Want a fresh, piping-hot reason to hate the Yankees?
I've got one for you. Mark Teixeira, whose batting average has dipped into Brendan Harris territory, has opened a huge lead over Justin Morneau at first base in All-Star voting. This is the most confusing development in America since a certain television show seemingly based on science fiction, mythology, sociology and literary history was resolved with an episode dedicated to hugging and kissing.
Over the course of their careers, Morneau and Teixeira have been similar players -- productive power hitters who have become excellent first basemen. This year, though, there has been no comparison. Teixeira has slumped, while Morneau has reestablished himself as one of the elite players in the game.
After walking in the first inning on Tuesday night against the Yankees, Morneau had reached in 13 of his previous 15 plate appearances. Entering the game, he led the American League in average (.363), on-base percentage (.497) and slugging percentage (.701). While playing in a ballpark that has robbed him of at least a handful of extra-base hits, he had produced 11 homers and 34 RBI.
Tuesday, he drew a walk in his first plate appearance. In his second, he lifted a towering fly to right that died on the warning track. In the Metrodome that ball would have caromed off or crested the baggie.
Earlier in the season, in a game against the White Sox, Morneau hit a ball as hard as he has in his career, and it died in deep center.
Does that bother him?
"Yeah," he said. "I mean, we're a team with a lot of experienced, quality hitters, and you want to be able to feel like we can hit that big three-run homer when we need it. This team is built around that.