Jason Gives Fans a Chance to Win his 4TH of July Equipment

July 4, 2011 - Independence Day

Plus, join the Red Sox Players for Jason Varitek Celebrity Putt Putt!

"I'm excited about all the good work being done at Journey Forward and being able to help them through these unique fundraising opportunities. Not only are funds raised for such a deserving organization, but the fans have a chance to win some game used equipment and meet their favorite players. Everyone wins!" -- Jason

For immediate release from Celebrities for Charity this afternoon:

Jason Varitek is hosting an online raffle at www.netraffle.org to give one lucky fan the chance to win his special 4th of July catcher’s equipment. Proceeds from the raffle will benefit Journey Forward, a non profit based in Boston, helping people with spinal cord injuries. With tickets costing $2.00 each and a minimum purchase of 5 tickets, this gives every fan a chance to win this amazing prize.

The raffle closes on Tuesday, July 19th at 11:00 a.m. EDT.

This fundraising effort is part of the Jason Varitek Celebrity Putt Putt event on July 21st at Athletic Evolution in Woburn, MA. Jason Varitek and his Red Sox teammates host each one of the 18 hole custom built mini-golf course. Fans will have the chance to have their photo taken with Jason Varitek and see their favorite players up close. For tickets and more information visit www.journey-forward.org

Proceeds of these fundraisers are to benefit Journey Forward, a 501 (c)3 organization dedicated to bettering the lives of those with spinal cord injuries through an intense exercise program. Journey Forward helps spinal cord injured individuals to build strength and regain movements to become less dependent on others. Over the course of 3 years individuals have made various gains such as being able to feed themselves, controlled muscle movement and beginning to take steps again.

To purchase your raffle tickets, click here.

To purchase spectator tickets to Jason's Put Putt Tournament, click here.

To learn more about Journey Forward, click here.

Sox Sweep Astros

July 3, 2011

Final Score: Red Sox 2, Astros 1

Josh Beckett pitched a gem and the Red Sox scored the go-ahead run on a walk in the ninth inning for a 2-1 win over the Astros on Sunday and the series sweep to accomplish that goal.

Beckett (7-3) allowed five hits, a run and no walks while striking out a season-high 11 in eight innings.

The Red Sox got runners on base several times after Houston tied it, but couldn't capitalize until the ninth.

Josh Reddick walked with one out in the eighth before Boston brought on Ortiz as a pinch hitter. The Houston crowd chanted 'Papi, Papi, Papi,' before Ortiz grounded into a double play. Ortiz, normally Boston's designated hitter, went 0 for 11 on this nine-game road trip.

Ellsbury walked in the seventh before a single by Pedroia, but the Red Sox left the inning empty-handed after Houston turned a double play and reliever Sergio Escalona retired Youkilis.

Jason Varitek hit a two-out double in the sixth inning off Houston rookie reliever David Carpenter but Beckett struck out to end the top of the sixth.

Youkilis singled and J.D. Drew walked to start the fourth inning before Yamaico Navarro loaded the bases with his one-out single to right field. The Red Sox took a 1-0 lead on an error by Wallace when his throw home was too high and Youkilis scored. Varitek reached on a force attempt on that play.

Jonathan Papelbon allowed one hit in a scoreless ninth for his 17th save.

(Game highlights from ESPN, NESN, and The Sporting News.)

You can see a couple of photos from the game here.

Also Today:

Congratulations!

Adrian Gonzalez, David Ortiz, Josh Beckett, and Jacoby Ellsbury are heading the 2011 All-Star Game to represent the Red Sox!!

You can read more about the All-Star Game here.

Tek & Salty: One Less Thing the Red Sox Have to Worry About

July 1, 2011

From Rob Bradford at WEEI this afternoon:

The pregame image is distinct from what transpires in the rest of the clubhouse. While a good majority of the Red Sox players alternate their time before a game between workouts, treatment and relaxing, Jarrod Saltalmacchia and Jason Varitek are seemingly in constant motion.

The pair of Red Sox catchers move like they don't have enough minutes in the day. Hitting. Catching. Coordinating. Studying. Three hours before first pitch only means the duo can't afford to waste the next 180 minutes.

The approach is paying off.

The latest punctuation on the resurgence of the Red Sox' catching situation came during the team's 5-2 win over the Phillies Thursday afternoon. Jason Varitek -- hitting as high as fifth for the first time since 2007 -- launched a pair of home runs over the Citizens Bank Park right field fence.

The offensive output made some stand up and notice what had been quietly one of the Sox' best success stories of the season.

Since May 1, Varitek has the second-best OPS (.935) of any catcher, while Saltalamacchia stands at No. 8 (.846). In that time the captain's batting average is .309, with his protege coming in at .270...

You can read more here.

Also Today:

It Gets Better" from NESN.com:

Kevin Youkilis, Jason Varitek and Red Sox manager Terry Francona are featured in a video that the Boston Red Sox released Friday, showing support for the organization "It Gets Better," a group designed to help prevent the bullying of the LGBT youth community.

"You are not alone," Youkilis says in the video. "It doesn't matter your sexual orientation, your beliefs in life."

"It's OK to be your own unique being," Varitek follows.

You can watch the video here.

Tek-nically Speaking - Quote of the Day:

"Jason Varitek, Red Sox. The venerable backstop used to have pretty good power for a catcher, but he's 39 now and on his last legs. Still, there's a little tread left on those old tires, as Varitek proved with a two-homer game Thursday. He entered the game with only three home runs in 130 plate appearances this season and hasn't hit two in a game since April 10 of last season. It was the 10th two-home run game of his career. Varitek also handled the Red Sox pitching staff from behind the plate to a shutout of the best team in baseball. All in all, well done for the venerable captain." -- CBS Sports, 3 Up, 3 Down column.

June Goes Out With A Bang For The Captain!

June 30, 2011

Two home runs for Tek and a win for the Sox against the Phillies...

Final Score: Red Sox 5, Phillies 2

From The Delaware County Pennsylvania Daily Times:

After knocking Hamels out of the game by virtue of an Adrian Gonzalez line drive in the fourth inning, the Red Sox jumped on relievers David Herndon and Andrew Carpenter en route to a 5-2 victory at Citizens Bank Park.

The Boston uprising included a pair of home runs by Jason Varitek, whose solo shot in the sixth made it a 3-0 lead. Varitek then hit one to the opposite field in the eighth inning which completed a back-to-back pair of shots to right off Carpenter by Varitek and Dustin Pedroia.

Meanwhile, the Phils (51-31) were shut down by Red Sox starter Jon Lester, who allowed but one hit through six innings. The Phils finally mustered a would-be rally in the seventh, as Ryan Howard singled and Shane Victorino walked with one out. But Ben Francisco flew out to center field, and then Lester – with his pitch count hitting 120 – got Raul Ibanez to swing at air on a cutter.

Boston followed with its two-homer eighth, and the Phils checked out shortly thereafter.

You can read more here.

From WEEI's Full Count Blog:

Varitek accounted for the Red Sox’ third and fifth runs when he went deep to right field for his fourth and fifth home runs of the season. The two solo shots allowed the catcher to now hit safely in 16 of his last 20 starts.

The game marked the first time since 2007 that Varitek had hit as high as the No. 5 spot in the order, being slotted just behind cleanup hitter Dustin Pedroia. It was also his 11th career multi-home run game.

You can read more here.

You can see video of his home runs here.

You can see photos from the game here.

"Varitek talks about respect for Jeter, catching Wakefield"

June 29, 2011

From The Dan Patrick Show website:

Boston Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek joined the show to talk about the state of the team and much more.

Dan asked Varitek how he’d react if he was on the field (when Derek Jeter hit number 3,000), "I'd trip him first and congratulate him second," Varitek said.

But in seriousness, Varitek said respecting the game is etiquette rule No. 1, so it's OK to respect other players' achievements.

Varitek did say, however, A-Rod is a whole different story if he breaks the home run record.

Varitek talked about the challenges of catching Tim Wakefield. He shared a story about when a ball hit him in the stomach.

Varitek also discussed his Memorial Day Raffle — a great way to help veterans!

You can check out the podcast from his interview here.

Jason in July...

June 28, 2011

The 2011 Jason Varitek Celebrity Putt-Putt Tournament is scheduled for July 21st, at Athletic Evolution, 78 Olympia Avenue, Woburn, Massachusetts.

