1-1 change-up kissed Teixeira's bat everybody in the park knew it was gone. "It was huge," Teixeira said of his 30th homer. ..."

Yankees know Mark Teixeira might be most valuable

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August 11

New York Daily News

columnist John Harper

"Joe Girardi took offense to any notion the Yankees suffered a post-Red Sox letdown Monday night, yet there was something of an inevitable feel to the 5-4 loss to the Blue Jays. Then again, if Sergio Mitre doesn't throw a nasty two-seamer to Robinson Cano at second base in the fourth inning, maybe the whole night is different and the Yankees now have an eight-game winning streak. The point is, better that they make these types of mistakes Monday night than over the weekend against the Red Sox. Better that they lose to the Blue Jays in a season whose theme for months was the Yankees' inability to beat the good teams. Even Girardi, though visibly frosted as he is after any loss, felt ..."

Slugger Mark Teixeira leaves his print on Yankees-Red Sox rivalry

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August 10

New York Daily News

"As Mark Teixeira's eighth-inning homer headed for the second deck at Yankee Stadium, the slugger carried his bat nearly the whole way down to first base, holding it high above his head as if carrying a torch. It might as well have been a broom. Teixeira, who spurned the Red Sox during free agency to sign a $180 million contract with the Yankees, made Boston pay Sunday night, blasting his American League-leading 29th home run to send the Bombers to a victory and four-game series sweep at the Stadium. "It's as close to a walk-off as you can get. When you get a one-run lead with Mo (Rivera) out there, you almost feel like the game is over, and that's kind of what it felt like," Teixeira ..."

Teixeira's home run helps the Yankees to a 6-3 win over the A's

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July 24

New York Daily News

"Not even heavy rain can stop the Yankees these days. After waiting out a delay of nearly three hours, the Bombers continued to shine, beating the Aâ€™s 6-3 to extend their winning streak to seven games since the All-Star break. The Yankees continued their perfect homestand, moving 21 games over .500 to stretch their first-place lead over the idle Red Sox to 2-1/2 games. â€œThis is our team,â€ CC Sabathia said after winning his team-leading 10th game of the season. â€œWe have a lot of talent in here, so for it to come together at this time, itâ€™s great.â€ The Bombers scored six times in the fourth and fifth innings to erase an early 3-0 deficit, while Sabathia and Phil Hughes took care ..."

Surging Teixeira Blasts Another Home Run

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July 24

New York Post

"The right-field mezzanine at Yankee Stadium might as well be renamed St. Mark's Place. Then again, $180 million should buy you more than cheap home runs. Mark Teixeira's long, majestic shots are leaving fans gawking and the Yankees thrilled with their All-Star first baseman. Last night Teixeira made it three mezzanine shots on this homestand with a two-run rocket in the fourth inning of the Yankees' 6-3 victory over Oakland. Don't look now, but Teixeira is tied for the AL lead in homers with 24. His three RBIs gave him 70 for the season, moving him nine behind Justin Morneau for the league lead. It would seem the Yankees have a legitimate MVP candidate."

Teixeira Back On The Mark

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July 20

New York Post

"After the Yankees' 2-1 win over the Tigers yesterday, Alex Rodriguez said how impressed he is with Mark Teixeira's everyday work. What, specifically? "He's just the ultimate professional," A-Rod said. And he's now in another power resurgence. For 95 at-bats, from mid-June to early July, Teixeira failed to go deep, the worst stretch of his career, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. But the Yankees' All-Star first baseman now has three homers in his last seven games, including two since the All-Star break. His latest, in the sixth inning, was the difference-maker yesterday as Teixeira untied things with a blast into the second deck in right. He now has a team-best 23 homers, and his ..."

Mark Teixeira's big home run helps the Yankees top Detroit in The Bronx

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July 18

New York Daily News

"Rain was falling harder as the Yankees came to bat in the seventh inning Friday night and the fans who weren't flipping open umbrellas or donning ponchos were leaving their seats to find cover or go home. The ones who departed the Stadium missed the Yankees' best moments of the night. With the Yanks down by a run, Derek Jeter lined a single just past the outstretched glove of Detroit Tigers second baseman Placido Polanco. Johnny Damon followed with a double to right that glanced off the glove of the Tigers' Clete Thomas as he leaped at the wall, putting Yankees on second and third with nobody out against reliever Joel Zumaya. Then Mark Teixeira took the biggest swing of the evening. On a ..."

