Put Your Trust In TEK

Sunday's Herald had a nice article on our captain, Jason Varitek, catcher supreme. Read this excerpt. The entire article is linked when you click on the title, and then I have a few things to say about his value to our club, and its pitchers.......

"Two seasons into a four-year, $40 million contract, Varitek is coming off a season during which he batted .238 and spent a month on the disabled list, the kinds of things that inspire people to suggest that a player is getting, you know, old.
With that comes the obvious question:
Can he still do it?
“That’s a thing I have to go out and still be able to prove,” Varitek admitted yesterday at Red Sox [team stats]’ spring training facility. “I believe in myself and in my ability to accomplish things. I see no reason why I can’t continue to perform.”
A word to the wise here: Don’t count this guy out just yet. First, Varitek is built like a truck driver and could easily turn the average skeptic into road pizza. Second, he is in positively phenomenal shape, seemingly chiseled from the block of granite that produced, among others, the David."

Peter here. Last year his average dipped to .238. He'll get those numbers up this year, but his real value is in how he handles his pitchers, the way he calls a ballgame. Beckett said that this year he will put more trust in Tek, and shake off far fewer pitches. And that's good, for many times last year the result of a shaken-off pitch by Mr. Beckett was a ball into the Monster seats. Too many times! And Josh has already said to Daisuke to put his trust in Tek. Good advice indeed.
Jason Varitek knows the opposing team's hitters. He constantly studies each and every at bat of all the opposing batters to be faced. His computer is filled with every Red Sox pitcher's best friend- a virtual road map of which pitch to throw when and in what situation. He is truly the brains of the pitcher-catcher battery. And that's why his pitch selection, much like a quarterback calling the plays for his offense, is vital. He's not our captain for nuthin'! Have a great season Tek. And don't worry, Daisuke is learning English.

And I must say this...welcome back Julie. She's back! And her writing and her take on the baseball team we love is listed on the right side, under the aptly titled blog SCARLET FEVER. Try it, you'll like it! I know I am an everyday reader of her blog, when she has time between school and life....you'll see why when you stop in. In a nutshell, SHE CAN WRITE! She makes you care. Again, it's Scarlet Fever. Welcome back Julie. We have Julie Fever!!