Sox 5, Tigers 1

May 8, 2008 - Update

From The Sports Network:

Kevin Youkilis hit a two-run homer, as Boston topped Detroit, 5-1, in the finale of a four-game series at Comerica Park.

Jason Varitek also drove in two for the Red Sox, who won three of four in the set and recovered from a 10-9 loss on Wednesday which saw the Tigers score twice in the ninth.

Josh Beckett (4-2) notched the win for Boston by allowing one run and six hits over seven innings. He fanned eight and did not walk a batter.

Ramon Santiago knocked in the lone run for the Tigers, who have lost five of six.

Detroit starter Justin Verlander (1-6) was tagged for nine hits and five runs in the loss, his third straight setback.

The Sox put three on the board in the second on Varitek's two-run single and a sacrifice fly from Jacoby Ellsbury.

Beckett allowed a pair of baserunners in the first and third without allowing a runner to cross the plate, but the Tigers picked up a run in the fourth on three straight two-out hits by Marcus Thames, Brandon Inge and Santiago to cut their deficit to 3-1.

Youkilis launched his third home run in the last two games the fifth, and the Sox went up 5-1.

Beckett followed by setting down the final 10 batters he faced until exiting after the seventh inning. Craig Hansen and Manny Delcarmen closed out the game with scoreless frames of relief.

To see a larger version of the photo above, click here.

Jason's current stats: AVG .253 | HR 3 | RBI 13

Sox Expressions

May 8, 2008

Sox Expressions is great collection of Red Sox graphics made by friends Barbara and Amy. They use photos of your favorite players and give them a "watercolor painting" look.

These images are great to add to your desktop, your myspace page, share with friends, etc...

The ladies have also made online greeting cards for holidays, events and to just say hello to a friend!

You can check out their "Captain Collection" right here (some of which you will see as the Picture of the Week in the coming months).

To check out their MySpace page, click here.

Also Today:

New Fan Story and Photo Added -

Thank you to Brad Baker for sending me this photo of him and Jason taken in June of 1998 in front of Fenway Park. Jason was kind enough to sign the photo when Brad brought it back to Fenway in August of 1998.

To see a larger version, click here.

Check out Brad's website, New Hampshire Red Sox Nation, here.

Brad also has a MySpace page for his site, here.

Last Night's Tek Notes & Quotes:

"Two home runs by Kevin Youkilis, a tying three-run homer by Mike Lowell, and a go-ahead pinch single in the eighth by Dustin Pedroia? All for naught. Not to mention the electrifying, tag-team strike-'im-out, throw-'im-out double play turned by Hideki Okajima and Jason Varitek, Okajima's whiff of Gary Sheffield looking like a game-breaker.

"They ran, they hit home runs, Okajima and Varitek gave them an electrifying lift. And they lost." -- Gordon Edes, Boston Globe

"We had some misfortune. And then that last hit fell in....some breaks went their way." -- Jason Varitek, post-game interview

Sox Sweep Rays!

May 4, 2008

Kevin Youkilis went 3-for-4 with a home run and four RBI as Boston tripped up Tampa, 7-3, in the finale of a three-game weekend series at Fenway Park.

Jason Varitek (hitting his 7th double of the season) and Coco Crisp added two hits each for the Red Sox, who swept the series and have now won five of six. Dustin Pedroia and Manny Ramirez also drove in runs.

Sox starter Jon Lester (2-2) earned the win, allowing one run and four hits over six full innings. Jonathan Papelbon recorded the final four outs of the game to notch his ninth save.

When asked by one reporter about Lester's 'early struggles', Jason Varitek came to his pitcher's defense, "He just missed on a few that barely missed the plate. It's not like he was all over the place."

Jason later added that Lester is taking steps with his development.

"We even added some stuff today to his repertoire," said Varitek. "We're expanding what he can do. He's taken steps to be a more complete pitcher."

