Red Sox Children's Hospital Celebrity Golf Classic

February 5, 2010

On Friday, February 26th, the Boston Red Sox will once again lend their time and talents to raise awareness and funds for The Children's Hospital of Southwest Florida.

The tournament will take place on the championship golf courses of The Forest Country Club in Fort Myers. Individual golf slots are available for $300 per player.

The Sox "Tee Party" will be held at the Country Club on Thursday, February 25th from 6 to 9 p.m. Tickets are just $35.

The "Tee Party" allows guests to enjoy cocktails and hors d'oeuvres and to bid on sports memorabilia items, trips, game tickets and restaurant gift certificates. This year's live auction will include travel and ticket packages to top-notch sporting events including The Masters at Augusta, the opportunity to watch a Red Sox game from the celebrated "Green Monster" seats and the chance to sit atop TD Bank Garden in the "Chairman's Suite" to watch the Celtics vs. the Oklahoma City Thunder. Other featured packages include a luxury cruise and a trip to see a taping of the popular Rachael Ray Show in New York City.

The final celebrity player list for the tournament will not be released until the day before the tournament, but past participants have included fan favorites Jason Varitek, Tim Wakefield, Josh Beckett, Jon Lester, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Jonathan Papelbon and Red Sox legend Luis Tiant.

To participate in The Boston Red Sox Children's Hospital Celebrity Classic, or to purchase tickets to the "Tee-Party":

Send an e-mail to BostonGolf@LeeMemorial.org or...

Call the Lee Memorial Health System Foundation office at 239-985-3550.

Catch Tek's Workout...

January 25, 2010 - February 1, 2010 - Update (see below)

You can check out a behind-the-scenes video of Tek's offseason workout and nutrition routine with his trainer and personal assistant, Leslie Eddins at RedSox.com!

The video was shot at Tek's home near Atlanta.

Click on the site's video library here to view. **

The segment is also featured on the latest episode of NESN's Red Sox Report, which re-airs tomorrow (Tuesday, Jan 26th) at 5:00pm & 10:30pm, and on Wednesday (Jan 27th) at 9:30pm.

For other dates and times for the Red Sox Report, click here.

*Thank you to Luann for the heads-up on the video!

**If the featured video changes, just type in "Varitek" in the video search to locate.

UPDATE: The segment can also be seen on NESN's Red Sox Hot Stove on Monday, February 1st at 10:30 pm and Tuesday, February 2nd at 1pm and again at 5:30pm.

"I'm Going To Play Hard And Go Out And Do My Job"

January 20, 2010

From Jason's phone interview with CSNNE's Chris Collins last night:

On whether it's been hard to accept his new role as a back-up -

"I already had to kind of accept it last year. I think the last two months I didn't really play very much. So you know, it is what it is. I have to do the things I have to do to help this team win."

On whether it was difficult to adjust to playing a total of 28 games during the last two months of the season -

"No. I think initally you go through the adjustments, but it's understandable. At that time we were making our team click. We needed an extra bat in the lineup, and David [Ortiz] started swinging the bat really well, and we had to put the best lineup out there."

On whether there have been any "promises" or conversations about the amount of games he will catch this season -

"No. Things have been quiet. They tend to leave me alone and allow me to prepare and get ready for the season. I'll be prepared to handle more than I'll probably end up playing...but we'll get into more finite roles and those type of things when we actually get started. "

On whether fans can expect to see him come in as a late-inning replacement, and whether that would sit well with him -

"I have no idea what the role is at this point. It's not my job to decide what the role is. It's my job to prepare and be prepared. It's Tito's and Theo's job to decide what roles we all fall into."

On his relationship with both Terry Francona and Theo Epstein "these days" -

"It's the same as it's always been. I mean it doesn't change because your team gets better with an added player. It hasn't changed."

On whether he thinks Victor Martinez is ready to assume the duties of an everyday catcher -

"Whether he's catching, playing first base, DHing, catching 140 games, or whatever he ends up doing, he IS extremely valuable...if he can stick it out and grind it out back there then we'll be just fine."

On how much he will help Victor Martinez this season -

"We laid an extreme amount of that groundwork last year. Whatever way I could help I was going to help. Whether it be just little things -- from discussing things to being a good teammate, a teammate that plays the same position -- in any way that I can help, I will."

On whether he still feels that he has the same "voice" as the Captain of the team even though he is no longer a starting player -

"(laughing) I think my voice now goes to complete mute. And, um, you all of a sudden go from a level of respect to absolutely none at all."

Mr. Collins laughs nervously at Jason's answer, as if he doesn't know what to say to that, but then Jason finally let's him off the hook -

"I'm being sarcastic! (starts laughing again). You know, whether I have a decal on my jersey or not, I'll handle my business the same way. I will be a good teammate. I'm going to play hard and go out and do my job. Does that change all of a sudden now that I'm not playing 4 out of 5, or 9 out of 10? Does that all of sudden change? I'd be shooting myself in the foot if it did."

On whether he's stil looking forward to the season given his new role as a backup -

"You know, this could be a good change for me physically and mentally. And it could cut down on the number of 'dog days'. It could bode well for me and even extend my career."

On whether he thinks being more "rested" will help him with his hitting -

"I honestly don't know (laughs). I'm going to try and be good. that's all I know. I don't know what difference it's going to make. I'm not going to put expectations on myself because of the different role. I'm going to be prepared and give what I have."

On Jonathan Papelbon as the Red Sox closer (and his new deal) -

"We've seen it around there, when you don't have a means to an end, when you don't have somebody to lean on to be your closer. It sets the bullpen up for putting people, before that, in the right situations to allow them just to get to Pap. Just to get to somebody and to be able to handle that is special in itself. We wouldn't have won a championship and been parts of another and been in playoffs if it wasn't for Pap. It's extremely well deserved on his part and he's been a valuable teammate of mine for a long time."

On what he sees in Daniel Bard's future -

"I think Bard has a chance to be a great pitcher for our team and for this organization, period. What role, we don't know. He's still developing, he's still going to get better. If he ends up throwing harder - that will be utterly amazing. He's a great young man and he's a pleasure to play with."

On the "run prevention" philosphy of Terry Francona and Theo Epstein this off-season -

"I think our pitching staff got better. Definitely. You add Lackey into that and you give us a rotation that has our youth with another year of experience, and then you have a horse like Beckett...that's going to win you games in the long haul. Then you have a means to the end with Pap? That's what going to win you lots of games. If you're not going to beat somebody 15-12, you better be able to beat them, 2-1."

On how his workouts are going with spring training right around the corner -

"They are going great. I've had a very productive winter, was able to get things started early in November and I've just been plugging along, being a dad, doing my training and getting ready for the next one."

On how many more years he has "in him" -

"Ah, we'll see after this year. I was able to get further in my training earlier because I had a little less playing time late so I was able to recover quicker. I don't know, we'll see how the body adapts and maybe this will be a good thing for me and I can play another ten..."

On whether he could see himself playing in another uniform -

"I would think that would be something that is completely out of my hands. Which is part of why I am where I'm at because I wanted to do everything I could possibly do in my negotiations to allow me to continue to wear that uniform. It might not be my choice before long."

(the above was transcribed by me as accurately as possible from the interview)

A Look Back At Those No-Hitters

January 16, 2010

From Jeffrey Brown, of the popular Red Sox blog Soxfan1 in his series "The Red Sox Top 20 Games from 2000-2009, Parts I & II" :

No Red Sox pitcher had thrown a no-hitter in more than 35 years, yet in the first ten years of the 21st century four BoSox hurlers accomplished the feat. All of the games were caught by Jason Varitek, who became the first backstop in history to catch that many no-hitters. After Nomo’s gem, he declared that it was "a catcher's dream" to be behind the plate for a no-hitter.

Amazingly, he did it FOUR times in the just-concluded decade.

In his Red Sox debut on Apr. 4, 2001, RHP Hideo Nomo shut the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards in a 3-0 victory, striking out 11 hitters and walking 3 in the game.

On Apr. 27, 2002, sinkerballer Derek Lowe threw the first no-no at Fenway Park since Dave Morehead no-hit the Cleveland Indians on Sept. 16, 1965. Lowe beat the Tampa Bay Rays, 10-0, allowing only one base-runner (a third inning walk).

In his second major league start, Clay Buchholz threw a no-hitter against the Baltimore Orioles on Sept. 1, 2007, at Fenway Park. He became only the third pitcher since 1900 to throw a no-no in his first or second big league start (Bobo Hollomon threw one in his St Louis Browns debut in 1953 and Wilson Alvarez turned the trick in his second start for the Chicago White Sox in 1991).

On May 19, 2008, Jon Lester threw the 18th no-hitter in Red Sox history when he beat the Kansas City Royals, 7-0, in a 130-pitch effort at Fenway Park. After the game, the southpaw said: "If you all saw my bullpen today, you would have thought I wouldn't have gotten out of the first inning."

He owed some of the credit for the feat to center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury, who made a diving catch to rob Jose Guillen of a base hit in the fourth inning.

If you'd like to check out the rest of Mr. Brown's list and read his other entries? Click here.

If you'd like to read more about the No-Hitters, click here, here, here, and here.

*Thank you to Mr. Brown for allowing me to re-post from his blog!

Quote of the Weekend:

"Have to believe that Jason Varitek may enjoy the season a bit more knowing his body won't be crushed all season long. I don't think fans realize just what he went through on a daily basis to play every day the past few years." -- From the blog "Hit and Run" by WBZ-TV sportswriter Dan Roche.

John Farrell On Tek's New Role

January 13, 2010

From an article by MLB.com's Ian Browne today:

For the first time in more than a decade, the Red Sox will arrive in Fort Myers, Fla., with someone other than Jason Varitek slotted as the starting catcher.

It is a situation Varitek says he is ready for, and one that could be a perfect setup for the Red Sox. Not many teams will have a backup catcher with such thorough knowledge of a pitching staff and leadership abilities.

"Any time you've got Jason Varitek in the mix, you know there's going to be quality work and leadership provided to the staff," said Red Sox pitching coach John Farrell. "The one thing that 'Tek did when Victor came over, even though it was a different role for him, he was more than willing and able to help Victor through some things from a catcher's perspective that he could provide in a very selfless way."

The staff genuinely enjoys working with both Martinez and Varitek. They are both willing to sacrifice their bodies to block the plate and are sturdy and steady receivers.

All in all, though, the Red Sox feel good about their catching tandem.

"I think if you look at some of the best players who have played this game, they play it for all the right reasons, and that's with respect and they recognize fully that they wear the same uniform," said Farrell. "How do you help one another in times of need? Both were willing to do that, and we expect the same to continue here in 2010."

To read the entire article, click here.

Also Today:

From Don Orsillo's mailbag at NESN.com:

Q: "How many games do you think Jason Varitek will play this season? What are some ways Jason Varitek can contribute to the team if he’s not playing regularly?"

Don Orsillo: "That's tough to say, and Victor’s health will play a large role in that. I would think Varitek would catch one of the starters regularly to keep him fresh and in a rotation. I would also fully expect him to start the day games after night games and some of the other obvious areas for backup catchers. I think what he will bring off the field will be what he does best, and that’s help devise game plans for pitchers and how to deal with hitters. Victor was extremely appreciative of all that Jason gave him in assistance in learning the staff on the fly last year, despite taking his playing time."

To read Mr. Orsillo's complete mailbag, click here.

*Thank you to Sterling for the heads-up!

Talkin' Tek...

January 11, 2010

From an interview with Daniel Bard conducted by Robert Woodward of "Under the Radar":

UTR: "You have one of the most respected catchers' in the game, Jason Varitek, as your catcher. What kind of impact did he have with you on settling in Boston?"

Daniel Bard: "It's nice to have a catcher that you can fully trust behind the plate. Tek is one of the smartest players I've ever been around at any position, and on top of that, the guy studies opposing hitters with the focus of Woody studying for finals at Carolina (that was a joke). But seriously, his brain is like an encyclopedia of at-bats and scouting reports that goes back more than a decade. He remembers everything. To have a guy like that, who's caught four no hitters, calling pitches for you, well I'll just say it helps you feel a lot of confidence in what pitches you're throwing."

Mr. Woodward (Woody) is a minor league pitcher with the San Diego Padres' organization selected in the 2007 draft from the University of North Carolina.

You can read his blog and the rest of his interview with Daniel here.

Also Today:

Lo Duca for Tek?

