"Captain America" Launched The Fireworks...
July 4, 2009 - Have a safe and happy Holiday weekend!
...but unfortunately, it was the only fireworks displayed in a loss to the Mariners!
From Ian Browne's post-game column:
All the Mariners needed was for a ball to fall in somewhere, and that's exactly what happened when Chris Woodward's pop fly into short right fell out of the reach of a tumbling Dustin Pedroia. The RBI single put the Mariners in front for good in a game that had been tied since the top of the fifth.
Brad Penny turned in another solid start for the Sox, giving up six hits and two runs over six innings. The righty also walked one and struck out six.
Jason Varitek (2 for 3) gave the Red Sox one loud burst of offense in the bottom of the second, crushing a two-run homer into the Monster Seats against Garrett Olson to make it 2-0. It was Varitek's 12th homer of the season, his first at Fenway since May 22nd.
The Mariners got one of the runs back on an RBI double by Russell Branyan in the third. It was Branyan who again came through, producing a sacrifice fly to left in the fifth.
The Red Sox had a promising opportunity to take the lead in the sixth, when Varitek clubbed a single to left to put runners on first and third with nobody out. But Rocco Baldelli got hung up between third and home on a fielder's-choice grounder back to the mound by Jacoby Ellsbury. That reduced the rally to first and second with one out, and things fizzled out from there.
To see video of Jason's two-run homer, click here.
To see video of his post-game interview, click here.
To see photos and screen captures of Jason's "Captain America" gear, click here.
To see game photos, click here.
Jason's current stats: AVG .240 | HR 12 | RBI 34 | OBP .343 | SLG .490
The Jason Varitek Fourth Of July Equipment Raffle
July 3, 2009
Here's your chance to have Jason Varitek personally present you with his game-used and autographed equipment...and I have a "sneak peak" of it right here!
From the Celebrities for Charity organization and NetRaffle.org:
Help Jason in his efforts to support Saints Medical Center and, in return, you could have Jason present you with his game-used and autographed equipment.
Tickets start at just $2.00 each and decrease for orders of more than 5 tickets.
Grand Prize:
- Winner will be presented, personally by Jason Varitek at a Red Sox Game, his game-used and autographed Mask, Chest Protector, and Shin Guards.
- Winner will receive 4 tickets to a Red Sox Game (where the equipment will be presented).
- Winner will receive an on field tour of Fenway Park before the game.
Entry Deadline: 11:00 AM EDT, August 3, 2009.
For complete details and to order your tickets, click here.
*You must be 18 years of age, or older, to purchase a ticket.
The equipment was made by All-Star Sports, and according to Stan Jurga, Jr., owner of All-Star, the gear is very similar to last year's Fourth of July gear, but the chest protector (their new CP30 model) has an added star above the "All-Star" name and a large white accent stripe down the center. As Stan said, "We think it pops even more than last year’s!"
To see a larger versions of the gear, click here.
*Thank you to Stan and Brad Jurga for the "sneak peak" photos and information, and also to Jon from Celebrities for Charity.
Also Today:
All-Star Voting Update
"Catcher: Jason Varitek, Boston: This is no slight to Joe Mauer, one of baseball's best players and one of the most fun to watch. But is there anyone who looks like a ballplayer quite as much as Varitek? If he broke out some story about catching the Dean brothers in his early days, I wouldn't be a bit surprised."-- Sports Illustrated "Inside Baseball" writer Tim Marchman in his column yesterday on his picks (and why) for the 2009 All-Star Game.
From MLB.com:
The fans have spoken. The votes are in. The next step comes Sunday, when the 2009 All-Star Game Selection Show will air on TBS from 1-2 p.m. ET, and fans will find out if their favorite players made it.
After more than two months of faithfully voting up to 25 times online and punching ballpark ballots, Major League Baseball fans have spoken loudly to decide starting position players for the 80th All-Star Game on July 14 at Busch Stadium.
Fan voting continued at a record pace this year with 19.2 million votes cast on Wednesday as the 11:59 ET deadline approached.
After the 32-man teams are announced, fans will then be allowed to vote for the 33rd and final player on each All-Star team. Balloting begins immediately following that announcement show and continues until 4 p.m. on Thursday, July 9. Teams and individual fan bases that are involved will try to throw the most forceful grassroots campaigns behind their candidates, and the two winners will be announced on MLB.com shortly thereafter.
Again, thank you to everyone who voted for Jason, and for the wonderful emails!
Event Postponed!
July 2, 2009
The Jason Varitek Celebrity Putt-Putt Tournament has been rescheduled!
Due to poor weather conditions, Jason's tournament has been postponed until Monday, September 14th, 2009.
The event will still take place at the Ferncroft Country Club in Middleton, Massachusetts from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.
The good news is, you still have time to purchase spectator tickets, which are $23.00 per person! Click here.
Comeback Win For Sox In 11 Innings
July 1, 2009
"It was a big character win for us. You can't look at one thing, there were a lot of contributions today...a lot of little things."-- Jason, after the game.
From NESN:
Heading into the ninth inning on Wednesday afternoon, Baltimore held a 5-1 lead, but that’s before the Red Sox’ bats finally woke up.
Following a walk to Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis stung a two-run homer to start the late rally. A couple strikeouts and two walks later, pinch hitter Rocco Baldelli laced a two-run single up the middle to tie things up at five apiece.
After brilliant relief work by the Sox pen, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jeff Bailey and Julio Lugo were able to plate the eventual game-winning run with two hits and a sacrifice to give the Sox the 6-5 victory in the 11th.
Pinch hitter Rocco Baldelli came in for shortstop Nick Green in the ninth, and with two down and the bases juiced, the pride of Rhode Island smacked a base hit up the middle on a 1-1 heater to even things up at five and eventually send the game into extras. Baldelli would have never got to that spot if it weren’t for Jeff Bailey and Jason Varitek drawing consecutive walks to load 'em up.
The O's got to starter Josh Beckett with one run in the first, one in the second thanks to a Luke Scott homer, two more in the third and one more in the fourth when Ty Wigginton went deep. Beckett was able to settle down after Wigginton’s blast and went on to retire 12 in row before getting yanked after the seventh inning. The ace ended up allowing five earned runs on six hits while striking out five.
Final Score: Red Sox 6, Orioles 5
To read NESN's full game summary, click here.
To see video of Jason's interview, click here.
Don't Forget...
The MLB "roundtable interview"
The interview, with Jason, Tim Wakefield and David Ortiz will be shown in it's entirety on Sunday's special edition of the Red Sox Report on NESN at 10:30 p.m., and again on Tuesday, July 7th at 1:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
The trio shared their thoughts about the passion of the Sox fans after Fenway's 500th straight sellout this past week. They are the only remaining members of the team from the beginning of the sellout that started on May 15, 2003.
Saturday is July 4th, and you know what that means!
Tek will be wearing special catcher's gear designed by All-Star for the holiday. The gear will then be sold on MLB.com's auction site with proceeds benefitting one of Tek's favorite charities.
Hopefully, I will have a sneak peak photo to post of the gear prior to Saturday's game (Stan, are you reading this? send me a sneak peak!).
The Jason Varitek Celebrity Putt Putt Tournament
...is tomorrow at Ferncroft Country Club in Middleton, Massachusetts. If you attend and would like to share your photos or story or both, please email me (erin@jason-varitek.com)!
All-Star Voting Update: Tek Still In Second Place
June 30, 2009 - Evening Update (see below)
Only two days left to vote!
According to MLB.com 's latest update...