Scott Kazmir (0-1), who made his first start of the season, was tagged for six hits and four runs over four frames. The left-hander struck out five, walked three and needed 90 pitches to get through the outing.

After seeing the Rays get back within a run after a two-spot in the seventh, Youkilis slammed his third home run of the season to the deepest part of the park in the home half to make it 5-3. He tacked on a two-run double in the eighth to provide much-needed breathing room.

Papelbon was called on with two down in the eighth and finished the game by inducing four consecutive ground outs.

And from an article in MLB.com:

Almost lost in the shuffle was the Red Sox swiping five bases (including two double steals) in the win, the first time that's happened since July 3, 2002, against Toronto. Amazingly, the team now has as many stolen bases (26) as home runs in the first 33 games of the season.

Final Score: Red Sox 7, Rays 3.

Jason's current stats: AVG .267 | HR 3 | RBI 11

Red Sox 12, Rays 4

May 3, 2008 - Evening Update

Josh Beckett pitched eight innings to help the Red Sox beat the Tampa Bay Rays 12-4 on Saturday night. Manny Ramirez broke out of his slump and broke through in the first inning with a ground single up the middle, scoring Pedroia and Ortiz.

But Ramirez’s biggest contribution on the night may have come in the field. With one run already in against Beckett in the fourth and the bases loaded, Nathan Haynes hit a bullet right at Ramirez in left.

The outfielder stabbed the ball and quickly threw a strike to the plate, where Jason Varitek blocked Carlos Pena and applied the inning-ending tag to take the Rays out of the inning.

Jason collected three RBIs, while Ramirez, David Ortiz and J.D. Drew drove in two runs apiece, with Ramirez snapping an 11-game RBI-less streak. Boston's 12 runs matched a season high.

In the fourth, the Rays' J.P. Howell hit Jason with a pitch on the right knee (screen capture above). Jason jumped up and grimaced, but jogged to first base scoring in a run with the bases loaded. On the way to first, he waved off Terry Francona and the Red Sox trainer who had come out of the dugout. Both men still met him at first base to check on his condition.

Jason stayed in the game and in the next play limped off the field from second after Lugo's groundout to short ended the inning. He came back in the fifth and stayed in until the ninth when he was replaced by Kevin Cash.

To see screen captures from the game, click here.

Jason's current stats: AVG .256 | HR 3 | RBI 11

Also:

From the Milford Daily News -

Medfield High fields named for Schillings

The Fenway faithful made a pilgrimage to Medfield today to pay homage Red Sox pitcher Curt and wife Shonda Schilling's quest to raise funds for the new baseball and softball fields at the high school - now named in the Schillings' honor.

Schilling was joined by teammates Jason Varitek, Coco Crisp, Jonathan Papelbon, Tim Wakefield, Johnny Pesky, Kevin Cash, Manny Delcarmen and David Ortiz in support of the cause, thrilling the fans who showed up early in the morning to see the event.

Not This Time!

May 3, 2008

The Red Sox win against the Rays, 7-3, after being swept in Florida last weekend.

After allowing just two runs over his previous 14 innings — the only blemish the two-run homer to Aki Iwamura in last Saturday's tough-luck 2-1 loss — Buchholz worked out of two first-and-second, no-out jams Friday night, going 5 1/3 overall, allowing one run on five hits.

Buchholz (2-2, 3.71 ERA) walked four, but struck out six.

"I thought his stuff was phenomenal", Francona said. "I thought his command at times got him into a couple of jams, but he had the stuff to pitch out of it."

Some Game Highlights:

Defense in the second - After walking Evan Longoria and Eric Hinske consecutively to start the second, Buchholz struck out Dioner Navarro and got Gabe Gross on a fly to right. Jason Bartlett followed with a sharp single to right, with Longoria racing around third in an attempt to score. But Moss, charging the play in right, fired a strike to Jason Varitek, who applied the tag on a close play (photo above), ending the inning.