Jason Varitek, his teammates and many other Boston celebrities come together for a game of putt-putt to raise money for Journey Forward, a non-profit organization dedicated to bettering the lives of those who have suffered a Spinal Cord Injury through an intense exercise program.

For the last four years, the Tournament has been attended by more than 1,000 people and covered by almost every major Boston television station, as well as several radio stations and newspaper publications.

The game is played on an 18-hole custom built putt-putt course specifically designed and created for the Jason Varitek Celebrity Putt-Putt Tournament by New England Custom Putting Greens. Spectators and golfers are treated to a night to remember with celebrity guests, live and silent auction and much more.

Spectator tickets are $50.00 per person. Spectators will receive a photograph with Jason and a $50.00 gift certificate to Athletic Evolution.

Click here to purchase your tickets!

To catch up on the last few years of Putt Putt you may have missed:

Check out NESN's feature on the 2008 Putt Putt Tournament for their "Celebrity Spotlight" series here (you'll see a mention or two of this site!).

To see screen captures from the 2006 through 2009 Tournaments, click here.

To see fan photos from the Tournaments, click here.

A note from Jennifer Gohra, for fans of WorldSeriesMotorCycle.com, who is unable to make updates to her site lately:

"I was not able to showcase my Red Sox Harley at Jason's & Tim's Pitching in for Kids event due to my town of Monson, MA getting hit severely by a tornado. We are all doing okay & just trying to get our town cleaned up to start the rebuilding process. My house has some damage to the roof, but thank God it missed us by onw house. My neighbor lost everything...so so sad.

"Could you please put a message on your website for us & let the fans know we will be at the Varitek Putt Putt Tournament this year!"

Jennifer, consider it done!

Wait! You haven't seen the World Series Harley? Well, check out their site and see what you're missing or check it out at the Tournament next month!

And just a few days after the Tournament:

From the New England Picture Company, another chance to meet Jason:

Jason's public autograph signing will take place inside the New England Picture Company store at South Shore Plaza on July 23rd from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

South Shore Plaza is located at 250 Granite Street in Braintree, Massachusetts.

Again, the price for an autographed photo or baseball is $79. To have a baseball cap, a piece of equipment, a bat or a jersey signed is $99. Inscriptions (3 to 4 words) on an item is $20.

Eric Slichko, from NEP wants to alert fans that Jason will not sign photos of the "A-Rod fight" nor will he inscribe any item with the term "Captain".

- To purchase your tickets through New England Picture for the event, email Eric at eric@newenglandpicture.com or call him at 603-818-2007.

- Tickets can also be purchased online through Sure Shot Promotions here (see June 7th news below).

This Tuesday...

June 25, 2011

Turn your radio on again!

Jason will be a guest on The Dan Patrick Show this Tuesday, June 28th. The Show airs on Fox Sports Net, Comcast SportsNet, and Root Sports channels.

Jason's interview is is expected to air at 11:20 AM.

You can check out the Show's website here (they do have podcasts available in case you miss the live interview).

*Thank you to Kathy!

Gear Up For A Good Cause!

June 24, 2011

Jason Varitek's Memorial Day Equipment Raffle

From RedSox.com this afternoon:

The Memorial Day equipment raffle offers fans the chance to win camouflage catcher's gear worn by Jason Varitek in the bullpen on Monday, May 30, 2011.

Proceeds from the raffle will benefit the Red Sox Foundation Home Base Program. The Home Base Program is designed to help veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury. The program supports and serves veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars in New England who suffer from what have become the two signature wounds of this war.

Tickets are just $2.00 each. A minimum of 5 tickets must be purchased.

Entry Deadline: July 5, 2011, 11:00 AM ET

Drawing Date: July 5, 2011

You can learn more about the raffle and purchase your tickets here.

Camouflage gear made specially for Jason by All-Star Sports.

Tuesday: News & Notes

June 22, 2011 - Radio Interview Update

Turn your radio on!

Jason will be a guest on The Scott Van Pelt Show this Friday, June 24th on ESPN Radio.

The Show is on from 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM, and Jason's interview is is expected to air at 2:45 PM.

You can check out Scott's page here (there is also a free podcast available if you can't listen to the show live on Friday).

*Thank you to Kathy for the heads-up!

Tek and Wake strike a pose!

If you have a Facebook account, check out the new photos posted on the Pitching in for Kids page from both "The Tim Wakefield & Jason Varitek Celebrity Poker Party" and the "Celebrity Golf Classic" that took place earlier this month!

You can see the Poker Party photos here.

You can see the Celebrity Golf Classic photos here.

There's still time to sign up!

The 2011 Jason Varitek & Dustin Pedroia Summer Baseball Camp will take place from July 31st – August 5th at Stonehill College in North Easton, MA.

The Day Camp is conducted from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm each day for boys and girls ages 7-16.

The Overnight Camp starts Sunday July 31st @ 5:00pm through Friday August 5th @ 12:00pm. Tuition for overnight campers is $849.00, which includes all day and night activities, sleeping facilities, and three meals per day.

Tuition for day campers is $549.00 which includes daily activities and lunch each day.

Jason and Dustin will appear at camp one day during the week to speak to campers as a group and also go from team to team to meet every camper! You might even see a few more players throughout the week!

Each camper can look forward to:

- Jason and Dustin appearing for one day during the camp to meet the kids and talk baseball

- Five days of top level instruction on the fundamentals of hitting, pitching, fielding, throwing, catching and base running.

- Baseball games and instructional drills daily

- Autographed 8 x 10 color photo of Jason for each camper

- Team photo with Dustin

- Guest appearances by current or former professional baseball players.

- Nightly activities and accommodations organized by age

- Daily recreational activities

For more information on this exciting baseball camp, click here.

New Photos...

June 20 -21, 2011

I just added photos from three of the best...

Nancy Nutile-McMenemy was at Fenway this weekend and took some great shots to share with us here.

The Sox lady known only as "Fenway Fruitgirl" was also at the Park this weekend. Her photos are here.

And you won't want to miss Kelly O'Connor's action photos from the "ejection" game on June 4th. You can check 'em out here.

You can see more of Nancy's photography on her website here.

You can see more of Kelly's Red Sox photography on her website here.

Sox beat Padres 14-5 tonight!

The Red Sox have scored 10 runs in the seventh inning to take a 13-3 lead over the San Diego Padres.

The 10 runs were the most for the Red Sox in one inning since May 7, 2009, when they scored 12 in the sixth inning of a 13-3 win over Cleveland. The team record is 17 runs in the seventh against Detroit on June 18, 1953.

- You can read post-game coverage from the Boston Herald.

- Andrew Miller talks to NESN about his first outing on the mound with the Red Sox and pitching to Jason.

- Also, check out this video interview with Tek on the versitility of both Tim Wakefield and Alfredo Aceves.

Sox Bats On Fire Against The Brewers

June 18, 2011

Final Score: Red Sox 10, Brewers 4

From The Nashua Telegraph this morning:

On a night with the wind blowing straight out over The Wall, only one hitter managed to take full advantage of it. That it was Adrian Gonzalez should come as a surprise only to those who were so consumed by Cup Fever’s Grip on Hub that they haven’t paid attention to the Red Sox since the start of the Bruins’ playoff run.

Gonzalez sliced a solo homer into the first row of Wall seats to lead off the fifth, giving the Red Sox the go-ahead run in what turned into a 10-4 rout of the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday night at Fenway Park. Gonzalez also had a double and a single, leaving him with a batting average of .352, 15 homers and 62 RBIs.

Jason Varitek’s Wall double in the sixth scored J.D. Drew from first in the sixth and Dustin Pedroia’s seeing-eye single to center scored Varitek from third to give John Lackey a three-run cushion he really didn’t need in picking up his fifth win in 10 decisions.

You can read more here.

Another good recap of the game can be found here.

Tek-nically Speaking....

"Jason Varitek rewarded Terry Francona for giving him the start for just the second time this season when Lackey has taken the mound. While hitting from the right side, Varitek smacked a wall-ball RBI double off the Green Monster in the sixth to give the Sox a 6-4 lead. It’s hard to think that at one point – May 10 to be exact – the Boston captain was hitting as little as .154 with only 2 RBI and no home runs. In his 15 games played since that day, Varitek is hitting .313 with three homers and 12 RBI." -- Sam Dykstra, WEEI's Full Count blog.

