Derek Jeter refers to Mark Teixeira’s daily approach to the game as robotic. In other words, if you’re looking for a detailed explanation about hitting struggles, Teixeira’s answers sound like this:
“I’m not getting hits. Plain and simple.”
The brief answers came after Teixeira struck out on Ryan Madson’s changeup to end Game 5 and stall the Yankees comeback. Teixeira has just two hits in 19 at-bats in his first World Series.
Tex can’t seem to find the answers for his .184 average but perhaps it resides in the way the Phillies have pitched to him.
In Game 5, Tex was retired on a fastball, then changeups got him the next two at-bats. In Game 4, Teixeira was retired on a changeup, sinker, slider and fastball.
“Streaky hitters like to sit on a certain pitch,” Lee said earlier in the series. “We’re trying to mix it up, keep them off balance.”
It has certainly worked against Teixeira, who is 10-for-58 with two homers and seven RBIs in the postseason. The on again, off again postseason schedule has also taken its toll on the slumping first baseman.
“I’m not going to make excuses because everyone has to deal with it,” he said. “Being a guy who lives off hot streaks and lives off a rhythm, it doesn’t help.”
