Yankees' Woes Don't Stop with A-Rod

Found this pretty interesting. From Tom Verducci at SI.com:

I wrote back in January about how [Mark] Teixeira, coming off a .256 season, is so mechanically unsound that he is going to continue to decline. Teixeira collapses on his back side and swings up on the ball. I wrote then, "The style means Teixeira must catch the ball out in front of him and leaves him prone to lifting the ball rather than driving through it. As he ages, Teixeira becomes an even more extreme fly ball hitter and pull hitter, trends that mean he will continue to lose points off his batting average." [...]

His batting average on balls in play has dropped every year with the Yankees: .302, .268, .239. That's not unlucky. It's symptomatic of his hitting style. His fly ball rate has increased every year as a Yankee (37 in 2008, followed by 44, 46, 47). His infield pop-ups, which are no different than strikeouts, and were as low as 14 in 2008, have grown to 21, 30 and 27 as a Yankee.

Teixeira's swing simply is not built to make him a consistent clutch hitter. After coming to the Yankees with a .308 average with runners in scoring position in 2008, he hasn't come close to that kind of reliability with New York (.264, .273, .268) -- especially in the postseason environment.

Teixeira turns 32 years old next season. The Yankees already have age-related issues with Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter. You can put Teixeira in that category, not because of health, but because his pull-happy, fly ball swing is the kind that doesn't age well, sort of like those of J.D. Drew and Adam Dunn.

According to Cot's Baseball Contracts, Teixeira is under contract until 2016 and is making $22.5 million annually. A-Rod is signed through 2017 and will make $29 million next year alone. Jeter is signed through 2013, averaging $16.5 a year, and has a 2014 player option. Something to think about as we lust after Prince Fielder or Albert Pujols.

IN PROGRESS: Red Sox v. That Orange County LA Team

Where have you gone Joe DiMaggio indeed.

David Ortiz's line: 0 for 5 - 3Ks - 8 LOB

Bringing his total number of home runs this season to 0.0. (Less than a number of pitchers). I've always been a fan, but how long will FoSoSG (Friend of Sons of Steve Garvey) Erin and the rest of the Beantown faithful wait before treating the slugger with the same warmth and kindness that New Yorkers have shown Mark Teixeira?

Angels Ensure NL West Will Continue to Suck

Mark Teixeira Traded To Angels (MLB Trade Rumors)

I'll See Your Blake And Raise You One Teixeira

The Diamondbacks are apparently close to a deal to acquire Mark Teixeira from the Braves, according to the Yahoo Sports blog, Big League Stew:

While everyone is going agog over the Manny trade speculation that will most likely ultimately go nowhere, the wheeling and dealing for a much more attainable difference maker in Mark Teixeira is flying under the radar.

That could change quickly, though, because a front office source from another team interested in Teixeira just told Yahoo! Sports' Steve Henson that negotiations between the Diamondbacks and Braves were "pretty far along." The Braves are said to be asking for a prospect and either Conor Jackson or Chad Tracy in return.

Teixeira will be a free agent at the end of the season and a trade would mark the second time in as many years that the slugger was swapped at the trading deadline. The Braves gave up Jarrod Saltalamacchia and four minor leaguers to pry Tex from the Rangers last season.

If it goes through, it'd be a good trade for the D'backs, whose middling offense could use Texeira's power down the stretch while trying to fend off the Dodgers. Meanwhile, Tracy is scheduled to make $4.5 million next year in the last year of his deal while Jackson will be arbitration eligible for the first time this offseason.

Only one prospect? Surely the Braves can get more for Teixeira than a half-season rental plus one prospect. But to have a 20-HR hitter on the squad--wow (Arizona already has one in Mark Reynolds (21); Matt Kemp leads the Dodgers with 12).

I Survived A Japanese No-Hitter

ABC, you can send royalties to the email address on the sidebar.

Teixeira Trade Talk

MLB Trade Rumors on the potential availability of Mark Teixeira via trade:

The Dodgers I see as a strong player. James Loney plus one of their top-rated starting pitching prospects and it's a done deal. I'm not sure Nomar can handle third base these days, but I don't see that problem preventing a trade.

Hey, when we said FREE JAMES LONEY, we didn't mean it like that. Although Loney is from Texas....

Also, a MLBTR blurb on Eric Gagne as another Ranger trade candidate.