"With 2,851,819 votes, Twins catcher Joe Mauer is within striking distance of both Jeter and Longoria. Mauer holds a 1.45 million-vote lead over Boston's Jason Varitek, who is followed by the Yankees' Jorge Posada and the Rangers' Jarrod Saltalamacchia."
Remember, while it looks impossible that he will ever catch up to and pass Mauer (who has had a great season so far), the Captain could still go to the All-Star Game - his fourth - if he is selected once again by the players, or the managers. The starting spot goes to the winner in fan voting. The backup goes to the winner in player voting, or the second place finisher if the top two players are the same for both the fan vote and the player vote.
Vote totals so far:
1. Joe Mauer (Twins) - 2,851,819
2. Jason Varitek (Red Sox) - 1,399,946
3. Jorge Posada (Yankees) - 1,095,219
4. Jarrod Saltalamacchia (Rangers) - 1,002,391
5. Victor Martinez (Indians) - 867,613
Thank you to everyone for votin', and let's keep it goin'! Voting ends in two days!
Starting rosters will be announced during the 2009 All-Star Game Selection Show presented by Pepsi on TBS this Sunday. Fans will then be able to select the final player on each team via the 2009 All-Star Game Sprint Final Vote at MLB.com.
And the voting doesn't end there. Fans will have the opportunity to participate in the official voting for the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet at the Midsummer Classic via the 2009 All-Star Game Sprint MVP Vote at MLB.com.
Cast your votes at MLB.com (just look for the "Vote Now" link!).
Tonight's Game:
Hey, where's everybody going?
From the Boston Herald and the Globe -
The first clue that things were about to go horribly wrong for the Red Sox came at the end of the sixth inning, as the entire infield trotted back to the third-base dugout after Felix Pie grounded out.
Small problem: There were only two out.
Jason Varitek stood at home plate, hands on hips and confusion on his face. The outfielders and Varitek stayed put.
"I think Pedey was leading the charge. I looked up and saw Tek standing there all by himself. The first thing I think is I must be nuts. I’ve never seen that," said Francona. "Pedey came in, and said, 'I led the charge. I [screwed] up.' And everybody followed him. I'm looking down at my card, like what the [heck] did I miss."
But in dropping an 11-10 decision to the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards, the Red Sox suffered what may well be the worst loss of the Terry Francona era. There they were, leading 10-1, the game so out of hand that Francona pulled catcher Jason Varitek from the game, giving some playing time to rookie George Kottaras.
By the time it was over, a parade of Red Sox relievers had been bombarded by the feisty young Orioles, finally pulling ahead in the bottom of the eighth when Nick Markakis lined a two-run double to left-center off closer Jonathan Papelbon.
It ended with Jason Bay striking out, and for the first time since 1989 the Red Sox had blown a nine-run lead.
"We pretty much imploded," Papelbon said. "I can't think of any better word to use."
Also Tonight:
"The Wieters-Varitek connection"
From MASN's Steve Melewski -
They went to the same college. They are both catchers and both are switch hitters.
O's catcher Matt Wieters has been compared to Boston's Jason Varitek since the day he walked on to the Georgia Tech campus, where Varitek once put up amazing numbers.
Varitek was a three-time All-American at Tech and was named Baseball America's college Player of the Year in 1993. Wieters put up his big numbers at Tech from 2005 to 2007.
"He would come back to Tech for baseball banquets and other events. He's definitely a guy you can learn from and just see his baseball knowledge and draw from it however you can," Wieters said.
"This is the first time I've seen him play in person. It's like watching film from the dugout, because you want to see how he's calling a game and how he is going about it and take from that."
To read Mr. Melewski's entire column, click here.
"Picnic In The Park" Auction
June 29, 2009 - Evening Update (see below)
From NESN this afternoon:
The Red Sox will be holding a one-of-a-kind auction at their 2009 Picnic in the Park presented by Ace Ticket. The exciting event will be held at Fenway Park exactly one hour following the end of the July 5 home game against the Seattle Mariners. The game is scheduled for a 1:35 p.m. start time.
The Red Sox’ Wives are holding the auctions, for which proceeds will benefit the Red Sox Foundation’s charitable programs.
Some of the auction prizes include a pitching lesson with Justin Masterson, meetings with Jacoby Ellsbury and Jason Varitek, playing a board game against Mike Lowell, playing video games against Jonathan Papelbon, watching a movie with David Ortiz, rolling sushi with the Okajimas, a batting lesson from Kevin Youkilis and much more.
Tickets for the event can be purchased at www.redsoxfoundation.org or by calling (617)226-6440. Tickets are $350 for general admission; MVP tickets are $600, which include an autographed baseball signed by a Red Sox Hall of Famer, a bleacher ticket to the July 5 game against the Mariners and other amenities.
Fans who are unable to attend the picnic can still bid on the auction items by placing proxy bids through the Red Sox Foundation. Proxy bids must be in by July 5 at noon. To place a bid, contact Gena Borson at (617)226-6440 or email the Red Sox Foundation at redsoxfoundation@redsox.com.
To read Deanna's (above) "Picnic in the Park" fan story, click here.
Other fan stories can be found here.
Also Today:
Looking for a gift for the little Red Sox fan in your life or perhaps something to keep him busy for long summer road trips?
Then how about The Red Sox Coloring and Activity Book, packed with more than 50 pages of pictures to color and fun activities to keep that little fan busy!
This is the latest and most updated edition of the book from Hawk Publishing and features brand new illustrations and images of such fan favorites as Jonathan Papelbon, Jacoby Ellsbury and Jason Varitek, along with an all new World Series Championship Crossword Puzzle and updated Player Challenge Game.
The books are just $11.95 each and can be purchased online here.
To check out a larger pic of little guy/big fan Patrick Julian and his brothers here (9th row).
How 'bout that game...
Tek goes 2-4 with an RBI and a run as Sox win in Baltimore!
J.D. Drew finished a double short of the cycle and drove in two runs, while Jon Lester turned in seven scoreless innings, as Boston downed Baltimore, 4-0, in the opener of a three-game set from Camden Yards.
Dustin Pedroia knocked in a run, and Jason Varitek added two hits and drove in the other run for the Red Sox, who have won seven of their last nine games.
Lester (7-6) scattered five hits while fanning eight without a walk to claim victory for his second straight start and for the fourth time in five decisions. Jonathan Papelbon recorded the final out for his 19th save.
The Sox picked up a run in the first, as Drew led off with a triple and scored when Pedroia followed with a single.
Three more runs came home in the fourth on a Varitek RBI single and a two-run blast later from Drew. Kevin Youkilis had a chance to extend the lead to five, but his drive to deep center was hauled in on a leaping catch by Adam Jones at the wall.
Lester was in control throughout, retiring the side in order in the first, third and sixth innings while not allowing a runner past second base for his entire outing.
Drew singled in the sixth and faced Brian Bass with two down in the eighth and Varitek on second but grounded to second for the final out to derail his chance for the cycle.
Manny Delcarmen and Hideki Okajima combined to pitch a scoreless eighth. Ramon Ramirez allowed a single to Wigginton and walked Melvin Mora with two down before giving way to Papelbon. He was helped out by Jason Bay's diving catch in left on a shallow fly by Matt Wieters to end the game.
Jason's current stats: AVG .240 | HR 11 | RBI 31 | OBP .335 | SLG .485
To see game photos, click here.
To see Tek's post-game interview, click here.
Tek-nically Speaking...
