Move Over Ryan Howard – This year’s number one pick will be Mark Teixeira

The signing of Mark Teixiera with the New York Yankees was a big hit for Brian Cashman. Mark Teixeira is one of the most complete first basemen in baseball. Teixeira will be 29 years old this year and is on the rise of his most productive years. The number one pick in most leagues in recent years has been Ryan Howard of the Philadelphia Phillies or Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees. If I get the number one pick this year, it will be Mark Teixeira of the New York Yankees. Why? The last 54 games that he played with LA Angels were very impressive. If the 54 games he played with the Los Angeles Angels are any indication of what 2009 will be like, Teixeira should be the deciding factor in getting the Yankees back to the playoffs in 2009.

Let’s take a look at those last 54 games that Mark Teixeira played with the Angels in 2009. Had he played all 162 games with the Angels last year, Teixeira would most likely have had 42 home runs, 172 RBIs and most likely averaged . batting .358 with 207 hits and would have only hit 92 times, 107 fewer than Ryan Howard. Last year, Ryan Howard had 48 home runs, 146 RBIs and a .251 batting average for the Los Angeles Angels who had a great offense and a great chance of getting anywhere in the playoffs, which he was excited about. . It was also a contract year, so that might have been a factor in his game as well, but I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt.

Teixeira’s move to the Angels last year was a positive. He had gone from a team, the Atlanta Braves, who are now languishing in the cesspool of medicine, to the Los Angeles Angels, who had excellent offense and had an excellent chance of getting anywhere in the playoffs, so that I was excited. It was also a contract year, so that might have been a factor in his game as well, but I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt.

For leagues that also take defense into account, Mark Teixeira will be an undisputed favorite. In 2008 he had a .997 fielding percentage. Teixeira made just 5 errors last year and was third in converting double plays with 130. So if you factor in his fantasy league fielding stats, Mark Teixeira should be his No. 1 pick. The New York Yankees have one of the best infields in baseball. He has won the Gold Glove twice.

Playing for the New York Yankees in 2009 should help boost Mark Teixeira’s offensive numbers. He will hit anywhere from 3rd to 5th in the batting order. Mark Teixeira should be able to wait on his pitches, and he’s a very selective hitter with just 92 strikeouts last year. For leagues with strikeouts remaining, this should be a positive factor. Power hitters are known for their strikeouts.