Varitek's importance hasn't lessened

April 29, 2010 | RedSox.com | By Ian Browne


Captain still Boston's unquestioned leader despite new role


BOSTON -- The part-time catcher is still a full-time captain. The "C" is still on Jason Varitek's jersey, and the importance of that letter hasn't lessened any.


Isn't it hard for a player to be an unquestioned leader despite being on the bench or in the bullpen more often than being at the plate or behind it?


"I understand that," said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. "I don't think with 'Tek it is. I think he has earned the respect of his teammates, and he continues to do that. We see that every day just by the way he carries himself."


When Varitek exercised his player option to return to the Red Sox for 2010 -- even after the club declared that Victor Martinez was going to be the full-time catcher -- he heard some of the debate about whether he was still fit to have the "C" that has been there since 2005.


"I've been asked that, 'Does the role change? Do they take the C off your jersey?' I don't know. That's not for me to decide," said Varitek. "I carry myself the same way and do my work the same. I think that you'd have to ask the guys in here if it changes the way they think of you."


An informal survey revealed an emphatic no.


"We consider him an everyday player," said Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia. "He's in there a lot. He does everything to help us win. It doesn't matter if he's not in the lineup -- he's a huge factor in the outcome of the game, because he's talking to guys before the game, during the game and after the game."


"Even though he is not playing every day, he cares about everybody," said Red Sox shortstop Marco Scutaro. "He cares about his teammates and about everything. The way he goes about his business is unbelievable."


And instead of resenting Martinez for taking over the bulk of his catching duties, Varitek has instead been an invaluable mentor to his fellow catcher.


"Jason, he's great," said Martinez. "Personally, to me, he's been great since I got here last year. So now he's still being great to me. He's a great teammate. He always works really hard. When he goes out there and plays, you just see the energy he plays with. Since I got here last year, he's the one who really helped me a lot with the pitching staff. He was always there for me."


While it is always a challenge for an entrenched veteran to adapt to a lesser role, Varitek has made it look seamless. Of Boston's first 22 games, Varitek has started seven times and come off the bench twice. He is hitting .323 with two doubles, four homers and eight RBIs.


"I think he's been terrific," Francona said. "All the things we've talked about he continues to do. He's a leader. He cares. He tries to be there for his teammates. He's swung the bat very well. He's done a good job."


Of the 30 Major League teams, only four have captains. The other three are Derek Jeter (Yankees), Paul Konerko (White Sox) and Derrek Lee (Cubs). Varitek is the only one who is not an everyday player. But there have been other instances in the past where a captain hasn't been on the field all the time.


John Franco was the captain of the Mets from 2001-04, even as a setup man and not the closer. Ron Guidry served that role from 1986-89 as a starting pitcher for the New York Yankees.


In some ways, Varitek feels like he's been able to be more of a hands-on leader in his new role.


"You see more when you're not playing every day, because playing every day takes a lot of preparation," Varitek said.


Varitek is a throwback, giving the type of coaching instruction to teammates that a player-manager might have in the 1950s or '60s.


"He can help out and evaluate a little more than he used to," said Red Sox first baseman Kevin Youkilis. "That's definitely one thing that's good. He can kind of help players through a lot more when he's not playing every day and focus on helping players more. When you're playing every day, you have to really worry about [yourself] and getting ready, especially when you're the catcher. It's awesome that he's doing that and doing a good job of helping everyone out."


To Varitek's credit, he has provided as much early help with his bat and glove, as with his clubhouse or dugout voice.


After sitting the season's first four games, Varitek promptly clocked two homers in his first start of the season -- on April 10 at Kansas City. He then sat the next four games and got in there again on April 16, going deep again.


He has played more regularly of late, because of his own strong start, some defensive struggles by Martinez and a hitting slump by designated hitter David Ortiz.


In truth, the less stable role is something Varitek is still becoming accustomed to, even if he has made it look easy.


"I still think I'm adjusting," Varitek said. "It's still a work in progress with everything. I went from playing twice in the first two weeks to playing in six straight games. I still think that, along with everyone else, you're still getting in your game rhythm. It doesn't mean just offensively, but there's defensively, too.


"One day last week, I did a lot of work -- worked out, did cardio, caught bullpens, did stuff -- and then I ended up in the game [in the late innings]."


And the night after that, Varitek started and struck out four times.


"I felt like maybe I did too much the day before in that case. I'm trying to learn where my role is and how things are going to play out, and do everything outside of it," Varitek said.


Of course, during that four-strikeout game, Varitek made what proved to be a game-saving block of the plate to tag out the Rangers' Julio Borbon.


"I believe one thing -- I'm going to help whether I'm 0-fer, or whether I hit," Varitek said. "I really honestly believe that. The job we do back there, we can still help. Any way you can contribute is fun."


The 38-year-old Varitek has caught 1,390 games for the Red Sox, the most in team history. With all that experience, he has been in just about every situation imaginable. But this season -- and this role -- is a little different.


"I'm going to learn," Varitek said. "I may not figure out this all out until later. I may figure it out right now. But I'm going to try to do what I have to do to make sure I'm ready."