"It's not really that new. It's close for our fans, an easy trip and tickets are available. That makes it a fun trip for people to come here. It doesn't hurt, that's for sure. Anytime you can go anywhere and have support, it's great for your organization and team. But it still comes down to making plays on the field. It's great that we have that support in a lot of places." -- Jason, speaking to MASN, on the large number of Sox fans that invade Camden Yards turning it into "Fenway South".
You Can Still Bid For A Good Cause...
June 28, 2009 - Afternoon Update (see below)
...And For Some Great Gear!
There is still time to bid on Jason's game-worn gear on MLB.com:
The camouflage gear worn on Memorial Day (5/25/09 vs. Minnesota Twins) to honor the troops has a high bid of $1,000. Bidding ends July 17th.
Proceeds from the auction benefit the Massachusetts Soldiers Legacy Fund.
To check out the auction and to place your bid, click here.
And:
The Mother's Day gear (worn on 5/10/09 vs. Tampa Bay Rays) has a high bid of $1300. Bidding ends this week, June 30th!
Proceeds from the auction benefit the Susan G. Koman for the Cure Foundation.
To check out this auction and to place your bid, click here.
Both sets include his mask, shin guards and chest protector, all made by All-Star.
Today's Game:
(NESN) Sox Lose 2-1 to the Atlanta Braves, but not without a fight!
Dirt Dog:
Jason Varitek smacked a would-be single off the mitt of sprawling second baseman Kelly Johnson in the top of the seventh and as right fielder Jeff Francoeur took his time getting the ball, the Sox captain turned on the boosters and took second base for his 16th double of the season. Tek also ripped an RBI single in the top of the ninth to plate the Sox’ lone run.
"It'll be good to get our full lineup back, but sometimes it's fun to play National League teams because the games are quicker," said Jason Varitek after the game.
To see photos from the game, click here.
To see video of Jason's RBI single in the ninth, click here.
Jason's current stats: AVG .235 | HR 11 | RBI 30 | OBP .332 | SLG .485
Tek Stats:
Jason Varitek and David Ortiz are closing in on Manny Ramírez for the Red Sox record for most different ballparks having homered in. Ramírez hit home runs in 25 parks for Boston. Varitek’s home run in Washington on Wednesday gives him 24 parks. Ortiz’s the same night brings him to 23. -- Bill Ballou, from his column this morning in the Worcester Telegram.
From the Kelly O'Connor Collection...
Just one, but it's a beauty!
Check out a larger version of this shot from Kelly, taken during the June 25th Nationals game.
Click here.
And of course, for all of Kelly's photography, check out her site here.
*Thank you Kelly!
Final Reminder, Don't Miss Out...
June 27, 2009
The Jason Varitek Celebrity Putt-Putt Tournament is next week!
The Tournament is scheduled for July 2nd at Ferncroft Country Club in Middleton, Massachusetts.
Spectator tickets are still available and just $23.00 per person.
Money raised from the event will benefit the Saints Medical Center and the Celebrities for Charity Foundation.
To purchase your spectator tickets, click here.
You can check out the fun from previous Putt-Putt's here, here and here.
Tek-nically Speaking...
"Josh threw the ball well. He had to pitch out of a little more trouble today but he kept us in the game and we were able to plug away. All through spring, Josh was trying to find himself mechanically. When he throws through me and his mechanics are sound, we can get a good mix of his off-speed pitches to complement his fastball." -- Jason on Josh Beckett's performance in last night's 4-1 win against the Atlanta Braves.
To see photos from last night's game, click here.
"They're Getting A Little Extra From Varitek"
June 25, 2009 - Afternoon Update
Excerpts from Nick Cafardo's column in the Boston Globe this afternoon:
Jason Varitek has had stiffness around his neck for the last 12 days or so and he's been able to keep it pretty quiet. Red Sox manager Terry Francona's lips have been sealed until reporters saw Varitek get a rubdown in the dugout Tuesday night.
Francona jokingly said the media was a little slow catching up to the injury, saying it was an old wound Varitek's been dealing with. According to the captain, he was injured June 12 against the Phillies.
"I don't know how I did it," Varitek said. "I don’t know if it was from whiplash from a foul ball or what. Honestly, I have no idea. We've been treating it and we're staying on top of it and hope it goes away."
In other words, it has not gone away. Varitek had an ice pack virtually everywhere last night - neck, knees, groin, hamstrings. He could barely walk to the locker.
Varitek's production offensively has been timely and his leadership behind the plate is a given.
With the Sox leading, 4-1, last night, he hit a very important home run, an upper deck shot to right with David Ortiz aboard off Nationals starter Craig Stammen.
"I hit it pretty good and it came at a good time," Varitek said.
Hitting coach Dave Magadan believes the neck issue bothers Varitek when he's hitting.
"I think it probably bothers him a little bit more on that left side," he said. "He feels like there's some pitches where he kind of cuts his swing off a little bit. I think he's felt better over the past couple days. He got some work on it. But you can see when he's taking BP, he’s trying to protect. He cuts his swing off if the pitch is coming where he’s got to reach for it."
Sixty percent of Varitek's hits (26 for 43) have been for extra bases, the second-highest ratio in the majors behind Rays first baseman Carlos Pena, whose at 64 percent. Nine of Varitek's last 12 hits (six doubles, three homers) have gone for extra bases. For a guy hitting .229, when he hits safely, it usually means something.
"I'll be honest, it's been frustrating," Varitek said. "I've hit a lot of balls that could have been singles that have been hit right at people. I've always had strength so I can drive the ball. I don't run awful so I can turn some close ones into doubles. It's not that I'm any stronger or anything like that. I'm hitting some balls hard. I wish more would fall in, but hopefully that evens out."
Varitek rarely speaks about himself. Somewhere inside this proud man he must think, "I told you I have something left," although he would never say it. He wanted to show it. He felt he needed to show it. He's hitting just 9 percentage points better than the average he ended his worst season with, though his 11 home runs in 53 games indicate his power stroke has returned.
"It's been frustrating because I haven’t always had the results," Varitek said. "I keep grinding away, but I know I can help us defensively. That still holds a bigger priority for me."
When you start listing the names of players the Red Sox can’t live without, you have to place Varitek high atop that list.
And then there are moments like last night, when you realize he can still do some important things at the plate.
Take a moment and read Mr. Cafardo's complete column on Tek here.
*Check the post below for news and links from last night's game! (I did it at 2 AM after I got home from the game, so please forgive any typos!).
Tek Belts 11th Homer In Win Against Nationals
June 25, 2009
"Tek's swing - that was about as far as you can hit a ball!" -- Terry Francona during his post-game interview.
From the Washington Post this morning:
David Ortiz got his 1,000th RBI, Nick Green played a scary game of dodge-the-bat, and the Boston Red Sox looked right at home again in the nation's capital Wednesday night in a 6-4 victory over the Washington Nationals.
Red Sox Nation invaded Nationals Park for the second consecutive night, their fans stuffing the seats for a crowd of 41,530 - breaking the ballpark record by 13 set in the series opener on Tuesday. So far, it's been worth the trip: Boston has won the first two games by a combined score of 17-7 in its first regular-season visit to Washington since 1971.
Ortiz and Jason Varitek homered, and Jon Lester (6-6) allowed three runs and six hits over six innings for the Red Sox, who have won 16 of 21. Jonathan Papelbon got his 17th save.
One of Washington's hits came because Green was more concerned with a bouncing broken bat that arrived just ahead of Elijah Dukes' routine grounder in the second inning.
The shortstop fended off the flying debris with his right forearm and couldn't field the ball. The bat ended up upright in the grass in shallow left field, and Dukes was awarded a single in a rally that produced the Nationals' only run until the sixth inning.
