Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Previewing the Teixeira unveiling

What I expect to hear:

Randy Levine:

  • "...Steinbrenner's continued committment...putting first rate product on the field...for our fans...the best fans in the World...deserve the best...deliver another World Series...continuing our legacy...new era of Yankee baseball excellence...thank you City of New York..."
Brian Cashman:
  • "...welcome Mark to the Yankee family...rich history...switch hitting force in the lineup...great defense...thank you Steinbrenners for your continued reinvestment...best product possible...unless Girardi screws it up..."...a player we targeted all along...happy to have him...
Mark Teixeira:
  • "...a dream come true...happy to be here...looking to be just a part of the team...want a chance to win every year...looking forward to playing with Jeter, ARod...can't wait to walk onto the new field...can't wait to meet the guys...excited to bring a championship to the Yankees...be part of the Yankee tradition...it's not about the money"

12 comments:

tHeMARksMiTh said...

Who did Girardi screw up?

tHeMARksMiTh said...

Oh, Cano and Cabrera. Was that it?

Jason @ IIATMS said...

I was kidding that IF Girardi screws THIS up....

the conference is over, pretty much as scripted. Levine didn't say much.

#25 goes to Teix

Jay said...

Pretty much on the money. Well done sir.

Gotta love the tone of Teix's voice. Sounds genuinely happy to be here, and pretty well grounded too.

dinologic (Dean D) said...

Didn't watch the press conference - did he mention the pinstripes?

I'm listening to him on Francesca right now. At least I think it's Francesca - I just hear Teix speaking and then there's some incoherent repetitive mumbling in between. :)

Jason @ IIATMS said...

Dino:

He mentioned the pinstripes. As Jay (above) said, he looked and souned genuinely happy. Hitting the lottery could do that.

The dog and pony show was typical.

He did mention during the interview with Michael Kay afterwards how his wife eventually told him that he should choose the Yankees. That was interesting.

All in all, I watched it wondering what it must be like to be 28, have an equally young wife, two kids (ages 3 and 1) and have all the money you will ever, ever need in their lifetimes.

Teix seems to have the right business-like approach. His first comment about "no matter how hard the fans get on me (or what they expect out of me), I am harder on myself (or expect more out of myself)" was spot-on. I don't have the exact words but the point was clear. This guy shows up every day to bust his tail.

He's not some character; CC will fill that role. Teix is the silent assassin who will a great job in that lineup, before or after ARod.

tadthebad said...

Oh, very well grounded. I get the sense he is just like all of us. I mean, he is absolutely, without a doubt, what a true Yankee should be. Classy, respectful, contemporary...he'll fill out that 25 just fine and I really think he will carry the Yanks to titles every year of his contract. Yeeeaaahhhh New York Yankees, go get 'em!

Jason @ IIATMS said...

Do I detect some anger, bitterness or just resentment, Tadthebad?

Mark said...

Just a smidge of the bitter. Though I must point out that Tiex's prepared script must have once looked like this: "I'm very happy to be here. It's been my lifelong dream to play for [speak name of highest-bidding team NOW]."

Anonymous said...

IMHO, he look like he was ecstatic. But I guess it's easy to be that way when you just signed a contract that will put your grandchildren through college.....

Anonymous said...

*looked

Unknown said...

Not just his grandchildren. If there's ever again a person with the last name of Teixeira (can't be too many of them) hurting for money, their financial advisors should be drawn and quartered.