According to CSN-New England's Joe Haggerty:

"The Red Sox tossed around the idea of trading for third baseman Adrian Beltre prior to the 2003 season, when a four-player deal was discussed with Los Angeles that included Shea Hillenbrand and future captain Jason Varitek heading to Chavez Ravine for Beltre and Paul LoDuca. Imagine that."

To read the entire article, click here.

Baseball Initially takes a quick look at Tek's fascinating career:

"Jason Varitek has had a fascinating career. He played in a Little League World Series, a College World Series and a Major League World Series, and in the Olympics, too. He’s one of the few players to be drafted twice in the first round. He was part of one of the most famously bad trades in major-league history – the Mariners packaged him with Derek Lowe in order to pry Heathcliff Slocumb away from the Red Sox. He has caught four no-hitters by four different pitchers, and he was captain of the Red Sox team that broke the curse. He's a career .260 hitter who draws some walks and hits his share of doubles and home runs, and he has the rep as a great handler of pitchers."

And a quote of note that I somehow missed...

"If need be, my role changes. Most importantly, I'm here. I have the opportunity to come back and to be in Boston." -- Jason, on returning to the Red Sox in 2010 (from an article by the Union Leader's Brian MacPherson).

ESPN's "Top 10 Sox of the Decade"

December 29, 2009

The selections of Gordon Edes at ESPNBoston.com today -

1. David Ortiz, Designated Hitter

2. Manny Ramirez, Outfielder

3. Pedro Martinez, Starting Pitcher

4. Jason Varitek, Catcher: Played in more games than any Sox player in the decade (1,208), was 3rd in hits (1,045) and 3rd in HRs (148). Offense was secondary to his handling of pitchers, who swore he made a difference. The A-Rod facial altered the course of a rivalry.

5. Curt Schilling, Starting Pitcher

6. Josh Beckett, Starting Pitcher

7. Kevin Youkilis, First Baseman

8. Johnny Damon, Outfielder

9. Jonathan Papelbon, Closer

10. Dustin Pedroia, Second Baseman

Click here to read his comments for each player (scroll down to today's date).

Mr. Edes then gives you the opportunity to rank your selections for the "Top Sox of the Decade"!

To make your selections, click here.

*Thank you to my friend Caelin for the heads-up!

Also Today:

Terry likes Tek right where he is...

From Terry Francona's mailbag today at NESN.com:

Q: "Has Jason Varitek been approached about a coaching role with the Red Sox? This seems ideal, considering how well he handles a pitching staff."

Terry: "We are still happy having him on our team as a player but I agree he exhibits the skills to be a solid coach or manager when his playing days are done. It is probably not a coincidence that a lot of catchers go on to be coaches and managers."

To check out Terry's complete mailbag column, click here.

NESN Red Sox Report - David Ortiz Celebrity Golf Classic

December 21, 2009 (Update - see below for link to video)

You can catch all the highlights of The David Ortiz Celebrity Golf Classic in a special Red Sox Report airing this week on NESN.

The show chronicles the weekend's activities (held December 3-6, 2009 at Cap Cana in the Dominican Republic), including the welcome reception, pairings party, golf tournament and awards gala. There will be exclusive interviews from David's Red Sox teammates, baseball superstars and friends such as Pedro Martinez, sports legends Bobby Orr, Alonzo Mourning, Andres Galarraga, Jim Rice, John Havlicek and many more.

The show is guest hosted by David Ortiz and includes teammates Jason Varitek, Mike Lowell, Tim Wakefield, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jon Lester, Daniel Bard, and Clay Buchholz. Other MLB players included Alex Rodriguez, Pedro Martinez, Robinson Cano, Ubaldo Jimenez, and Placido Polanco. Others attending the event included MLB Network commentator Sean Casey; Red Sox manager Terry Francona, Houston Astros manager Brad Mills, actors Jeffrey Donovan, Rachel Dratch and Sam Page, pop singer Joanna “JoJo” Levesque; and sports legends Bobby Orr, Jim Rice, Luis Tiant, John Havlicek and Alonzo Mourning.

In addition to coverage of the celebrity golf classic, the show will also feature one-of-a-kind footage of David Ortiz visiting Cedimat Hospital in Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic and interviews with family members of children who are receiving critical care courtesy of the David Ortiz Children's Fund.

This special Red Sox Report will air today at 5:00 p.m.; December 22nd at 1:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m., and 11:30 p.m.; December 23rd at 4:30 p.m.; and December 27th at 10:30 p.m.

You can check out a few photos from the Golf Classic here.

UPDATE:

If you don't have access to NESN, you can check out a full-length video of the Special here on MLB.com...Tek makes a brief first appearance at about 11:03 minutes into the video and then in few more shots, including a short interview on the golf course.

*Thanks Susie!

Tek-nically Speaking...

December 18, 2009

...and skating!

From ESPN.com today:

Boston Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek, who turns 38 one week into the 2010 season, struck a positive tone while discussing his transition from everyday starter to a backup player next season, saying he got used to the role in the two months after the trade for Victor Martinez and is fine with it.

Varitek acknowledged a couple of health issues he battled last season, including a bulging disk in his neck and a broken big toe he sustained while blocking a ball against the Anaheim Angels, on top of dealing with a partial labrum tear in his left shoulder he'd sustained previously. But in typical fashion, he refused to attribute his struggles at the plate last season -- in particular, a second half in which he batted just .157 with 1 home run and 13 RBIs -- to those injuries.

Varitek said he has been working out since the beginning of November and expects to be ready for the start of the season. He is in the last year of his contract with the Red Sox, having exercised a $3 million player option after the Sox declined to trigger the $5 million option they held on his deal, but said he did not know yet whether this would be his last season.

"I've got to listen to my body,'' Varitek said. "Now I feel strong and continuing to get stronger, so I feel really good. And if I'm able to maintain that, I don't know how long I'll play. But if my health is not there, that will be the determining point before anything.''

And from an article written by Ian Browne at MLB.com:

In a way, Varitek has been surprised at how much talk there has been about his upcoming reduced role, since that was pretty much the way things went after Martinez was acquired on July 31.

"Things fell that way kind of the last two months of the season anyway," Varitek said. "My role changed. There's different parts. I handled a lot early, played a lot and handled it in a full-time capacity. But I think that just seeing in a different role, how my body adapts to maybe the less pounding and the less physical grind, it might be a good time for me to transition. I'm preparing as I always do, to be able to handle as much as I can. I'll prepare for a full-time role even though it's dictated another way, and that way if something happens, I'm ready to go."

For those who have observed Varitek for a long time, it should come as no surprise that he doesn't plan on being in smell-the-roses mentality in 2010.

"I think you can reflect back when you're done," Varitek said. "I'm preparing to come out here and get to Spring Training and make sure I win myself a job, and to make sure I'm able to help this team win games. When I'm done and sitting on the couch and doing that full-time, then I can probably reflect more. I'm happy, and always feel fortunate that I've been able to be here and have a career, period."

Yes, Varitek did say that he needs to win a job in Spring Training. This, from the man who has held the title of captain since 2005.

"Everybody does," Varitek said. "I don't think a decal makes a difference. It's an extra letter on a uniform, but I prepare myself to go out there and be ready this spring, and work my way into trying to play at a high level."

Why the skates?

Tek was at Fenway Park for a Celebrity Skate.

He skated with Boston Bruins legends, Bobby Orr, Cam Neely and Ray Bourque, among others as the NHL prepares to get the baseball venue ready for the Winter Classic between the Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers on New Year’s Day.

Hockey was the first sport that Jason played as a kid growing up in Michigan. He played until he was 7 years old and his family moved to Florida, ending his hockey "career".

What did the three hockey Hall of Famers have to say about the catcher on skates?

"I have great respect for Jason," said Bobby Orr. "He handles himself so well and you don't hear him complaining. Last year when they brought in a new catcher, Jason did a great job when he was called upon. He's a good person. I've come to know him and he's a gentleman."

Cam Neely said he admires the Red Sox Captain's contributions to his team over the years. "The thing that's impressive about Jason is his work ethic. How he approaches the game and his leadership. With our fan base, whether it's hockey, football, baseball or basketball, fans want to see guys who are committed, who work hard, who put out an effort, and that's what Jason has done."

Ray Bourque, who has gotten to know Jason through their work with the Celebrities for Charity organization agreed, "He's an incredible player and has had so many great years with the Red Sox," said Bourque. "He really stabilized that position for so many years. You just listen to the pitchers and their thoughts about working with a guy like that says it all right there."

To read the transcript of Tek's conversation with the media today, click here.

To read Ian Browne's complete article, click here.

To watch a video of his interview, click here.

To watch some video footage of Tek on the ice with Bobby Orr, click here.

To see a larger version of the first photo above, click here.

To see a larger version of little Tek - the hockey player, click here.

*Thank you to my friends Caelin, Sterling and Marylin for the heads-up today!

The Manager Question

December 8, 2009

From an interview with MLB managers in the latest issue of Sporting News magazine:

Q: "Which current player will one day make a great manager?"

Ron Washington, Texas Rangers: "Jason Varitek. I've never met a catcher who didn't have a great feel for the game. His day-to-day job -- handling a pitching staff and daily situations with flawlessness -- puts him high on my list."

For the record - Terry Francona was also asked, and his choice was Alex Cora. The Baltimore Orioles' Dave Trembley gave an "honorable mention" to Dustin Pedroia.

The latest issue is on newsstands and in bookstores now.

Speaking of Tek and Terry -

From NESN.com today:

Fan Question: "I have been hearing rumors about who will take on the role of captain after Jason Varitek. I have heard Dustin Pedroia's name several times and not once heard Kevin Youkilis' name. Will Youk be considered for the captain spot when the time comes?"

Terry Francona: "We have never had that conversation. We never had a captain before Jason. I think looking for the next captain (if we even have one) is a little premature with Tek still being here. What is important to us is getting leadership from all of those guys you mentioned."

You can read the rest of Terry's mailbag here.

Also Today:

There's still time to purchase raffle tickets for the chance to win dinner with the Captain!

Help Jason in his efforts to support the Celebrities for Charity Foundation and the many charities CFC assists throughout the year, and in return, you could win this great evening with the man himself.

Tickets start at just $2.00 each and decrease for orders of more than 5 tickets.

Entry deadline is December 15th at 11:00 a.m.

The drawing for the winner will take place later that day!

For more information, see my December 3rd news post below.

To purchase your raffle tickets, click here.

From Cap Cana...

December 6, 2009

From the Boston Herald's Michael Silverman, in his blog this morning:

When Jason Varitek exercised his option last month to return to the Red Sox, he did it with the realization that he would be the backup catcher.

For somebody who has been a fulltime catcher his entire career, the role change could be seen as a tough one, the kind that sometimes become awkward for players whose prime years have passed.

From the way Varitek has looked and sounded the last couple of days at David Ortiz' Celebrity Golf Classic, this is going to be a breeze.

"I'm excited to be back and I'm excited for another season. I'm in a good place," said Varitek yesterday.

Varitek, who turns 38 next April, did not want to go beyond that. In the coming days, he plans to speak to the Boston media to return the many queries he has received since picking up the $3 million option.

To read the rest of Mr. Silverman's blog, click here.

Oh, and did I mention I have a couple of photos? Click here.

The Man Of Few Words...

December 5, 2009

...had even fewer in Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic this weekend!

From the blog of ESPN's Gordon Edes this morning:

A few things picked up at David Ortiz's charity golf tournament while contemplating why baseball's winter meetings couldn't be held in this slice of paradise instead of Indianapolis:

Jason Varitek, who has not commented publicly since the Red Sox declined their $5 million club option on him and he exercised a lesser ($3 million) player option to stay, begged off on saying anything on the matter Friday night, saying he'd prefer to do so in a conference call.

"But it's all good," said Varitek, who will be surrendering the role of everyday catcher to Victor Martinez after an 11-year run interrupted only by a fractured right elbow that limited him to 51 games in 2001.

To read Mr. Edes complete blog, click here.

Dinner with the Captain!

December 3, 2009

Celebrities for Charities presents the "Jason Varitek Captain's Dinner Raffle"!

Would you like the chance to win dinner with the Captain on December 17th in Boston?

The winning ticket holder will receive the following:

-- You and 3 guests will enjoy dinner with Jason on December 17, 2009, in the Greater Boston Area.

-- You and each guest will receive a baseball autographed by Jason.

-- You and each guest may bring up to 2 items to be autographed by Jason.

