I caught up with Mark Teixeira in the Braves clubhouse just before batting practice. He is a pretty intense person and while he may come off as a bit short below, that’s just how he it -- succinct and to the point. He also seems like a really nice guy and he was gracious enough to take time before he had to go out for BP to talk with me.
Martin Gandy: How did you spend your off-season?
Mark Teixeira: Working out, hitting, running, doing all the thing to get me ready for the season.
MG: Do you work on any particular part of your game?
MT: No I’m just working on getting everything better, everything tuned up and ready for the season.
MG: How would you assess your 2007 season?
MT: Successful -- I wish we would have made the playoffs, but it’s a good learning experience for this year and it makes us hungrier.
MG: How was it being back in Atlanta, I know you went to school here at Tech?
MT: It’s great, you know, I’m seeing a lot of friends and family that I don’t get to see a lot, and being back in a city that I know and with a team that has a chance to win.
MG: Making any long term plans in Atlanta?
MT: No, no long term plans anywhere right now.
MG: That was a good dodge. Describe yourself as a hitter?
MT: O, I let other people describe me as a hitter -- you can ask someone else that question.
MG: Are you big on video of yourself to help you work on your swing?
MT: Yeah, there’s always ways to improve, and I think that watching video and getting scouting reports are always good -- they are always successful ways to make you a better hitter.
MG: What are you looking at when you watch video?
MT: Just positive reinforcement.
MG: Last questions, what is your favorite baseball interview cliché that you like to say?
MT: Um, "taking it one game at a time."
MG: How often do you use that?
MT: It’s true, it’s a cliché but it’s true, and especially in baseball, that’s the only way to do it. If you’re worried about 162 games in April it’s going to be a long season for you.
MG: Thanks a lot, I appreciate it.
MT: All right, no problem.