Beckett Tosses One-Hitter In Win Over Rays

June 15, 2011

Final Score: Red Sox 3, Rays 0

From The Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo tonight:

It will be overshadowed by the Stanley Cup Final, but Josh Beckett was sensational tonight in tossing a 3-0 one-hit shutout. His performance was certainly right there with recently great starts by Detroit's Justin Verlander, the Angels' Jered Weaver and Tampa Bay's James Shields.

Beckett, whose ERA dropped to 1.86, retired the last 19 batters he faced. The only hit and only baserunner was a 3rd-inning infield single by Brignac. Otherwise, Beckett was perfect, throwing only 97 pitches.

The game lasted 2:20 before 19,388 at the Trop.

You can read more from Mr. Cafardo here.

You can catch video highlight's of the Tek and Beckett battery tonight here.

Tickets! Tickets! Step Right Up...

June 13, 2011

...and get your tickets!!

From the New England Picture Company:

Jason's public autograph signing will take place inside the New England Picture Company store at South Shore Plaza on July 23rd from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

South Shore Plaza is located at 250 Granite Street in Braintree, Massachusetts.

Again, the price for an autographed photo or baseball is $79. To have a baseball cap, a piece of equipment, a bat or a jersey signed is $99. Inscriptions (3 to 4 words) on an item is $20.

Eric Slichko, from NEP wants to alert fans that Jason will not sign photos of the "A-Rod fight" nor will he inscribe any item with the term "Captain".

- To purchase your tickets through New England Picture for the event, email Eric at eric@newenglandpicture.com or call him at 603-818-2007.

- Tickets can also be purchased online through Sure Shot Promotions here (see June 7th news below).

The Captain's 3-Run Homer Helps Sox Win Another One

June 11, 2011

"You're in there in a situation just trying to get a run in and just up there battling, because Morrow's got really good stuff. When someone who's hitting in the eight- or nine-hole does that, it can deflate the other team." -- Jason, after the game.

Final Score: Red Sox 16, Blue Jays 4

From Arden Zwelling at the Red Sox Official Site:

Sitting in front of his locker with watermelon-sized ice packs strapped to both his legs and upper body, weary Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek might as well have been a metaphor for the entire team.

This is certainly a tired bunch that has played 27 innings of baseball over the last 40 hours in two cities with little to no sleep in between. Varitek has started two of those games and three of the team's last four, which would have earned the 39-year-old veteran the right to feel a little groggy at the plate.

But it didn't seem to bother Varitek, who went 2-for-3 with four RBIs, or the rest of the Red Sox as they drubbed the Blue Jays Saturday afternoon, 16-4, at Rogers Centre. It was a merciless attack from Boston's hitters, who pounded Toronto's pitching staff to the tune of 18 hits as six Red Sox players notched multi-hit games.

"This team's tired. There's a point where, you know, some of those later [at-bats] are a grind. The whole game's a grind right now," Varitek conceded from under a thick layer of ice. "Guys just had great at-bats."

Varitek and David Ortiz hit three-run homers in a seven-run fifth, and every batter in the starting lineup except for Jed Lowrie finished with at least a base hit. Boston posted double-digit runs for the fifth time and has outscored opponents, 69-35, on its eight-game win streak.

You can read the rest of Mr. Zwelling's post-game report here.

You can watch video of Jason's three-run homer here.

You can watch video of Terry Francona's post-game interview here.

You can see game photos here.

Sox Sweep Yanks!

June 10, 2011

EXTRA! EXTRA! Read all about it!!

NESN: Red Sox Sweep Another Series At Yankee Stadium With 8-3 Win Over New York

WEEI: Red Sox score seven in seventh to sweep

MassLive: Worth waiting for - Red Sox leave New York with a sweep after the Late Show

New York Post: Sabathia & Company fall to 1-8 vs rivals

"Tim Wakefield, Afredo Aceves and Jason Varitek all have a hand in a big Red Sox win"

June 9, 2011

Final Score: Red Sox 11, Yankees 6

From Ron Chimelis at The Republican:

Wakefield's 196th win came with a "new'' batterymate. Jason Varitek's locker is less than 10 feet away from Wakefield's in the Fenway Park clubhouse, but he has been almost entirely off knuckleball duty since 2001, when the team's other catchers got the task.

The two veterans did collaborate briefly in the 2004 ALCS, which exposed Varitek's struggles to catch the knuckler. But that was then, and Varitek did a very competent job on Wednesday.

There was one passed ball and one wild pitch.

Staked to a 7-0 lead, Wakefield gave the ball to Aceves with one out, two on and an 8-4 lead in the sixth.

Aceves promptly gave up two hits and a run. Then, on the most important pitch of the game, Derek Jeter slapped Aceves' 3-2 delivery into an inning-ending double play.

In the seventh, Aceves set down the teeth of the New York lineup in order - Curtis Granderson, Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez. He finished the game and earned his third career save as Wakefield came closer to his 200th career win, one night after Jonathan Papelbon had logged his 200th career save.

You can read more from Mr. Chimelis here.

You can read even more from RedSox.com here.

Meet Jason in July

June 7, 2011

From Sure Shot Promotions:

Jason will be appearing at South Shore Plaza on July 23rd from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. for an autograph signing event.

South Shore Plaza is located at 250 Granite Street in Braintree, Massachusetts.

The price for an autographed photo or baseball is $79. To have a baseball cap, a piece of equipment, a bat or a jersey signed is $99. Inscriptions (3 to 4 words) on an item is $20.

To purchase your tickets for the event, click here.

Tek on Salty: "I've got his back and he's got mine."

June 6, 2011

From an article entitled, "Red Sox: A more relaxed Salty settling in as Sox' No. 1 catcher" at the Eagle Tribune today:

Saltalamacchia showed his more relaxed approach Saturday during the Red Sox' 9-8 14-inning victory over Oakland. The catcher doubled to center with two outs in the bottom of the 11th inning with the Red Sox down by one run. He did it after Oakland closer Andrew Bailey had struck out the first two Boston batters on seven pitches combined. Saltalamacchia didn't try to do too much. He just went up to the plate trying to put the ball in play. He later scored the tying run on Jacoby Ellsbury's ground rule double to right field.

Saltalamacchia said fellow catcher Jason Varitek also has helped him a great deal. The two are often seen hanging out together by Varitek's locker in the Boston clubhouse before games.

"He's been a big influence in a lot of areas," Saltalamacchia said. "He's definitely a good person to go to if I have any questions. He has got my back. He's there for me. If I have a good game, it's nice to have someone pat you on the back. And if he sees something, he'll tell me. It's comforting to know I'm working with someone who has done what he's done. And at the same time, we're working together. It's not a competition. We're not rooting against each other. We both want to do good. We both want each other to do good."

Varitek added: "I think the biggest thing we've been able to do is provide a support system for one another. I've got his back and he's got mine. At our position we go through a lot of unseen, hidden things. We do our work, support each other offensively and defensively, game calling, all of the above. That's our key."

You can read more here.

You can see more of Nancy Nutile-McMenemy's photos here.

"It's Simple. I Lost My Cool."

June 4-5, 2011

From Gordon Edes at ESPN Boston:

Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek jerked his head around and exchanged some heated words with plate umpire Tony Randazzo after he was called out on strikes in the fifth inning Saturday, but that had nothing to do, he said, with his ejection in the ninth inning of Boston's 9-8, 14-inning win over the Oakland Athletics.

He also was upset with some pitches that were not called strikes during Daric Barton's at-bat in the ninth, especially a 1-and-2 pitch, with Barton ultimately drawing a walk and scoring during Oakland's game-tying, four-run rally against closer Jonathan Papelbonthat sent the game to extra innings. But even that, he said, could not be singled out as the sole cause of his aggrieved state.

"It's simple," he said. "I lost my cool on those things that happened in that inning that I felt like Pap had made some pitches."

Varitek was ejected after he went mask to face with Randazzo following an RBI double by Cliff Pennington that had drawn the Athletics to within 7-5. The ejection was the fifth of his career.