-- You and each guest will have your photograph take with Jason.

Help Jason in his efforts to support the Celebrities for Charity Foundation and the many charities CFC assists throughout the year, and in return, you could win this great evening with the Captain himself.

Tickets start at just $2.00 each and decrease for orders of more than 5 tickets.

Entry deadline is December 15th at 11:00 a.m.

The drawing for the winner will take place later that day!

For more information and to purchase your raffle tickets, click here.

Just A Few More Days Left...

December 2, 2009

...to bid on auction items to support the David Ortiz Children's Fund:

The 2009 David Ortiz Celebrity Golf Classic, which benefits his charity, starts tomorrow through Sunday (December 3rd-6th) in the Dominican Republic's beautiful Cap Cana Resort. The golfers guest list includes the Red Sox captain Jason Varitek, Mike Lowell, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jon Lester, Clay Buchholz and manager Terry Francona. Also expected on the course are MLB stars Torii Hunter, Alex Rodriguez, Pedro Martinez, and Vladimir Guerrero.

To coincide with his tournament, David has some great items up for auction on his event site which you can bid on through December 6th.

Among the new items up for auction:

The "Tee off with Mark Wahlberg" package - the winning bidder can join actor Mark Wahlberg and the cast of "Entourage" on the golf course for his Celebrity Golf Tournament. You can bid on the opportunity to take fielding lessons from AL MVP Dustin Pedroia or be the proud owner of a Celebrity signed Gibson guitar, signed by David Ortiz, all three Jonas Brothers, Yandel of Wisin y Yandel, Wilmer Valderrama, Juan Luis Guerra, Ivan Lins & Edward James Olmos?

And there is still time to bid on autographed collectibles from your favorite Red Sox players:

A Jason Varitek signed catchers mask, a Daisuke Matsuzaka signed jersey, a Josh Beckett signed baseball, a Jonathan Papelbon signed baseball, and an official David Ortiz Celebrity Golf Classic Golf Bag. There is also an auction for a lesson with Tim Wakefield on how to throw a knuckleball!

And for that 'All-Boston teams' fan on your Christmas list: The "Best of Boston Package" which includes a Paul Pierce signed jersey, a Tom Brady signed football, a Zdeno Chara signed jersey, and a David Ortiz signed bat.

There are also auctions for trips to Las Vegas, a Costa Rica resort, tickets to the New Year's Winter Classic, tickets to the Home Opener at Fenway, and tickets to the Patriots' Season Finale...

To see all of the items and place a bid or two, click here.

All auction proceeds will benefit the David Ortiz Children's Fund.

Tito Talks Tek...

November 18, 2009

Red Sox manager Terry Francona was a guest on WEEI's Dale & Holley Show today and took a few moments to talk about Jason:

Q: "Would Jason Varitek make a good coach?"

Terry Francona: "I don't think yet. I wouldn't approach him with that. I don't think he would like that one.

"I saw Tek the other day. I think he's in a good place. I think he's going to do a good job. I've said this a lot of times: he has that 'C' on his jersey for a reason. Victor is going to catch the majority of games. How much, we don't know.

"I think Tek can be an unbelievable backup catcher. Because his body can't handle catching 140 games anymore, that doesn't mean, if you run him out there less than that, especially from the right side – and again, by the time July rolled around this year, he had 13, 14 home runs. You're not going to find backup catchers who have that ability, that game-calling experience. He kind of gets run into the ground physically. And again, he's caught a lot of games. Some of that is my responsibility, too. But I think that in the situation we have, hopefully, upcoming, he can really excel in that."

Q:"Do you think his clubhouse role changes with decreased playing time?"

Terry Francona: "I don't think so, and I think a lot of that is because of Jason. If he didn't accept it, then it could have been a problem. I don't see that happening. I saw him the other day. He was about as fired up as I've seen him. Last year...that's a tough thing to not play. I don't care who you are, whether you're good enough or not...to have somebody come and tell you that somebody is taking your playing time is hard to take.

"I never saw Jason put himself ahead of the team. I didn't expect him to walk in the clubhouse and 'lead the cheers' for not playing. At the same time, he never let that get in the way of his caring for the team or helping Victor. Again, that's part of the reason he has the 'C' on his chest. He's lived up to that. I know he will continue to."

To listen to Terry's complete interview, click here.

Also Today:

Catcher George Kottaras, who was released by the Red Sox this morning, has been claimed off-waivers by the Brewers this afternoon.

According to the Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinel:

This could give the Brewers another option at catcher if Kottaras can prove himself during spring training. He is a left-handed hitter and the plan could be to use him in a platoon with Brewers catching prospect Jonathan Lucroy, a right-handed hitter.

Brewers GM Doug Melvin said the addition was just to add depth to the position and he hasn't thought much about a platoon just yet, but Melvin would invite Lucroy to big-league camp and see how he handles himself.

Melvin also said he likes Kottaras' bat and that he is working on his defense.

Kottaras is a Canadian -- the Brewers' Canadian-led operation scouts that country as well or better than any other organization -- who was drafted in the 20th round on the 2002 draft by San Diego. In 2006, he was listed as the Padres' No. 2 prospect by Baseball America magazine.

To read the entire Brewers Blog, click here.

Wishing George Kottaras all the best with his new team!

You can check out a larger version of the photo above here.

Support Big Papi...

November 17, 2009

...and his Foundation:

The 2009 David Ortiz Celebrity Golf Classic, which benefits the David Ortiz Children's Fund, is just around the corner (see November 13th news below) and there are some great autographed items up for auction on his event site through December 6th, including...

A Jason Varitek signed catchers mask, a Daisuke Matsuzaka signed jersey, a Josh Beckett signed baseball, a Jonathan Papelbon signed baseball, and an official David Ortiz Celebrity Golf Classic Golf Bag.

You will also find autographed items from MLB stars like Mariano Rivera and Alex Rodriguez, and Phillies manager Charlie Manuel.

And it's not just baseball, there's a Philip Rivers signed football, a signed jacket from two-time Formula One World Champion Racer Mika Hakkinen, and a Jack Nicklaus signed Fujikura SG Pro 2.01 driver up for auction as well.

The "Best of Boston Package" includes a Paul Pierce signed jersey, a Tom Brady signed football, a Zdeno Chara signed jersey, and a David Ortiz signed bat.

For more info and to bid on any of these items, click here.

There are also auctions for trips to Las Vegas, a Costa Rica resort, tickets to the New Year's Winter Classic, tickets to the Home Opener at Fenway, and tickets to the Patriots' Season Finale...

Or how about the opportunity to learn to throw a knuckleball with Tim Wakefield on the mound? Or the chance to have Big Papi attend your child's birthday party?

Those auctions can be found here.

All auction proceeds will benefit the David Ortiz Children's Fund.

*Thank you to Kathy for the heads-up!

"Varitek's Return Has Answered One Off-Season Question"

November 15, 2009

From Peter Gammon's column on ESPN.com this weekend:

Before Varitek decided to pick up his $3 million option and return at the age of 38 to the Red Sox, the club had explored other options.

Kelly Shoppach interested them, and had worked in tandem with Victor Martinez in Cleveland. They thought about Rod Barajas, Gerald Laird and others, but now Theo Epstein is convinced Varitek will go into the season as the backup to Martinez.

After coming to the Red Sox in the trade deadline deal, Martinez repeatedly marveled at how selflessly Varitek worked with him in his game preparation. Martinez was highly respected in Cleveland for his sense of responsibility with pitchers and his pitch-calling instincts, and the two worked well together.

Having Varitek and Martinez allows bullpen coach Gary Tuck to work with the young Red Sox catchers in spring training.

The staff thought Varitek's defensive problems at the end of last season stemmed from his workload at age 37, especially given his intensity. The question, however, has been that with his toe-tap and complicated swing, could Varitek hit at all playing once or twice a week?

The Red Sox's reply to that question is that Varitek is a far better hitter with a far simpler swing from the right side. He batted .226 with a .793 OPS from the right side, with an .807 OPS against left-handed pitchers. Of the nine catchers who qualified for the batting title, only Joe Mauer, Martinez and Brian McCann had better than an .807 OPS.

Even though Martinez is one of the rare switch-hitters whose swing is almost exactly the same from both sides, his numbers against right-handers (.316, .866) were better than against lefties (.273, .848), so this could turn into an informal platoon. Martinez could also be used as the designated hitter against left-handers if David Ortiz were to struggle against lefties.

To read Mr. Gammon's complete Red Sox column, click here.

*Thank you to Lynn for the heads-up!

The 2009 David Ortiz Celebrity Golf Classic

November 13-14, 2009

Stepping up to the tee to support Big Papi and his charity -

The 2009 David Ortiz Celebrity Golf Classic will be held December 3rd-6th at the Cap Cana Resort in the Dominican Republic.

The star-studded event benefits the David Ortiz Children's Fund, providing children in New England and the Dominican Republic access to the pediatric critical care they need to live full and productive lives.

The inaugural David Ortiz Celebrity Golf Classic in 2008 netted more than $300,000.

David expects to be joined by a host of celebrities and MLB players, including teammates Jason Varitek, Mike Lowell, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jon Lester, Clay Buchholz and manager Terry Francona. Torii Hunter, Alex Rodriguez, Pedro Martinez, and Vladimir Guerrero are also expected to attend.

Cap Cana is one of the most spectacular resort communities in the world. Guests will stay at the five-star luxury Sanctuary Cap Cana Golf & Spa, overlooking the turquoise waters and pristine beaches of the Caribbean Sea. The tournament itself will take place at the Jack Nicklaus-design and signature golf course, Punta Espada.

The David Ortiz Children's Fund began as a way for David to help children in his home country. The Fund is proud to partner with Heart Care Dominicana, International Hospital for Children, and the Massachusetts General Hospital to fulfill its life-saving mission, linking pediatric critical care services to children in developing countries. To date, the Fund has raised over $1 million for children in New England and the Dominican Republic and has given life, health, and hope to critically ill Dominican children.

For more information about sponsorship opportunities for the David Ortiz Celebrity Golf Classic, please contact Michele Lasky at michelelasky@company20.com.

You can also visit his Children's Fund site here.

From The Fans...

November 13, 2009

Just a few of the emails I received in the last couple of days....

"Erin, let me be the first to say 'WOOOHOOOO!!!'. I kept coming by to check your site (I knew you'd keep us up-to-date even though I also knew you were on vacation!) and there it was. Dimished role or not, the man has a lot to offer and it is a great feeling to know that my favorite player wil be back in a Red Sox uni next season. Thank you for the site, it's always a pleasure to stop by." -- Jim K., Cape Cod

"Thank you Tek!!! I am so glad you will be back!! I need to make another trip to Boston next season or maybe Florida for spring training! I went to my first Red Sox game this year and was able to meet Jason at a charity event. That man has class! He probably has hundreds, no not hundreds, but thousands of fans that come up to him all the time to shake his hand and say hello, to ask for autographs or pictures or hugs and kisses, woops! sorry...wishful thinking.

"The things I noticed when I met him (besides him being very tall and very handsome) was the respect and kindness he gave me. He made me feel like he really wanted to hear what I had to say. In those few seconds, I felt like I was the only person in the room that existed for him as he gave me his full attention. He didn't make up some excuse to walk away. He wasn't looking around checking out the party. (don't you hate it when someone does that.) Those few seconds were the highlight of my trip!

"I wonder if people really realize the extent of the service he gives to Boston and the surrounding areas, to charities, to the hospitals and to the children. How much Tek being part of the Boston Red Sox brings to tourism, merchandising, and how with Tek at an event, the event's attendance increases significantly. He is so much more than just a baseball player!

"The Red Sox are lucky to have him back! He brings with him his expertise, his experiences and his leadership. Boston is lucky to have him!

"Thanks Erin for letting the fans speak out!" -- Jamie, Omaha Nebraska

"I am so glad that he going to be back for one more year. I am moving to Boston with in the year, so hopefully I will be able to see him play in Fenway Park." -- Sterling, from the site's MySpace page

"I am absolutely ecstatic Tek's coming back. Wasn't prepared to see him go. Also means another putt-putt next year. Another chance to see him up close. I've been a Red Sox fan for over 30 years and he is my all-time favorite. I am very, very happy. I also want to thank you for this website. Everytime I need a "Tek fix" I come on here and look at all the great pictures you have." -- Thanks again, Lisa, Melrose, MA

"Yay!! He's back!!! Made my day!" -- Caelin

"Erin, I was thinking after the Yankees won (Booo!) what Tek would do. It was my conclusion that he decided last year when his deal with the Red Sox included a player option that it was already agreed that he would exercise his option the second year. Now I know things can change during a season but I have to believe this is how Jason wanted to go out…on his own terms.