Teixeira's Shot Wins It At Soggy Stadium

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July 18

New York Post

"If Neil Armstrong and Co. could return to the moon 40 years after the fact, they might find the ball Mark Teixeira hit last night. This latest lunar landing came at precisely the right moment for the Yankees, helping them avoid not only a lackluster start to this second half, but another game lost to the Red Sox in the standings. "A new start -- hopefully we're going to keep things rolling," Teixeira said after his seventh-inning blast let the Yankees wave goodbye to a three-game losing streak with a 5-3 victory over the Tigers at the Stadium. With the standings becoming an increasing point of emphasis -- manager Joe Girardi even mentioned his team's AL East deficit on Boston before the ..."

Mark Teixeira: I'm Ready to Play Better

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July 15

New York Post

"For the Yankees to be better in the second half, Mark Teixeira must be a better hitter. That's the word from Teixeira. "We need to play better," the first baseman said at Busch Stadium before the AL beat the NL 4-3 last night in the 80th All-Star Game. "I personally need to play better. I haven't hit well with runners in scoring position."Everyone on the team expects a lot out of themselves, so we just need to play better."Teixeira is batting .245 with runners in scoring position. Teixeira, who went 0-for-3 as the AL's starting first baseman, is confident the Yankees will get it together. They trail the Red Sox by three games but lead in the wild card. "If you go into a game with our ..."

Angels are better without Teixeira

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July 12

Orange County Register

columnist Randy Youngman

"Food for thought: Are the Angels a better team without Mark Teixeira? Manager Mike Scioscia wouldn't go that far, but he did concede that if Teixeira had accepted the Angels' eight-year, $160 million contract over the winter, outfielder Bobby Abreu, outfielder Juan Rivera and closer Brian Fuentes probably wouldn't be wearing Angels uniform right now. "I don't think you'd see any of those guys if we'd signed him," Scioscia said. Scioscia also could have pointed out that Kendry Morales wouldn't be playing first base for the Angels if Teixeira had returned. So where would the Angels be without Abreu (.308, 6 HRs, 55 RBIs), Rivera (.312, 16 HRs, 52 RBIs), Morales (.284, 15 HRs, 49 RBIs) and ..."

Yankees' Mark Teixeira hits first home run since June 12, ends slump

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July 10

New York Daily News

"Mark Teixeira struck out in each of his first two at-bats Thursday, setting a personal record for the longest homerless stretch of his career. Then he brought that streak to a grinding halt in the fifth, belting his first home run in nearly a month. "I'm a streaky home run hitter," said Teixeira, who hadn't gone deep since June 12. "They come in bunches, and after hitting a bunch in a row, it took a while to get another one." Teixeira had never gone more than 94 at-bats between homers, a stretch he endured from May 30-June 23, 2006 while playing for the Rangers. Teixeira, who hit .253 during this latest streak, insists that he wasn't concerned with his power outage. "The last couple ..."

Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira not showing home run power

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July 7

New York Daily News

"Mark Teixeira has a perfectly good reason to skip the home run derby at next week's All-Star Game in St. Louis. He's stopped hitting home runs. The American League's starting first baseman in the Midsummer Classic entered Monday tied for third in the league with 20 homers, but none have come in his last 84 at-bats following an 0-for-5 day with two strikeouts as the designated hitter in yesterday's 7-6 loss to Toronto. Teixeira's longball drought is his longest since the first half of the 2006 season. "I think physically he's OK, but that's one of the reasons we DH'd him today," Joe Girardi said. "I think he was 7-for-30 (actually 29) on the home stand, but we got accustomed to him being ..."

Teixeira will not participate in home run derby

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July 6

Trenton Times

"Mark Teixeira decided in 2005 he would never do a home run derby again if he had the chance. In Detroit for that year's All-Star Game, Teixeira hit two home runs in the first round and was eliminated. It was his first home run derby and his last. "I was terrible," Teixeira said. "I embarrassed myself. So I'm not going to do that again." Teixeira is tied for second in the American League with 20 home runs this season. He said he isn't declining because of the perceived effect competing in a home run derby can have on a player's swing after the All-Star Break. In 2005, Teixeira said he didn't feel like the derby had any effect on his second half with Texas."

Yankees' Mark Teixeira gets All-Star nod over Red Sox' Kevin Youkilis

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July 6

New York Daily News

"Mark Teixeira picked up more than 1.4 million votes in the final three days of balloting to pass Boston's Kevin Youkilis and land the starting job at first base for the American League in this year's All-Star Game. He will represent the Yankees along with Derek Jeter, the top AL vote recipient, and Mariano Rivera on July 14 at St. Louis' Busch Stadium. Youkilis led Teixeira, 1,915,303 to 1,875,256, on Tuesday. In the final three days before voting closed at midnight Thursday, Teixeira's vote total nearly doubled. He finished ahead of Youkilis 3,309,050 to 3,069,906. "It shows how passionate Yankee fans are," said Teixeira, who was a Rangers All-Star in 2005. "There's probably four or five ..."