Craig Stammen (1-3) was perfect for three innings for the Nationals, but the rookie threw a 3-2 changeup to Ortiz with two outs and two on in the fourth. Ortiz launched the ball beyond the center field wall to give him RBI No. 1,000 - along with two more.
Varitek hit a fastball into the bleachers in right-center for a two-run shot in the sixth to give the Red Sox a 6-1 lead. The Nationals scored two in the bottom of the inning on Josh Willingham's single and added another in the seventh on Cristian Guzman's triple, but Ryan Zimmerman's bid to tie the game in the seventh fell a couple of feet short when center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury snagged a deep fly just before bumping into the fence in front of the Red Sox bullpen.
To see photos from the game, click here.
"Varitek Shrugs Off Nagging Injury"
From Red Sox beat writer Ian Browne for MLB.com last night:
The only thing new about Jason Varitek's latest ache or pain is that NESN cameras captured images of the catcher being worked on by trainer Paul Lessard during Tuesday night's win over the Nationals.
As it turns out, Varitek has had some discomfort in his left shoulder and left side of his neck for a while now and he simply never said anything about it to the media.
It's OK," said Varitek. "I don't think you can play my position and not have things that get banged up. It's all right. It's nothing new. Paul wasn't necessarily working on my shoulder, he was working on my neck. It's kind of a combination of both."
Varitek never talks about injuries. Instead, he plays through them. So again, Varitek was in the Red Sox's lineup on Wednesday, batting sixth.
How long has Varitek been dealing with his current ailments? He cut off that line of questioning in mid-sentence.
"That's all I'm going to say about it," Varitek said. "I could go down a list, and if I [sat] because of everything that ever bothered me, I would never play. The most important thing is that I get out on the field."
To read the entire article and see a video of Jason's 2-run homer, click here.
Tek-nically Speaking...
"I use ash, and ash sometimes really doesn't do the same. I've had them break in funny ways this year on different balls. That was a freaky thing. The bat went farther than the ball. The things they have done with the studies, hopefully we'll get some results and get things cleaned up before anyone gets hurt. You get a sharp piece coming at your face it is pretty scary." -- Jason on the flying broken bat that struck Nick Green in the forearm during last night's game.
"Quite a bit. I'll draw a lot from this experience of being able to have the most prepared catcher in all of baseball and I certainly don't anticipate shaking my head too many times. The most committed pitch I can throw is the best pitch I can throw and we go from there." -- John Smoltz in an interview with WEEI on how much he will rely on Jason in his first start with the Sox.
"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 19th (better late than never!).
Sox Win In Washington, 11-3
June 24, 2009
From Ian Browne at MLB.com:
They are opportunistic by nature, and that is just one reason the Red Sox lead the American League with 43 wins. And creating chances for the opponent has certainly been one of the culprits in the Washington Nationals having the fewest victories (20) in the Majors.
A perfect tale of the two teams presented itself in the top of the seventh inning of an 11-3 triumph by the Red Sox in the opener of a three-game series on Tuesday night at Nationals Park.
With the game locked in a 3-3 tie, Kevin Youkilis hit a grounder to third, and the Red Sox were about to have two outs and nobody on base. But Ryan Zimmerman's throw to first one-hopped Nick Johnson for an error, and Boston had life. The error by Zimmerman was a Major League-leading 65th by Washington.
Jason Bay then struck a single to left and Youkilis aggressively roared to third. Bay moved to second on the throw, and the Nationals had pitcher Julian Tavarez issued an intentional walk to Mike Lowell. The hope was that Jason Varitek would hit into an inning-ending double play.
Instead, the captain got the job done, lofting a sacrifice fly to left to put the Red Sox ahead for good in a game that had several momentum shifts.
Once that door was opened a little -- thanks to Zimmerman's throw and the subsequent hustle of Youkilis -- the Red Sox busted it open.
They erupted for six in the eighth and added another in the ninth.
It was the first time the Red Sox played a game in Washington, D.C., since Sept. 19, 1971, when they beat a Senators team managed by Ted Williams.
Brad Penny went 5 2/3 innings for the Sox, giving up six hits and three runs. anny Delcarmen recorded just one out, but it was good enough to earn him the win.
It was Bay that started the process of creating breathing room, when he smoked a two-run single to left with one out in the eighth. Varitek added an RBI single and then Ellsbury unloaded for a two-run triple. Nick Green capped the damage in the game-breaking frame, roping an RBI single.
Youkilis had given the Red Sox a 3-2 lead in the fifth with an RBI single to left that scored Pedroia.
But the Nats, led by two former Red Sox, rallied against Penny in the bottom of the sixth. Josh Bard smacked a two-out single to right and Willie Harris drove him home with a double down the line in right.
The Red Sox, however, took control for the rest of the night.
For the entire game summary and to see video of the Sox' 6-run eighth inning, click here.
To see the latest game photos, click here.
"Varitek Tweaks Shoulder"
From the Boston Globe's Adam Gilgore:
NESN cameras showed trainers working on catcher Jason Varitek's shoulder between innings. After the game, Varitek had an extended conversation with trainers Mike Reinold and Paul Lessard, then went with Lessard into the training room. Dusty Brown replaced Varitek in the ninth inning, giving Brown, 27, his major league debut.
From Terry Francona's interview on the Dale & Holley Show this morning:
On Jason's playing time -
"I'm not going to apologize for wanting to play him. I mean, he's good! We're going to be a better team with him on the field. He's been a little beat up the last couple weeks and again, we'll rest him when we thinks it's necessary. But at the same time, we like him being on the field. There's a reason he has that reputation, it's well-earned. So we want him running the game for us."
Terry said not to read anything in to the Dusty Brown call-up. "We had a free roster spot with Dice-K going on the disabled list, Smoltz not being activated until tomorrow, if we got into a game and something happened to a catcher, we would be kicking ourselves. We had a free roster spot for three games."
To hear Terry's interview, click here.
In the Community...
Remember the item in the Boston Globe on Jason attending an end-of-the-year party for a neighbor's child (from my June 20th post below)? Well, there is a better article here:
From the Wicked Local (Newton) News -
What Robin Brody's first-grade class remembers about their year-end party probably won't involve pizza, cake or running through sprinklers in student Mitchell Healey's Waban backyard. His classmates' memories will most likely be of a visit from Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek.
"A few kids said it was the best day of their lives," Mitchell said of his Angier Elementary School classmates.
Mitchell's parents, Joe and Robin Healey, had invited the Sox catcher, who is also their neighbor, to the party, but had no idea if he’d make it.
"It was a total surprise for everyone," Robin said.
As the party was winding down, Varitek came out onto his deck and asked Robin how many kids were at the party. She told him "20".
A few minutes later, she said, he was back with a stacked of signed photos of him jumping into pitcher Jonathan Papelbon's arms after winning the 2007 World Series.
This is the second year the Healeys have hosted Mitchell’s end-of-the-year party, and Joe doesn’t think they can top this year’s guest.
"We had a perfect three-hour party," he said. "But the only thing the kids remembered was the last 10 minutes."
To read the entire article and to see a larger version of the photo, click here.
Okay, headin' off to Game 2 at Nationals Stadium....traffic, here I come!!
All-Star Voting Update: Tek Still In The 2-Spot
June 23, 2009
Good work! Let's keep it up!
According to MLB.com's latest update...
"Behind the plate, Joe Mauer leads Jason Varitek and Jorge Posada as he looks for his second straight All-Star Game start."
Mauer's lead is big, and Posada's gaining ground from his spot in third place, but if we can keep voting for Tek, he may still make his fourth All-Star appearance!