"I have told my husband that I am definitely heading down to FL in the spring to hopefully meet and greet him and of course get a picture and autograph. It will be my last chance. Although I have a kid in college taking every bit of extra money from me, I have made up my mind I am saving every penny I can to make it down there.

"Now after his catching career is over, it is my thought that he will move on to coaching jobs maybe down in the minor leagues. I am not sure of any openings but it would be nice if he wanted to come to Portland for a while…that would make him a little closer. That will also allow you to keep track of his new chapter in life….the COACH, but not the Captain. It will be neat to see what he does.

"By the way, thanks so much for your time and effort towards your web site for him. It is great!!! I enjoy it – especially the pictures." -- Lana Ballard

"Erin, all I can say is Hallelujah!!!! I wasn't looking forward to another winter of wondering and waiting. Great job on the site. It helps having one place to go to. Take care and have a wonderful holiday season." -- Tina

"Thank goodness he didn't make us wait all winter!! Soooo excited!!" -- AND0227

"No surprise to me that Jason Varitek accepted his option. First and foremost, all you have to do is look back at this past season to see the grace and leadership he demonstrated when Victor Martinez was added to the roster. It was obvious that he mentored the younger catcher and helped him adjust to his new team while at the same time he himself had to be struggling to realize that his once frontline role would now be diminished. Most of us 'retire' from our profession in our sixties...imagine how it must feel at 37 to know that you are reaching the end of the road in a job that you love and that it is time to pass the torch if you will.

"TEK is accepting his new role because he wants to retire as a Red Sox player. And, because he is the captain and a role model, he is doing whatever he can to help his team. We have never heard a negative comment or thought come out of his mouth, and you never will. With the extra time off, his body won't break down and I believe he may have a pretty good season much like the first half of last year. And, Victor Martinez and the rest of the Sox will be better for his presence." -- Dori

"I'm happy. Captain TEK is also supported in 2010. Let's go TEK!" -- SHIMA, JAPAN

"Glad to see him come back for another year! Very glad!!!" -- Dan, New Hampshire

"I'm so glad that the Captain is back. He has so much to offer to our team it's beyond words. Yes, his hitting may not be where it used to be but his knowledge for the game is beyond words. Thanks Tek for giving your favorite and number 1 fans another season to watch you play for us." -- Ann, from the site's MySpace page

"Hi Erin - Yippee! I think this is terrific, and I was holding my breath until Jason made his decision.

"I hope this is the beginning of a transition from being a superb and elite catcher to another role where he can use those tangible and intangible skills within the Red Sox organization for a long time, as a coach or otherwise.

"And, thankfully, you will continue to update your site, and I will continue to check it on a daily basis for updates!

"Keep up the great work, and have a terrific holiday season!" -- Sue

"Erin, it sure is nice to have a place to send my positive thoughts where they don't get lost in all the mean-spirited ones on other sites and forums. I have always been and always will be a big fan of Varitek. He is the epitome of the Dirt Dog player. A professional through and through. I am so pleased to see him return." -- Patrick, Maine

"Yippee Skippee! He's back in Beantown one more year! Good! I am so happy and relieved. I guess this means I'll have to make that trek to Fenway this year. Oh darn... the lengths I go to... LOL!!! J/K! I want to go back and now I have a viable reason. Viable in my book! Thanks for keeping us all up to date Erin. Seriously!" -- Becky, California

"Erin, I kept stopping by your site every hour for the last couple days figuring you'd have the news up when it was available - you didn't disappoint! Thank you! Very glad to see our captain come back. Whew!" -- Dale, Virginia by way of Boston

"We are so happy that Tek is coming back for one more year. Now, if we can just get him to come back after that as a coach....Looking forward to another great Red Sox season. How many days left til' spring training starts?" -- The Kramer Family, Massachusetts

Thank you to everyone who took the time to email!

The Captain's Back!

November 11, 2009 - Veterans Day

From the Boston Globe & Boston Herald a few minutes ago:

Tek has exercised his $3 million option for 2010, the Red Sox announced late Wednesday afternoon.

"We're happy to have Jason back and we look forward to a good year from him in 2010," Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein told the Globe. "He means an awful lot to the organization on and off the field. He helps solidify our catching position also and is a big asset to the pitching staff.

"We're happy he decided to come back and stay in the organization he's such an important part of."

Acquired by Boston from Seattle on July 31, 1997, Varitek has hit .259 (1,232-for-4,765) with 175 home runs and 705 RBI in 1,439 career Major League games over parts of 13 seasons with the Red Sox. He has been behind the plate in a club-record 1,381 contests and ranks among franchise all-time leaders in overall games played (9th), doubles (8th, 290), home runs (12th), RBI (15th) and walks (15th, 583).

Okay fans, you can breathe now!

*If you want to send along some positive comments that you'd like added to the site later in the week, please email me!

Thoughts From Another Veteran Catcher...

November 10, 2009

Brad Ausmus talks Tek, from an article by the Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo this morning:

Baseball sources indicated last night that Varitek will accept his option and will notify the Sox as soon as today.

Varitek's place as one of the top catchers in Red Sox history is secure. Sox' pitching certainly flourished during his heyday. To this day, Pedro Martinez and Derek Lowe still consider him the best catcher they ever threw to.

Varitek remains a leader on the team and should be able to remain that way even in a backup role.

One player who has been through the transition is Brad Ausmus, who backed up Russell Martin in Los Angeles this season.

"I think Jason is going to be OK," Ausmus said. "What I did was I approached it from Day 1 like I was going to be the backup and I was going to do everything I could to help Russell. We pored over scouting reports every day and came up with a good plan for that particular game. I know Jason is going to do the same thing because he’s so respected and we all know he's the best in the game at being prepared. Nobody works harder than Jason Varitek in preparing a pitcher to pitch that day. He can still do that with Victor and it will be a big help to Victor. I'm sure some of that happened last season with the two of them.

"The one thing I found having all that time is you tend to get bored. You tend to try to find things to do. Last year I just sat with Don Mattingly and we went over the game inning by inning and move by move. It's a way of kind of staying in the game. There were times I'd think to myself, 'Gee, I would have done it this way.' Or, 'I wished I'd been out there,' that kind of thing. There's a definite mind-set you have to have and after you’re a starter for a long time you just have to accept that that part of your career is over.

"It's not easy, but I think you're going to have some pitchers who want to throw to Jason. You hope that doesn’t become a problem and it probably won't. But knowing how professional Jason has been, I think he’ll transition to it just fine."

To read the entire article, click here.

Tek To Return?

November 9, 2009 - Evening Update

From a report on NESN.com this evening:

The Red Sox declined to exercise their $5 million team option on catcher Jason Varitek on Monday, but that doesn’t mean the longtime captain will be leaving Boston.

NESN learned on Monday night that the 37-year-old Varitek will exercise his $3 million player option for 2010 that includes up to another $2 million in incentives. The move is expected to be formalized on Tuesday and will keep Varitek with the Red Sox through at least the end of 2010.

With the incentives, Varitek would earn an additional $400,000 for starting 80 games in 2010 and another bonus for every 10 starts thereafter.

To read the rest, click here.

However...

According to Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe (on Twittter), Red Sox GM Theo Epstein said "Jason has not yet picked up his option. That could come tomorrow, however."

The Waiting Game...

November 9, 2009

From MLB.com's Ian Browne this evening:

The Red Sox officially took care of the main part of their catching solution for 2010, exercising All-Star Victor Martinez's $7.1 million club option on Monday. But veteran Jason Varitek, who has caught more games than any player in Red Sox history, remains in limbo.

Boston declined the $5 million club option it held for Varitek, but the veteran has until Saturday to notify the team if he will exercise his $3 million player option.

If Varitek declines his option, he will be a free agent for the second consecutive offseason.

Once the Red Sox acquired Martinez in a trade with the Indians on July 31, Varitek suddenly found himself playing a reduced role after serving as Boston's primary catcher for the past decade.

In 13 seasons with Boston, Varitek has caught 1,381 games and ranks among the club's all-time leaders in games played (ninth, 1,439), doubles (eighth, 290), home runs (12th, 175), RBIs (15th, 705) and walks (15th, 583).

To read the entire article, click here.

To see a larger version of Kelly O'Connor's photo, click here.

Quite A Collection!

November 8, 2009

Fan Penny Linville emailed me about a month ago to ask a question about Jason's 2009 Memorial Day gear:

"First off, let me thank you for such a wonderful and positive site on Mr. Varitek. I have discovered you just don't miss anything in this man's career. Your site has been most helpful to me in so many ways I am not sure I can name them all. I hope you won't mind answering a question if you know, and I believe if anyone does you will."

With the help of Stan Jurga Jr. of All-Star Sports, we were able to answer her question, and now Penny is the proud owner of Jason's 2009 game-used Memorial Day gear by way of a secondary seller.

This week, Penny sent me several photos of her growing collection of game-used Tek gear (along with info on the items and how she became interested in collecting).

You can check 'em out here.

*Penny, thank you so much for your email and for sharing your photos!

"A Win For Both Sides"

November 6, 2009

From an article written by NESN's Michael Hurley today:

Since the late '90s, the Red Sox have welcomed their fair share of characters through the doors on Yawkey Way. Pedro Martinez, Manny Ramirez, Kevin Millar, Orlando Cabrera, Johnny Damon, Carl Everett and Ugueth Urbina -- to name a few -- provided the spark and excitement that a team needs on occasion.

But standing out among the rest has been Jason Varitek, Boston's model of consistency on the field and in the clubhouse. When the Red Sox sewed the "C" on the catcher's jersey, the organization showed how far it was willing to go to show Varitek the appreciation he deserved.

The Red Sox hold a $5 million option on Varitek for 2010, one they're almost certain not to exercise after the catcher hit just .209 in 2009. Varitek, though, holds a $3 million option to stay with the Red Sox, one that would be a win for both sides if he chooses to exercise it.

Varitek's biggest problem in 2009 was that the Red Sox needed him to be more than he was. They needed Varitek to be 32 years old again.

In 2010, however, with Mike Lowell needing much less time off than he did last year, Victor Martinez will be able to spend the bulk of the season behind the plate. That will allow Varitek to play once or twice a week at most, and in turn will allow Lowell, Martinez and Kevin Youkilis to each take a breather every 10 games or so.

Ideally, if Varitek played only after several days of rest, he'd be much more productive, and he'd be as good a backup as there is in the major leagues.

Of course, that reason alone isn't necessarily enough to re-sign a veteran catcher. But that's where Varitek's leadership -- both in the clubhouse and in the bullpen -- comes in to play.

Realistically, having Jason Varitek in the clubhouse won't inspire Dustin Pedroia to get more hits, nor will it motivate Jacoby Ellsbury to swipe an extra bag or two. Varitek's presence will, however, help a pitching staff that still includes a number of young arms. Varitek himself seemed to admit that he wasn't the same player before this year's postseason began, yet he remained confident in his ability to help the ballclub.

"It's different, but the fact of the matter is that we need to put our best lineup out there," Varitek said in early October. “I have one job to do -- support my teammates and be prepared if the bell rings. ... You can't control your playing time, but you can control the other parts of what you can contribute. It may not be by playing. It may be by being on the bench.

"There are things you see," he said. "Things you can offer."

Those "things" cannot be easily described. They're the types of "things" that only a 12-year veteran who has spent 11,316 innings behind the plate and has stepped in for 4,765 at-bats in the bigs can bring. They're the type of things that help a ballclub win.

The Red Sox can win without Varitek, but they're a better team with him on board. For $3 million, it's a no-brainer.

To read Mr. Hurley's complete article, click here.

From Ian Browne's Mailbag Today...

November 2, 2009

Red Sox Beat Reporter Ian Browne answered a couple of fan questions about Tek:

On the Captain's return -

"Regarding Varitek, the Red Sox are unlikely to pick up the $5 million club option they have on the captain for next season. That said, Varitek has his own option worth $3 million that he can exercise if he chooses. The decision Varitek has to make is whether he wants to kick in that option and be a backup player for a team he has been the leader of for several years, or if he'd rather finish his career somewhere else. The other decision Varitek could always make is to retire. Stay tuned."