Mo of Jeter and Tex

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July 6

New York Post

"Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera hardly know what an All-Star break is, as both players were named to the American League roster for the 10th time yesterday. But it's not such a regular occurrence for Mark Teixeira, who will play -- and start -- in the Midsummer Classic for the second time in his career. "It's special, the first time as a Yankee," the first baseman said after his new team outlasted Toronto yesterday, 10-8. "I was hoping to get off to a good start here, with the team especially." When you've got a freshly signed contract worth $180 million and a ravenous fan base, a good start is certainly welcome. And it was good enough for him to outlast Boston's Kevin Youkilis for the ..."

Teixeira's Defense Draws Rave Reviews

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July 4

New York Post

"During spring training, Brian Cashman saw Mark Teixeira on a treadmill. But, as the general manager put it, Teixeira wasn't running, he "was flying." "I've never seen a guy on the treadmill like that before," Cashman said. Cashman, who said his star first baseman is a surprisingly good runner, knew the $180 million man was a defensive star and Teixeira hasn't disappointed. He is widely considered the Yankees' best defensive first baseman -- and maybe their best defensive player, period -- since Don Mattingly. Teixeira is a converted third baseman, and by his own admission, the switch was in the best interest of everyone. "I wasn't a very good third baseman, honestly," he said this week. "I ..."

Wow! Tex makes an error

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July 3

New York Post

"It must be all the rain: Mark Teixeira's gold glove and right arm seemed a tad waterlogged last night. Teixeira's 106-game errorless streak ended with a throwing miscue in the ninth inning of the Yankees' 8-4 loss to Seattle at the Stadium, but two other plays he failed to convert didn't make things any easier for his team. Ichiro Suzuki hit a smash leading off the game that Teixeira couldn't snare -- the ball hit his webbing and trickled into right field for a double -- and Ryan Langerhans led off the sixth with a hard grounder which the first baseman swiped at and missed, giving Seattle a leadoff double. In the ninth, after Teixeira threw wide to Alfredo Aceves covering first, allowing ..."

Pricey pinstripes best fit for Teixeira

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June 23

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

"A routine two-out pop-up, the ball began to descend toward Mets second baseman Luis Castillo's waiting glove for the final out of the game. Derek Jeter and a Yankees teammate seemingly ran the bases out of obligation more than anything else. But a funny thing happened. The ball ricocheted off Castillo's glove. As it landed in short right field, Jeter scored. By the time Castillo was able to recover and throw in a futile attempt to get the trailing runner, Yankees fans were celebrating. Jeter embraced that teammate who scored the game-winning run, Mark Teixeira. "What stands out is Mark Teixeira's hustle," teammate Alex Rodriguez said after the Yankees' 9-8 victory June 12. "That wins the ..."

Teixeira unfazed by Sox owner's words

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June 13

MLB.com

"Mark Teixeira does not use Twitter, so he had no idea that Red Sox principal owner John W. Henry dropped a celebratory three-word nugget onto the Internet on Thursday night making fun of the Yankees' struggles in Boston. Teixeira laughed when he was informed that Henry had written, "The MT curse?" on his Twitter account after New York was swept out of Fenway Park after Thursday's 4-3 loss. But if the first baseman decides to jump into the social networking craze, it's safe to say he probably won't be adding Henry to his "follow" list. "There's no reason to get into a war of words with a 70-year-old man," Teixeira said. "It doesn't make any sense." Henry actually turns 60 in September, but ..."

Mark Teixeira isn't bitter about John Henry's Tweets

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June 13

New York Daily News

"John Henry's Twitter has Mark Teixeira in a tizzy. Thursday night, as the Red Sox were putting the finishing touches on their eighth straight victory over the Yankees, Henry, the Red Sox's owner, was busy putting the finishing touches on a post to Twitter. "The MT Curse?" Henry wrote. The MT he was referring to was Teixeira, and the Yankees' first baseman was none too pleased with Henry's shot at him. Asked before last night's opener of the Subway Series for his reaction to Henry's apparent jab, Teixeira said he was just learning of the Twitter post. "I laughed," Teixeira said. "It's silly. It's actually very silly, it really is. It was so important that this was the first time I heard ..."