"To go in depth, sometimes you react to things," Varitek said. "When you sit around here for four hours, you can think of a lot of different ways you could have reacted. It's simple. I lost my cool."

You can read more from Jason here.

You can watch his post-game interview here.

Tek-nically Speaking - Quote of the Weekend:

"15. Jason Varitek, C, Red Sox — The preparation he does 24/7 — even when he's not playing — is off the charts. You'll never see another player with this work ethic. If it's hard for Varitek to give up the uniform, it's because of the passion that drives him." -- Nick Cafardo, from his "25 very passionate baseball people" list at The Boston Globe this Sunday.

Tek And Wake - Golfing for Charity

June 2, 2011

Jason Varitek and Tim Wakefield welcomed about 180 golfers today at the Granite Links Golf Course in Quincy for their "Pitching in for Kids" Golf Classic.

Organizers hope to raise over $400,000 in proceeds from both the Golf Tournament and the Poker Tournament/Auction which was held last night at Ned Devine's, located at Faneuil Hall Marketplace in Boston.

You can see a few photos from today's golf outing here.

If you attended either or both events and would like to share your photos, just email me!

Also Today:

Thoughts and prayers go out to the victims of the devasting tornadoes that struck central and western areas of Massachusetts.

The American Red Cross of Massachusetts Bay is accepting donations of any size from people who want to help the residents of those communities.

People can donate online at http://redcross.org or by phone at 1-800-RED-CROSS. Those who wish to donate can also text "REDCROSS" to 90999 to send $10 to the organization. The charge will appears on your cellphone bill.

Just being aggressive...

June 1, 2011

From NECN and The Boston Globe after last night's game:

The Red Sox did score one run earlier than the eighth inning on Tuesday night, thanks to Jason Varitek’s solo home run to lead off the bottom of the third inning.

Varitek – who said he was just being aggressive – ripped a first-pitch fastball into the White Sox’ bullpen, marking both the Red Sox’ first run, and hit, of the game, cutting Chicago’s lead to 5-1 at the time.

"He swung the bat very well," Francona said of Varitek, who has hit safely in his last eight games, batting .379 with two homers and six RBIs in that stretch. "He jumped on the first pitch for a home run, battled in his other at-bats, and found a couple of holes. It’s always welcomed."

More from NECN here. More from The Boston Globe here.

You can see video of Jason's home run here.

The latest photos are here.

Tek Hits 300th Career Double In Sunday's Game...

May 30, 2011 - Memorial Day

...making him only the sixth catcher in American League history to reach 300 doubles and 150 homers! -- Scott Lauber, Boston Herald.

From last night's game:

The Red Sox' five-game winning streak ended when they ran into a Justin Verlander Sunday night in the finale of their seven-game road trip.

"Long day [Saturday], long day [Sunday] today for guys," said Jason Varitek. "We just ran into a little buzzsaw."

The buzzsaw’s name on Sunday was Verlander.

Justin Verlander pitched into the eighth inning and Miguel Cabrera drove in an insurance run as Detroit silenced Boston, 3-0, in the back end of a doubleheader from Comerica Park.

A 51-minute rain delay at the outset didn't dampen the Tigers' desire to snag a win from the series, and they gave Verlander all the support he needed in the first inning.

"Going up against a guy like Beckett, if we're able to scratch across two early runs, you know that's probably all you're going to get, or not much more," said Verlander. "At that point, it's my job to go out there and shut those guys down and keep that lead."

Which is what he did.

Verlander didn't allow a runner past first base until Jason Varitek's one-out double in the sixth, and he prevented further trouble by getting the next two batters on fly outs.

Josh Beckett (4-2) worked six innings, yielding five hits and two runs for the Red Sox.

Boston put a runner on third in the seventh, but Verlander induced an inning- ending groundout from Carl Crawford.

"You just can't stake that guy the lead like that," said Beckett. "If it's one run, it's one thing. He's tough enough without you staking him to a couple runs."

You can see video of Jason's 300th career double here.

You can also see the latest photos from Nancy Nutile-McMenemy in her album here.

You can see all of her Red Sox photos here.

*Thank you Nancy!

Catchers and Collisions at the Plate

May 27, 2011

"Catching, you're usually not on the winning end of those. Period." -- Jason, from the article below.

From an article that appeared in The Canadian Press today:

The clean but cringe-inducing crash between Posey and Florida's Scott Cousins this week has reignited the decades-old debate over plays at the plate.

Posey, the 2010 NL Rookie of the Year and one of the game's brightest young stars, fractured a bone in his lower left leg and tore three ligaments in his ankle. His season is likely over.

In the past few years, the NFL has cracked down on violent hits and increased fines with an eye on player safety. The league also announced this week a policy of "club accountability" for teams whose players repeatedly are fined for flagrant hits.

Some in baseball are asking for similar action in the wake of Posey's injury. Others argue home plate collisions are as much a part of baseball tradition as peanuts and Cracker Jacks and the seventh-inning stretch.

Many high schools and some college divisions have outlined rules for calls on the bases, including home. The most common are giving the umpire the discretion to decide if the runner could avoid a collision with a clear path or if the runner had any intent to reach the base — similar to those for breaking up a double-play in the big leagues.

Those subjective calls could be more difficult in the majors.

Most big leaguers chuckle at the idea of such a rule in baseball.

Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek is considered among the best at blocking the plate. He agrees collisions should remain in the baseball rules, even it that puts him in harm's way.

"Catching, you're usually not on the winning end of those. Period," Varitek said. "Some things are part of the game. But even the people who are playing hard and are in those collisions don't want to see anybody get hurt. Some things are part of the game. There's not a whole lot you can do."

You can read more here.

You can see larger versions of the photos above are here and here.

Thursday Afternoon in the Rain: Red Sox 14, Tigers 1

May 26, 2011

"You can't judge a team in a couple weeks!" -- Jason, on the team's rough first weeks of the season.

From the Westport News this afternoon:

The Boston Red Sox roughed up one of baseball's best pitchers this season.

Then, Boston refused to take it easy on Detroit's relievers.

Jacoby Ellsbury hit a three-run homer off Max Scherzer in a five-run second inning, and hot-hitting Boston went on to rout the Tigers 14-1 in an eight-inning, rain-shortened game Thursday.

"I'm glad we had two good days in a row," Francona said. "It's nice to have games like that every once in a while."

The Red Sox, who beat Cleveland 14-2 on Wednesday, scored at least 14 runs in back-to-back games for the first time since 1998.

Alfredo Aceves (2-0) allowed a run on five hits and struck out six over six innings. Aceves made his second start with Boston and the seventh of his career.

"He took some steps in the learning process," Varitek said.

You can read more here.

And:

From Comcast Sports Net this evening:

Thursday afternoon, Aceves went six innings, giving up one run on five hits and two walks with six strikeouts to earn the win as the Sox pummeled the Tigers, 14-1.

He threw strikes. He changed speeds. I thought he followed [catcher Jason Varitek] real well," Francona said. "Looked to me like he only shook him off one time, which to me, when Tek's catching is always a good thing. And they were on the same page. His pitches are good – slider, fastball, changeup. But i thought he followed Tek real well."

Aceves and Varitek appeared to be in sync better in this game, with the right-hander shaking off his catcher much less.

"He's real good," Aceves said of Varitek. "He's been in the league for 20 years. I don't know how long, a long time. I trust him."

Aceves and Varitek are still getting used to each other.

"It was much better and we were in a much better rhythm," Varitek said. "It helps the people behind you play better when that happens.

"But there's a combo. He's been successful for a reason because of his stuff, and today was a day that we took some steps in that learning process."

You can read more here.

Also Today:

Father's Day is just around the corner (June 19th), and if you are looking for gifts for that Red Sox lovin' man in your family, Ryan Drew of Yahoo Sports has the Top 10 Boston Red Sox Father's Day gift ideas for you!

He has everything from tickets for a day at Fenway to a Red Sox rolling cooler!

Check out his ideas here.

Or, how about my idea? A bottle or two of Red Sox Charity Wine?

Perhaps some "Captain's Cabernet", "Vintage Papi", or "ZinfandEllbury"? You can even purchase more than one for a wine and cheese basket for the wine connoisseur in your house!

And the best part is...

Part of the proceeds for each bottle purchased will go to that player's favorite charity!

You can check out the Charity Wines website here.

