The Pros and Cons of Mark Teixiera not coming to Baltimore...
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Watching SportsCenter this morning and seeing Severna Park, MD native Mark Teixeira being announced as an Atlanta Brave made we want to throw up. Personally, I, like many "BALTIMORE" O's fans, really wanted him to come here and give us a legitamite power hitting 1st baseman...but maybe it's a good thing he didn't...
Why was there such a big push for Tex to wear orange and black? I think the biggest reason is that he's a hometown guy. He played his high school ball hear and has made it clear that playing for the Orioles would be a "dream come true." So if the guy wants to come here, maybe we can wait until 2009 and let Scott Boras hold the proverbial gun to Andy MacPhail's bean bag until he coughs up enough dough to "satisfy his client"...or maybe we'll get a home team discount...
It was probably better that Tex didn't come here because the story line of the hometown boy saving the O's sounds a bit too familiar...a bit too much like Cal Ripken. The expectations would be through the roof for this guy, and if he fell even the slightest bit short, fans would be uproarious, especially if we had to give up Erik Bedard. Some people would expect this kid to be the next Cal, but we all know that just would not happen. I think there was some kind of pyschological connection to seeing Cal get inducted and then wanting to immediately replace him. We also know that Boras would probably make us overpay...if we're gonna over pay for someone, how about A-Rod? Rumors are Tex will command 20-25 million per year when his contract is up...why not pay 30-35 for A-Rod if a trade for Tex was even in consideration?
He's won a few gold gloves and silver slugger awards, which is great considering he's so young. There's a significant chance that he could even get better and improve as he matures.
But let's not lose sight of that those gold gloves were won at first base, which may be the easiest position to field and the position which takes the least amount of athletic ability to field. While the Orioles could use a power bat in the middle of the lineup, there are other players that will be free agents within the next two years who swing the bat just as well if not better (see my past O's articles, I go into this rather extensively).
So, Tex, good luck...maybe your pissed that the O's didn't sign you...or maybe you feel relieved.