On Tek becoming the Sox bench coach in 2010 -

"That is one of those rumors that seemed to take on a life of its own from the day Brad Mills got his job as manager of the Astros. Down the line, I could see something like that. But not in 2010. It is usually beneficial for a player to take a step back for a year or two before making the transition from player to coach."

To read the rest of his mailbag at MLB.com, click here.

Halloween Memories...

October 31, 2009 - Happy Halloween!

ESPN's Louise K. Cornetta asked Red Sox players, "What was your favorite Halloween costume?"

Jason Varitek: "Batman. We didn't have the shell and the armor back then. We had a plastic mask."

Mike Lowell: "I was a Viking one time with the horn hat and everything."

Jason Bay: "I'm having a tough time remembering anything I was for Halloween other than the cheesy baseball player, but that's not good. I can't use that. I was a hula dancer. But the embarrassing part is I wore it when I was in college; it wasn't even when I was younger. It was when I was like 20." (Teammate Jacoby Ellsbury chimes in, "I have pictures if you want.")

Jed Lowrie: "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. I was the blue one, Leonardo. He was my favorite."

Michael Bowden: "Well, it wasn't Halloween, but when the rookies had to dress up for initiation, I was the Tin Woman from 'The Wizard of Oz.' In eighth grade, I dressed up as a girl. I had pretty long hair. Some of the doors, when I went to get the candy, they would question what I was supposed to be because they didn't know I was a boy."

Daniel Bard: "I dressed up as Ice Man from 'Top Gun.' It was pretty good. I was told I resemble Val Kilmer in that movie. I spiked my hair up and got a green flight suit and aviator sunglasses."

Clay Buchholz: "I must have been 15 or 16 -- I dressed up as Michael Myers when 'Halloween' came out. I had the Michael Myers mask and wore one of my dad's work suits and had a chainsaw with no chain on it. I ran around the neighborhood chasing kids. It was pretty funny until the parents got mad at me and I had to sort of veer off into my house."

As for Big Papi...

"I have never dressed up, never as a kid. But my son, he's going to be a bumblebee this year."

Ms. Cornetta has included other Boston athletes in her poll. To read them all, click here.

*A BIG THANK YOU to Jake for sending me the link to this story!

A Perfect Fit?

October 27, 2009

With the news today that Brad Mills has been named the new manager of the Houston Astros (Congratulations to Coach Mills!) there is a now a vacancy for the Red Sox bench coach position...

And who better to fill that vacancy and be Terry Francona's right-hand man than Jason Varitek!

Apparently, I am not alone in this thinking...

The news of Mills' move to Houston is barely an hour old and already the blogs and fan forums are starting to buzz with talk of Tek being the perfect fit for the Sox bench coach position, or perhaps a player/coach.

I have already had several emails this afternoon from Tek fans who are on the same wave length with this idea. The East Bay Dirt Dog blogger thinks it's a great idea, and heck, even those cranky armchair GM's over at Sons of Sam Horn think so too (wonders never cease - even if some of the comments are snarky)!

Of course, the big obstacle to this great idea is that the Red Sox AND Jason have to agree with this thinking! Ah well, there is nothing wrong with a little collective wishful thinking among fans of the Captain!

Thoughts? send them to me!

Decisions, Decisions...

October 21, 2009

I have received quite a few emails from fans asking how the "whole team option/player option thing works"....

According to WEEI's Alex Speier:

"The Red Sox have until five days after the World Series to decide whether to exercise their $5 million club option on Varitek for next season. If the Red Sox decline their option, then Varitek would have five days from the time of being notified of the club's decision to decide whether or not to exercise a one-year, $3 million (with the possibility of another $2 million in incentives) player option."

Of course, I will update the site with any developments, so be sure to check back!

Also Today:

Check out this great story on a Yankees vs Red Sox rivalry that had a very happy ending!

Kelly Comes Through!

October 18, 2009

Kelly O'Connor has captured the last of the "Tek photos" for the 2009 season.

I have added them here.

But to check out all of her latest photos, click on her site here and then click on her new "SmugMug" photo page.

Kelly, thank you so much for sharing all of your beautiful photos with us!

Interview Caps & Quotes Added...

October 14, 2009

If you've missed NESN's Celebrity Spotlight Series on Jason's Putt Putt Tournament this month and can't wait for the next showing (Sunday, Oct 18th @ 12:00 pm & 6:30 pm)...

You can check out his interview in screen captures and quotes by clicking here.

If you're new to the site and missed photos from the event, which was held on September 14th at the Ferncroft Country Club in Middleton, Massachusetts...

You can check out fan photos here.

And if you need something to take up some of that non-baseball watching time...

You can check out last year's Celebrity Spotlight on Jason here.

Youk Talks Tek...

October 13, 2009

From an interview with Kevin Youkilis on WAAF's Hill-Man Morning Show:

H-M: "I thought it was really classy the way Tek handled himself. I know he's a guy who really likes to play, and it was probably really tough for him, but it was extremely classy the way he handled all that."

Kevin Youkilis: "Yeah, he does a great job. It was tough on him, but he's had a rough time the past two years, and he's always putting the team first. That's his attitude, and that's why he's captain of the team and they put that 'C' on his chest. So it's an amazing thing what he does, and he's a great team guy, and unfortunately he didn't get to play as much as he would have liked to, but he went about it the right way, and that's the biggest thing. There's some guys who go about it the wrong way, and he goes about it the right way. Doesn't use the media as leverage, and stuff like that. It's very good to have guys like that that you play with."

To hear the full interview, click here.

*Thank you to Anna!

"Beckett Wants His Tek-nician Back In 2010"

October 12, 2009

From WEEI's Mike Petraglia this afternoon:

Josh Beckett made it clear on Monday that he would like to see Jason Varitek back in a Red Sox uniform in 2010.

"He's definitely one of those guys I'd love to see back, even if the transition starts like it started at the end of the year," Beckett said. "I think there’s a lot of things that a lot of people can learn from him. And him being around, it's never a bad thing. He's so great with young guys and he knows how to run a clubhouse and that's why he wears that 'C' on his chest."

Red Sox GM Theo Epstein said Monday that he had yet to speak to Varitek about his role next year.

Epstein added that he Victor Martinez would likely see the majority of catching duty next year.

"It's obviously not anything you want to see somebody go through, and I consider Jason Varitek a dear friend of mine," Beckett added. "It’s obviously tough to see people go through those transitions but he handled it very well."

To read Mr. Petraglia's "Full Count" blog, click here.

Don't Forget...

Jason and his Putt Putt Tournament will be featured on NESN's Celebrity Spotlight Series tomorrow (Tuesday) evening at 6:30 p.m.

For other showings this month, see the October 9th post below or you can always keep up by checking the Events/Appearances section in the column on the right.

New Fan Photos Added...

October 11, 2009

R.L. (Becky) Cooley, our "California Connection", was in attendance Thursday for Game 1 of the ALDS and snapped some great photos to share with us.

She caught the Captain during batting practice, the pre-game ceremony, in the dugout and in the bullpen.

To see them all, click here.

And to check out a few photos from Allie, who attended a game at Fenway last month, click here.

Tek-nically Speaking...

"It's been great. I think we have a great relationship. First, there is the respect factor of playing against each other, and then working together. It's worked out great for all of us.

"Vic's been great. He's been a huge part of this team, a huge part of our offense. He swings the bat really well, and he's done a good job behind the plate." -- Jason, on working with Victor Martinez, from an interview/article with MLB.com.

"I think he's just a prototypical winning catcher -- the guy that goes back there and understands the importance of calling 150 pitches. Having a pitcher execute the 150 pitches, and making anything you do offensively secondary to that.

"He will have an ugly at-bat and put that mask on and all of a sudden he's an All-Star catcher back there again. I think there's an important lesson for a lot of young catchers and something we certainly try to pound into our youngsters about the influence that you're going to have on a game. Even when he's not swinging the bat well, he's had as much of an influence on Boston's success in the last six, seven years as anybody over there." -- Angels manager Mike Scioscia, from the same interview/article.

Also Today:

Congratulations to the Red Sox for their 95-game winning season and another trip to the post-season!

Now that the season is officially over, I'll be keeping up with things as usual, but I will not turn the site into "Speculation Central" when it comes to Jason's plans for the 2010 season. I'll do my best to keep readers up-to-date without posting every media rumor and every opinion from those so-called "baseball experts" (who didn't do a real good job with their 2009 predictions)!

And for the fans that have asked already: The site will continue to follow Jason's career - wherever it takes him! Hope you'll come along for the ride!

Talkin' Tek On The Airwaves Today

October 9, 2009

Red Sox first base coach Tim Bogar was a guest on the Ripken Baseball Show hosted by Cal Jr. and Bill Ripken this afternoon on MLB Radio on XM:

Cal Ripkin, Jr.: "With the controversy in New York with Posada and Molina catching Burnett, and with the transition seemingly taking place in Boston right now with Victor Martinez catching and not Jason Varitek -- and you know, I don't know whether I am totally alright with that. I am a big Varitek fan and I love the way he controls the game and all the intangible things he does back there. Are we not going to see Jason catch a game or are we going to see Victor catch the whole staff?"

Tim Bogar: "Well, I'm not exactly sure how that's going to work out. I know that Vic has caught Beckett the last couple of games, and Terry has been thinking that through with the front office and how they want to go about it. You know, Jason Varitek is a professional. He is unbelievable at what he does. His preparation, his knowledge of the staff, he's caught this staff for a long time, they trust him.

"You get a guy like Victor on your team and it changes the dynamic a little bit. You want to have Mikey Lowell over there at third, you want to have Youkilis at first. And when Victor's not catching, he's going to play first base and David Ortiz is going to DH. It kind of gives you a little bit of a different direction to think about if you're not going to have him catch.

"But I'll tell you this - Jason has been awesome with Victor. They sit and they talk all the time. They try and get on the same page [with the pitching staff], and I'll tell you what, for a guy who has caught for as long as Tek has, and does the things that he has, he has been unbelievably great with Victor. And Victor has been very appreciative of it."

You can check out Ripken Baseball's website here.

Former Red Sox first baseman (and MLB Network analyst) Kevin Millar was a guest on the Dennis & Callahan Show this morning on WEEI:

Q: "Are you surprised at the way the Jason Varitek [situation] unfolded? … They bring Victor Martinez in and Terry Francona was not hesitant to send his captain to the bench and pinch-hit for his captain when he was in there and it appears he's not going to see any action in this series."

Kevin Millar: "It's always a tough thing, and Posada's going through it right this second, same type thing. You have a guy like Varitek who's been there and obviously the trade for Victor around the July deadline, it started making things a little bit uneasy I would say, you know, I'm not on the team. You have Mikey sit down a couple of days, I know Ortiz sits down a day, and then you had Varitek. It was kind of a revolving thing, and that's not an easy situation because Varitek being your captain and being your leader on that club. There are so many other intangibles that Jason brings, we sometimes as fans just look at stats and numbers and, 'OK, he's hitting .204 or .327' or there's more in this game behind the scenes that happens. Varitek gets paid a lot of money to put down fingers also and know lineups and execute different things. It's tough, but as we get older we get different roles that we’ve got to take also. And personally, that's what happens. With Varitek, it's about wins and losses right now."

Q: "When you have four guys in three spots, somebody is going to sit, somebody is going to be unhappy about sitting. What happens in the clubhouse dynamics when they make it known they are not happy with the way it's going?"

Kevin Millar: It can affect the other guys, but Jason Varitek is a professional. All four of these guys are professionals. You are not dealing with an amateur player that can cause problems. You want guys to play, let’s get that straight, but you’re not going to make everybody happy. You've got 25 guys, everyone wants to play. I mean, Kotchman was a starter before he came over, he’s been on the bench and I'm sure he's not happy, but these guys are professionals. That's a good clubhouse. That seems like a great group of guys. And Varitek? he should be out there everyday! But he handles it in a perfect way.

Q: What is your take on the pitcher-catcher relationship on the battery here. Do you care if a pitcher feels more comfortable with a catcher even if that catcher can't hit?

Kevin Millar: "We had that discussion yesterday on the Posada-Burnett situation. I think that's important that you want that pitcher comfortable throwing to that catcher because that’s the game. I mean, you’ve got to pitch and you’ve got to catch the ball. Offensively, you're going to hit and score some runs, but especially when you’ve got a horse like Beckett or a horse like Lester. Now if somebody, and I'll use an example, if I'm a pitcher and not comfortable, well great, but 'you're my fifth starter'. But if you are the Number One, or Number Two [pitcher]...Maddox always had a catcher...that's not uncommon! there's different scenerios that Varitek brings when you talk about intangibles besides just offense. It's not like he just can't hit!! He's got 14 homers, he's still a threat."

