Red Sox Captain Proves His Worth
[photogallerylink id=22548 align=right]Being a professional athlete isn't easy on the psyche. One season, you're the man. The next, your performance declines and people are debating your departure time.
Luckily for Red Sox fans, Jason Varitek delayed his departure.
If popular opinion ruled front office decisions Jason Varitek would be all but a memory in the city of Boston. Mostly all of us wanted him gone. The once All-Star Catcher had become such a liability at the plate that he was labeled a has-been and many hoped for retirement.
What we all failed to realize, was what made this man so great in our eyes, eventually turned him into a public enemy…pride. It's the double standard that we fans are guilty of at one point or another. We not only scream at the JD Drew's for not playing through a tight hamstring, we scream at players that do fight injuries but fail to produce as much.
Two years after fans wanted him to exit the theatre; it's now quite obvious that Varitek hadn't lost all his skill. Instead, he had lost his youth. All the games behind the plate had their toll on "The Captain". The injuries caused by wear and tear were masked to the public, while Varitek continued to lead the pitching staff without complaint.
The fact was that Varitek could no longer catch every day. When Victor Martinez arrived 'Tek eventually found his perfect role – being the best backup catcher in baseball.
This season with days in between starts, Varitek is healthier and more productive (.294 avg., 6 HR's, 10 RBI's, 1.054 OPS). He also continues to scout the opposition and advise Martinez and the staff.
But what's been most overlooked is Varitek's leadership. As Mike Lowell ponders asking for a release and Tim Wakefield is visibly displeased about going to the bullpen, Varitek just does his job.
When it was suggested by reporters that Varitek could be Dice-K Matsuzaka's "personal catcher" due to struggles between Dice-K and Martinez, this was Varitek's response:
"People have to understand one thing: If you start doing that as a team, it puts ourselves and our starting catcher in an awkward position in that he doesn't get the right days off," said Varitek. "I need to play when he needs to not play, and it doesn't matter who's on the mound. If you start getting into personal catchers and all this stuff. ... I was fortunate [Saturday] that Dice was powerful through the zone, and if we allow them to build together, it doesn't matter [who is catching]."
Could he be any more professional?
Varitek has provided us with plenty of memories (A-Rod in the mush), but maybe the most important thing he's ever done is show us why we call them professional athletes. He's carried himself with pride and humility, while perfectly handling the moniker of team captain. And now that he's found a suitable role, it's time to step back, respect, and applaud for all he's been and continues to be.
Send me your thoughts at nick@985thesportshub.com