Wednesday: Notes & Quotes

May 25, 2011

From last night's game:

ESPN.com - "Jason Varitek finds his comfort zone":

After a dismal start to the season, Boston Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek is getting more comfortable at the plate. In Tuesday night's 4-2 win over the Cleveland Indians, he was comfy behind it as well.

Varitek's two-run homer in the top of the seventh gave the Red Sox some breathing room, boosting the Boston lead to 4-1 lead.

"The timing of it was nice," Varitek said. "I'm starting to put together some quality at-bats. I couldn't have started any worse, something like 1-for-40."

Varitek is 11-for-35 in his past 10 starts after opening the season 3-for-34.

He also threw out two of three Indians attempting to steal. Boston had allowed an alarming 54 steals in 69 attempts coming in. Varitek is now 5-for-28 on the season.

"That was huge," Sox starter Josh Beckett said. "He saved my pitch count. I only had two 1-2-3 innings [the third and fourth], and both were because he threw guys out."

Click here for more!

WEEI.com - "Beckett, Varitek lead Sox past Tribe":

Josh Beckett allowed just one run over 6 2/3 innings, and Jason Varitek broke open the game with a two-run homer in the seventh inning as the Red Sox claimed a 4-2 win over the Indians Tuesday night at Progressive Field.

Also contributing to the win for the Red Sox was reliever Rich Hill, who stranded both runners he inherited in the seventh and then pitched a scoreless eighth inning. The lefty still hasn't allowed a run in seven appearances this season.

Click here for more!

NESN.com - "Jason Varitek Provides Latest Example of Resurgence by Red Sox Catchers":

Varitek helped guide Josh Beckett through another outstanding outing and continued his mini-surge at the plate with a two-run homer in Boston's 4-2 win at Cleveland on Tuesday night.

Including Tuesday's effort at the plate, Varitek is batting .381 (8-for-21) with the home run, a double, three walks and five RBIs over his last six starts. Saltalamacchia, meanwhile, has hit safely in 14 of his last 19 starts, showcasing a solid .273 (18-for-66) mark in that span, including home runs in three of four games entering the series against the Indians.

For Varitek, it is beginning to look a little like his hot start in 2010, when he embraced his part-time role and seemed to flourish at the plate because of the reduced strain on his body. One might recall Varitek hitting .342 with six home runs on May 11, 2010.

"Early on I just took some bad swings, especially right-handed, but I think all along I've had pretty consistent at-bats left-handed, and once I was able to turn that around right-handed, I've had some good at-bats," he said Tuesday.

Varitek was batting from the left side -- traditionally his weaker side -- when he smacked a Fausto Carmona offering off the right-field foul pole to give the Red Sox a 4-1 lead in the seventh.

Click here for more!

Click here for game photos.

Jason: Strength + Agility = MLB Longevity

May 24, 2011

From NESN.com this afternoon:

So much of what has made Varitek, now 39, such a fixture for the Red Sox, and one who can envision catching into his 40s, is the work he did early in his 15-year career. By not taking for granted his obligations to stay in shape and keep strong, he looks, and often feels, as good as he did back in the day.

"I think the work that's been done 10, 15 years ago, that is helping me now," Varitek said. "You're not trying to rebuild a foundation, you're trying to specifically get things strengthened. Or, if you have physical issues, some maintenance work."

Varitek said he has done his best to take advantage of advancements in physical exercise and spends just as much time in active stretches or agility drills. Lifting weights, he said, is not an everyday activity.

"Four to five days a week you're doing something, but it's not necessarily that you're lifting every day," he said.

For more on his strength and conditioning, click here.

Pitching In For Kids

May 22, 2011

Two events coming up in June...and you can be there for both!

The Pitching in for Kids Kick-Off Party & Poker Tournament, hosted by Tim Wakefield and Jason Varitek will be held on Wednesday, June 1, 2011 at 6:00 PM at Ned Devine's, located at Faneuil Hall Marketplace in Boston.

Buy your seat at The Mohegan Sun's Celebrity Poker Tournament to play with Tim, Jason, and their Red Sox teammates!

General party access tickets are $100 per person. Party & poker buy in tickets are $250 (for non-sponsors).

Of course, all proceeds benefit the Pitching in for Kids Foundation!

For more information, click here. To purchase your tickets, click here.

The Annual All-Star Celebrity Golf Classic hosted by Tim Wakefield and Jason Varitek will be held on Thursday, June 2, 2011, starting at noon at Granite Links in Quincy, MA.

The Shotgun start is at 12:00 noon.

Schedule of events:

12:00 p.m. - Registration Begins With Light Breakfast

12:45 p.m. - Tim, Jason & 2 Other Selected Golfers Attempt A $1,000,000.00 Shot On Hole #1 From 165 Yards To Benefit PIFK

1:00 p.m. - Shotgun Start With Scramble Format Course, Lunches Served Daily Throughout The Day On Every Hole

5:30 p.m. - Cocktail Reception With Silent Auction

5:45-7:30 p.m. - Tournament Awards Dinner Sponsored By Capital Grille

For more information, contact the Pitching In For Kids Office.

Jason's 1,500th Game

May 21, 2011

Jason caught his 1,500th game last night, guiding pitcher Alfredo Aceves to a quality start (5IP, 3H, 1R, 2BB, 2Ks).

Both teams wore throwback uniforms in honor of the Cubs' first visit to Fenway since the 1918 World Series.

And although Jason had a single and a walk in the early innings with a Red Sox lead the team fell to the Cubs after a rough "end of the world" type eighth inning, where everything just seemed to go wrong.

Ironically, it was on the day that Christian Fundamentalist Harold Campings predicted would indeed be the end of the world or the Rapture. Red Sox manager Terry Francona, during his post-game press conference after the 9-3 loss, told a reporter who had asked the day earlier about the Rapture, "You were close. The world came to an end in the eighth."

As WEEI reported, "everything that could have gone wrong for Matt Albers did." Albers took the mound in the eighth inning, surrendered two singles, two walks, and a double that turned a 3-1 lead into a 4-3 deficit. Albers was charged with six runs, five of them earned.

"Matty was just missing," Jason said after the game. "Matty's done such a good job for us, but it was one of those things where guys took some good swings on some good pitches and got those first two hits. Then on the walks, he wasn’t overly wild, but he was just missing."

You can see a couple of photos here.

Kelly O'Connor Photos Anyone?

May 21, 2011

I thought so!

Check out her latest photos of the Captain from both on and off the field this Spring!

Kelly was front and center with camera in hand for the April 8th Red Sox Welcome Back Party and caught some great moments on stage.

Click here to see her 2011 album.

*Kelly, once again, THANK YOU!!

Jason's 1,499th Game...

May 20, 2011

...was a win for the Sox last night!

Final Score: Red Sox 4, Tigers 3

From NESN's Game Blog:

After the phenomenal force play at home kept the Tigers alive for another hitter, Carl Crawford, Mr. Walk-off himself, lined one over the drawn-in center fielder, scoring Darnell McDonald with the game-winner.

That is six straight wins and three of the last four home victories have come in walk-off fashion.

The pitching staff continues to take hits and get shuffled around, yet the wins just keep coming, and many of them in dramatic fashion.

Josh Beckett informed the staff of his neck pain after the sixth. Because it was on the side of the neck near his throwing shoulder, the club wanted to take precaution, but Beckett is expected to be just fine, according to Terry Francona.

Look for Boston to try to extend its winning streak to seven games when the Chicago Cubs come to town Friday night

You can read more here.

You can listen to Jason's post-game interview with WEEI here.

The Cubs are coming to town...

From The Providence Journal and The Torrington (VT) Register Citizen:

The Cubs will play at Fenway for the first time since Sept. 11, 1918. On that day, Boston won the sixth game of the World Series and closed out the Cubs, four games to two.

The matchup of two of baseball’s most historic franchises is a natural for interleague play. However, the teams have met just once. Boston traveled to Wrigley Field back in 2005.

The Cubs have two of their better pitchers set to face the Red Sox. Carlos Zambrano (4-2) is starting Saturday and Matt Garza (2-4) will pitch Sunday.