To listen to Kevin's full interview, click here.

Today's Tek Stats:

After the game last night, Terry Francona announced that Victor Martinez will be behind the plate again tonight to catch Josh Beckett.

-- Tek has caught Beckett in 83 of his 90 starts since the start of the 2007 season.

-- Josh Beckett's OPS-against with Martinez behind the plate (1.021 in just 81 plate appearances) is nearly three times more than when Tek (.625, in 742 plate appearances) is the receiver.

Television Reminder (in case you missed last night's premiere)...

Don't forget to tune in this month to NESN's Celebrity Spotlight Series hosted by Ray Bourque.

The featured celebrity is Jason, and the spotlight will be on his 2009 Celebrity Putt Putt Tournament that took place in September.

The Show's schedule:

Tuesday, October 13th @ 6:30 pm

Sunday, October 18th @ 12:00 pm & 6:30 pm

Friday, October 23rd @ 10:30 pm

Saturday, October 24th @ 2:00 pm

Monday, October 26th @ 10:30 pm

Friday, October 30th @ 5:30 pm

*You can always check the dates by scrolling down to the Events/Appearances section in the column on the right.

This Weekend...

R.L. Cooley, our "California Connection" will be in attendance at the ALDS in Anaheim and will have her camera in tow (and the lens cap off)!

Stop back by to see what new photos she has to share!

"There's One Job To Do And That's To Support My Teammates"

October 7-8, 2009

From WEEI and the LA Times this evening:

"It's different. It's definitely different," said Varitek. "You can't really control playing time, but you can control the other parts where you contribute. It may not be by playing. It may be on the bench. You can’t really control those things, but it's not the time of year to be selfish.

"There's one job to do and that's to support my teammates, and be prepared if the bell rings. All I can do is go and do what I do and be a good teammate."

The Sox captain said that he is still doing everything in his power to remain ready in case the Sox need him. At the same time, he is more than willing to contribute by offering Martinez any information that may prove of help.

"Vic's been great. He's been a huge part of our team, a huge part of our offense. He swings the bat really well, and does a really good job behind the plate," said Varitek. "I think we have a very good relationship, first from the respect factor of playing against each other, then from working together. Sometimes, over the course of learning and talking through stuff, a word of something from Victor to me helps me or vice-versa."

Varitek has yet to learn what sort of role, in any, he will play. But given that he is on a Red Sox postseason roster for the 15th different series, he refuses to express any disappointment about his role.

"We're in the postseason. I don’t know what's disappointing about being in the postseason. Everybody in this locker room at some point has helped the team win games," Varitek said. "Your level of how special this opportunity is goes well beyond anything personal."

With Varitek and the team set to face a mutual option at the end of the season, the veteran refuses to discuss anything regarding his contract.

"Honestly, this isn't the time for me to worry about me. I'm not equipped to answer that question now. I can't entertain that right now, and I don't think it's fair to me or this team. Your level of how special this opportunity is goes well beyond anything personal."

To read the rest of the WEEI interview, click here.

To read the story from the L.A. Times, click here.

To read Michael Hurley's column at NESN.com, click here.

To watch video from NECN on Tek's interview, click here.

Also Today:

New Fan Photos Added!

Nanci and her family were able to score tickets for the final game of the regular season on Sunday and she didn't let the opportunity go to waste!

Said Nanci, "We went to the final home game of the season on Sunday. We had Pavilion Standing Room but upgraded to Field Box 29 Row B; 3 seats away from the Sox Dugout and 4 rows up from the field (three rows behind the owners seats) They were AWESOME."

She snapped some great photos of the Captain - which you can check out here.

Want more Tek? Then you can check out her "#33 Tribute Page" here.

And you can see the rest of her beautiful Red Sox photos here.

Putting it in perspective...

For all the complaining that the Boston media and the Red Sox fans do about the Captain's hitting this season, both Jim M. and Jason L. (die-hard Mets fans) wanted you to know...

That Tek has more home runs (14) than 27 of 28 active players on the 2009 New York Mets. He also has more RBI (51) and more Doubles (24) than 25 of 28 active Mets players.

And they'd be glad to see him in a Mets jersey for what he can bring to their team's pitching staff...so stop complaining!

*Thanks guys!

Tek Stats:

-- Jason Varitek has hit 11 postseason home runs. That's the most in Major League history by a catcher. Johnny Bench and Javier Lopez each hit 10.

-- He is one of only six catchers with at least two triples in his career in the playoffs. Varitek has two, tied with three others including Yankees manager Joe Girardi. Johnny Bench and Tim McCarver both had three.

(from Ian Browne at RedSox.com)

Television Reminder...

NESN's Celebrity Spotlight Series, hosted by Ray Bourque, will premiere the "2009 Jason Varitek Celebrity Putt Putt Tournament" THIS Thursday, October 8th at 10:30 p.m.

The show will re-air throughout the month of October.

*If you have a favorite photo you would like to see as a future Picture-of-the-Week, email me!

You can also follow Jason-Varitek.com on Twitter now!

http://twitter/jasonvaritekcom

This is an unofficial fan site on Mr. Varitek.
For more information, click here.

This Cabernet Sauvignon is rich and elegant with enticing flavors of black currant, tart cherry, tobacco and clove. This Cabernet is a full bodied wine with a finish of moderate tannins.

Proceeds from Captain's Cabernet support Pitching In For Kids, a program dedicated to improve the lives of children across New England. Funds have been earmarked to help Children's Hospital Boston, one of the nation's top hospitals specializing in pediatric care.

To order, click here.

Pitching In For Kids Foundation

Pitching in for Kids, Inc. is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing grants designed to improve the lives of children across the New England region through sports-related fund-raising events.

For more information, click on the image link above!

To see photos of Jason from PIFK events, click here.

Looking for exclusive autographed memorabilia from the Captain? Click on the logo!

All-Star Sports Equipment -

Prepared to take you onto the field!

Click on the image above for more info!

Scroll down the page to see Jason in his All-Star Sports catchers gear that was specially designed for and worn by him. It was then sold at auction on MLB.com for charity.

2010 Spring Training

Pitchers and Catchers report on February 18th!

» March 3, 2010
» vs NEU, 1:05pm (ss)
» vs BC, 6:05pm (ss)

» March 4, 2010
» vs MIN, 7:05pm
»

» March 5, 2010
» @ MIN, 7:05pm
»

» March 6, 2010
» @ TB, 1:05pm (ss)
» @ MIN, 1:05pm (ss)


» March 7, 2010
» @ BAL, 1:05pm
»

» March 8, 2010
» @ STL, 1:05pm
»

» March 9, 2010
» @ FLA, 1:05pm
» TBS

» March 10, 2010
» vs TB, 1:05pm
»

» March 11, 2010
» @ NYM, 1:10pm
»

» March 12, 2010
» @ STL, 1:05pm
»

» March 13, 2010
» vs PIT, 1:05pm
»

» March 14, 2010
» @ MIN, 1:05pm
»
» March 15, 2010
» vs BAL, 1:05pm
»

» March 16, 2010
» @ HOU, 1:05pm (ss)
» @ TB, 7:05pm (ss)

» March 17, 2010
» vs NYM, 1:05pm
»


For the full schedule, click here.

Book - Dynasty: The Inside Story of How the Red Sox Became a Baseball Powerhouse

By: Tony Massarotti
Foreword by: Jason Varitek

Available March 31, 2009 - To order online at Amazon.com, click here.

Jason's Holiday Charity Gear!

All game-used gear is auctioned or raffled with proceeds benefitting Jason's favorite charities.

2009 Fourth of July gear: proceeds (over $20,000) from the raffle benefitted Saints Medical Center.

2009 Memorial Day gear: proceeds from the auction benefitted the Massachusetts Soldiers Legacy Fund.

2009 Mother's Day gear: proceeds from the auction benefitted the Susan G. Koman "For the Cure" Foundation.

*To see more photos and caps of Jason's All-Star holiday gear, including the Father's Day gear, click here.

2007 & 2008




None at this time!

The Boston Red Sox Children's Hospital Celebrity Golf Classic

February 26, 2010

The Forest Country Club, Fort Myers, Florida

A Red Sox "Tee Party" will be held at the Country Club on Thursday, February 25th from 6 to 9 p.m.

Golfers can play in the tournament for $300. per person.

Fans can attend the "Tee Party" for $35. per person.

The "Tee Party" allows guests to enjoy cocktails and hors d'oeuvres and to bid on sports memorabilia items, trips, game tickets and restaurant gift certificates. This year's live auction will include travel and ticket packages to top-notch sporting events including The Masters at Augusta, the opportunity to watch a Red Sox game from the celebrated "Green Monster" seats and the chance to sit atop TD Bank Garden in the "Chairman's Suite" to watch the Celtics vs. the Oklahoma City Thunder. Other featured packages include a luxury cruise and a trip to see a taping of the popular Rachael Ray Show in New York City.

Note: The final celebrity player list for the tournament will not be released until the day before the tournament, but past participants have included fan favorites Jason Varitek, Tim Wakefield, Josh Beckett, Jon Lester, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Jonathan Papelbon and Red Sox legend Luis Tiant.

To participate in the Classic, or to purchase tickets to the "Tee-Party":

Send an e-mail to BostonGolf@LeeMemorial.org or call the Lee Memorial Health System Foundation office at 239-985-3550.

TV: Red Sox Report - 2010 Off-Season Workout With Tek

January 24, 2010 on NESN

You can catch a behind-the-scenes look at the Red Sox Captain's off-season workout and his nutrition routine with personal trainer Leslie Eddins.

Show times: Jan 24st (10:30pm), Jan 25nd (1:30pm), Jan 26th (5pm & 10:30pm), Jan 27th (9:30pm).

You can also check out the full-length video of the segment here.

*If you have trouble locating the video, just type in "Varitek" in the video search!

In a way, Varitek has been surprised at how much talk there has been about his upcoming reduced role, since that was pretty much the way things went after Martinez was acquired on July 31.

"Things fell that way kind of the last two months of the season anyway," Varitek said. "My role changed. There's different parts. I handled a lot early, played a lot and handled it in a full-time capacity. But I think that just seeing in a different role, how my body adapts to maybe the less pounding and the less physical grind, it might be a good time for me to transition. I'm preparing as I always do, to be able to handle as much as I can. I'll prepare for a full-time role even though it's dictated another way, and that way if something happens, I'm ready to go."

For those who have observed Varitek for a long time, it should come as no surprise that he doesn't plan on being in smell-the-roses mentality in 2010.

"I think you can reflect back when you're done," Varitek said. "I'm preparing to come out here and get to Spring Training and make sure I win myself a job and to make sure I'm able to help this team win games. When I'm done and sitting on the couch and doing that full-time, then I can probably reflect more. I'm happy, and always feel fortunate that I've been able to be here and have a career, period."

Yes, Varitek did say that he needs to win a job in Spring Training. This, from the man who has held the title of captain since 2005.

"Everybody does," Varitek said. "I don't think a detail makes a difference. It's an extra letter on a uniform, but I prepare myself to go out there and be ready this spring, and work my way into trying to play at a high level." -- From an article written by Ian Browne at MLB.com, December 18, 2009.

I’m ectastic that I'm a Red sox. I’m ecstatic for the fact that I had peace of mind to know that I'll be in this uniform. I get closer to retiring in this uniform—not saying that I see retirement anytime soon—but it allows me that opportunity to do what's most important for me, to wear the 'C' for this group of fans and people in this organization who have spent a lot of time building a championship." -- Jason Varitek, in his first interview of spring training, shown live on NESN (February 14, 2009).

"I am aware these could be my last home games here, and I don’t want to take them for granted. That’s as far as I can take it right now. I don’t want to take any of this for granted, particularly the excitement of playing here." -- Jason Varitek, on his pending free agency at the end of this season, Providence Journal, (September 3, 2008).

"There's a reason the Yankees have been as good as they have been since I've been going against them. Jorge (Posada) plays the game right. He has an extreme respect for the game, which you can't help but notice. And his bat is obviously pretty special and he's durable.

