Mark Teixeira

No one wants to click the glowing green draft button on a guy with a .248 avg.

Well if no one wants him then you do. Here is the ADP of 1B according to MDC

Player	Pos	Team	ADP	Earliest	Latest	Draft %
1 (2)	Miguel Cabrera	1B	DET	2.53	1	6	100.0%
2 (3)	Albert Pujols	1B	ANA	2.88	1	7	100.0%
3 (9)	Joey Votto	1B	CIN	9.28	3	17	100.0%
4 (10)	Adrian Gonzalez	1B	BOS	9.45	2	21	100.0%
5 (14)	Prince Fielder	1B	DET	14.33	4	22	100.0%
6 (27)	Mark Teixeira	1B	NYY	27.17	15	40	100.0%
7 (46)	Paul Konerko	1B,DH	CHW	48.26	31	68	100.0%
8 (52)	Eric Hosmer	1B	KC	53.05	24	76	100.0%
9 (79)	Mike Morse	1B	WAS	80.28	37	116	100.0%
10 (119)	Freddie Freeman	1B	ATL	121.34

Top four first basemen will likely be drafted in the first round leaving Prince in the second. A round later Teixeira should come off the board leaving a gaping hole between him and old man Paul Konerko who's age and lack of runs set him back. Teixeira holds top 15 value in the third round. Why?

Teixeira's 39 HR in 2011 were the most of all first basemen. Granted, Albert Pujols was out for a while but Tex will hit 35+ this year.

Also. Teixeira plays on the Yankees who look to be a stronger than usual contender this season which should provide 100 if not 110+ runs and RBIs which puts among Pujols and Cabrera.

The only flaw, his scary batting average. .248 last season is going to scare off some owners. However, Tex has a career average of .281

Here are Teixeira's averages since his debut in 2003:

2003 .259

2004 .281

2005 .301

2006 .282

2007 .306

2008 .308

2009 .292

2010 .256

2011 .248

Keep these numbers in your mind while I tell you 3 key useless seeming facts.

1. From 2009 on, Tex has played in pinstripes, when the new Yankee Stadium opened, he joined the team for their championship run.

2. Tex is a switch hitter (not really that useless)

3. Yankee Stadium is a power hitting lefty haven

Almost 70% of his AB are Left-handed but his average from the left side of the plate was only .251 in the last three years. His average from the right side was .299.

In the last two years Tex has been below .500 in slugging for the first time since his rookie season 2003.

Now don't be thrown off by his 77 HR left-handed to 34 right-handed since 2009, 77HR/1247AB=6.16% and 34HR/552AB=6.15% meaning that he hits roughly the same amount of HR to AB on either side of the plate, so HR are not the issue. The average is.

From the left side Tex keeps trying to take advantage of the short porch in right rather than looking for a ball to drive into the gap for a double or make contact for a single. All he is thinking about is a HR. In fact, Teixeira has had back to back to back career lows in GB/FB in his three years as a Yankee.

The numbers are there, but the problem is mental.

Tex has realized that the right field wall has tantalized him while in the lefty box and is trying to make a change.

I say the change will happen. My Tex projection: 111 R 37 HR 123 RBI .307 AVG

Looking back, thats too bold how about: 104 R 36 HR 113 RBI .292

Poll

Do you believe Mark Teixeira will solve his problems and raise his average?

67%

Yes

27 votes

32%

No

13 votes

40 votes | Poll has closed