Spring Interview with Braves First Baseman Mark Teixeira
by gondeee
on Mar 30, 2008 12:19 PM EDT
in 2008 Spring Training Interview Series
I caught up with Mark Teixeira in the Braves clubhouse just before batting practice. He is a pretty intense person and while he may come off as a bit short below, that’s just how he it -- succinct and to the point. He also seems like a really nice guy and he was gracious enough to take time before he had to go out for BP to talk with me.
Martin Gandy: How did you spend your off-season?
Mark Teixeira: Working out, hitting, running, doing all the thing to get me ready for the season.
MG: Do you work on any particular part of your game?
MT: No I’m just working on getting everything better, everything tuned up and ready for the season.
MG: How would you assess your 2007 season?
MT: Successful -- I wish we would have made the playoffs, but it’s a good learning experience for this year and it makes us hungrier.
MG: How was it being back in Atlanta, I know you went to school here at Tech?
MT: It’s great, you know, I’m seeing a lot of friends and family that I don’t get to see a lot, and being back in a city that I know and with a team that has a chance to win.
MG: Making any long term plans in Atlanta?
MT: No, no long term plans anywhere right now.
MG: That was a good dodge. Describe yourself as a hitter?
MT: O, I let other people describe me as a hitter -- you can ask someone else that question.
MG: Are you big on video of yourself to help you work on your swing?
MT: Yeah, there’s always ways to improve, and I think that watching video and getting scouting reports are always good -- they are always successful ways to make you a better hitter.
MG: What are you looking at when you watch video?
MT: Just positive reinforcement.
MG: Last questions, what is your favorite baseball interview cliché that you like to say?
MT: Um, "taking it one game at a time."
MG: How often do you use that?
MT: It’s true, it’s a cliché but it’s true, and especially in baseball, that’s the only way to do it. If you’re worried about 162 games in April it’s going to be a long season for you.
MG: Thanks a lot, I appreciate it.
MT: All right, no problem.
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Very interesting.
It sort of solidifies my personal feeling that he won't be back in Atlanta next season, the not making long term plans business. Andruw used to at least say he wanted to be back, but Tex is playing the game it seems. Oh well, if Ka'aihue is ever going to get it going (or even Thorman), this is their follow-up years to crummy seasons. Or maybe Tyler Flowers will be the man....
by secondbass on Mar 30, 2008 12:38 PM EDT 0 recs
Flowers..
...seems to be a Cox favorite from quotes over the spring. I'm really thinking Flowers is the one we need to keep close tabs on this year.
by RainDelay on
Mar 30, 2008 2:11 PM EDT
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Indeed.
Also, if Heyward develops his bat, I could see him being converted to a first baseman. However, he's 3-4 years away at least.
-sdp-
by sdp on
Mar 30, 2008 2:16 PM EDT
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Yup...
...Heyward looked pretty raw this spring. He's got a long ass swing he needs to shorten up a bit or he's going to be owned at every level. He could be converted, but I don't like doing that now because it might screw with his development offense wise.
by RainDelay on
Mar 30, 2008 2:20 PM EDT
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Kaaihue
He had a bad half season. When he was moved to AA is when he struggled while he has in high A he tore the cover off the ball but if you look at his history he struggles when he gets moved up but the following season after he struggles he breaks out. We could possibly see a Kaaihue/Thorman platoon next year if Tex doesn't resign.
by Jay212033 on
Mar 30, 2008 4:28 PM EDT
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re: Kaaihue
he struggles when he gets moved up but the following season after he struggles he breaks out.
That's the exact same thing we were told about Thorman too. So I'm not sure how much stock I'd put in that, I'm still saying that Flowers is the guy to keep a close eye on this year.
by RainDelay on
Mar 30, 2008 5:38 PM EDT
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Teix
Nice interview, but like you said Teix comes off so cold and uninteresting. I hate it that he doesn't seem moved by the prospect of staying in Atlanta long term and signing a multiyear deal with the Braves. What's the difference between 20-21million a year and 15-16 when your talking that much money?
--
Kyle James
The Tomahawk
by Kyle James on Mar 30, 2008 2:54 PM EDT 0 recs
really?
hes just doing good business. there seems to be a double standard that only the organization is allowed to practice good business tactics. the players have every right to do what's best for themselves, just like every team in the MLB does. If more teams had owners like Mark Cuban of the Dallas Mavericks, resigning Tex wouldn't even be a conversation right now. and $4-$5 million is a lot to anyone. think of the sick yacht he can get with that...
by GRABtheMIC on
Mar 30, 2008 4:16 PM EDT
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Yeah, but...
...to me the difference is that the organization is publicly saying they'd love to have Tex back long term and so forth. Tex is 'playing the game' of being noncommittal. Don't like that not one bit. But I guess I can understand - poor fella, having to give up the yacht, or least taking the cheaper model.....
by secondbass on
Mar 30, 2008 5:30 PM EDT
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but
the Braves would love to have Tex back long term on THIER terms. well the same goes for Tex. im sure he wants to remain a Brave long term on his OWN terms as well. But if the Braves and Tex truly want to remain as associates they would both have to give up ground and they will.
and would you be happy about settling for the cheaper model when it comes to anything in life? im sure there would be a little resentment involved whether its a yacht or a new grill.
by GRABtheMIC on
Mar 30, 2008 6:34 PM EDT
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And winning
Let's ignore the money aspect for a second. Which team is likelier to win a World Series or two during the next seven years - Atlanta or the Yankees?
Tex can either resign with Atlanta for possibly less money and probably have less of a shot to win a World Series or he can sign with the Mets/Yankees/Angels for more money and a better shot at winning it all.
It'd be nice to have him as the center piece of our lineup for the next seven years and be able to build our post-Chipper team around him, Francoeur, and McCann, but if we don't have a legitimate shot at winning a World Series on July 31st, the only intelligent baseball decision is to deal him for prospects.
by 17843 on Apr 1, 2008 12:58 AM EDT 0 recs
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