Is Mark Teixeira Doing Too Much Off The Field?
By Scott Alfano
2014 was an underwhelming year for the Yankees offensively. With a team featuring four players on offense making at least $15 million, they were held to under 4.0 runs a game for the first time since the DH was introduced in 1973. One of the biggest disappointments this season was first baseman Mark Teixeira. We know that he was recovering from a variety of injuries, most notably his wrist, but are there other reasons for his decline?
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Teixeira made $22.5 million dollars this year, the most of any non-pitcher on the team. Unfortunately, he also had the worst batting average of the entire team for anyone who played in at least 50 games. Some guys who had a higher batting average than Teixeira this year: Kelly Johnson, Alfonso Soriano, and Brian Roberts. Fortunately, Teixeira can hit some home runs, so his value comes back there. He was second on the team with 22 bombs, but only hit five after the All-Star break. His 62 RBI are also low, and even lower when you realize that he only had 14 after the break. Stephen Drew had more RBI than Mark Teixeira after the All-Star break with 39 fewer at bats. The one area he did lead the Yankees after the break was strikeouts. His 52 punch outs from the middle of July on were the most on the team. This obviously paints a picture of a guy not worth $2.5 million, let alone $22.5 million.
Teixeira is owed $45 million over the final two years of his contract. He will be 36 at the end of this deal, a relative child for the often signed until 40 Yankees. Still, he play has declined like he already is in his late 30s. According to Wallace Matthews from ESPN New York, he has heard that there is concern over Teixeira’s non-baseball life and how it is affecting his play. Most top athletes do a commercial here and there, but Teixeira is extending himself and his finance in a lot of different directions. He has multiple real estate holdings, he owns a chain of juice bars, and is starting to explore his off the field personality. I am sure many of you saw “Foul Territory,” Teixeira’s 3-5 minute long social media show. I admit it is hilarious, and he has lots of players on the show to interview. The question is, when is it too much?
Personally, I do not think this is a large issue. Dozens of players have interests outside baseball that take their time and money. Becoming involved in real estate and juice bars may be something to consider after he retires, but it is nothing other players have not done. Foul Territory is done on the field or in the locker room and takes up little time. I have a much bigger problem with a baseball player playing golf than opening an apartment complex. Golf can ruin player’s swings and should be saved for retirement life.
Teixeira said that he is looking forward to having a full off-season to strength build. He started late last year because of the nagging wrist and he blames much of his season on that. He had a great start to his Yankee career, winning the World Series in 2009. As his tenure as the Yankees first baseman comes to a close, I hope to see him have a strong 2015 so that we do not have to hear about his real estate ventures ruining his career. He deserves a better send off than what New York provided to Nick Swisher. After all, next season’s Foul Territory should be even better.