Varitek vs Posada: "Catchers Unmasked"

August 21, 2009 | The Eagle Tribune | By Bill Burt



BOSTON — It has been obscured in the world renowned Red Sox-Yankees rivalry.


From Derek Jeter vs. Nomar Garciaparra, to Pedro Martinez vs. Don Zimmer, to Curt Schilling vs. Alex Rodriguez, to Mariano Rivera vs. Jonathan Papelbon, to Joba Chamberlain vs. Kevin Youkilis, to old Yankee Stadium vs. new Yankee Stadium.


The thrilling victories, the agonizing losses and everything else in between have given fans more excitement and drama than they deserve. Here's one matchup that we haven't properly paid homage to:



Jason Varitek vs. Jorge Posada.


They both are 6-foot-2 and have spent their entire careers with their respective teams.


Posada, 38, took over as the everyday catcher midway through 1997. Varitek, 37, took over a year later, before the All-Star break.



Best ever?


With respect to Hall of Famer Carlton Fisk and the deceased Thurman Munson, the catching cornerstones of the oftentimes ugly Red Sox-Yankees matchup in the 1970s, this weekend's starting catchers might be the best ever in the modern era in this historic rivalry.


They have never slugged it out at home plate — heck, they've never really had an in-depth conversation. Varitek and Posada have not only played more games against each other than any catchers in this historic series, but they've combined to play the position at a higher level than any of their predecessors, including Fisk and Munson.


Some might disagree, but not somebody with special insight.


"I have no problem with that statement at all," said third-year Red Sox bullpen coach Gary Tuck, who is also the organization's "catching" coordinator, a position he held for the Yankees for several years in the 1990s and early 2000s.


"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."


Yankees TV play-by-play man John Flaherty, who was Posada's backup for three years and was in the Red Sox camp with Varitek for a month in 2006, shed light on the two.


"Neither guy likes to draw attention to themselves," said Flaherty. "They both are from the same mold. They don't want the fanfare. The irony is that Posada doesn't get enough credit for the way he handles pitchers and Varitek doesn't get credit for his offense, which is better than his numbers show."


Posada has been among the best offensive catchers of his generation, with 238 homers and 938 RBI while Varitek is like another pitching coach — he has caught four no-hitters and was two outs away from two more.



Swindling Seattle


The roads they traveled were very different.


Varitek was acquired July 31, 1997 in one of the best deals in the franchise' history. Out of the pennant race, the Sox sent Heathcliff Slocumb to Seattle for Varitek and Derek Lowe.


Slocumb was a bust of epic proportions, accumulating only 13 saves and an ERA over 5.00 over a season and a half, while Varitek and Lowe became part of the foundation of the franchise within two seasons.


Varitek, an All-American at Georgia Tech, had been a first round pick in 1993 and 1994.


"I scouted Jason in college when I was with the Yankees," said Tuck. "He had a reputation, even back then, for preparation and work ethic."


In 1990, the Yankees drafted Posada, a native of Puerto Rico, as a second baseman.


It was in Double-A, with guidance from Tuck, the then-Yankees catching instructor, Posada was turned into a catcher.


"It was all Jorge. He wanted it," said Tuck.


When Posada made it to the majors, he backed up current Yankees manager Joe Giardi, before splitting time in 1998 and the becoming the full-time starter in 1999.


The Red Sox are 95-103 against the Yankees since the start of the 1998 season, about the time the duo started going head to head.


"Jason is Navy Seal," said Tuck. "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.


"Jorge isn't the captain, but he might as well be. The pitchers love working with him. He doesn't do as much when it comes to writing things down as Jason does, but he works on feel. He has a great feel for the game. And nobody outworks him. Nobody."


Both get high marks for playing with pain.


Tuck said, "The injuries these two have played with is amazing. Jorge has played through some tough knee injuries and Jason's had elbow and shoulder problems that would have forced other catchers to miss a series or longer. The most you would see either one of these guys out is a game or two."



Respect from afar


Over the last 12 seasons the Sox and Yankees have played each other 200 times, but the two catchers have had only one conversation lasting a few minutes.


They're just not sure when or where it happened.


"I believe it was at the All-Star game in 2003," recalled Varitek, of their brief discussion during the Home Run Derby at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago.


"It wasn't long, just 'Hi, how are you doing?' things like that."


Posada thought it happened at the 2001 All-Star game in Seattle. The only problem was that Varitek didn't make the American League squad that year.


"I just remember having a nice conversation about how he was doing," said Posada. "It was nice to chat a little bit with him because we had never really spoken before that."


The reason for the lack of communication is obvious.


"It's sort of hard, you know, being that I'm on the Red Sox and he's on the Yankees," said Varitek. "If you're asking me why (we don't talk a lot), I'd probably say that has more to do with it than anything."


Posada concurred.


"I say 'Hi' to a lot of guys from a lot of teams, but I don't sit there behind the plate and have conversations during a game," said Posada. "There is an intensity to the Yankees and Red Sox, which has been going on a long time. Personally, I like to stay out of peoples' way."


This era, though, is nothing like the one Fisk and Munson were groomed in. Players, especially Red Sox and Yankees, didn't mingle, at least inside the white lines.


The only mingling in their day was with fists.



Different era in baseball


Now with shared agents and charity golf tournaments, it is common, even for Red Sox and Yankees, to share a chuckle during a break in play.


Jeter and Garciaparra appeared to be best friends (they weren't) when one was standing on second base and other was at shortstop.

But Varitek and Posada don't acknowledge the other guy.


"I know Jorge really well and he is really an outgoing guy, very funny," said Flaherty. "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."


When each was cornered during the last homestand in Boston, you'd have thought Varitek and Posada were best friends.


"There's a reason the Yankees have been as good as they have been since I've been going against them," said Varitek. "Jorge 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 (Jeter) and closer (Mariano Rivera)."


Posada brought out the sweet sauce in his breakdown of his Red Sox adversary.


"The thing I notice is that pitchers love him. And that means a lot as a catcher," said Posada. "He's the guy that seems to keep that team together. He's a captain for a reason ... I respect him greatly."


Varitek has one year left on his contract and Posada has two more years remaining, maybe then they'll have a beer together?


"We'll see," said Posada. "Maybe we will have dinner some time when we're old and gray. I'd like that."


Varitek smiled when told of Posada's answer.


"I don't know," said Varitek, taking time to think. "We might. We'd probably have a lot to talk to about."

They could talk about experiences only those two could understand.


"You think about the pressure each of them has been through," said Flaherty. "This is the Red Sox and Yankees we are talking about. They have won World Series. They've seen it so much in this rivalry. They are the only people who really understand what the other guy has gone through. I'd love to be there for that discussion."