Struggling at plate, Teixeira picks it up with his glove

By Chico Harlan

The Washington Post

October 24, 2009

ANAHEIM, CALIF. -- Until the seventh inning of Game 5 of the American League Championship Series, Mark Teixeira -- once a star for the Los Angeles Angels, now a star for the New York Yankees -- had scarcely helped his present team more than his former team. Teixeira, playing in his first league championship series, had been just a touch off, watching called strikes go by, skying popups, relying only on his always-sterling defense to redeem himself.

'I'm obviously not hot right now,' Teixeira said Wednesday, one day before he got hot.

Though the Yankees lost, 7-6, in Game 5 of the ALCS on Thursday, ensuring a return to New York for Saturday's Game 6, the nerves of their teetering 3-2 series lead are calmed by a sense that their first baseman has regained his equilibrium. At last, the Yankees (and yes, the Angels) witnessed the Teixeira they know. The Teixeira whose highlights show up the next morning, when talking heads are dissecting the turning points.

Teixeira almost turned Game 5 into a pennant-clinching victory for the Yankees; such was the jolt of his three-run double in the seventh inning that started a six-run rally. Angels starting pitcher John Lackey, still clinging to his 4-0 shutout, wanted to face Teixeira with the bases loaded, only here came Manager Mike Scioscia, requesting the ball, and there was Lackey on the mound, heated by the decision, yelling: 'This is mine. This is mine.'

It wasn't.

Darren Oliver replaced Lackey. Teixeira saw one pitch. A curveball hurtled on a crisp line to left-center, bouncing once against the wall. And Teixeira, 3 for 21 and without an RBI in the series before that swing, offered a glimpse of what the Yankees had been waiting for.

Even when Teixeira isn't crushing the ball, he remains one of the central figures in this series, with a direct link to both dugouts. Last October, Teixeira was finishing out his half-season with the Angels, who acquired him in a July 29, 2008, trade with Atlanta. Teixeira played well for Los Angeles, hitting .358 with a .632 slugging percentage in 54 games, and that incendiary stretch staged an offseason bidding frenzy that turned the switch hitter into the offseason's priciest free agent.

The Angels saw the price and begged off, handing first base to Kendry Morales.

The Nationals made an intense run at Teixeira, offering upward of $180 million for eight years.

The Yankees offered $180 and eight years, and something Washington couldn't match: A chance to win, and a chance to play in October.

For the Angels and Yankees, at least, the Teixeira decision proved mutually beneficial. Morales emerged as a worthy successor, hitting 34 homers and batting .306. Meantime, the players that General Manager Tony Reagins acquired with the money saved on Teixeira -- Bobby Abreu and Brian Fuentes, especially -- filled important roles. Teixeira, with the Yankees, helped transform the middle of his new team's lineup, hitting .292 with 39 homers, tied for best in the AL. Just as important, his defense provided an upgrade. And even those who watched him struggle during the first games of the ALCS noted the runs he was saving the Yankees with scoops, stretches, lunges and diving plays at first.

'His defense has been spectacular for us,' Manager Joe Girardi said. 'I can't say enough. Whether it's been diving plays and throwing home, turning double plays, over-the-shoulder catches on popups, to me he's played Gold Glove defense.

'He's made so many big plays. Plays that have saved innings for us during the course of the year. Plays that have saved games for us. So there is more to just making a great play to me, because not only does it change the complexion of that inning, it could change the complexion of the whole game down the road because your starter's not throwing extra pitches.'

Even though Teixeira's postseason statistics still reflect a rough patch -- he's 6 for 35 (.171) with one homer -- those who know the tell-tales see him getting more comfortable. Teixeira is one of those players who doesn't take too many pitches when he's locked in. During the regular season, he saw 3.84 pitches per plate appearance, right on par with the league average. But during the postseason, he's been seeing 4.38 pitches per plate appearance.

His tendencies only changed in Game 5. In his last three plate appearances in that game, he swung at the first pitch every time.

'I can take a few more risks this year,' Teixeira said earlier this postseason, explaining his approach. 'There are certain seasons where you look at your lineup and you say, 'Hey, I've really got to get the job done. Maybe you have to walk to extend an inning because I'm not sure how many chances we're going to get.' This lineup is so deep this year, I might take a few more hacks, might be a little more aggressive. If I don't get the job done we have one through nine that can get it done.'

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