There’s no reason to be average when you can be powerful. Welcome to Mark Teixeira’s season.
Not many can get away with a .226 batting average while manning a prominent position in the Yankees’ lineup. Now, Teixeira is not entirely immune from criticism, but yesterday’s grand slam will surely silence any calls to move him out of the third spot. The slugger drove in the game’s only runs, as the Yankees took the Subway Series finale over the Mets, 4-0.
“He is such an impactful player. I know this year has been somewhat of a struggle for him, but we have so much confidence in him because of what he’s done in the past and what he did here last year,” manager Joe Girardi said. “For us, we believe it’s just a matter of time until he gets hot and gets on a roll and can really carry a club.”
Teixeira remains well under his career mark of .286. His 12th homer of the season and first grand slam in pinstripes, though, almost makes you forget his average is 141 points lower than Robinson Cano’s.
And maybe the Yankees don’t need him to catch up. Tex’s power numbers have the Yankees in first place in the AL East.