Vote totals so far:
1. Joe Mauer (Twins) - 2,298,544
2. Jason Varitek (Red Sox) - 1,108,054
3. Jorge Posada (Yankees) - 947,887
4. Jarrod Saltalamacchia (Rangers) - 827,063
5. Victor Martinez (Indians) - 754,571
Thank you to everyone who has been voting...and let's keep it goin'!
Cast your votes at MLB.com (just look for the 2009 All-Star Game link)!
Also Today:
"Nationals Gearing Up For Red Sox"
East Coast matchup to play out in Washington for first time
From the Washington Nationals official site:
Nationals pitcher John Lannan predicts that when the Red Sox come to Nationals Park for a three-game series beginning Tuesday, there will be an 80/20 split between the teams' fan bases.
That's 80 percent visiting Red Sox fans and 20 percent Nationals fans.
For Nationals fans, it's a mark-your-calendar-type game. All multigame ticket packages the organization sold included a game against the Red Sox.
For Red Sox fans, it's just another road trip fewer than 450 miles away to see their team play in a different ballpark.
The Red Sox swept the Nationals at Fenway Park in 2006. This will be the first meeting between the two teams since the club moved to Washington. The only current Nationals player to log action for the Nats in that 2006 series is Ryan Zimmerman, but Willie Harris and Julian Tavarez were both involved as members of the Red Sox.
"I had a good time playing there," Harris said about his brief stay in Boston. "I didn't play much, but I had a good time. It was just fun being a part of that organization, seeing the support they have -- wherever they go, they have 10,000-15,000 fans."
Harris anticipates those fans to be at Nationals Park in full force this week.
"Red Sox Nation -- they have fans across the world," he said. "This place is gonna be crazy Tuesday through Thursday. I'm looking forward to it. Our fans are going to be behind us and they're fans are gonna be behind them."
To read the entire article, click here.
*Now, according to MLB-Radio's Jeff Joyce on his "Inside Pitch" program today, the Nationals' organization released an email advising their fans that they are expecting "record crowds" and are asking people to arrive much earlier than they normally would for other Nationals games.
**On That Note: Post-game news for the site will be delayed (until the next morning) for the Nationals series since I will be attending the games, and then trying to make my way back to the Virginia suburbs afterwards!
Tek: From Player To Manager Some Day?
June 22, 2009
From MLB.com's "Around the Cage" Series Today:
Mike Scioscia was known as a tough catcher and one of the best blockers of home plate in baseball long before he won a World Series title as the manager of the Angels.
Terry Francona was an up-and-coming big league outfielder in the 1980s before he blew out his knees, but history will remember him as the skipper who brought a long-awaited championship to Boston in 2004.
And Ken Macha, now at the helm of the Milwaukee Brewers, didn't find much success playing professional baseball in America, but became a well-respected player, not to mention childhood hero of Ichiro Suzuki, in Japan.
The bottom line is that some baseball players become managers, transferring their knowledge, people skills and rekindled inner fire to a younger generation.
So who will the next crop be? Which of today's players will become tomorrow's managers? And why do former players make good skippers?
These were the latest Around The Cage questions posed by MLB.com's beat reporters to a host of hardball luminaries in the clubhouses, offices and broadcast booths of the Major Leagues.
Popular choices among current big league players for future managerial success include Mets infielder Alex Cora and a trio of catchers: Jason Varitek of the Red Sox, Brewers backstop Jason Kendall and Dodgers veteran Brad Ausmus.
MLB.com's Doug Miller gives a sample size of comments from those in the game:
Jason Bay, LF, Red Sox: "If you ask anyone, they're going to say Jason Varitek. The old saying is that a lot of the old catchers make good managers, because they manage the game when they're playing. Based on what he knows and all the studying he does, I think it's a natural fit."
Joe Kerrigan, pitching coach, Pirates: "One name that comes off the top of my mind is Jason Varitek. I think a lot of people would agree with that today. He's got the personality to deal with this generation's personality. He's got knowledge of the game and he's got the understanding of how to deal with people. I think that guy would be a lot of people's choices if you asked a player today who would qualify, maybe five, 10 years down the line as a manager. Varitek would probably be on most people's lists."
To read the entire article, click here.
Tek, Wake & Big Papi In The House!
June 21, 2009 - Happy Father's Day!
Jason, Tim Wakefield and David Ortiz sat down with MLB.com and shared their thoughts about the passion of the Sox fans after Fenway's 500th straight sellout this past week. The three are the only remaining members of the team from the beginning of the sellout that started on May 15, 2003.
It turned into a loose, funny interview between the three when Big Papi was asked about the song "Sweet Caroline".
To watch the video, click here.
NESN will air the interview on their July Red Sox Report.
*Thank you to Barbara for sending me the link!
Tek's Father's Day gear:
Although he'll only be catching in the bullpen today, Jason will wear special Father's Day gear which will be auctioned off at MLB.com with proceeds going to the Prostate Cancer Foundation.
The catcher's gear, made by All-Star, has light blue accents on red with the word "DAD" embroidered in red on the blue-accented neckline of the chest protector, rather than his traditional "Tek".
To see a larger version of the screen capture, click here.
Also Today:
From an article in the Boston Herald this morning:
The last time Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek encountered Derek Lowe’s sinker they were batterymates in Game 4 of the 2004 World Series.
Until last night, when Varitek produced a pair of doubles to left-center field and scored twice while hitting against Lowe in the Red Sox’ 3-0 win over Atlanta at Fenway Park.
Lowe went 6 innings and gave up three runs on seven hits in his debut as a visiting player at Fenway.
Lowe and Varitek arrived together on the Red Sox from Seattle on July 31, 1997, in a trade for Heathcliff Slocumb, and their names were linked for the next eight years.
"I’ve seen Derek throw for so long and he's a good friend," said Varitek, who went 2-for-3 on the night against Lowe.
"I’ve played with him for too long to not see how he was doing elsewhere. I had a ball fall in and I was able to get enough on the other breaking ball to get down through it a little bit."
Lowe's sinker stymied the Red Sox through four innings and produced 10 groundouts before Varitek stepped in with two outs in the fifth. Varitek drove the ball high off the Green Monster. After Varitek advanced on a wild pitch, shortstop Nick Green swatted a Lowe sinker off The Wall to produce the only run Red Sox starter Josh Beckett would need.
Lowe exited the field to a huge ovation from the Red Sox fans and he acknowledged their outpouring with a tip of the cap.
"It was a great thing to see," said Varitek. "It's been so long since he's had a chance to be back here.
"As long as he was here, I'm sure he really appreciated that. I know it was really nice to see."
Varitek's primary function is to handle the Red Sox' pitching staff and he guided Beckett to the third complete-game shutout of his career. Beckett threw an efficient 94 pitches, 67 for strikes and yielded five scattered hits with seven strikeouts.
"It was a mix with good quality location with his fastball, change, the sinker and four-seamer," said Varitek. "He works off that. They were aggressive and put some balls in play earlier in the count and that's big for a power pitcher like Josh."
To read the entire article, click here.
And:
Check out this excellent article on Tek entitled, "Old Reliable" from the Eagle Tribune's Alan Siegel this morning:
From the article...
The Stay Puft Marshmallow Man resides in a quiet corner of the Red Sox clubhouse.
You know him better as Jason Varitek, Boston's inimitable starting catcher. After every game, he emerges from the training room sporting bulging ice packs that make him look, well, like the 200-foot Stay Puft Marshmellow Man in "Ghostbusters."