Offense in the fourth - After Mike Lowell struck out and Kevin Youkilis lined out to shortstop, Moss launched a home run over the camera position in center field for a 2-0 lead.

Varitek then singled up the middle and Julio Lugo walked before Jacoby Ellsbury, back in the lineup after missing three games, singled to center, scoring Varitek for a 3-0 lead.

After Ellsbury stole second, Dustin Pedroia singled home both Lugo and Ellsbury for a 5-0 lead, with Pedroia taking second on the futile attempt to get Ellsbury at the plate.

David Ortiz then singled to score Pedroia for a 6-0 lead.

Defense in the fifth - After the Rays' Jason Bartlett scored on a wild pitch by Buchholz, Carl Crawford, who had doubled, moved to third. Then Crawford danced off third base as third baseman Mike Lowell fielded a Jonny Gomes grounder and threw to first. Crawford took off for home, but Kevin Youkilis sent the relay to Varitek and Crawford was tagged out. Double play. End of the inning.

Offense in the eighth - The Red Sox padded their lead when Varitek doubled high off the Green Monster (his sixth double of the season), just missing a homer, to score Moss from first.

Jonathan Papelbon closed out the long night with a 1-2-3 ninth.

For photos from the game, click here.

To see screen captures from the game, click here.

To see a couple of screen captures taken during Thursday night's game, click here.

Jason's current stats: AVG .256 | HR 3 | RBI 8

The Captain Delivers!

April 30, 2008 - Post-Game Update

Jason's single to center in the ninth inning scored Manny Ramirez to win the game in yet another exciting installment of the Sox vs. Jays series!

With men on first and second base and no outs, Mike Lowell struck out looking which brought up Brandon Moss. Moss converted, his single heading up the middle but Jed Lowrie, pinch-running for David Ortiz, was called out at the plate for the second out of the inning - but Jason made it happen, hitting a single to center sending Manny home.

Daisuke Matsuzaka, who missed his last start with the flu, came back strong in this one. The right-hander fired seven shutout innings while allowing two hits and striking out four. He lowered his ERA to 2.52 in the process.

Final Score: Red Sox 2, Blue Jays 1.

For photos from tonight's game, click here.

Jason's current stats: AVG .243 | HR 3 | RBI 7

Want to meet Jason?

April 30, 2008

You could win a chance to meet the Red Sox Captain!

Radio 95.5 WBRU and SoBE Life Water are sponsoring a contest where one lucky winner gets to meet Jason!

Correctly answer 3 of the 5 trivia questions about the team on WBRU's site to register to win! Click here to enter.

*Thank you Beth for the info and to Deanna once again for the great photo!

Also Today:

Sox boosters sponsor contest -

The BoSox Club, the official booster club of the Boston Red Sox, is offering its summer camp essay contest.

Boys ages 9 to 16 may enter to win a trip to the RBI Baseball Academy with Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek. The trip includes five days of top-level instruction on the fundamentals of hitting, pitching, fielding, throwing, catching, and base-running.

Campers will also participate in daily games and instructional drills, and receive a team photograph with Varitek, and much more (for more info, check the gray column at right under Events/Appearances).

In order to enter, applicants should send a short essay (no more than 100 words) explaining why they would like to attend the camp. They should include their names, addresses, telephone numbers, dates of birth, grades, and e-mail addresses.

The essays may be sent by way of e-mail to camp@bosox club.com or mailed to BoSox Club Essay Camp Contest, 4 Yawkey Way, Boston, MA 02215. The deadline is June 8.

For more information, youngsters may go on-line to www.bosoxclub.com.

To see a larger version of Jason posing with last year's essay winners (above), click here.

And:

Did you know...

According to NESN's Pre-Game Report this evening -

Since 2002, Jason has the second most home runs (106) and the second most RBI (408) for catchers in the major leagues. Only the Yankees Jorge Posada has more. Jason has appeared in 130 games in five of the last six seasons!

To see a larger version of the screen capture, click here.

Vote For Tek!

