Remember Me? I Used to Hit .300
Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 11:30 am
Like last year, I'll do a few write ups on a few players.
Feel free to agree or disagree....
Mark Teixeira is a name that has dropped on draft boards the last couple of years. Going from a mid first round pick to a late first round pick, to now, a pick that could go anywhere in the second round.
Why?
Yankee Stadium.
Yes, Yankee Stadium is one of the best home run hitting ball parks, especially to right field. Teixeira can hit a ball out of any park from either side of the plate. He is in the later stages of the prime of his career at 31. He hits in a lineup rich with players to drive in, in front of him and plenty to knock him in as well.
So, why the drop for Teixeira?
Again, Yankee Stadium.
Teixeira came to the Yankees three years ago.
Before coming to the Yankees in 2009, Teixeira had seasons of 33, 30, and 33 home runs.
After coming to the Yankees, he has put up 39, 33, 39.
We'll credit Yankee Stadium for a hand full of extra home runs each year.
The problem comes with Teixeira's mind set.
"Each year I play here, I go back to the bench, 30, 40, 50 times telling myself not to pull."
The attraction of the short right field porch has called to him like a seductive siren.
As fantasy players, we love our power. But, from a first rounder we have to have four categories.
Teixeira's years before the Yankees- .301, .282, .306, and .308
Since becoming a Yankee- .292, .256, .248
His splits bear out the problem for Teixeira.
Left handed-.223
Right Handed- .302
Like it or not, Teixeira has gone from batting average helper to a drag.
Teixeira knows he doesn't NEED the short porch in right field. He just can't help himself in not thinking about it.
Fellow New York player David Wright has fallen out of the first round for the opposite reason.
Both of these players could actually be first rounders if playing on a batter neutral field. But that is not to be for Teixeira.
Is there a light at the end of the tunnel for Teixeira?
No, not really. He knows the problem. He doesn't like adjusting swings for different arenas, like Adrian Gonzalez seems to do so easily.
Last year, Teixeira didn't have one hot month for average. His highest batting average for any month was .264.
I strongly dislike the phrase, 'it is what it is' or 'he is what he is'.
Well, Teixeira is not what Teixeira is. Teixeira is what Yankee Stadium has made him. A dead pull hitter from the left side.
And pitchers know it. Fastballs away have become a steady diet for Teixeira.
Kevin Long is over credited for making Curtis Granderson a solid hitter at Yankee Stadium. Yet, mums the word on Long's progress with Teixeira.
Long says, "That short porch is inviting.
But when Mark is hitting well, his balls go between the second baseman and second base."
Problem diagnosed, not solved.
Even worse for Yankee fans, Teixeira hit just .133 against the rival Red Sox last year.
Teixeira went at 2-9 in both of the NFBC e-mail drafts, sixth among first basemen.
He makes for a nice second rounder if he can be sandwiched between two hitters that will hit close to, or over .300 for the season. He could be the best three category player on the Board.
Thoughts of his past batting averages will give hope to the drafters who select him.
Feel free to agree or disagree....
Mark Teixeira is a name that has dropped on draft boards the last couple of years. Going from a mid first round pick to a late first round pick, to now, a pick that could go anywhere in the second round.
Why?
Yankee Stadium.
Yes, Yankee Stadium is one of the best home run hitting ball parks, especially to right field. Teixeira can hit a ball out of any park from either side of the plate. He is in the later stages of the prime of his career at 31. He hits in a lineup rich with players to drive in, in front of him and plenty to knock him in as well.
So, why the drop for Teixeira?
Again, Yankee Stadium.
Teixeira came to the Yankees three years ago.
Before coming to the Yankees in 2009, Teixeira had seasons of 33, 30, and 33 home runs.
After coming to the Yankees, he has put up 39, 33, 39.
We'll credit Yankee Stadium for a hand full of extra home runs each year.
The problem comes with Teixeira's mind set.
"Each year I play here, I go back to the bench, 30, 40, 50 times telling myself not to pull."
The attraction of the short right field porch has called to him like a seductive siren.
As fantasy players, we love our power. But, from a first rounder we have to have four categories.
Teixeira's years before the Yankees- .301, .282, .306, and .308
Since becoming a Yankee- .292, .256, .248
His splits bear out the problem for Teixeira.
Left handed-.223
Right Handed- .302
Like it or not, Teixeira has gone from batting average helper to a drag.
Teixeira knows he doesn't NEED the short porch in right field. He just can't help himself in not thinking about it.
Fellow New York player David Wright has fallen out of the first round for the opposite reason.
Both of these players could actually be first rounders if playing on a batter neutral field. But that is not to be for Teixeira.
Is there a light at the end of the tunnel for Teixeira?
No, not really. He knows the problem. He doesn't like adjusting swings for different arenas, like Adrian Gonzalez seems to do so easily.
Last year, Teixeira didn't have one hot month for average. His highest batting average for any month was .264.
I strongly dislike the phrase, 'it is what it is' or 'he is what he is'.
Well, Teixeira is not what Teixeira is. Teixeira is what Yankee Stadium has made him. A dead pull hitter from the left side.
And pitchers know it. Fastballs away have become a steady diet for Teixeira.
Kevin Long is over credited for making Curtis Granderson a solid hitter at Yankee Stadium. Yet, mums the word on Long's progress with Teixeira.
Long says, "That short porch is inviting.
But when Mark is hitting well, his balls go between the second baseman and second base."
Problem diagnosed, not solved.
Even worse for Yankee fans, Teixeira hit just .133 against the rival Red Sox last year.
Teixeira went at 2-9 in both of the NFBC e-mail drafts, sixth among first basemen.
He makes for a nice second rounder if he can be sandwiched between two hitters that will hit close to, or over .300 for the season. He could be the best three category player on the Board.
Thoughts of his past batting averages will give hope to the drafters who select him.