Replacement Level Yankees Weblog - NYDN: Yankees’ Mark Teixeira reveals that he snapped out of funk by defying ‘order’ to change swing

The Curse of Jerry Hairston, Jr./Eric Hinske:

Monday, July 30, 2012

NYDN: Yankees’ Mark Teixeira reveals that he snapped out of funk by defying ‘order’ to change swing

Teixeira doesn’t want to say who it was, except to say that it wasn’t hitting coach Kevin Long. Joe Girardi indicated on Sunday that it wasn’t him, saying it was a general feeling in the organization, and GM Brian Cashman said flatly that it wasn’t him.

It’s hard to imagine who else of importance would have gone to Teixeira, but the Yankee first baseman made it clear it was more than a request. And, in retrospect, he’s not happy about it.

“Hey, listen, halfway through last season I was on pace for 50 home runs and 130 RBI,’’ he said, “and I had people telling me, ‘you need to hit the ball the other way.’ I probably shouldn’t have listened to them but I try to please the people that I work for, and it didn’t work out.’’

Asked if he felt he had a choice in the matter, Teixeira was emphatic: “I was told to do something so I tried it,’’ he said.

I’m guessing it was hitting expert Randy Levine, the genius who brought us Raul Mondesi.

--Posted at 3:13 pm by SG / 13 Comments | - (0)

Comments

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1. Posted at 4:53:16 pm on Monday, July 30, 2012 by sd2528

I’m guessing Reggie. He had some conversations with the higher ups and they agreed/gave him the OK. It has to be someone who knows hitting somewhat, oherwise why would he listen?

2. Posted at 4:59:56 pm on Monday, July 30, 2012 by SG

Does Reggie really have that kind of pull? Makes sense though.

3. Posted at 5:31:47 pm on Monday, July 30, 2012 by King Jon, Monarch of all that is Low and Flat

Agreed. It’s kind of a pricky, out of character response from Teix, so perhaps Reggie’s personal abrasiveness elicited it.

4. Posted at 5:44:42 pm on Monday, July 30, 2012 by SAS

Joe Girardi indicating it was a “general feeling in the organization” doesn’t exactly absolve him.

Though I like the idea of some mystery voice in the Yankee organization who gives people, as Arnold said in Pumping Iron, the “wrong advices”. Can we blame this mystery voice on the struggles of Phil Hughes, A.J. Burnett, etc?

5. Posted at 5:50:56 pm on Monday, July 30, 2012 by Jonathan

Now I have this mental picture of Randy Levine going around the clubhouse, whispering things in people’s ears, like the evil devil on someone’s shoulder.

6. Posted at 6:00:29 pm on Monday, July 30, 2012 by SAS

Teixeira might want to send this along to whoever it was (NSFW-language):

http://youtu.be/Ac6cOJb2FvI?t=1m7s

7. Posted at 6:16:50 pm on Monday, July 30, 2012 by Of all the dramatic things M. Waters has ever seen

Hologram! Always blame the holograms. They are the easiest scapegoats.

8. Posted at 6:24:32 pm on Monday, July 30, 2012 by SicSemper

Townies allegedly looking to dump Becky. Everyone in Philly not nailed down is up for trade.

9. Posted at 6:41:49 pm on Monday, July 30, 2012 by Alpher

It was George Costanza after breaking the abstinence.

10. Posted at 6:46:55 pm on Monday, July 30, 2012 by Closing The Gap With Toronto