April 29, 2008

Voting for the 2008 All-Star Game has begun!

This year's All-Star Game will be held at Yankee Stadium with Terry Francona managing for the American League. Let's send Jason too!

"No player means more to the Red Sox than Jason Varitek. The captain and catcher keeps the team together with his preparation and his leadership. Varitek was an All-Star in 2003 and 2005." -- Ian Browne, MLB.com

Kevin Youkilis is on the ballot for the first time this year - with the game taking place in a National League Park the past two years, there was no designated hitter listed on the ballot. Therefore, Ortiz was listed at first base, a position that he plays only in Interleague Play and the World Series. But since it is being held in an American League ballpark this year, Big Papi is on the ballot as the DH, making way for Youkilis at first.

Also on the ballot for the Red Sox is Dustin Pedroia, Mike Lowell, J.D. Drew, Manny Ramirez and Coco Crisp.

To cast your votes, click here and click on the "Vote Now" link - you can vote as many times as you like! Voting ends on July 2nd.

To see photos from Jason's past All-Star Game appearances, click here.

Also Tonight:

Drama, Drama, Drama!

Kevin Youkilis lined a run-scoring single to center field in the ninth, ending a brilliant pitching duel between Roy Halladay and Jon Lester and giving the Boston Red Sox a 1-0 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday night.

Halladay (2-4) retired the first two batters in the inning before walking David Ortiz. Manny Ramirez looped a single to center, sending Ortiz to second. Youkilis then hit the ball in front of center fielder Vernon Wells and Ortiz chugged around third.

Jonathan Papelbon, who retired the side in the ninth, led the charge from the Red Sox dugout and jumped on Ortiz. Ramirez then leaped into a mass of teammates along the first base line.

A spectacular diving play by second baseman Dustin Pedroia kept Toronto from scoring in the ninth. Papelbon (1-0) struck out the first two batters before Scott Rolen doubled. Wells then ripped a grounder up the middle. Pedroia gloved the ball as he hit the dirt, quickly got up and threw Wells out to keep the game scoreless.

The start of the game was delayed 15 minutes by rain but it lasted just two hours, 18 minutes.

The Red Sox had two singles through six innings—a grounder through the middle by Youkilis in the second and a dribbler to the left of the plate by Moss in the fifth. Moss entered the game in right field in the fourth after J.D. Drew suffered tightness in his left thigh running to first base.

Jason Varitek singled with two outs in the eighth before Ramirez and Youkilis got the big hits in the ninth.

Caps & Photos From The Capital Grille All-Star Charity Golf Tournament

April 28, 2008 - Evening Update

Not a good day for golf (especially for someone just getting over the flu), but it was for a good cause...

The Capital Grille All-Star Charity Golf Tournament (see Events section in the gray column at right) did take place today despite the rain, which apparently didn't dampen the spirits of those that played! The event took place at the Black Rock Country Club in Hingham and raised over $200,000.

To see a few screen captures from NESN and NECN and photos, click here.

To see two different videos from the event from NECN, click here.

For more info on the event and the PIFK Foundation, click here.

Dynasty - The Inside Story Of How The Red Sox Became A Baseball Powerhouse

April 28, 2008

The Boston Herald's Tony Massarotti, who has been covering the Red Sox since 1991, has written a new book that is now available (April 2008) to purchase at book stores and online.

The book, titled above, takes an inside look at how the Red Sox have become one of the most successful franchises in baseball from the beginning of Dan Duquette's reign in 1994 through the 2007 World Series.

The book's Foreword is written by Jason Varitek.

Just a couple of excerpts from the four-page Foreword:

"In baseball, there's a game to play just about everyday. There really isn't a lot of time to get distracted by the unimportant stuff, especially if you're someone like me, especially if you're a catcher. I take a lot of pride in preparing for games, and I try to be thorough. Before every game, I try to go over scouting reports and our game plan because I always looked at that as the most important part of my job. I don't have a lot of time to answer questions about who was on the team bus or who wasn't....If I have something to say to someone, I'll say it to him. I don't need to share it with the press.