The two teams will commemorate their last matchup 93 years ago by wearing uniforms in Saturday’s game that replicate the style worn in 1918, the last time these two teams faced each other in Boston. The Red Sox will wear a blank button-up with no lettering and a slight off-white or ivory color. The player’s hats will also have a blank off-white tint. The Sox used this uniform and hat combination for most of the 1910s and did not have any lettering on the front of their uniform until the 1930s. The familiar blue cap with a red ‘B’ did not appear until the early ’30s. The Cubs will wear navy-blue pinstripes and lettering on a grayish uniform.

"Everybody I know on the face of the earth is going to be there," said Cubs manager Mike Quade, who has family in the Boston area. "It will be a fun weekend for all of us."

So, are the Cubs bent on revenge for that painful defeat 93 years ago? Chicago first baseman Carlos Pena laughed.

"We're not going to put all of that on us. We're just going to do the best we can to win a game," said Pena, who went to high school just outside Boston and attended Northeastern University in the city. "It’s a historic event. We're going to enjoy it, and I'm sure the fans will also."

The Cubs haven't won a World Series since 1908. And the 1918 title was the last for the Red Sox until they ended an 86-year drought in 2004.

All the while, loyal fans fell in love with each franchise, cherishing summer days at sun-splashed Wrigley Field or creaky Fenway Park, which opened in 1912.

"Still loyal — loyal with a sense of what's going to happen next? Once we were able to break through that then things changed," Jason Varitek said. "I think it's a fun matchup for the history of the game."

You can read Kevin McNamara and Brian MacPerherson's article here.

You can read the article from the Register Citizen here.

Four Years Ago Today...

May 19, 2011

Jason caught his fourth No-Hitter!

"There's nothing really to say. Just let him enjoy the moment. It's his time, his moment. I'm just fortunate enough to be a part of it." -- Jason, to New York Times reporter Thomas Kaplan on what words of wisdom he gave to Jon Lester during the celebration.

From Mike Petraglia at RedSox.com on May 20th, 2008 in an article entitled, "No-Hitter a record fourth for Varitek":

Even for someone who has now caught more Major League no-hitters than anyone in history, Monday's night gem by Jon Lester was still very special and unique to Jason Varitek.

This was a weird one," Varitek said. "I didn't really know he had a no-hitter until the eighth. I looked up in the seventh and saw that he was around 100 pitches and he did his job. I glanced in the bullpen and saw nobody warming up and thought that was weird."

Entering Monday's contest, Varitek and 12 other big league catchers had the distinction of catching three no-hitters in their careers.

The moment Kansas City's Alberto Callaspo swung and missed at Lester's 130th pitch, Varitek stood all alone in the history books.

"The fact that he's caught four in his career, the only catcher to ever do that, that's a team effort," Red Sox pitching coach John Farrell said. "Jason has a huge impact on what goes on. Certainly, Jon threw every pitch, but Jason's guidance certainly got him to that point.

"[Varitek is] someone who's got what I would consider a photographic memory, and ... he retains the information that goes on inside a game and how he's attacked the same hitters -- first, second, third and fourth time through the lineup," Farrell said.

You can still read the full article here.

From Jeff Horrigan at The Boston Herald on May 20th, 2008 in an article entitled, "Jason Varitek catches spot in history books":

Lester became the first Red Sox left-hander in nearly 52 years to pitch a no-hitter, but the veteran catcher also earned a spot in the record books by being behind the plate for his fourth no-hitter, breaking a record he had shared with 12 other catchers.

Varitek previously caught no-hitters thrown by Hideo Nomo (April 4, 2001), Derek Lowe (April 27, 2002) and Clay Buchholz (last Sept. 1).

"I'm very fortunate," Varitek said. "It's so exciting to be part of one as a catcher. Each one is so different. The work that Jonny Lester's had to do, to be able to be a part of something like that with him is totally different."

Varitek said Lester’s accomplishment was even more remarkable considering how difficult it was to get a decent grip on the ball.

"It was an awful feel," Varitek said. "The balls were real slick, it was windy, dry, cool, there was no moisture in the air. It was a tough grip, even for me throwing balls back to the mound until the sun went down, (when) you started settling in and the grip changed on the balls. It was a battle for both pitchers early to really get a feel for the baseball."

The group of catchers with three no-hitters consists of Ray Schalk, Roy Campanella, Del Crandall, Luke Sewell, Alan Ashby, Bill Carrigan, Charles Johnson, Ed McFarland, Jeff Torborg, Jim Hegan, Silver Flint and Val Picinich. Yogi Berra would be included in that group, as well, if postseason games were added in. Former White Sox catcher Schalk originally was credited with catching four for being behind the plate for Jim Scott and Joe Benz in 1914, Eddie Cicotte in 1917 and Charlie Robertson’s perfect game in 1922, but Scott’s no-no is no longer considered as an official no-hitter because he gave up a pair of 10th-inning hits.

You can read the full article here.

From Dick Kaegel at MLB.com on May 21, 2008 in an article entitled, "Guillen gives Varitek credit for No-No":

Left-hander Jon Lester got the no-hit glory, but the Royals' Jose Guillen was thinking about another Red Sox player during the afterglow on Tuesday.

"You never want to see a no-hitter go against you like that, but, unfortunately, that situation happened," Guillen said. "I give a lot of credit to the pitcher, but most of the credit I give to Jason Varitek.

"He one of the smartest guys, the smartest catcher," Guillen said. "He's the one that got that pitching staff going that way about [its] business. You want to guess and you're looking for a pitch, it's like Jason is reading your mind. And the pitchers listen to him about the pitch he wants in a certain situation. You think, 'OK, I'm going to take a pitch,' and here you go, he comes with a strike there; and you want to swing, he comes with a breaking pitch.

"He's a big value to this team, and they should be proud of what they have there," Guillen said. "He's a special guy. That's a lot of work to do to be a catcher. It's not just catching the ball and throwing it back to the pitcher."

You can read the full article here.

The 2011 Jason Varitek Celebrity Putt-Putt Tournament

May 18, 2011

The 2011 Jason Varitek Celebrity Putt-Putt Tournament is scheduled for July 21st, at Athletic Evolution, 78 Olympia Avenue, Woburn, Massachusetts.

Jason Varitek, his teammates and many other Boston celebrities come together for a game of putt-putt to raise money for Journey Forward, a non-profit organization dedicated to bettering the lives of those who have suffered a Spinal Cord Injury through an intense exercise program.

For the last four years, the Tournament has been attended by more than 1,000 people and covered by almost every major Boston television station, as well as several radio stations and newspaper publications.

The game is played on an 18-hole custom built putt-putt course specifically designed and created for the Jason Varitek Celebrity Putt-Putt Tournament by New England Custom Putting Greens. Spectators and golfers are treated to a night to remember with celebrity guests, live and silent auction and much more.

Spectator tickets are $50.00 per person. Spectators will receive a photograph with Jason and a $50.00 gift certificate to Athletic Evolution.

Click here to purchase your tickets!

To catch up on the last few years of Putt Putt you may have missed:

Check out NESN's feature on the 2008 Putt Putt Tournament for their "Celebrity Spotlight" series here (you'll see a mention or two of this site!).

To see screen captures from the 2006 through 2009 Tournaments, click here.

To see fan photos from the Tournaments, click here.

Walk-Off Win For The Sox

May 17, 2011

Final Score: Red Sox 8, Orioles 7

After sweeping the New York Yankees over the weekend, the Red Sox continued to roll on Monday with a dramatic come-from-behind win, as Adrian Gonzalez hit a two-run double in the bottom of the ninth to help Boston overcome a six-run deficit in an 8-7 victory.

Kevin Gregg (0-1) walked Jacoby Ellsbury with one out, and after he stole second, Dustin Pedroia also worked a base on balls. Gonzalez then took an offering the opposite way off the Green Monster, bringing home both runners to end the contest. It made a winner of Alfredo Aceves (1-0), who allowed one run and two hits in three relief innings. Gonzalez ended up with three RBI, while Kevin Youkilis and Jason Varitek knocked in two runs each for the Red Sox, who have won seven of nine and are over .500 (21-20) for the first time this season.

For the home team, it was their largest comeback victory since falling behind 6-0 against the Yankees and winning 16-11 at Fenway on April 25, 2009.

