Yes, I know it is only five games into a 162 game season, but if you are not excited for the performance that Mark Teixeira has put on so far then you need to open your eyes a little bit more.

Teixeira has been my favorite Major League Baseball player for the past six seasons.  He's always had consistency by hitting at least 30 homers and 100 RBI's in all but one of his past seasons.  His defense at first base is the best I've ever seen.  However he is infamous for starting his season every year very slow at the plate.  I used to get laughed at by friends because they knew Tex was my favorite player and would go 0-for-16 or 0-for-20 to start off the season.

This season, however, they have nothing to say.

I was at Opening Day this year at Yankee Stadium.  I was standing behind Section 217 with some of my friends in the freezing cold when Teixeira stepped up to the plate for his second AB.  I hear him smack the baseball and I see it soaring through the air toward right field.  I was screaming, "GET OUT! GET OUT! GET OUT!" and sure enought it was hit right out of the park.

I was watching Tex round the bases and be greeted at home plate by Derek Jeter and Russell Martin.  I was jumping up and down.  I was so happy I was ready to do cartwheels.  It had nothing to do with the score of the game.  Teixeira hitting a home run on Opening Day gave ME a sigh of relief.  I could only imagine what he was feeling.

Tex hit homers in the following two games, got a hit in the next game, and hit another home run last night.  It is really almost unheard of that Teixeira is hitting so well this early in the season.

I have been saying this to all of the doubters for years.  "The year Mark Teixeira hits early in the season, stays consistent the rest of the year, and has few slumps it will be his MVP season."

Again, I know we're only five games into the season and about to play number six tonight, but I am keeping my fingers crossed.  If Teixeira keeps hitting like this consistently into May he is going to have a monsterous season.  Even with his slumps in the past Tex has hit at least 30 homers and 100 RBI's in each of his past seasons except his rookie year where he hit at least 25 homers.  Imagine the numbers he can put up now that he's hitting in April.  Anything can happen, but for now I have never been more proud of him.

For all we know, Tex could come back next season and go back to his normal slump in the beginning, but for now I am enjoying all of the Teixeira haters' silence and I am basking in the glory like all the other Mark Teixeira fans.  Thank you, Tex, for making me proud.