Breaking up is hard to do
I’ve been a casual baseball fan all my life. I enjoyed going to the games, and I liked seeing that the Cubs had won, but I didn’t really pledge my devotion to any one team.
Until April 16, 2005. That was the night I fell in love with baseball, the Texas Rangers and Mark Teixeira. Wait. Reverse that — Mark Teixeira, the Texas Rangers and baseball. Tex started it all.
Although the end of his tenure as Rangers #23 has been coming for awhile, my heart still predictably broke today when the trade news broke on ESPN that he was headed for Atlanta.
I’m not going to lie. I shed a few tears. More than a few. Good thing I have an office to myself in the mornings. People would probably ask me who died. How can I explain that no one died, but that a little piece of my heart did? They wouldn’t understand. It’s just a game. He’s just a player. It’s just business. I understand all that, but that doesn’t make it hurt any less.
The departure of Mark Teixeira is like the end of a long relationship, where you suddenly decide you’re going different directions and need to part ways. You know you’ll still be friends, but you just can’t be together anymore. And, for awhile, it’s going to be hard to be friends. You don’t want to see each other while you’re out and about. And you certainly don’t want to see them with anyone new. However amicable the split, it’s always painful.
These last few months have been tumultuous, and Mark has said some hurtful things, but I’m going to choose to remember the good times. And Mark has given me plenty. He’s made so many great plays over there at first base and and had some offensively spectacular nights. I’ll never forget how proud I was when he participated in his first All-Star Game, wearing a Rangers uniform and hitting a big home run for the American League team.
Yes, I will miss this two-time Gold Glover, perennial offensive star and all-around great guy. He was as important to the Dallas-Fort Worth community as he was to the Rangers organization and fans. I hope Atlanta appreciates what is coming their way.
Although I will likely avoid watching many Braves games in the coming months (seeing Tex in something other than Rangers blue and red is just not something I’m prepared for yet), I will always be a big fan of Mark Teixeira. I owe him that much for all he’s given me by bringing me into a love of baseball.
I can’t devote this much space to Tex and not mention Ron Mahay, the other guy going to Atlanta with Tex. He may not have played as integral a role in my baseball fandom, but he’s still one of my guys. He had a rough year last year, but he’s sparkled this year. And he has one of the most gorgeous families I’ve ever seen. He will certainly be missed in the bullpen, and I will continue to root for him wherever he ends up (just as I still cheer for his fellow departed bullpen brothers, Brian Shouse and John Wasdin).
So, farewell Tex and Mahay. I’m sure our paths will cross again someday. Best wishes, always.
And, as is customary with all break-ups, I’m sure glad I have some fudge brownie ice cream waiting for me at home tonight. I’m going to need it.
mlblogsdiamondgirl
Sad… condolences from a person who–as a Marlins fan–understands this feeling (and the need for pints of Haagen Dazs) all too well.
http://gamefish.mlblogs.com
Hey I feel ya! I hate watching favorite players leave. It kind of comes with the territory in MLB baseball. Tex was actually a Georgia Tech grad so we had him leave Atlanta once already. Now he’s coming home! You’re getting a GREAT player in Saltalamacchia. We (my wife and I) really hate to see him go. He was quickly becoming a fan fav around here. In my opinion it’s an all around good trade.
JB in ATL
http://atlbraves.mlblogs.com
I know how you feel. For me, in the next few weeks (at least) all those country break up songs are going to be about Tex. I’ve been preparing for this for months, but we still lost a guy who has been one of our three captains. I thought two years ago, Tex would play his entire career in a Ranger uniform. Unfortunatly, I was wrong. And it pains me even more that we got so little out of the Braves for Tex. The bright side is we now have Jarrod Saltalamacchia to play catcher or 1st – a guy I really like… but that’s about it. 3 Minor League prospects… good ones, but not what we needed. Chalk up another missed opportunity for Tom Hicks and Jon Daniels. Goodbye, Tex. We’ll miss you, bud. I’ll try to enjoy watching you on TBS with the Braves… here’s hoping you get the world series ring you want.
Kelly – Thanks for the support. I know you know how I feel as a Marlins fan.
Jaq – Good to hear good things about Saltalamacchia. In keeping with the “break-up” scenario, I’m sure he’s great, but I’m just not ready to start thinking about other players yet. Take care of Tex and Mahay.
Lonestar – So funny you should mention the breakup songs thing. The country station I listen to at work played three appropriate songs back-to-back right after I learned of the trade — “What Hurts the Most,” “Brokenheartsville” and “Teardrops on my Guitar.” So funny. Like you, I’ve been preparing for this for months as well, but I still wasn’t ready. I’m going to miss him tons. I’m not going to fail Hicks and Daniels on this just yet. It’s too early to tell what’ll really happen with these players.
Yeah, I’m never gonna listen to Miranda Lambert’s “Getting Ready” without thinking of losing Tex this way.
But hey on the bright side, Jarrod Saltalamacchia is a guy I really like – he’s reputed to be one of the best young hitters in the game… and he has the longest name in baseball history. Salty could be a guy Rangers fans will come to know and love in the coming years – lets hope so.
I want you to know that my wife got into baseball because of Tex as well, that’s kind of interesting, but “Salty” looks like he is going to fit in to the Rangers pretty good. So like every break up there is a new relationship waiting to blossom after every old one, and you never know, this one may be the one. Tex did some good things for the Rangers, but it was time to go.