Yankees' Teixeira May Be Swinging A Hot Bat, But He's Also Battling Fatigue
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Though the Yankees lost two of three in Milwaukee over the weekend, there were some positives.
Mark Teixeira comes immediately to mind.
The big fear coming into this season was Teixeira returning off a brutal wrist injury that basically knocked him out for the entire 2013 season. Add the fears of how his body would react to the fact that over the last few seasons the once-dangerous switch-hitter had become more of a feast-or-famine swinger at the plate and it was understandable that many people viewed Teixeira as a major concern heading into this season.
To his credit, Teixeira has silenced some critics, looking more like the player capable of 35 homers and 100 RBI on a yearly basis.
The 34-year-old first baseman has a team-high 7 home runs and has upped his average to .266. Against the Brewers, Teixeira went 4-for-12 with a pair of homers and 3 RBI. He gave the Yankees hope in the ninth inning of Sunday's rubber game, blasting a two-out tying home run off of Milwaukee closer Francisco Rodriguez. The Brewers went on to win in the bottom of the inning.
Though he has six homers in his last 12 games and is playing his usual stellar defense, Teixeira has dealt now and again with fatigue. He labored to score from second on Yangervis Solarte's deep single in the seventh inning and took his time rounding the bases on his homer on Sunday because he said he was simply gassed.
"I was on the bases a lot this week," Teixeira said. "Just a little tired. I'll be fine. My legs aren't feeling too good right now. I was telling Carlos (Beltran), 'I feel like I've got two cement blocks on my feet.' I'm just tired. I should be fine."
The Yankees certainly need Teixeira to be fine. He's already been on the disabled list once this season and was given the day off on Monday -- the opener of the first leg of the Subway Series against the Mets. Manager Joe Girardi revealed to WFAN's Sweeny Murti that Teixeira is suffering from tightness in his left groin.
"There is a little concern. It's low level," Girardi said.
Despite being down three starting pitchers due to injuries, the Yankees (19-17) sit 1 1/2 games behind first-place Baltimore in the AL East.
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