Teixeira Has High Expectations For Himself And The Team

Feb 16, 2014; Tampa, FL, USA; New York Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira (25) tosses the ball to first base during the Yankees workout at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: David Manning-USA TODAY Sports

The 2013 season was a disaster for Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira as he only played in 15 games due to injuries, but that hasn’t put a damper on his expectations for himself or the team in 2014. Though the Yankees only won 85 games last season before losing star second baseman Robinson Cano to the Seattle Mariners in free agency, Teixeira is pleased with the way the offseason played out. The 2014 Yankees will surely miss Cano and center fielder Curtis Granderson, but they signed several key free agents in an attempt to offset the players who left.

Brian McCann, one of the top offensive catchers in baseball, will be a major improvement over Chris Stewart and Austin Romine and may even improve with the short porch in Yankees Stadium’s right field. Pencil him in for at least 20-25 home runs.

Another player who will benefit from the short porch in right field is switch hitting outfielder Carlos Beltran, who is still one of the games best clutch hitters at age 36. He will likely play right field and, like McCann, hit somewhere in the middle of the lineup.

The team also added center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury, who is fresh off a championship run with the Red Sox and will be a force to be reckoned with from the leadoff spot.

Overall, the Yankees added 427 hits, 53 home runs, 194 RBIs, 74 doubles, and 124 walks (according to last years statistics) with just those three players.

Though they added some solid depth to their lineup, the Yankees still needed another starting pitcher, so they signed Japanese ace Masahiro Tanaka, who went 24-0 with a 1.27 ERA last year as a member of Nippon Professional Baseball’s Rakuten Golden Eagles.  He will be the Yankees third starter.

Theses new players, as well as the returns of Derek Jeter, Alfonso Soriano, Brett Gardner, CC Sabathia, Hiroki Kuroda, Ivan Nova, and David Robertson give Teixeira plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the Yankee’s chances in 2014. “…We’re back to being the Yankees again,” said the optimistic first baseman.

Teixeira, a five-time Gold Glover and a three-time Siver Slugger Award winner, has not had a 30 home run or 100 RBI season since 2011, but he expects that to change in 2014. “…Absolutely I expect to hit in the middle of the order, hit 30 home runs and drive in 100 runs” he said.

Though these totals may be optimistic, they would certainly add even more depth to an already strong and powerful lineup.

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