Jason on Jorge: "I have a huge respect for him"

May 15, 2011 - Evening Update

From Andrew Keh at The New York Times Baseball Blog:

Before the Yankees and the Boston Red Sox closed their three-game series at Yankee Stadium on Sunday night, Jason Varitek spoke at length about Jorge Posada, expressing a measure of admiration and great deal of empathy for his frequent counterpart and adversary...

Varitek said he understood how the changes Posada has had to manage this season — going from being an everyday catcher to a full-time designated hitter — could have a huge effect on his mind-set and play.

"Jorge's really had to go from focusing and doing the things that you have to do behind the plate — the constant reminders, this and that, the maintenance, what’s going on — and now you’re almost like, 'Well what do I do with my time?'" Varitek said.

Varitek, who was named captain of the Red Sox in 2004 and won a Gold Glove Award that year, said that starting a game at catcher, or at least having to be mentally prepared to enter a game in progress as one, had freed him from having to dwell on his offensive shortcomings. That is something Posada acknowledged in recent days that he had been doing.

He added of Posada's switch: "You're part of that responsibility for so long, it is different, I'm sure. I mean, I haven't personally talked to him so I don't really, really know. But positionally, that's different, because you're so much in the flow of the game."

Despite their differences, Varitek said he could relate to Posada about having his daily role diminished. He related Posada's current struggles to his experience in 2009, when he became the backup catcher after the Red Sox acquired the All-Star Victor Martinez at the trade deadline. Varitek said he remembered thinking, "How can I embrace this?"

You can read the rest here.

Saturday Night In The Bronx

May 15, 2011

Final Score: Sox 6, Yankees 0

Adrian Gonzalez homered for the fourth consecutive game and Josh Beckett shut down the skidding New York Yankees for the second time this season, sending the Boston Red Sox to a 6-0 victory Saturday night.

Beckett struck out nine in six innings to win another marquee matchup with CC Sabathia (3-3). Last month at Fenway Park, also on national television, he struck out 10 while yielding just two singles and a walk in eight dominant innings for a 4-0 win over Sabathia and the Yankees.

This time, Beckett gave up singles to his first two batters, then set down Mark Teixeira, Alex Rodriguez and Robinson Cano in order — two on strikeouts.

Beckett escaped more trouble in the third and fifth, then handed a 6-0 lead to the bullpen. Matt Albers and Rich Hill completed the seven-hitter.

"He's throwing all his pitches for strikes," Jason Varitek said. "He has that confidence back."

Jacoby Ellsbury hit a two-run double in the fifth and Jason added an RBI single in the seventh. Then Gonzalez chased Sabathia with a drive to right-center, his fifth homer in four games.

FOX Sports went overboard on the drama centering on Yankees DH Jorge Posada removing himself from the lineup. Jason Varitek was asked about it after the win and urged people to wait before passing judgment.

"I think that we're dealing with a lot of speculation right now from what little bit I've just heard. I do know and respect what the man has done behind the plate for many, many, many years. And like I do with most things, I'm going to wait for the truth to come out and I'm not going to respond to something on hearsay."

Varitek said he was able to accept his role as a backup when Victor Martinez joined the Red Sox, because it was best for the team. Asked generally how hard that was for him, Varitek said it wasn't. "I believe that we have a chance to win ballgames," Varitek said. "And you can [complain], you can moan, do things, or you can provide what you can to help aid a team in winning. And we want to win here."

To see a couple of photos from last night, click here.

To read an article on the Captain from the Providence Journal's Brian MacPherson, click here.

*(Game summary and quotes compiled from NESN's Sports Daily, ESPN's Baseball Tonight and SportsCenter, MLB.com, and the Boston Globe)

Tek's Visit To MLB's Fan Cave

May 13, 2011

From Thomas Boorstein at MLB.com this afternoon:

In between preparing their pitchers for opponents and working on their own swings, catchers may watch more video than any other position in baseball. So Boston's Jason Varitek figured to be in familiar territory Friday.

Technology has changed since Varitek made his Major League debut with the Red Sox in 1997. Just as DVR has replaced VCRs in living rooms and dens, digital video has taken the place of tapes in Major League video rooms.

"Tremendously different," Varitek said. "Our video guy used to have to take the VHS tape, take it out, put in Jason Varitek, pull it out. OK, put it in David Ortiz, take it out. OK, now Josh Beckett.

"Now you have every at-bat, every pitch. Any sort of matchup, configuration you can come up with or want to see.

"It's a combo of all," Varitek said. "From advanced scouts to some video, to some written reports to statistics. To actual one-on-one matchups and actual playing the game."

After a specific encounter with a batter, Varitek will take notes for future reference.

"I'm a pen-and-paper guy," Varitek said. "I write it down and I have a better chance to remember it."

During his visit to the Fan Cave, Varitek recorded some skits with Mike O'Hara and Ryan Wagner. In honor of Friday the 13th, he scared O'Hara in the bathroom. He also started up a new type of on-site computer assistance -- "Tek Support" -- and called a mound conference to give some shuffleboard tips.

You can read more about his visit here.

You can see a larger version of the photo above at MLB Fan Cave's Twitter here.

Jose Molina on Tek: "To me he's one of the best in the world"

May 11, 2011

From an interview/article with Blue Jays catcher by the Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo:

The Red Sox have made contact with the representatives for Bengie Molina, though according to a report by Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports, they aren't ready to pull the trigger, wanting to give the Jarrod Saltalamacchia-Jason Varitek tandem more time.

While the Red Sox consider whether there will be a Molina in their future, Jose Molina is sure about one of the Boston catchers.

"Varitek, he knows how to call a game," Molina said. "That's what everybody wants in a catcher. He knows how to take care of his pitchers. To me he’s one of the best in the world.

"I watch him all the time, because he has good stuff behind the plate. I love to watch him. I love the way he catches."

And from a Molina, that's saying a lot.

You can read it all here.

If you are in New York City this Friday....

Jason will appear at the MLB Fan Cave located at the corner of 4th and Broadway in Manhattan's Greenwich Village!

He is scheduled to appear at 12:00 p.m.

You can check out the Fan Cave's website here.

Their schedule is here.

Wait...what's the MLB Fan Cave? click here to find out!

Place Your Bid!

May 9, 2011

On Jason's game-worn Mother's Day catchers gear made by All-Star Sports!

From MLB.com's Auction page:

This catching gear was worn by Jason Varitek during the Mother's Day game vs. the Minnesota Twins on May, 8th 2011. The chest pad and mask will both be autographed by Jason and the proceeds will benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

The auction ends on May 19th at 6:00 p.m.

You can place your bid here.

Speaking of Mother's Day...

Check out more of Nancy Nutile-McMenemy's photos from Sunday's win here.

Also Today:

The MTA Red Sox Summer Reading Game

Jason is encouraging young fans to read this summer through his support of the Massachusetts Teachers Association's Red Sox Summer Reading Game, presented by The Hanover Insurance Group Foundation, Inc.

Participants have a chance to win one of 100 sets of tickets to a Red Sox game, where they will be invited onto the field to celebrate with Wally the Green Monster.

"Literacy skills are important building blocks for success in life," said Jason. "A child who learns to love books can become anything – a teacher, a doctor, a baker or a professional baseball player.

"Reading is the key to reaching your dreams," he added.

How do you enter? Click here for details!

Mother's Day Win For The Sox

May 8, 2011

Red Sox 9, Twins 5

From The Providence Journal's Tim Britton tonight:

The final score of Boston’s Mother’s Day victory over the Minnesota Twins at Fenway Park seemed fitting: 9-to-5. Indeed, this was the kind of win the Red Sox would take every day.

Boston scored its first two runs on outs — something it has struggled to do all year. In the second inning, Kevin Youkilis led off with a double, moved to third on a David Ortiz groundout and scored on a J.D. Drew ground ball. In the third, Jason Varitek drove in Carl Crawford with a grounder to first. Crawford had tripled to start the inning.

"It gets a breath of fresh air across: 'Okay, we got it done,'" Varitek said about the early runs on outs. "Today it set up big for our big guns. You can stretch the lineup that way."

Boston only kept adding on from there.

You can read the rest here.

You can see the game photos here.

It was all about the color pink today!