Most of the time, when Tony's hanging around my locker, it's usually because he wants to talk baseball. There have been times over the last ten or eleven years when he'll come in and ask me questions about pitches we throw to certain batters and certain situations, about our strategies, about our approach...I've always respected the fact that he's trying to learn something and that he's trying to get it right, even though I can't necessarily tell him out of obligation to our team. After all, we're there to win. It's not like I can give away trade secrets."

And from Tony's acknowledgements:

"A special thanks goes to catcher and captain Jason Varitek, who has been with the Red Sox throughout this extraordinary time in their history and who graciously agreed to assist with this project. To him, no measure of thanks could ever be enough."

If you are a fan of the Red Sox, you will like this book, I did.

To order it online from Amazon.com, click here.

Tomorrow: The Capital Grille Charity Golf Tournament

April 27, 2008

Not much of a day off for the Captain, but it is for a good cause...

The Capital Grille All-Star Charity Golf Tournament (see Events section in the gray column at right) is tomorrow at 12 noon at the Black Rock Country Club in Hingham.

Jason and Tim Wakefield will host the event with proceeds going to the Pitching In For Kids Foundation.

For more info on the event and the PIFK Foundation, click here.

To see photos from last year's event, click here.

I will post news from the tournament (and hopefully some photos) later in the week.

Also:

The Red Sox aren't the only team that has been hit with the flu bug!

According to the L.A. Times tonight, Angels pitcher Chris Bootcheck and catcher Jeff Mathis are both ill with severe flu-like symptoms.

"I woke up Friday soaking wet with sweat, just drenched," Bootcheck said. "I couldn't keep any food down, period. I didn't leave my room for two days."

Manager Mike Scioscia's concern is that the virus could spread through the clubhouse like it did last week in Boston, where the Red Sox had several players, including catcher Jason Varitek and pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka, knocked out by flu-like symptoms.

Bootcheck thinks he caught the virus in Fenway Park, where the Angels completed a three-game series against the Red Sox on Thursday.

"We all use the same weight room in Boston; we use the same facility," Bootcheck said. "It can spread through a clubhouse like wildfire. As hard as it was to miss two games, it was probably best that I stayed away."

"Red Sox's Varitek Gets Back In Game"

April 26, 2008

From the Harford Courant's Jeff Goldberg in his Sox blog this morning:

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — - After a week of being out with an aggressive strain of flu, Jason Varitek finally traded in a sterile mask for the catcher's version Friday night.

Varitek entered Friday's game against the Rays in the bottom of the ninth as a defensive replacement for Kevin Cash and played two more innings, nearly scoring the go-ahead run in the 11th before the Red Sox lost 5-4 to the Rays at Tropicana Field.

"I was OK," said Varitek, who was hit by a pitch in his only plate appearance and left stranded at third. "Good enough to go in there. The speed of the game, I have to get adjusted. I was in cement, but I got through a lot today."

Varitek, who hasn't started since last Saturday, when he first developed a high fever, said he hopes to start tonight.

To read the rest of his blog, click here.

To see a few screen captures from last night's game, click here.

Also Today:

New Banners -

I love when my friend Sylvie gets bored!

...because that's when she gets creative with her Photoshop program and the next thing you know, I have new wallpaper and banner designs to share!

To check out the latest, click here (and of course, feel free to use any of them!)

"Varitek Close To Returning From Flu"

April 25, 2008

As always, the Hartford Courant's Jeff Goldberg keeps us up-to-date on the latest from the Sox clubhouse!

From his late afternoon blog:

Jason Varitek said today he is hopeful he will be back in the lineup Saturday after an eight-day battle with the flu. His color vastly improved, but his voice still froggy in the visitor's clubhouse at Tropicana Field, Varitek said he might have been able to play in Thursday's game at Fenway Park and is a possibility to sub late for Kevin Cash tonight.

