Source: Lohud

Mark Teixeira has announced his intentions to retire at the end of this season leaving the Yankees to consider their first base situation.

Tex helped to carry the Yankees 2009 World Series title and led the American League with 39 home runs and 122 R.B.I.. He also won three Gold Gloves with the Yankees and Tex finished second in the balloting for the American League’s Most Valuable Player Award.

Unfortunately, Teixeira has been troubled by injuries since 2012. He has spent considerable time on the disabled list with knee, wrist, calf, hamstring, shin, and back injuries. This season, he has had four injections to treat pain in his knee and neck.  It was widely accepted that he would most likely need surgeries if he wished to continue playing ball.

Over the past three decades, the Yankees have largely used four first basemen beginning with Don Mattingly, then Tino Martinez, Jason Giambi, and Teixeira.  They’re now faced with yet another transition.  Likely replacements include Rob Refsnyder, Tyler Austin, Greg Bird, Brian McCann with Austin Romine, Dustin Ackley with Chris Parmelee, or Chris Gittens.

Gittens seems like the obvious choice.  He definitely has power and during spring training it was said his exit velocity was better than anyone’s in the system aside from Aaron Judge.

Who do you think should replace Tex?

Read more about Teixeira’s retirement at http://www.lohud.com/story/sports/mlb/lohud-yankees/2016/08/08/whats-next-yankees-first-base/88421908/

~Gregory Hold

The post Mark Teixeira Says Farewell first appeared on Gregory Hold | Yankees Fan.

Source: Wikipedia

The Yankees have been disappointing the past 3 seasons. They missed the playoffs for two consecutive years in 2013 and 2014, which hasn’t happened since 1994, and this past season they lost to the Astros in the AL Wild Card game. However, I think 2016 will be a turnaround year for the Yankees. In my opinion, the Yankees have two keys to success for the upcoming season: they have reliable starting pitching and this could be a big year for Mark Teixeira.

Even though the Yanks will have one of the best bullpens in the league next season, I think a key to their success will be their starting pitching. The less they have to rely on their bullpen, the better they will be.

As for Teixeira, he’s been less than stellar the past couple seasons, and needs to come out and show the Yankees and their fans why he’s being paid over 22.5 million dollars. If Teixeira can have a 40 HR, 120 RBI Season, I think the Yankees will win the AL East with ease.

~Gregory Hold

The post 2016 Season Keys to Success first appeared on Gregory Hold | Yankees Fan.