Whenever he has become somewhat displeased, Mark Teixeira has not been one to keep his mouth shut throughout his New York Yankees tenure.
Whether it is being thrown at, being uninformed, or just starting some unneeded back-and-forth, Mark Teixeira has had an obvious tendency of letting a moment get the best of him.
Judging from last night, not all of his arguments are actually warranted. Throughout his New York Yankees career, some altercations have merely developed from a comical standpoint.
SEE ALSO: Mark Teixeira Blasts Go-Ahead Three-Run Shot (Video)
Anyone with a general knowledge of baseball is familiar with his injury history. Fittingly enough, each time he has loud mouthed an opposition or one of his own, his health has been on the line.
Now, as a struggling 36-year-old with the same issues, health is at a premium.
So, in lieu of the recent Subway Series chatter, let’s take a look at some of the prime Mark Teixeira meltdowns which have highlighted his otherwise stellar big league career.
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5. June 2, 2009 — Mark Teixeira vs. Vicente Padilla
Well, let’s say there is no love lost between these two. Throughout Padilla’s career, he was known as a guy who did not hesitate to come inside. Intentional or not, he made his presence known.
Teixeira did not necessary like his style, leading to numerous earfuls from the Yankee first baseman dating back to his time with the Texas Rangers.
SEE ALSO: Jacob Lindgren To Undergo Tommy John Surgery (Report)
With that said, when Tex stepped up for an early June at-bat in only his third month in the Bronx, Padilla came inside. The big switch-hitter, in his normal fashion, took exception to the hit-by-pitch.
Evidently shouting at the right-hander as he slowly walked to first, he felt his voice needed to be heard. Thankfully for both teams, this one did not get out of hand.
Meltdown #4
4. August 3, 2016 — Mark Teixeira vs. Steven Matz
The fourth greatest meltdown of his Yankee career was witnessed within the past 24 hours. After blasting a second inning three-run homer to give the Yanks a 6-3 lead, Teixeira stepped back up against Steven Matz, who did not have any sort of command of the strike zone.
Coming inside with a four-seam fastball, Matz plunked Tex just below the knee. Battling permanent knee troubles all year, the slugger did not take it too well.
Viewing it as an intentional offering, he pleaded his case while Mets catcher Rene Rivera attempted to hold him back. The benches and the bullpens did, in fact, clear out. However, no physical contact was made between the two sides.
This was just the start of an eventful night for Teixeira. Later on, he toyed with reliever Hansel Robles while standing on second base, which directly impacted the right-hander’s mindset and effectiveness.
Meltdown #3
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3. September 8, 2012 — Mark Teixeira vs. Orioles
In the heat of a pennant race, the Yankees were faced with a meaningful game with their divisional rivals, the Baltimore Orioles. With the Yankees trailing 5-3 in the ninth inning, Jim Johnson, Baltimore’s closer, surrendered three straight singles to load the bases with no outs.
After a force out which scored a run and left it up to Teixeira, he banged into a 4-6-3 double play with runners on the corners to end the game. Or did he?
With a headlong dive into first, he was evidently safe, which would have tied the ballgame. After the blown call, both he and first base coach Mick Kelleher were absolutely livid. With today’s methodology involving instant replay, there would have been extra innings.
Teixeira remained livid during his postgame interview:
“I’m pretty sure the game was televised, so, you know, everyone saw what it was … It was a terrible call. It happens … Sometimes, you wonder if the umpires just want to get out of there. They don’t want you to make a comeback; they want you to go home. Those were terrible calls.”
The questionable matchup tied the Yanks and O’s atop the AL East. Fortunately, for karma’s sake, the Yankees prevailed as AL East champions and defeated the Orioles in five games in the ALDS.
Meltdown #2
2. July 27, 2015 — Mark Teixeira vs. Joe Espada
In a game the Yankees were handily controlling, third base coach Joe Espada waved Mark Teixeira around as if he would score easily on a base hit to center field.
However, Tex, who came home rather leisurely upon indication, was cut down at the plate and had to make a last-ditch sliding effort.
Immediately turning around and throwing his hands in the air, the first baseman made it known that his third base coach messed up. Not only did he cost the team an out, but he risked injury to an ever-so-fragile body.
Once he returned to the dugout, he uncharacteristically flung a cooler out of pure frustration. Yes, this was quite the meltdown over a play which initially seemed harmless.
In addition, he had no problem calling out Espada postgame:
“I can get hurt not expecting a play at the plate … There’s just a lot of reasons why that can’t happen … I’m sure it won’t ever happen again.”
Top Mark Teixeira Meltdown
1. June 10, 2011 — Mark Teixeira vs. Fausto Carmona
In his second at-bat which directly followed a long first inning home run, Fausto Carmona — in an absolutely uncalled for fashion — went up and in with a pitch that clearly intended to drill Teixeira in the noggin. In this case, Tex had every right to be infuriated.
Hurling one up and in following a home run? Bush league.
As he grew increasingly heated, the benches cleared, the players converged, the two managers — Joe Girardi and Manny Acta — exchanged some loud words, and everybody had to be held back.
In one of the more nonsensical forms of pitching, Carmona showed how low-class he was. Fittingly enough, the man who did not know how to stay elegant on the mound was concealing his identity.
Thank you, Roberto Hernandez.
Emmanuel Berbari covers the New York Yankees & Major League Baseball for ESNY. Interact with him and view his daily work by “liking” his facebook page. He invites you to email any questions, comments, or concerns as well.