"Jorge doesn't get the credit he deserves as a catcher. You can tell he is very good at handling pitchers. ... I respect the way he plays, as I do with their shortstop Derek Jeter and closer Mariano Rivera." -- Jason Varitek, during an interview for an article by Bill Burt of The Eagle Tribune (August 21, 2009).

From HOF Red Sox catcher Carlton Fisk -

"I've always enjoyed the way he catches and approaches the game. He's a tough nut. You need to be one of those to be back there. You can tell by his actions on the field that the most important part of his game is behind the plate. I always felt that was my most valuable place on the field and dealing with the pitchers and positions and the umpires. I see a lot of that in Jason, too.

"When you recognize you have more chances to influence the outcome of the game back there than you do three or four or five times you come to the plate. If you can feel good about what you're doing behind the plate and what the pitcher is doing with you, then you feel that much better than when you go up to the plate.

"Even if things don't work out at the plate, you can still feel as though you have influence on the outcome. I always thought it was necessary for me to come out of the game with a victory. I could go 0-for-4, 0-for-8 or 0-for-the-week, but I know that I blocked a ball to save the run or helped a pitcher out in a tough spot.

"Even though your value doesn't show up in the numbers page, you have a lot of value when you put the gear on." -- From an interview with The Enterprise news (September 20, 2006).

"There's no mystery as to when the Red Sox started to have a little bit of a soft spot. I don't mean to dis' anybody on the club because everybody has their own value. When you saw what happened to the Red Sox when Varitek went down, it shows you the value that he has for his team." -- From an interview with the Lowell Sun News, after the 2006 season about Jason's injury, surgery and stint on the DL (September, 2006).

From The Sports Journalists -

"Jason Varitek is baseball's purest definition of catching." -- Mark Whicker, columnist for the Orange County (CA) Register in his article on October 3, 2008.

"As the 2008 ended, Jason Varitek was a free agent at the end of a four-year contract. He had caught more games than any other Red Sox catcher (1,273); had hit more home runs(158), than any other Red Sox catcher; led the franchise list in home runs by a switch hitter (161) and was tied for second with Manny Ramirez on the team's all-time list for post-season homers (11).

"In Varitek's case, the numbers that mattered most were not batting average or RBI's or home runs. From 1998, when he caught his first game for Boston, through 2008, the Red Sox were 705-468 (.601) when Varitek was the catcher, 256-302 (.459) when he was not.

"It's little wonder why he was an All-Star -- no matter what his batting average was -- and why he joined Carl Yastrzemski and Jim Rice as Red Sox players who were selected as captains." -- Sportwriter Bill Ballou, in his book "Behind the Green Monster: Red Sox Myths, Legends & Lore", available March, 2009.

"So if this is it -- and it might be -- get a good look at what we've been taking for granted these last 11 years. It's hard to remember any Red Sox player who engendered as much public respect from his teammates as Jason Varitek, and, with the exception of Carlton Fisk, no Red Sox catcher in history ever produced as consistently and as well for as long a period of time.

Remember not the figure who struggled to put his bat on the ball for much of June and July this year. Remember instead a man who, as much as anybody, symbolized the return of the Red Sox as one of baseball's true powerhouses." -- Sports Journalist Art Matone, Providence Journal, (September 19th).

From His Pitchers - Past & Present

"Jason Varitek is very special to me because we end up getting in a rhythm very, very quickly. But the bottom line is that it's your fault. If you can't execute a pitch and you give up a hard hit ball it's your fault. Anybody who tells you different is probably a (wimp). For me the thing is that I throw so many pitches. For somebody new it's very difficult to remember everything I throw because I throw everything to both sides of the plate. -- Josh Beckett, during an interview on WEEI on September 19, 2009.

"There isn't a son of a (gun) alive I'd rather have back there!" -- Josh Beckett replies to questions from the media about Jason during a post-game press conference, September 18, 2009.

"Hats off to Jason Varitek tonight for calming me down - I was a little frustrated early. He got a couple of hits, came out of the game, and in the locker room I wanted to talk about his hitting and he wanted to talk about my pitching. It's nice to have a guy behind the plate who cares that much about the pitchers and what they do. He did a good job of getting me through tonight." -- Paul Byrd during his post-game press conference on September 10, 2009.

"He's a warrior, man. He's intimidating when you see him walking out in his full gear and that's exactly why. He's a competitor and that's the reason the Red Sox still want him here, because he does stuff like that for the team. That's not going to show up in the stats or be in the box score tomorrow, but that’s as big a play as you could ask for tonight." -- Pitcher Daniel Bard during post-game comments after Tek blocked the plate sending the Blue Jays' Travis Snider spinning away like a top (August 28, 2009).

"He knows how I am, a laid-back guy having a good ole time, of course serious on the mound, but he knows I like to have fun. And he came along those lines and was there just to make sure if anything didn't go right, wherever there's a time, a few struggles here and there, to make sure I'm keeping my head up, saying, 'Hey, you've got the stuff.' Just simple things like that, always in his mind saying, 'Hey, let's try this pitch here to this batter.' Just talking through things, and that's helped me be a better pitcher in general. And, whenever his career is over, I’ll have a better idea of who I am as a pitcher because of him." -- Justin Masterson, in an interview with NESN (after his trade to the Cleveland Indians) on August 4, 2009.

"Ludicrous! I thought it was ludicrous that they were thinking about not bringing him back. The biggest thing that he brings to our team and means to our team is leadership by example. And when I say that, I mean he shows everyone by his examples how to play, how to be a consistent player and he shows everyone how to play through pain, just everything that goes along with leading by example." -- Jonathan Papelbon, in an interview with NESN on August 4, 2009.

"I thought Tek and I did a really good job. Most normal people probably wouldn't have been playing if they were Tek. I am amazed by what he does, how he goes out there whether he's feeling 100 percent or 5 percent. I think today was probably closer to 5 percent than 100 percent, he deserves a lot of credit for that....we had a game plan and we stuck to it, and like I said, he deserves a lot of credit for that, he really does." -- Josh Beckett, during his post-game press conference after an 8-3 win over the Athletics on July 27, 2009.

"That was one of the concerns of mine when I went to L.A., because I went for months without ever shaking him off. I was like on 'auto pilot' when Jason caught. You don't see guys shaking Varitek off because of his preparation. You have to think more on your own [in L.A.], and that's where you get spoiled with Jason because then you can just let him call the whole game." -- Derek Lowe during a radio interview with WEEI's Joe Castiglione on June 19, 2009.

"It has a huge impact! I mean, certainly the inviting way he can get a pitcher to throw a pitch, it's still up to the pitcher - you've got to be committed! But when you're as established and as confident as he is, he knows everything - his preparation is second to none, and you want to know as a pitcher if you have any sense of doubt, that the guy is going to carry you through those.

"You think about it - you have 115-120 decisions to make through a game and you're not going to be right on all of them, and you need that guy back there empowering you to say, 'this is the right pitch' and working together. You can't be shakin' your head 'no' a lot, at least for most pitchers it's not going to work in an environment like this. If you're not clicking and you're not on the same page, it's going to make for a longer game and a tougher scenario.

"Without a doubt, a catcher is a huge part of a pitcher's success as he goes through the season." -- John Smoltz talking about Jason during an interview with Mohegan Sun's Sports Tonight in relation to a question asked by host Michael Felger, "Can a catcher behind the plate have any impact on the way a pitcher throws a game?" (February 16, 2009).

"There's certain players in Major League Baseball that are on certain teams that you take a gamble on whether it's age or whether it's money. And for me, Varitek is, no question, in that category. I don't care who you bring in or who you take out, there's certain stability, not only in the clubhouse but on the field as well and he's part...no, he's not part, he is the main stability in our clubhouse and on that field, so for me - whether it's the age issue or the money issue, there is no question in my mind that you make that gamble with a person like that! That's the way I feel, that's it. It's that simple for me!" -- Jonathan Papelbon during a phone interview with Comcast Sports Net on bringing 'Tek back for 2009 (January 20, 2009).

"He lives, eats, and sleeps baseball, and cares as much or more than anyone I’ve ever played with." -- Paul Byrd, during a post-game interview after Game 3 of the ALDS (October 13, 2008).

"I knew he was a good catcher, but he is a great receiver. He blocks the ball as well as anybody. What he brings behind the plate, the knowledge he has of hitters, I've had a blast working with him."
-- Paul Byrd talks about his second start working with Jason Varitek (August 22nd).

"For two years, over all those games that Varitek has caught for me, I've been able to pitch with less and less stress over that time and that certainly has helped me in my performance, as well. Any time a pitcher pairs up with a new catcher, there's some adjustments that need to be made and it's not an easy process. So I just hope I get to be paired up with the same catcher for as long as possible." -- Daisuke Matsuzaka, throught his interpreter Masa Hoshino, from an article on MLB.com (October 15, 2008).

"Tek is the most prepared baseball player I have ever been around. He's great because he comes up to you before your start and says, 'Hey, you want to go over these guys?'. He's very outspoken on what he thinks works with these guys (batters), and he's very knowledgable about it because he does the legwork". -- Josh Beckett, from an interview for Major League Baseball (after the 2007 World Series).

"Everyone knows what kind of leader he is. But the biggest thing for me is he leads by example. He’s able to do a multitude of things and [he] carries the load. It’s not one thing. For me, he does it all. He helps me with my confidence and the way he calls a game." -- Jonathan Papelbon, from an interview with the Providence Journal (September 17, 2007).

"He’s helped me out tremendously, especially with the mental side of the game — learning how to pitch to hitters. He’s great, not just at knowing the hitters, but also at understanding what makes each pitcher go. He does a tremendous job behind the plate." -- Rookie reliever Justin Masterson, in an interview with the Providence Journal (September 4, 2008).

"The way he breaks down each hitter, it's unlike anything I've ever seen before - how much pride and passion he takes in everything he does. When he's back there calling a game you can see him thinking about what pitch we want to throw. You don't come across guys that often who 'think' the game while they're playing. He's a great attribute to what happened tonight and I'm glad to say I got to throw to Jason Varitek." -- Clay Buchholz, during his post-game interview after his no-hitter (September 1, 2007).

From His Other Teammates -

"I love catching. I love the relationship a catcher has with pitchers and the responsibility. But if we have had success with me catching, it's because of Jason Varitek. He has been unbelievable working with me to know the pitchers and work on game plans. I am very fortunate to be able to work with Jason. I look up to him." -- Victor Martinez, as quoted in Peter Gammons' blog at ESPN.com on September 19, 2009.

"I am very respectful for Jason Varitek. He is a great guy and a great catcher. We have been playing a little bit, behind the plate and man, he has been great for me. Varitek you know, he's been there for me. He's always saying, 'if you need anything, you just come out and ask me'. That's the one thing that I really appreciate, that is one of the things that makes me feel more comfortable in the clubhouse and on the field." -- Victor Martinez, during an interview with NESN's Tom Caron on September 10, 2009.

"I think he's such a stable force behind our pitching staff. I think, in today's game, we analyze things so much. I think there's actually an added 'oomph' to guys that can handle a pitching staff. I was actually talking to [Orioles catcher] Gregg Zaun the other day. And I was like, 'So, how’s it going? I see that you’ve been swinging the bat pretty good.' He goes, 'I’m just trying to do my best to call a good game, put the pitcher in a position to win, and if I hit, it's icing on the cake.'

"It's almost gotten to that point where if you have someone who can handle a staff so well, you can almost offset the offense. Well, that being said, no one wants to not hit. And I think Tek's got to be happy with his power numbers. His average I'm sure is lower than what he would want. But I think he's shown that we can play a lot of winning baseball with him behind there. I think there would have been a lot more openings and question marks and inconsistencies if he wasn't here this year." -- Mike Lowell, in an interview with NESN on August 4, 2009.

"One of the things that’s frustrating to me about the way he’s perceived sometimes is that everybody talks about him being a clubhouse leader and all that, but the guy’s a great player. It’s like when (pitcher Greg) Maddux came over to (the Padres). Everyone said, 'He's going to help the young pitchers and do all this stuff.' They’re not paying him $10 million to coach.

"Obviously, I admire the career that Jason's had — being able to win the World Series and put up numbers. Obviously, he’s a great, great player. I’m excited to learn from him and be here." -- Josh Bard, during spring training (February 22, 2009).

"He is the foundation for the team. No matter what he is going through, no matter what he's doing with the bat, he's such a valuable asset to the team. Not only just commanding the game, commanding pitchers and putting them in the right mindset to pitch, but he's just a clubhouse guy that you can always lean on. For me personally he was always there! He was always there - if something needed to be said. He is not a guy that is 'rah rah' or a guy that everyday is going to be cheering you on, but if something needs to be said or something needs to be acted upon - HE is the one do to it.

