Mark Teixeira has resisted the idea for years, but after hitting a career-low .248 last season, the Yankees first baseman is considering adding bunting to his game.
“One thing I noticed is that my average with men on base was good, but when no one’s on base, it wasn’t,’’ Teixeira said. “So when no one is on base, if they’re playing a big shift, I may lay down some bunts this year.”
The idea contradicts everything the slugger has said — and his contract would indicate — since teams have altered their defense against him, so it remains to be seen if Teixeira will follow through.
“I’ve been so against it my entire career,” said Teixeira, who was honored at the Thurman Munson Awards Dinner at the Grand Hyatt in Midtown last night, which raised money for AHRC, benefitting people who have intellectual and developmental disabilities. “If I can beat the shift that way, it’s important. … I have to adapt. I’ve been frustrated and finally given in.”
But he knows it won’t be easy, especially in The Bronx.
“That right-field porch is so enticing at Yankee Stadium,” said Teixeira, who hasn’t bunted in a game since he was a freshman in high school. “I’m not going to complain about hitting 39 home runs, but obviously I’d love to bring my average up. We’ll see.”
Teixeira said he is excited about adding right hander Michael Pineda, even at the expense of losing Jesus Montero.
“Montero has a chance to be special, but so does Pineda,” Teixeira said. “That’s what we’re banking on.”
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General manager Brian Cashman, who answered questions from fans at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, said he was comfortable with A.J. Burnett in the rotation.
“This year we have a whole bunch of starting pitchers, knock on wood, and so we’ll see how it all shakes out,” Cashman said, according to reports.
Cashman also hired former Cubs general manager Jim Hendry as a special assignment scout yesterday. Hendry was fired as general manager in Chicago in August after guiding the Cubs to the playoffs three times. The Yankees also named Steve Donohue as head trainer, replacing the retired Gene Monahan.
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R.A. Dickey said he knows what the Mets are up against after another rough offseason.
“Hopefully it won’t be dysfunctional and we’ll kind of [come] together and do it,” said Dickey, who also was honored last night. “But we’re in a tough division, and we have to be honest about it. We’ve got to play well.
“We’ve got to play hard, but we’ve got to be honest about where we are, and that’s the only way I see us getting better, is doing that.”