Don't ignore that Teixeira is a legit No. 3 hitter. Who was going to hit there for the Yanks without him? Matsui? Cano? Jeter dropping down from the No. 2 hole? A-Rod moving up from cleanup?
Hey, it is tough to be the Mets right now. Sure, they solidified their end of game relief with Francisco Rodriguez and J.J. Putz. But these electric additions by the Yanks have clearly kept the Mets as the second team in town in an even stronger way, at a time when they are opening a new stadium, too, and also have their own TV network.
And it is hard to ignore that Met owner Fred Wilpon lost an exorbitant amount in Bernie Madoff's Ponzi scheme and the Mets' new stadium is named after a financially troubled bank. The Mets might not have the dough necessary to fire back and create a greater excitement around the team.
Without Teixeira, the Yankee lineup might have been good enough, especially if Jorge Posada and Hideki Matsui bounced back from injury, and Robinson Cano honored his skills fully. But if that didn't happen and/or there were injuries again, the Yanks were once more going to take a significant nosedive in offensive talent. Teixeira makes them more bulletproof to an offensive snooze.
He also should make it easier — if the Yanks decide to go this way — to emphasize defense in center with either Melky Cabrera or Brett Gardner.
Manny Ramirez never made sense for the Yankees. He is one of the great hitters ever. But he was another guy who was going to hurt their defense. He was going to be another guy well beyond prime age. He was going to be someone who would challenge authority at a time when manager Joe Girardi does not have a firm hold on the clubhouse. Teixeira conversely is a disciplined kid from a military family who will not have trouble with Girardi's no sweets in the clubhouse edicts.