"If there was something he saw in my game or something happened during the game that he thought I could improve on, he would sit me down and we would have a talk. At the same time, if he saw something that he liked, he would reinforce that. He just handles situations so well. He would be an asset to any team, but because he knows Boston so well, he is even bigger for us." -- Shortstop Jed Lowrie as a guest of the Casey Stern Show on MLB-Radio, February 7, 2009.

"When he walks in the door at one o’clock in the afternoon, his presence everyone feels. He doesn’t even have to say anything. That’s the type of teammate he is and what kind of player he is. Everyone looks to him for advice and looks up to him. That’s why he’s the captain of our team. He sets the tone." -- Dustin Pedroia, during a post-game interview (October 19, 2008).

"From a personal standpoint, he has taught me a lot in this game, both on and off the field. He's a great role model for a lot of people out there and he's a great...you know, what he does for this team is unbelievable. You know, he's not the most talkative guy in the world, but when he says something, it means a lot to the team. That's one thing you can't replace." -- Kevin Youkilis, during an on-air interview at his "Hits for Kids" event (October 20, 2008).

"He’s a human wall behind the plate. Nothing gets by him. As far as preparing for a game, he’s the best I’ve seen. The confidence he brings to our pitchers is invaluable." -- First baseman Sean Casey, in an interview with the Providence Journal (October 4, 2008).

"He (Lester) did a good job. With 'Tek back there calling the game, they're a good combination, and when you have the captain back there you have a good chance of winning." -- Coco Crisp, during an on-the-field interview after the Sox win over the Blue Jays (September 14, 2008).

"He's been great. He's a great person and a great leader, and he is very important to this baseball club. I try not to get in his way too much and try not to bother him. When I have a chance, I ask him a lot of questions. He's been great with that."-- Catcher George Kottaras, after making his major league debut with the Sox (September 13, 2008).

"Man, el capitan, he’s a leader, man! He’s a guy who knows how to deal with situations better than anyone around here, I can tell you that. He’s great. He doesn’t talk too much, but when he sees things going in the wrong direction, he tries to fix them up. "-- Designated hitter David "Big Papi" Ortiz in an interview for the Providence Journal (September 17, 2007).

From His Manager -

"You want your catcher to be indispensible. The problem is, when he goes down, you find out he is!" -- Manager Terry Francona talking about Tek (and his stint on the DL in 2006) in a interview for a USA Today Sports Weekly Cover Story (March 30, 2008).

"When we were on the field after the [clinching] game the other night, he put his head on my shoulder and cried like a baby. He had willed everybody to be so good. I think that's why I'm so calm. I know he's in charge. It's his team." -- Manager Terry Francona talking about Tek, from an article first published by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (November 2, 2007).

From His Coaches -

"I don't think they get the credit they deserve. I believe they are taken for granted, especially in this great rivalry. But I've been involved in coaching for 34 years and I never seen anything like these two guys when it comes to catching, leading, work ethic. The fact that they've been matched up against each other for so long and have had the success they've had, winning multiple championships...I believe they are in a class of their own.

"Jason is Navy Seal. He's programed like a computer. His recall is second to none. His prep dwarfs everyone's. I really believe he is the most selfless guy in the game. -- Bullpen Coach and catching instructor Gary Tuck on Jason and Jorge Posada, during an interview for an article by Bill Burt of The Eagle Tribune (August 21, 2009).

"Tek is like a pilot. We're flying along, and we run into a storm, and he takes it up a few thousand miles, brings it back down. He gets you through it." -- Bullpen Coach and catching instructor Gary Tuck, in an article for the Orange County (CA) Register (October 3, 2008).

"I don't know that we can measure the effect Varitek has had on this pitching staff because it has been immense. His ability (is) to not only execute a game plan that we've devised through scouting reports, through our own personal history or through the many other avenues available to us, but to also tailor it within the game depending on what's working effectively for a pitcher that night. He's the most valuable member of our pitching staff." -- Pitching coach John Farrell, during an interview with NESN (September, 2007).

"I've been very fortunate to work with some of the best guys that ever squatted in the game in 30 years, and he's right at the top of the list, if not the top, because of what he brings to the game.

No. 1, mentally, his retention skills, his work ethic, his leadership skills and just his passion for wanting to be a better player at age 35, and he will be a better player this year than he was last year and that's all because he's willed himself to do it." -- Bullpen Coach and catching instructor Gary Tuck, from an interview with MLB's Mike Petraglia (February 27, 2008).

From Major League General Managers -

"If I could take Varitek and put him on another planet, I would." -- Yankees GM Brian Cashman, during a speaking engagement at William Paterson University in New Jersey in January, 2008.

From Major League Managers -

"He's a bulldog! I wouldn't want to mess with the guy. He's big-time old-school. He'll hurt you. He's a throwback player. And there just aren't many out there like him. Players like him just don't come around often." -- John McLaren, manager of the Seattle Mariners in an interview on June 6, 2008.

"I walked up to Varitek and said, 'You don't know who I am but I know who you are. I see the way you carry yourself, I see the way you conduct yourself...' I mean I watch this guy block every pitch, I watch him throw in between innings down to second base - that's what this game needs, it needs people to have respect and play the game the right way!" -- Orioles manager Dave Trembley, during MASN's broadcast of the Red Sox @ Orioles game on May 14, 2008.

"I think he's probably, outside of the Red Sox organization and with the work in the club, he probably gets less appreciation because people are going to focus a lot on the offensive numbers and if you're not having the type of offensive year maybe you're thought not to be contributing as much. But Jason Varitek has been a guy there that has brought as much to that organization and contributed maybe more than anybody to what they've done in the last five or six years.

"So I think I certainly appreciate what he does behind the plate and there is no doubt in my mind about what he brings to that club, and I think when you look at the defensive aspect of catching, not many guys bring it like Jason Varitek does." -- Mike Scioscia, manager of the L.A. Angels, during his ALDS press conference on October 2, 2008.

"He's the heart and soul of that team. I've known that for years. Several years ago, I was fortunate enough to be a part of the All-Star coaching staff and I went up to him, I mean, I didn't even know him, but I told him how much I appreciated the kind of work that he did - that was 2003 I believe. This guy has always been there. He wears it on his face...I mean this guy's always ready to play and his preparation habits are tremendous. You never take him for granted. He wants to win every night!" -- Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon talks about Jason during his post-game press conference.

From Major League Players -

"I do have a lot of respect for Jason. He's a world champion and I'm not." -- New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, during an interview in the New York Daily News (March 24, 2005).

"I know Jorge (Posada) really well and he is really an outgoing guy, very funny. I don't know Jason as well, but he's definitely got a tougher exterior. He's all business out there. He's not really an approachable guy." -- Former Yankees catcher and YES Network play-by-play man John Flaherty during an interview for an article by Bill Burt of The Eagle Tribune (August 21, 2009).

"He's definitely come a long way. I was fortunate to, in my opinion, play with the best catcher in all of baseball, especially calling a game in Varitek. And I went years, not starts, but years in Boston and never shook off that, because I had that much faith in his game calling.

"And I think Russell is eventually going to get there. You can't expect him to be at Jason's level this early in his career. We definitely look to him, we definitely lean on him. I think he's definitely open for suggestions throughout the game. But you still have to do your homework being a starting pitcher and you can't 100 percent rely on anybody this time of year." -- L.A. Dodgers pitcher Derek Lowe, during a pre-game interview when asked about catcher Russell Martin (October 12, 2008).

"The catcher-pitcher relationship is totally important. My best games on the mound were those in which I didn't have to shake off my catcher's signals. I'd be thinking, 'OK, let's go fastball outside,' and my catcher would signal for a fastball outside. That's what it means to be on the same page. That’s what Varitek brings to the Sox, and I'd certainly want him behind the plate if I were pitching." -- Former MLB pitcher Steven Ellis in an interview with The Swellesley Report, March 16, 2009.

"He's a good pitcher, but I have to give credit to Jason Varitek. You can have a good pitcher, but you need a good catcher to make it complete, and that's what Varitek does." -- Orioles third baseman Melvin Mora, when asked about Daisuke Matsuzaka during a dugout game-time interview with MASN announcers (September 2, 2008).

"You never want to see a no-hitter go against you like that, but, unfortunately, that situation happened.I give a lot of credit to the pitcher, but most of the credit I give to Jason Varitek. He one of the smartest guys, the smartest catcher. He's the one that got that pitching staff going that way about [its] business.

"You want to guess and you're looking for a pitch, it's like Jason is reading your mind. And the pitchers listen to him about the pitch he wants in a certain situation. You think, 'OK, I'm going to take a pitch,' and here you go, he comes with a strike there; and you want to swing, he comes with a breaking pitch. He's a big value to this team, and they should be proud of what they have there. He's a special guy. That's a lot of work to do to be a catcher. It's not just catching the ball and throwing it back to the pitcher.

"You've got to be pretty smart and know the situation and, from what I understand, he's a big student of the game. He studies every hitter and he gets in your head. He's pretty special." -- Royals left fielder Jose Guillen, during a post-game interview after Jon Lester's no-hitter on May 19, 2008.

"The guy is always prepared. He does more and more every day. Every time he gives up a run, he takes it personally. He takes it as his own ERA, and that’s what makes him so different." -- Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Eric Gagne, talking about working with Jason during his time in Boston. Gagne said that Varitek was like no other catcher he has ever worked with.

MLB Game Announcers -

"It’s really beneficial to the Red Sox pitching staff to be able to think about execution and never think about theory. When you’ve got a 'virtual computer' in Jason Varitek behind the plate calling games, you turn everything over to him and all you think about is executing that pitch." -- MLB game announcer Buck Martinez, on the importance of catcher Jason Varitek to the Red Sox, during the third game of the Toronto series (September 21st).

"I think Varitek is the key. What are the Sox going to do with 'Tek? We talk about their pitching, but there is someone back there calling a lot of signs and who does a lot of work. He puts in yeoman’s work behind the plate, I think they are going to miss that if they lose him behind the plate. We always focus on offense but he brings a lot." -- Harold Reynolds, former MLB player and current MLB commentator on the importance of the Red Sox bringing back Jason Varitek (during the TBS ALCS broadcast, October 19, 2008).

"Jason Varitek might be the most important person on that team and I'll tell you why: If you look at last year when he got hurt in August and didn't play much in September - actually rushed himself back - bottom line: HE is the reason this team plays well.

He controls the pitching staff. He's the heart and soul - When they lost him in August, they were done. That's when they fell way behind the Yankees. They had absolutely no chance after he was gone. He is so important to them." -- New York Yankees game announcer & ESPN radio personality Michael Kay, during his radio show (August 27, 2007).

And Three NHL Hall of Famers -

"I have great respect for Jason. He handles himself so well and you don't hear him complaining. Last year when they brought in a new catcher, Jason did a great job when he was called upon. He's a good person. I've come to know him and he's a gentleman." -- Bobby Orr, Boston Bruins HOF'er, during a Celebrity Skate at Fenway Park on December 18, 2009 as the NHL prepares to get the baseball venue ready for the Winter Classic between the Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers on New Year's Day.

"The thing that's impressive about Jason is his work ethic. How he approaches the game and his leadership. With our fan base, whether it's hockey, football, baseball or basketball, fans want to see guys who are committed, who work hard, who put out an effort, and that's what Jason has done." -- Cam Neely, Boston Bruins HOF'er, December 18, 2009.

"He's an incredible player and has had so many great years with the Red Sox," said Bourque. "He really stabilized that position for so many years. You just listen to the pitchers and their thoughts about working with a guy like that says it all right there." -- Ray Bourque, Boston Bruins HOF'er, who has gotten to know Jason through their work with the Celebrities for Charity organization.

Have you met Jason? Had your picture taken with him? Taken a picture of him? If the answer is yes, and you would like to share your story and/or photo, please e-mail me!

• Boston Red Sox
• Red Sox Foundation
• Jimmy Fund
• Jason Varitek Celebrity Putt-Putt Tournament
• Celebrities for Charities Foundation
• Pitching In For Kids Foundation
• All-Star Sports (makers of Jason's catcher's gear)
• RBI Academy
• Curt's Pitch for ALS
• The Mike Lowell Foundation
• J-V.com MySpace
• Big Ben News (my other site)