Mark Teixeira ‘a little surprised by the Yankees success so far
By Mark Carman
Now a member of the media, Mark Teixeira is having fun giving his honest opinion on the game
Mark Teixeira is busy this weekend as part of the producing sports panel at the Greenwich International Film Festival. One of the movies that will be reviewed is the new ESPN 30 for 30 documentary on Mike and the Mad Dog.
Teixeira has been enjoying his work outside of baseball as a commentator.
“The only thing that is different from now and when I was played is that I can be more honest,” Teixeira said. “If I am telling the truth when someone asks me my opinion, I am not going to lose any sleep talking honestly about guys that I played with analyzing the game.”
Teixeira is “a bit” surprised by the success the Yankees so far in 2017. He gives credit to a couple of veterans for stepping up.
“We all knew they had talent coming,” Teixeira said. “The pleasant surprises are the veterans who are playing well, Brett Gardner, Chase Headley, Jacoby Ellsbury. I think they are here to stay.”
Teixeira is one of five switch-hitters in the history of the game with over 400 home runs. He started at an early age because of his family and his baseball idol.
“I always switch hit as kid because of Eddie Murray growing up in Baltimore. My father challenged me to do it full-time at age 13,” Teixeira remembers. “I told my coach at the time that I was going to hit lefty against righties. The coach didn’t like it, but I was the best player on the team so he went along.”
Teixeira won a World Series championship with the Yankees in 2009, but he credits an Atlanta Brave as the best hitter he was around.
“I played with a lot of great players, but Chipper Jones might have had the best hands of anyone I ever played with. He was probably the most natural hitter I ever played with, he rolled out of bed and hit.”
Teixeira is not a fish out of water at the film festival this weekend and is a bit of a movie buff. His two favorite baseball movies are Bull Durham and Major League.
“Bull Durham is as close to realistic minor league life as I’ve seen.”
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