MLB

Yankees sluggers even closer than 3 and 4

TAMPA — When you win a champion ship, the question is how do you get better? No team has won consecutive World Series since the Yankees won three in a row from 1998-2000.

To that end, Teixeira made a trip to Miami in early January to spend a few days with Alex Rodriguez and hitting coach Kevin Long.

Teixeira, one of Rodriguez’s closest friends on the team, wanted to strengthen the bond with Rodriguez and improve himself as a ballplayer, working out and hitting with Rodriguez.

“I’ll be 30 this year, Alex is going to be 34,” Teixeira said yesterday. “We want to be great into our late 30s and into our 40s. Alex and I are hoping that we’re going to be here for a long time and winning a lot of championships together.”

That is the challenge. Teixeira and Rodriguez are to the Yankees what Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz were to the Red Sox when they were winning titles.

“Everyone knows his work ethic,” Teixeira said. “But he put me through a workout that I was tired for about a week, but what I loved is that he invited all the kids that worked out at Miami [the U], the minor league players, back to his house.

“He fed ’em, then we hit for two hours in his batting cage.”

Teixeira got to see Rodriguez on his home turf and was impressed.

It’s easy to criticize Rodriguez for the mistakes he has made, but Teixeira saw a side of the slugger that really hit home.

“What he does for that community,” the first baseman said. “You walk around the Miami facilities and everyone is, ‘Hey Alex.’ He gives everyone a hug.

“His name’s on the stadium. It’s inspiring because when I’m in the offseason, I like to get away. I like to be by myself a little bit, but he just said ‘Hey, guys, c’mon in.’

“The whole time we were there, he was talking baseball,” Teixeira added. “He was teaching kids how to work, how to prepare, how to hit certain pitchers, how to go into spring training.”

Said Rodriguez of the visit: “We had such a good time. It’s nice to be able to share with your teammates in the offseason, for him to come down and check in was great.”

The way Teixeira sees it, his visit was something that only can make the Yankees stronger. It’s not just about talent, the Yankees stayed together as a team last year on their way to their 27th World Series Championship.

“The family atmosphere that we had was so important to us winning,” Teixeira said. This sure isn’t The Bronx Zoo anymore.

After yesterday’s workout, manager Joe Girardi talked about how important it is for a lineup to come together. “You learn to rely on your buddy in front of you or behind you,” he said.

Teixeira batted third in 154 games last season. Rodriguez batted fourth in the 122 of 123 games he played. They combined for 69 home runs. They will be in the same spots this year. They are the heart of the Yankees lineup and they must produce in a big way for the Yankees to succeed.

It’s all about the Tex and Alex Show.

A year ago at this time Rodriguez was apologiz ing for his steroid use. But this is a much different year. “He eats so healthy,” Teixeira said. “That’s how you stay young. You eat healthy and you work hard. What I’ve learned in my career, the more you talk baseball, the more you surround yourself with ballplayers and pick the brains of ev eryone, the better you are. I learned a lot from Chipper Jones, I learned a lot from Alex.”

Now that Teixeira has won one championship with Rodriguez he wants another.

“We went out to lunch together a couple days ago,” Teixeira said. “We reflected on the season, what made us good, and, ‘All right, how are we going to get better?’ ”

Perhaps it started with Teixeira’s January visit.

kevin.kernan@nypost.com