Tex in Command

I look back on the offseason leading up to the 2009 season incredibly fondly. It began on such a down note...and then we accumulated, slowly, people like A.J. Burnett, Nick Swisher, and C.C. Sabathia. But, and this was most important of all, we stole away Mark Teixeira from going back home to Baltimore. We blocked Boston, or anyone else in that matter, from taking the biggest, hardest-hitting first baseman on the board.

And then we plugged him into the roster and won a world series with him. So really, it worked out.

Tex is the last guy left from the '09 recruits who's still making an impact in New York. Burnett's retired, Swisher's back, but depleted, and CC is trying to get back to where he was in 2010. But Tex, thanks to his huge reclamation last year, is still hitting well, still plays some nice defense, and is still pretty close to a leadership position on the team, which I love.

He's been doing pretty well this first week. Before the start of the season, Greg Bird was injured, meaning Tex would be doing the majority of the 1st base work, occasionally taking DH or an off day to give Dustin Ackley a chance (like most people have been trying to do). So, with that known boost in starts for the year, he's playing well, and not exactly showing his age.

It's looking like the Yankees are probably going to let him go after this season, unless they do decide to re-up him for the last few years. Still, it's been a hell of a ride, and if 2016 is the end, then Tex will just have to make this one an extra-special year.

Coming Tonight- He could have been traded, but for now, he's still a Red, and he's still got an electric bat.

NICE SHOOTIN' TEX!

In 2009, the Yankees decided they were going to make the TWO biggest moves off the offseason, after finishing a measly third the year before. So, they went and signed CC Sabathia and Mark Teixiera, two guys that have formed leadership positions in the Bronx ever since.

Tex was one who worried me later in that contract. He had amazing seasons in 2009 and 2010, but never really managed to do anything significant since. He hit home runs last year, but like the rest of the team, it was more of a whimper and less of an actual bang.

However...2015 came around, and Mark Teixeira's bat came alive once more. And the guy has 18 home runs, 48 RBIs, and is playing like any absolute pro. And I couldn't be more proud of him.

I think it's come about because Jeter's gone, and Mo's gone, and A-Rod's...less than trustworthy, so the team needs a real leadership figure, somebody who can step up and say 'this is how you do it'. Tex really has fallen into that role- the guy's got 2 years left on his contract, he's 35, and he's pulling the team and telling them how it should be done.

It works, too, because if he leaves for 2017, McCann, Ellsbury and Headley will (hopefully) still be there, and one of them will take the reins.

Until then, it's just another year and a half of Tex being a Yankee superstar. And I can handle that.

Coming Tomorrow- One of those nasty Cardinals. This one in particular's been around for a year and a half, and is becoming a major force.

Uncustomed Heroes of 2014: Yankees

YES! I'M FINALLY DONE WITH THESE! IT ONLY TOOK ME THREE AND A HALF MONTHS, BUT I'M DONE! FINISHED! KAPUT!

Now I get to talk about the 2014 Yankees. Wonderful. The world-famous one-legged potential-killers.

Mark Teixeira was one of the few guys that did his job relatively well last year. He hit a great deal of home runs and returned to his serviceable qualities of before his injury-prone seasons. He's saying he's back in full force for 2015. I hope he's right.

This guy had a very, very nice season as our closer, before promptly saying 'screw you' and high-tailing it over to Chicago. This would be more disappointing if we didn't have somebody else in line, like...

DELLIN BETANCES! This was a guy I thought would make the team in Spring Training 2012. Sadly, he didn't, and didn't get playing time until rocking a set-up man role in 2014, gaining him a nice little ASG nod. Now is his turn as full-on Yankee closer, and I imagine he'll be pretty great.

I didn't think it would happen, but Brett Gardner has become a very trustworthy outfielder, having played in a number of nice seasons and hitting a lot of home runs. A guy I thought would be trade bait has become one of the team's most tenured members and best hitters. Way to go, man.

And then there's this guy. I'll be honest, I waited this long to make an Ellsbury custom because I kept waiting for a good enough photo. One didn't come along until very late in the season. So...I just made do with what I had. Ellsbury had a decent enough season, but hopefully will have a bigger year in 2015. I'd like some 2012-era numbers.

Well...if I had any customs from 2015, I'd post them tomorrow.

Oh, wait. I do.