"If you watch catchers, for the most part, they're tougher than the other guys," said four-time All-Star catcher Bob Boone, the Washington Nationals' vice president of player development and a Varitek admirer. "If a backswing hits you in the head, you keep playing. That comes with the territory."
Varitek has taken charge since his days as a three-time All-American at Georgia Tech. The 1994 National College Player of the Year, whose No. 33 was retired by the Yellow Jackets, spent his senior season dispelling the myth that an amateur catcher's responsibilities were limited to blocking balls in the dirt and throwing out runners.
"I might've called five pitches total the whole year," said head baseball coach Danny Hall, whose first year at Tech was Tek's last.
"He got more out of that pitching staff," Hall said of Varitek, "than anybody could get out of them."
Hall guessed that without Varitek in '94, the Yellow Jackets would've had 10 fewer wins.
Aside from injuries that derailed his 2001 (elbow) and 2006 seasons (knee), Varitek has stayed healthy enough to carry on.
Hall last saw Varitek at the catcher's home. It was shortly before spring training and, Hall said, "he was in the best shape of his life."
I'm ready to go," Varitek told Hall that day.
Having an abundance of young, live arms - like Boston does - is important. But Varitek's work isn't taken lightly. When Masterson got called up to the Sox last season, the catcher was there to help ease the transition.
Masterson said, "The first thing he said to me is, 'Hey, don't be afraid to shake (me off). If you don't want that pitch, then tell me you don't want that pitch, because I want you to throw what you want to throw.'"
If Masterson's in a bad mood, Varitek will head to the mound and make the pitcher laugh.
"Other guys, he might get up in their face," Masterson said. "It's amazing. Every pitcher is their own individual type of person. He does a great job understanding that they're all different."
"Catching five or six days a week," Hall said, "that's just a tremendous amount of punishment on your body."
That would explain all the ice packs.
Again, you can check out the entire article here, definitely worth a read!
Tek Stat:
Jason logged his 280th and 281st doubles, passing Nomar Garciaparra (279) for sole possession of eighth place on the Red Sox all-time list.
Check out the post below for more game info from last night.
Tek Is 2-3 With 2 Runs Scored In Beckett's 1st Sox Shutout
June 20, 2009 - Game Update
Josh Beckett allowed just five singles for his first shutout since joining the Red Sox, and Jason Varitek doubled twice (15 doubles on the season) and scored twice to lead Boston to a 3-0 victory over the Atlanta Braves tonight.
Beckett struck out seven, walked none and allowed only one runner to reach second base to win for the sixth time in seven decisions.
Jason helped Boston spoil the homecoming of ex-batterymate Derek Lowe, who spent 7-1/2 seasons with the Red Sox and helped them end their 86-year World Series drought.
In his first appearance at Fenway since the 2004 AL championship series — and his first-ever game against the Red Sox — Lowe (7-5) allowed three runs on seven hits, walking one and striking out two.
Lowe and Beckett were locked in a scoreless game until the fifth, when Jason doubled off center fielder Nate McLouth's glove and scored on Nick Green's double. J.D. Drew doubled to lead off the sixth and scored on Kevin Youkilis' single to make it 2-0.
Boston scored another in the seventh just before chasing Lowe from the game, but not before the Fenway crowd gave him a standing ovation as he walked to the visitor's dugout where he waved his cap in appreciation. Jason doubled again, Nick Green singled, and Pedroia beats out a double-play ball and scored Jason on a fielder's choice.
For those who don't remember, Derek Lowe came to the Red Sox with Jason in 1997 in a lopsided trade for closer Heathcliff Slocumb, and together they became the core of the team that would lead the franchise to the '04 World Series title.
Jason spoke with NESN's Heidi Watney on the field after the game:
Q: "A good night at the plate for you - what was it like facing Derek Lowe, a guy you caught for so many years?"
Jason: "It's not particularly fun (smiles), I was just lucky to get some good parts of the bat on the ball tonight."
Q: "Do you kind of feel like you knew what was coming because you had worked with him for so long?"
Jason: "No, I think it's the opposite. I think you get mind-logged, especially having not caught him for so long. He's changed a lot since he's been here, he's more slider than curveball. But it was a good reception for him though!"
To watch the video, click here.
To see photos and screen captures from the game, click here.
Derek Lowe Returns to Fenway...
June 20, 2009
From Derek Lowe's blog:
There probably isn't a better way to enter this blogging world than talking about the memories I have from that historical run I shared with the Red Sox had on the way to the 2004 World Series title Here we are five years later and when I go back with the Braves for this weekend's series at Fenway, it will be the first time I've been in Boston since I came back to get my championship ring in 2005.
I'm really looking forward to heading back to Boston to pitch this weekend. When I think of my career pretty much all my memories are in Boston.
When I tell people that the 2003 and 2004 Red Sox teams were the funnest that I've ever been a part of, they just say, "yeah, that's because you were winning."
But it was because we all had a chance to be together for a long time and that's something you don't see too often in this game any more. Plus it was also the most laid-back, check-your-ego-at-the-door team that I've ever seen.
To read his complete blog, click here.
And from an interview in the Boston Globe:
Aside from testing out the temporary new digs, he's spending his time trying to get back in touch with Jason Varitek and Tim Wakefield, his two closest friends left from the 2004 championship team.
"You do as much as you can seeing people," he said. "I texted both of them throughout the season. It's hard to keep in touch during the season -- you can't go out to dinner with them or anything -- but it's good to catch up.
"Coming in here, you kind of get these old vibes that are fresh in your mind. We had a lot of good memories here, and I have a lot of fond memories of the players," he said. "It's a great place to play, too."
To read the complete interview, click here.
We already know his thoughts on his former catcher:
"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 that off, 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." -- L.A. Dodgers pitcher Derek Lowe, during a pre-game interview when asked about catcher Russell Martin (first posted on October 13, 2008).
Also Today:
Tek takes time to party!
From the Boston Globe -
First-graders in Robin Brody’s class at the Angier School in Newton welcomed a special guest to their end-of-the-year party Wednesday: Jason Varitek.
Robin Healey and husband Joe, who are Tek's neighbors, invited the Sox captain to their son Mitchell's party and were delighted when he actually showed up and even brought autographed photos for the youngsters. "At the moment, he’s king of the first grade," Joe Healey said of his son.
Tek-nically Speaking...
"He's been a valuable part of our staff - period. As a starter, reliever, short guy and long guy and he's able to do a lot of different things...He has abilities and that's the big thing - he has the ability to throw strikes with a couple of different pitches, so that's huge. He'll continue to gain more experience. He's getting a feel for himself still. He's doing a good job at it." -- Jason during a post-game interview last night, on Justin Masterson's performance this season.
Okay, Okay, Okay...
I have finally buckled under the pressure and am now on Facebook!
Although unofficial fan pages are not permitted, you can find my personal page (with a mention or two about the site, of course!). If you are member, stop by and ask to be added. I would love to hear from you!
You can find me here.
If the link doesn't work, you can simply type in the email address: erin@jason-varitek.com
Thursday: Notes & Quotes
June 18, 2009
It's not too late...
...to bid on Jason's Mother's Day gear at MLB.com's auction site!
The auction doesn't end until midnight on June 30th, and the high bid is $1,300 right now. The game-worn set include his mask, shin guards and chest protector made by All-Star.
Proceeds from the auction will benefit the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation.
And coming up this weekend, I should have a "sneak peak" posted of Jason's Father's Day gear. So make sure to check back!
...to purchase tickets for Jason's Putt-Putt Tournament!
The Tournament is scheduled for July 2nd at Ferncroft Country Club in Middleton, Massachusetts.
