June 23, 2009, Mark Teixeira feature for the Atlanta Journal Constitution

Pricey pinstripes best fit for Teixeira

By Denis Gorman

For the AJC

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

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.

Bill Kostroun / AP

Mark Teixeira, who said signing the Yankees 8-year, $180 million deal was a great business decision, has nothing but fond memories of his time in Atlanta.

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 game. That kind of hustle is indicative of what Mark Teixeira brings to our team.”

Teixeira returns to Atlanta on Tuesday for the first time since being traded to the Angels last season for first baseman Casey Kotchman and right-handed pitcher Steve Marek. In 157 games spanning the 2007 and 2008 seasons, Teixeira hit .295 with 37 homers, 134 RBIs, 92 walks and 101 runs scored. Despite his statistical brilliance, the Braves finished third in the National League East in 2007 and were on their way to a fourth-place finish last year before he was dealt.

While there might be some who lament the lack of team success, Teixeira has nothing but fond memories of his time with the organization and still maintains contact with ex-teammates.

“I loved it. I loved every minute of it. It was a great experience, a great organization. I had a great year there,” the first baseman said. “[Bobby Cox is] one of the best in the history of the game. When I’m done playing, I’m going to look back at my year with Bobby and remember it as a special year.

“I try to play golf or have dinner with some of the guys. It’s a bunch of guys that I’ll keep in touch with for a long time.”

Following the trade to the Angels, Teixeira kept on the same statistical pace. In 54 games, he compiled a .358 average with 13 homers, 14 doubles and 43 RBIs. Despite losing in four games to Boston in their American League Division Series, Teixeira’s first playoff experience was a success. He torched Red Sox pitching for a .467 average.

Able to parlay his status as the premier position player available in free agency, Teixeira signed an eight-year, $180 million deal with the Yankees two days before Christmas. It was widely panned as an example of fiscal irresponsibility. Along with Teixeira, the Yankees signed starting pitchers CC Sabathia ($161 million for seven years) and A.J. Burnett ($82.5 million for five) for the collective sum of $423.5 million.

Teixeira scoffs at the criticism.

“I was completely up front with everybody. I was totally honest with everybody. This is a business, guys. Everyone knows the Yankees paid the most,” Teixeira said. “If somebody had a problem with the decision I made, because it was a family decision and a business decision, they can have their opinion. That’s fine. I made the best decision for me, and it’s worked out great.”

That is an understatement.

While Sabathia (6-4, 3.71 ERA) and Burnett (5-4, 4.24) have alternated between being very good and not-quite-ready-for-prime-time, Teixeira has been among the hottest hitters in the game, which coincides with Rodriguez’s return to the lineup on May 8 following a stint on the disabled list.

The 29-year-old Georgia Tech product continues to be a force, with a .286 average, 20 homers and 56 RBIs in 65 games. He has not committed an error in 549 total chances.

“To me, that’s why he’s my MVP of the American League right now,” Rodriguez said. “He’s doing everything.”

Everything includes taking out Texas second baseman Ian Kinsler with a retaliatory hard slide in the fourth inning of the Yankees’ 12-3 rout of the Rangers on June 2. Teixeira had twice been hit by Vicente Padilla pitches. After the second one, Teixeira steamrolled Kinsler, his former teammate.

It was an old-school, hard-nosed play that was appreciated by the Yankees’ old-school, hard-nosed manager.

“I’m really glad he’s here and not further north,” Joe Girardi said in a not-so-subtle reference to Boston. The Red Sox were among the more aggressive of Teixeira’s suitors during the offseason.

“He’s been a big part of our success. What he’s done, whether it’s been defensively or his attitude — taking a guy out at second. We all know what he has done with his bat. It’s kind of hard to imagine where we are without him.”

http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/braves/stories/2009/06/23/teixeira_braves_yankees.html