Mark Teixeira is notorious for having slow starts to every season, especially in the month of April.  There is not arguement to the fact that this season has so far been his slowest start of his career.  Last year around this time, Teix was hitting .284.  Right now Teixeira is hitting .215 with eight homeruns, 47 hits, 34 RBI, 33 walks, and 45 strikeouts.  Yesterday was his worst game so far this season where he struck out five times in a row.

“I’ve done it before.  Strikouts are part of the game,” says Teix.

I’ve noticed a lot after yesterday’s game that fans and media were suggesting the idea of moving Teixeira down in the lineup from the number three hole.  There is no reason to do this.  Moving Teixeira down in the lineup will not help him or the rest of the team.  You are going to have periods where you’re mentally exhausted as you’re trying to find your swing.  It’s obvoius Teix is going through that right now and moving him will not make it any better.

If you look closer at his numbers, he is really not doing terrible.  His walk rate is higher and strikeout rate is lower than it was at this point just a year ago.  This was a year where he led the American League in homeruns and RBI.  Because of the walks, Teix’s batting average is not where Yankee fans would like to see it.  If Teix moves past the five strikeout game against the Jays and keeps up with the walks, he will find more ball dropping in the strike zone for hits.

I’ve been a Yankee fan my entire life.  I’ll be the first to admit that we are spoiled.  Mark Teixeira has been my favorite player in baseball since 2005 and I felt like I won the lottery when he signed with the Yankees.  I like many Yankee fans welcomed him to the our team with open arms.  Fans love what Teixeira did for our team last season that’s why they are finding it easy to be frustrated with his abnormally slow start this season.  It is frustrating, especially for Teix.  THERE IS NO NEED TO PANIC.