Old Sweater
02-01-2012, 09:47 AM
http://www.fanfeedr.com/mlb/ny-yankees?id=b4bb0adf-ce39-57ff-b486-7ae7bd7068c8
No one should expect Mark Teixeira to become a $180 million bunter this season, but the Yankee first baseman admits he’s finally ready to give in to his frustrations over declining numbers the past few years.
The switch-hitter batted a career-worst .224 from the left side of the plate in 2011, often pulling the ball into the pronounced shift most opposing teams employ against him.
And he’s ready to try something drastic.
“When no one’s on base, if they’re playing a big shift, I might lay down some bunts this year,” Teixeira said before he was among the honorees at Tuesday night’s Thurman Munson dinner in Midtown. “I’ve been so against it my entire career. But I might lay down a few bunts. If I can beat the shift that way, that’s important.”
To that end, Teixeira added that he’s shed nearly 15 pounds this winter, while continuing to work on his stroke at new Boston manager Bobby Valentine’s baseball academy in Stamford.
“He didn’t change the locks on me . . . but as soon as he gets the Red Sox job, the next morning, the first ball out of the machine was right at my head,” Teixeira joked. “I don’t know if it was a bad ball or if the gears jammed, or what happened, but we had to get a technician in there to fix it.”
We'll see I guess. It would be about a give-me hit from the left side. Myself, I prefer the Ted Williams approach of hitting over it but even Williams regrets not laying down a few and being so mule headed.
No one should expect Mark Teixeira to become a $180 million bunter this season, but the Yankee first baseman admits he’s finally ready to give in to his frustrations over declining numbers the past few years.
The switch-hitter batted a career-worst .224 from the left side of the plate in 2011, often pulling the ball into the pronounced shift most opposing teams employ against him.
And he’s ready to try something drastic.
“When no one’s on base, if they’re playing a big shift, I might lay down some bunts this year,” Teixeira said before he was among the honorees at Tuesday night’s Thurman Munson dinner in Midtown. “I’ve been so against it my entire career. But I might lay down a few bunts. If I can beat the shift that way, that’s important.”
To that end, Teixeira added that he’s shed nearly 15 pounds this winter, while continuing to work on his stroke at new Boston manager Bobby Valentine’s baseball academy in Stamford.
“He didn’t change the locks on me . . . but as soon as he gets the Red Sox job, the next morning, the first ball out of the machine was right at my head,” Teixeira joked. “I don’t know if it was a bad ball or if the gears jammed, or what happened, but we had to get a technician in there to fix it.”
We'll see I guess. It would be about a give-me hit from the left side. Myself, I prefer the Ted Williams approach of hitting over it but even Williams regrets not laying down a few and being so mule headed.