Spectator tickets are just $23.00 per person.
Money raised from the event will benefit the Saints Medical Center and the Celebrities for Charity Foundation.
To purchase your spectator tickets, click here.
...to purchase tickets for the "V-Tek Sox vs. Yankees" Raffle!
Enjoy a RED SOX vs. YANKEES Game with three of your closest friends!
Grand Prize:
- Winner will receive 4 Premium Tickets to the August 22, 2009 Sox vs. Yankees game at Fenway Park (Game Time 4:10 PM)
- Winner and 3 guests will enjoy a pregame tour of Fenway Park
- Winner will receive a $100.00 gift certificate to Tresca Restaurant (located in Boston' historic North End)
- Winner will receive an autographed 8 x 10 photo of Jason
Tickets start at just $2.00 each and decrease for orders of more than 5 tickets.
Entry Deadline: 11:00 AM EDT, August 20, 2009
Help Jason and the Celebrities for Charity Foundation in their efforts to provide support to local charities and, in return, you could be enjoy an incredible experience at Fenway this summer!
The CFC Foundation is utilizing NetRaffle to conduct this raffle and tickets are only available online at their web site.
For more info, check out their Charity Raffles page here.
Tek-nically Speaking...
"I think that communication with the manager and coaches has been good. They come and talk to me and ask me 'How do you feel today?'. Captain Tek invites me to dinner and we have a great time once in awhile." -- Hideki Okajima, in an interview in the latest issue of Red Sox magazine.
"I'll probably have two good side sessions to fine-tune some stuff, and then I'm going to rely on the catchers they've got up there. I've been excited to throw to [Jason Varitek] for a long time, since spring training." -- John Smoltz, in an interview with NESN this week.
"Jason Varitek is done. He’s old. He’s in decline. He’s certainly not worth $5 million a year. The Red Sox should move on and trade whatever they have to and get a young catcher who will hold up for the future. I’m sure I’ve said at least a couple of those things. And I was wrong." -- Jeff Howe, columnist for the Metro International.
The...ahem...Quote of the Week winner:
"Today in the locker room I asked Varitek how he likes our cup and jock. He pulled up his shirt tails to show me he had it on. Priceless." -- Stan Jurga, Jr., owner of All-Star Sports on the company's Twitter entry.
And from an article in USA Today on the Baltimore Orioles' Matt Wieters -
In terms of pedigree, Wieters is similar to Varitek. Both are switch-hitters who played at Georgia Tech. Both became first-round draft choices, clients of agent Scott Boras and immersed in the intensity of the American League East.
As much as he grew up admiring the Georgia Tech teams with Varitek, Nomar Garciaparra and Jay Payton, Wieters has yet to have the chance to have a conversation with Varitek.
"It would be something nice to do some time," Wieters says. "The way he can control a team and control a pitching staff is something special."
If Wieters can have the kind of career Varitek has enjoyed in Boston — playing a dozen years as a regular behind the plate, establishing unquestioned levels of respect with his pitching staff, making three All-Star teams — he would be a huge success.
To read the entire article, click here.
Also Today:
Check out any photos you may have missed this week in the Gallery. I have added a few of Kelly O'Connor's latest, some from the last couple of games and from the Pitching in For Kids Tournament.
To see them all in one place, click here.
"A Great Day For Playing Golf And Raising Money"
June 16, 2009 - Afternoon Update (see below)
From the Boston Globe's "Celebrity" section this morning:
...At Indian Pond Country Club in Kingston, Sox teammates Tim Wakefield and Jason Varitek hosted their annual golf game benefiting the Pitching in for Kids Foundation.
Others knocking it around included John Smoltz (wearing a visor with a wig attached), Luis Tiant, Jim Lonborg, Hall of Famer Jim Rice, Lou Merloni, and Bob Montgomery. Sox utility man Nick Green also stopped by, and Wake's 5-year-old son, Trevor, surprised folks by throwing a pretty fair knuckleball of his own.
To read the rest of the column, click here.
To check out the Pitching in for Kids album, click here.
Also Today:
All-Star Game Voting Update
Tek overtakes Saltalamacchia for second...
From MLB.com this afternoon:
Behind the plate, Joe Mauer continues to lead the way but there was some movement behind the two-time All-Star. The Rangers' Jarrod Saltalamacchia fell two spots to fourth place, allowing Varitek to move into second and Posada into third.
1. Joe Mauer (Twins) - 1,656,595
2. Jason Varitek (Red Sox) - 800,095
3. Jorge Posada (Yankees) - 716,361
4. Jarrod Saltalamacchia (Rangers) - 695,438
5. Victor Martinez (Indians) - 634,860
Thank you to everyone who has been voting...and let's keep it up!
Cast your votes at MLB.com (just look for the 2009 All-Star link)!
And:
When you get a moment, check out the new blog, Educated Cheese and especially, the "Jason Varitek Quad-er-sizer" entry!
Tek Stats:
Jason now has 279 career doubles, tying him with Nomar Garciaparra for 8th place on the Red Sox' All-Time list.
*Thanks Adriane and Tim!
Sox Win 11-6 In Rain-Delayed Game Against Phillies
June 14, 2009
From the Phillies perspective...
Article in the Delware County (PA) Daily Times by sportswriter Ryan Lawrence:
The unfortunate result of a lengthy rain delay that begins early in a game — other than sitting in a wet set for another few hours if you’re a fan — is trying to find enough pitching to get you through nine innings.
Losing the starting pitcher after one inning, as the Phillies did Saturday night against the Red Sox, means you need at least a couple of arms to step in and devour the starter’s workload.
The Phillies found their man in Chad Durbin, who, despite working in three of the previous four games, fired three shutout innings of relief against the Sox.
But it takes more than one pitcher to fill the gap, and when Jack Taschner reared his left arm into the game in relief of Durbin, a game that began ugly reverted back to unpleasant form.
After the Phillies rallied back to come one run from erasing an early five-run deficit, Taschner imploded in the Red Sox’s 11-6 victory in a game that ended over five hours after it began.
Play was delayed for 95 minutes after ominous clouds turned to heavy rain following the first inning.
The Phillies were in a 5-0 hole from the start.
The Red Sox collected three walks off Phils rookie starter Antonio Bastardo, took advantage of three errors from the home team and watched Jason Bay hit a booming two-run home run in the Citizens Bank Park-silencing first inning.
After Durbin allowed one hit and racked up 56 pitches in three innings of relief, Taschner trotted to the mound to begin the fifth and gave up base hits to the first two hitters. With one out, Jason Varitek (hitting his 13th double of the season) and Julio Lugo put together back-to-back, run-scoring hits to give the Sox a 7-4 lead.
The Phillies had just two runners reach base in the final four innings. Werth rounded the bases with his ninth home run of the year with two outs in the seventh inning.
The other hit came in the ninth, when Utley’s one-out single was all the Phils could muster off All-Star closer Jonathan Papelbon.
To read Mr. Lawrence's column, click here.
To see Jason's post-game interview, click here.
Also From Saturday:
Jason called in to "The Baseball Show" on Comcast Sports Net yesterday. WEEI also carried the show. He fielded questions from Lou Merloni, Sean McAdam, Michael Felger and Steve Buckley.
He discussed Friday's game, John Lester, Daniel Bard, Josh Beckett and his backup, George Kottaras, "Georgie and I have gotten along from the get go...he's become a good friend."
To hear his interview, click here.
To see a larger version of Kelly O'Connor's photo above, click here.
