An established, powerful, switch-hitting first baseman would look mighty good in black and orange.
Especially considering he was born and raised in the Baltimore area.
But unfortunately for Orioles fans, the dream of adding Mount St. Joseph alum Mark Teixeira is just that ? a dream.
Teixeira, 26, has been a potent bat in the Rangers lineup since joining the big club in 2003.
While his career seems destined for multiple All-Star Game appearances, Teixeira has struggled, at least by his standards, to open the 2006 season.
“You don?t want to try to do too much. As long as I keep preparing and working hard, hopefully the numbers will take care of themselves,” said Teixeira, who was hitting .275 with nine home runs and 49 RBI before the Rangers? game with the Orioles Thursday night.
Those numbers are a drop-off from his three-year average of 38 homers and 122 RBI. A shortstop and third baseman in high school and college, Teixeira has adjusted well to the other side of the infield with Texas, committing just two errors in 2006 after earning a Gold Glove last season.
“He has great feet, and he picks it well,” said Texas shortstop and All-Star Game MVP Michael Young. “His defense has been the best in the league.”
Teixeira, himself, was voted an All-Star starter at first base in 2005, and hit a home run off Florida?s Dontrelle Willis in the midsummer classic.
This past spring, he played in the World Baseball Classic as a member of the United States team, and after playing in 162 games last season, Teixeira is beginning to resemble another every-day guy from Maryland ? Cal Ripken, Jr.
“I think Cal taught me a lot about playing through injuries and coming to work every day, and stepping to the plate,” Teixeira said. “I?m never going to come close to his streak, but just to go out and play 162 games a year is very important to me.”
That mentality can take a toll on a player over the long haul of the baseball season, especially in Texas, where Teixeira opted to spend the break golfing, hunting and relaxing at his Westlake home.
THE TEIXEIRA FILE
Age: 26
High School: Mount St. Joseph
College: Georgia Tech
Did you know? Teixeira?s last name is pronounced Tuh – SHARE – uh ? Fellow Mount St. Joe alum Gavin Floyd was also drafted in the first round in 2001, and is currently in the Philadelphia Phillies organization ? Mark and his wife, Georgia, live in Westlake, Texas.