Varitek said the flu first hit him last Friday, with a fever around 101-102 developing after Saturday's game against the Rangers, a number that stayed fairly consistent until Wednesday night.

"My worst days were Sunday, Monday and Tuesday," Varitek said. "I've had colds and stuff, but this was a first. Now I see, when they say it's dangerous for older people to get the flu, I know why. My head was real bad at times. I had a fever up until last night. Last night was the first night I didn't have cold sweats, so that's a good sign."

Varitek said this strain of flu, which has also affected Josh Beckett, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Manny Delcarmen and Bartolo Colon, has proven extremely tenacious.

"I feel 100 times better than I did Monday and Tuesday, but it's not going away in big chunks," Varitek said. "I really thought when I woke up today that I was going to feel like a million bucks. And I'm not that much better than I was yesterday. I am better, but not that much better."

Delcarmen, who was sent home from Fenway Park on Tuesday, tried pitching in Thursday's game and had little success.

"Manny was green when he left the bullpen," Varitek said. "Before he walked out, I told him, just take as much time before every pitch that you need to."

Varitek, too, has had his green moments as he tries to get back into game shape with strength and conditioning drills.

"The work drains you, but I've got to do it," Varitek said. "I had to lift today to get some strength, but it was tough to do. My strength is working its way back."

And if you're wondering what kind of idiot I have to be to go up and talk to Jason face-to-face, he did tell me that the contagious period is only supposed to last five days after symptoms start, so he shouldn't be a hazard anymore.

I hope.

If you would like to read some of Mr. Goldberg's recent Sox blogs, click here.

Jason Out Of The Line-Up Once Again...

April 24, 2008

Kevin Cash will catch Justin Masterson today (1:35 pm).

From Steven Krasner, in his Providence Journal Sox Blog this morning:

Catcher Jason Varitek went "backward a bit," yesterday, said Francona, apparently trying to do too much in his effort to overcome his case of the flu and return to action.

But Francona also said he thought it might be possible for Varitek to be available late in today’s game as a hitter.

And from Nick Cafardo's morning column:

The bug has aggressively made its way through the Sox. There's sneezing here and coughing there. The captain, Jason Varitek, looks like death warmed over. Manny Delcarmen feels terrible. Daisuke Matsuzaka was scratched from last night's start, leaving Jon Lester to go on three days' rest.

"We'll just continue to plug away," said Francona. "We're fighting this as it comes. It seems to grab somebody different every day and doctors are doing what they can. Everybody's trying to heed the best advice and also win a game at the same time and field a team."

According to Ian Browne in his column on the Red Sox official site:

Nobody has been hit harder by this flu than catcher Jason Varitek, who was out of the lineup for the fifth straight day on Thursday, but is finally improving.

"When [Varitek] left last night, he was hopeful he'd be available today," said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. "Him saying he's available and us thinking he should be available may be two different things."

Varitek wouldn't catch anyway on Friday at Tropicana Field, because Tim Wakefield is pitching. But the captain will probably be back in there on Saturday.

Post-Game Update:

From the Boston Globe's Gordon Edes:

Jason Varitek, for one, said he expects to return this weekend.

"It was good to get on the field and warm some guys up," said Varitek, his voice still not at full strength. "I haven't done anything in a week. This was the best morning I had. It took all day just to get to walking speed."

Also Today:

I want to take a moment to thank Mike at CP Hosting for upgrading the photo galleries on both of my sites this week to the more secure versions.

And another "thank you" to Sylvie for returning the gallery to it's original state TWICE in a week so that Mike could perform the upgrade!

Thank you Mike & Sylvie!

This is an unofficial fan site on Mr. Varitek.
For more information, click here.

Vote For Tek - 2008 All-Star Game!

This year's Midsummer Classic will be held at Yankee Stadium on July 15th!

Click here to cast your vote!