And Today:
From MLB.com: Varitek out of the lineup for Sunday afternoon game -
The Red Sox tried to put the finishing touches on a three-game sweep against the Phillies on Sunday with a lineup you can be sure manager Terry Francona won't duplicate again this season.
Four prominent hitters -- Dustin Pedroia, David Ortiz, J.D. Drew and Jason Varitek -- started the game on the bench.
For Varitek, it was just a breather for the catcher he played 13 innings Friday and another long game Saturday that included a 95-minute rain delay. Varitek never wants to be out of the lineup, but Francona made the choice for him.
Because the Red Sox are off Monday and knuckleballer Tim Wakefield is pitching Tuesday, Varitek will actually get three days off in a row.
"I didn't think it was in Tek's best interest, I didn't think we could do it," Francona said. "I know Wake's pitching on Tuesday -- it's not the way we like to draw it up. I wouldn't feel good about running him out there. I don't think that makes any sense at all."
To read the entire article, click here.
Sox Win It In 13!
June 13, 2009
Final Score: Red Sox 5, Phillies 2
From the Boston Herald's Steve Buckley this morning:
When a group of reporters approached Jason Varitek late last night and asked about the performance of Sox starter Jon Lester, the veteran catcher smiled and said, "Did he pitch today? When was that?".
It certainly seemed that way. Though Lester threw seven brilliant innings against the Philadelphia Phillies last night at Citizens Bank Park, he was long gone by the time the Red Sox emerged with a 13-inning, 5-2 victory.
Lester allowed just one run in those seven innings, and he retired 18 of the final 19 batters he faced. And with 11 strikeouts, Lester became the first Red Sox pitcher since Pedro Martinez in 2004 to register 10 or more strikeouts in at least three consecutive starts. And he’s the first left-hander in the history of the franchise to do it.
Not bad for a guy who couldn’t find his curveball for the first couple of innings.
"Early on, I was coming out of my delivery a little bit, and I wasn’t able to throw my curveball for a strike, or curveballs in general, really," said Lester. "I was a little quick, trying to do too much, too early."
What the lefty needed was some Tek-nical support.
"Stay back and let your arm do the work," Varitek told Lester.
Said Lester after the game, "It sounds easy, it sounds dumb, but it's all about executing pitches . . . I wasn't doing that at the beginning of the game."
After allowing a run in the second, Lester did not yield another hit over his last five innings. He struck out the side in the fourth and fifth innings, all swinging. He left with a 2-1 lead, but wound up with a no-decision when the Phillies tied it in the ninth on Ryan Howard’s homer off Ramon Ramirez.
In his last three starts, Lester has lowered his ERA from 6.07 to 4.76.
To read Mr. Buckley's entire column, click here.
From the Boston Globe's Adam Gilgore:
No one in baseball, perhaps, has executed them like Lester the past two starts. In 16 innings, he has allowed four hits and struck out 22. Last night, he hit one rough stretch.
In the second, Raul Ibanez singled and Shane Victorino doubled him to third. Jason Varitek pointed out that "I was coming out of my delivery," Lester said. He was trying to throw perfect pitches but by rushing his motion was losing control of his curveball. Ibanez scored on a ground out, but that was it for the Phillies.
To read Mr. Kilgore's entire column, click here.
To see photos from the game, click here.
Another Reminder:
I posted this yesterday afternoon, but just in case you missed it...
From Comcast Sports Net yesterday -
Jason is scheduled to call in on today's "The Baseball Show".
Catch Lou Merloni, Sean McAdam, Michael Felger and Steve Buckley as they get the chance to chat with The Captain. "The Baseball Show" airs on CSN New England from 9 AM until Noon every Saturday and is also simulcast on WEEI.
Picture of the Week
Have A Safe & Happy Fourth Of July Weekend!
*If you have a favorite photo you would like to see as a future Picture-of-the-Week, email me!
You can find the site on Facebook here.
Site Disclaimer
This is an unofficial fan site on Mr. Varitek.
For more information, click here.
Captain's Cabernet
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.
The 2009 Jason Varitek & Dustin Pedroia Baseball Camp
Be a part of this exciting summer camp - starts July 26th!
For more information, click on the image link above!
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.
Game Schedule
2009 Regular Season
» July 5, 2009
» vs SEA, 1:35pm
» NESN
» July 6, 2009
» vs OAK, 7:10pm
» NESN
» July 7, 2009
» vs OAK, 7:10pm
» NESN
» July 8, 2009
» vs OAK, 7:10pm
» NESN
» July 9, 2009
» vs KC, 7:10pm
» NESN
» July 10, 2009
» vs KC, 7:10pm
» NESN
» July 11, 2009
» vs KC, 7:10pm
» NESN
» July 12, 2009
» vs KC, 1:35pm
» NESN
» July 13-16, 2009
» All-Star Game Break
» FOX
» July 17, 2009
» @ TOR, 7:07pm
» NESN
» July 18, 2009
» @ TOR, 7:07pm
» NESN
» July 19, 2009
» @ TOR, 1:07pm
» NESN
» July 20, 2009
» @ TEX, 8:05pm
» NESN
» July 21, 2009
» @ TEX, 8:05pm
» FOX
» July 22, 2009
» @ TEX, 8:05pm
» NESN
» July 24, 2009
» vs BAL, 7:10pm
» NESN
» July 25, 2009
» vs BAL, 7:10pm
» NESN
» July 26, 2009
» vs BAL, 1:35pm
» FOX
» July 27, 2009
» vs OAK, 7:10pm
» NESN
» July 28, 2009
» vs OAK, 7:10pm
» NESN
» July 29, 2009
» vs OAK, 7:10pm
» NESN
» July 30, 2009
» vs OAK, 1:35pm
» NESN
» July 31, 2009
» @ BAL, 7:05pm
» NESN
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 the gear was sold on MLB.com's auction site with proceeds benefitting Jason's favorite charities.
Fourth of July gear: proceeds from the sales benefitted Children's Hospital Boston.
Veteran's Day gear: proceeds from the sale benefitted the Massachusetts Soldiers Legacy Fund.
Father's Day gear: Proceeds from the sale benefitted the Prostate Cancer Foundation.
*To see more photos and caps of Jason's All-Star holiday gear, including the Mother's Day gear, click here.
Archived News
Magazine Alert
None at this time!
Event/Appearances
The 2009 Jason Varitek Celebrity Putt-Putt Tournament
September 14th, 2009
6:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Ferncroft Country Club
10 Village Road
Middleton, MA 01949
Jason Varitek, his teammates and many other Boston celebrities come together for a game of putt-putt to raise money for Saints Medical Center and the Celebrities for Charity Foundation.
Spectator tickets are $23.00 per person.
Sponsorships for the Media and Foursomes start at $5,000, World Series and "Tek" sponsorships at $15,000, and a special "Presenting" sponsorship is available for $35,000.
For more information, click here or call Celebrity Marketing at (978) 749-6700.
Jason Varitek & Dustin Pedroia Summer Baseball Camp
July 26th – July 31st, 2009
Stonehill College in North Easton, MA.
Commuter Camp:
Monday - Thursday, July 27th - July 30th 9:00am to 5:00pm
Friday, July 31st 9:00am to Noon
Overnight Camp:
Sunday, July 26th
Check-in from 4:00pm to 6:00pm through Friday, July 31st at Noon.
For more information on being a part of this exciting baseball camp, click here.
Tek-nically Speaking
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).
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
"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 -
"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 -
"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 Jason Varitek, from an article first published by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (November 2, 2007).
From His Coaches -
"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)
"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).
Fan Encounters
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!
Current Links
- 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)
Jason on the Cover