2008 Game Schedule

• May 9, 2008
» @ MIN, 8:10pm
» NESN

• May 10, 2008
» @ MIN, 7:10pm
» NESN

• May 11, 2008
» @ MIN, 8:05pm
» NESN / ESPN

• May 12, 2008
» @ MIN, 7:05pm
» NESN / ESPN

• May 13, 2008
» @ BAL, 7:05pm
» NESN

• May 14, 2008
» @ BAL, 3:05pm
» NESN

• May 16, 2008
» vs MIL, 7:05pm
» NESN

• May 17, 2008
» vs MIL, 3:55pm
» NESN / FOX

• May 18, 2008
» vs MIL, 1:35pm
» NESN / TBS

• May 19, 2008
» vs KC, 7:05pm
» NESN

• May 20, 2008
» vs KC, 7:05pm
» NESN

• May 21, 2008
» vs KC, 7:05pm
» NESN

• May 22, 2008
» vs KC, 7:05pm
» NESN

• May 23, 2008
» @ OAK, 10:05pm
» NESN

• May 24, 2008
» @ OAK, 9:05pm
» NESN

• May 25, 2008
» @ OAK, 4:05pm
» NESN

• May 26, 2008
» @ SEA, 10:10pm
» NESN

• May 27, 2008
» @ SEA, 10:10pm
» NESN

• May 28, 2008
» @ SEA, 10:10pm
» NESN

• May 30, 2008
» @ BAL, 7:05pm
» NESN

• May 31, 2008
» @ BAL, 7:05pm
» NESN

• June 1, 2008
» @ BAL, 1:35pm
» NESN

• June 2, 2008
» @ BAL, 7:05pm
» NESN

For the full schedule, click here.



2007 & 2008

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.

None at this time!

New Book:

Dynasty - The Inside Story Of How The Red Sox Became A Baseball Powerhouse

By: Tony Massarotti

Foreword by: Jason Varitek

Available: April, 2008. To order, click here.

June 9, 2008
Jason Varitek Celebrity Putt-Putt Tournament
Ferncroft Country Club, Middleton, MA

For more information on this fun event, click here.

To see screen captures from the 2006 & 2007 events, click here.

To see photos from the 2006 & 2007 events, click here.

To see fan photos from both years, click here.

July 10, 2008
2008 Beckett Bowl
Town Line Ten Pin
Malden, MA

The Beckett Bowl is an annual fundraising event organized by The Josh Beckett Foundation which supports community-based programs that strive to improve the health and wellbeing of children, especially those who are seriously ill, disabled, poor or otherwise disadvantaged. This year’s primary event beneficiary is Children’s Hospital.

6 pm - Red Carpet Event & Autograph Session
8 pm - Bowling Tournament
After Party hosted at Rain Nightlife

For more info, call call 617-338-2766 or visit www.beckettbowl.com.

Jason participated in last year's tournament, so there is a good chance he will participate again, although I have no confirmation.

To see a photo from last year's event, click here.

August 10 - 15, 2008
Jason Varitek Baseball Camp
Stonehill College
North Easton, Massachusetts

Sponsored by the RBI Academy.

Boys and girls ages 7-16 can sign up for the Day Camp, and boys, ages 9-16 can sign up for the Overnight Camp.

Jason will make an appearance one day during the week as will other professional players!

For more info, click here.

To see photos from Jason's 2007 Summer Camp, click here.

To see photos from Jason's 2006 appearance at the Winter Camp, click here.

I also have a few in the Gallery here (pages 1, 4 & 5).

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!

Looking for exclusive autographed memorabilia from the Captain?

• Boston Red Sox
• Red Sox Foundation
• Jimmy Fund
• Jason Varitek Celebrity Putt-Putt Tournament
• Celebrities for Charities Foundation
• Pitching In For Kids Foundation
• RBI Academy
• Curt's Pitch for ALS
• The Athletes Child (Karen Varitek's childrens clothing and accessories store)
• J-V.com MySpace
• Big Ben News (my other site)