From the Red Sox Official site:

Jason Varitek admitted that pink is certainly not his color -- he's not fond of the way he looks in it -- but the catcher was donning specially made equipment just for Sunday. It's the fifth year he's worn pink catcher's gear on Mother's Day to support breast cancer awareness. The equipment will be auctioned off for Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

"It's great to be able to wear the gear and give money to charity," said Varitek, who had plans with his fiancé, Catherine Panagiotopoulos after the game. "She's had a battle to get through it and it's a really special day for her."

You can read the rest here.

You can see a larger version of Nancy Nutile-McMenemy's wonderful photo here.

Tek will catch...

May 7, 2011

...both Sunday, May 8th (Mother's Day) and Monday, May 9th!

From the Red Sox official site this afternoon:

Jason Varitek, who was behind the plate for Wednesday night's five-hour game that ended Thursday morning at 2:45 ET, has sat the last three games.

"I think he felt like he caught a long game," manager Terry Francona said. "He's doing OK. ... If things go according to plan, we'll catch him maybe tomorrow and Monday, day game, night game. And then as we go through the rotation again, we'll have a way where we'll split those guys up a little bit. We'll get to that as we go."

The main reason Varitek will catch Sunday and Monday is because Daisuke Matsuzaka and Josh Beckett will pitch those games. Those are the two starters Varitek has worked with regularly over the last few weeks.

You can read more here.

Note: Sunday's game starts at 1:35 p.m. on NESN. Monday's game starts at 7:10 p.m. on both NESN and ESPN.

Sure Shot Promotions...

May 5, 2011 - Cinco De Mayo

...will be doing a private signing with Jason on Thursday, May 19, 2011.

This is a private signing so you won't be able to attend to have something signed in person, but you can take advantage of this opportunity by sending in your item to be autographed by Jason.

If you don't have a baseball, bat or a favorite photo of Jason at home waiting to be signed, you're in luck! Sure Shot will be offering items for sale from the signing.

The price for regular items (photos, baseballs, cards, yearbooks, etc..) is $79.

The price for a "premium item" (bats, jerseys, helmets, etc...) is $99.

*Jason does not sign photographs of the fight with Alex Rodriguez!

For more info and to place your mail order or set up your mail in, call Mike at (781) 754-0063.

You can also follow Sure Shot on Twitter here and Facebook here.

Also Today:

From the Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo in his Pre-Game Notes blog:

Spoke to Jason Varitek in the clubhouse this morning.

He said, "I feel fine." Varitek basically caught a five-hour game and over a 7-1/2-hour period. "The toughest part is stopping and then restarting 2-1/2 hours later. But I'm surprised at how I feel. Little sore, but I'd be sore after a normal game."

You can read the rest of his blog here.

You can check out the latest photos here.

And:

From an article in this month's ESPN - The Magazine about the dangers on the field, the track, and on the mat for today's athletes:

Risk is woven into the DNA of any successful athlete. Not only is there a line for every sport, but there's also one for every position of every sport. Catchers, more than any other baseball player, have to prioritize their toughness and draw the line accordingly.

Jason Varitek relishes collisions at the plate, proudly describing the aftermath of one he endured in Double-A as "looking through a waffle." Reds catcher Ramon Hernandez, on the other hand, is known for doing whatever possible to avoid contact. His reputation is somewhat mitigated by the fact that Hernandez suffered knee injuries on two separate home plate collisions early in his career.

You can read the full article here.

Monday Night: Red Sox 9, Angels 5

May 3, 2011

"It was great. You can't really run deep counts on purpose. But it's about will and a testament to trying to grind out at-bats, trying to give what you have." -- Jason, on the lengthy at-bats (including his own) in the fifth inning against Jered Weaver.

Dustin Pedroia fouled nine pitches in a 13-pitch at-bat against previously unbeaten Jered Weaver before lining a go-ahead, two-run single that helped the Red Sox beat the Angels 9-5 on Monday night.

With the Angels leading 2-1 in the fifth, Carl Crawford doubled and Jason Varitek walked before Jacoby Ellsbury bounced into a fielder's choice, erasing Varitek at second. During Pedroia's lengthy at-bat, Ellsbury stole second before the 2008 MVP won his battle with the two-run single to make it 3-2.

"Obviously, the big at-bat was by Pedroia," Weaver said. "Thirteen pitches. Fouled off a lot of pitches and got a good pitch to hit."

Weaver gave up three runs, six hits, struck out six and walked one over six innings Monday. He failed to become the first pitcher since 1891 to go 7-0 by May 2.

Two innings later, the Red Sox scored six times off relievers Hisanori Takahashi and Francisco Rodriguez, getting a single from Jason Varitek, a double from Jacoby Ellsbury, a three-run double from Adrian Gonzalez and a two-run home run from David Ortiz.

A soldier dressed in fatigues, seated next to the Red Sox dugout, held up a flag and led fans in a chant of "USA" early in the game. Ortiz hugged him on the way back after his shot into the Monster seats.

Ortiz said the soldier earlier in the game gave him a patch from the uniform of a buddy who "went down."

"Maybe it was good luck," he said, smiling.

Clay Buchholz (2-3) pitched 6-2/3 solid innings for the win.

Also:

- The Boston Globe's Peter Abraham gives a run-down on the Red Sox rotation, and who will be catching who.

- Tek and Tito speak on bin Laden and the Red Sox honored the memory of the victims of 9-11 prior to Monday night's game.

Tek-nically Speaking....

"That's a man who gives everything he's got to that organization. I really had a great time being Jason Varitek's teammate. He's one of the great teammates I’ve had playing baseball." -- Victor Martinez, in Pawtucket yesterday for a two-day rehab stint with the Toledo Mud Hens.

Fishing With Tek...

May 1, 2011

...and America's favorite fisherman, Charlie Moore!

Last May, Jason spent a day fishing on Lake Winnipesaukee in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire with Charlie Moore.

If you missed his maiden voyage when it first aired last year, "The Mad Fisherman" will be showing a repeat of it tonight at 7:00 p.m. on NESN.

The episode will be shown again on Thursday, May 5th at 5:30 p.m., and Saturday, May 7th at 12:00 p.m.

You can check out Charlie's site here.

You can also follow Charlie on Facebook here.

A True Teammate

April 29, 2011

The Boston Globe's Peter Abraham gives his Random Thoughts this afternoon on, among other things, Jason's presence within the clubhouse and the relationship he has with this teammates:

What really stayed with me after talking to Jason and several teammates was how much he cares about the team and the guys who play for it.

When players as divergent as Darnell McDonald and Josh Beckett tell you how much Varitek means to them personally, that tells you what kind of teammate he is.

You can read Mr. Abraham's other "Random Thoughts" on a Friday here.

Tonight:

Jason will be paired with teammate Daisuke Matsuzaka when the Red Sox take on the Seattle Mariners at 7:10 p.m. in the first of a three-game series at Fenway.

The line-up: Ellsbury - CF, Pedroia - 2B, Gonzalez - 1B, Youkilis - 3B, Ortiz - DH, Lowrie - SS, Cameron - RF, Varitek - C, McDonald - LF.

Catching Up With The Captain...

April 26, 2011

...off the field!

The Boston Globe's Peter Abraham gives fans an inside look at the life of the Red Sox Captain with interviews from family members, friends, teammates, his fiancee, and Jason himself:

After years of zealously guarding his privacy, one of Boston's most respected athletes threw open a window to his personality.

"People see me as this robot; we'll just leave him alone and let him do his job," Varitek said. "There's a whole different element to me that can communicate and I’ve learned how to do that. A lot has happened and there’s a different me coming out."

You remember Varitek punching Alex Rodriguez in the face, instigating a memorable brawl with the Yankees in 2004. Or watching him block the plate with apparent disregard for his own safety.

What you don’t know is how quickly he can put hair into a ponytail. Or that Belle is his favorite Disney princess. That's what comes with being a father to three girls. Alexandra is 11, Kendall 9, and Caroline 5.

"I love to take off the catcher’s mask and put on my girl hat," Varitek said. "It makes going home that much easier because I'm not always a catcher to them. I'm just their dad."

"It's a totally different world when they’re around," Varitek said. "Along with my fiancee, they're my life."

You can read Mr. Abraham's interview/article here.

Saturday Night: Another Win For The Sox

April 24, 2011 - Happy Easter!

From ESPN.com's Gordon Edes:

Give it a few more days, and many of the 42 of 45 experts from the Worldwide Leader who predicted the Red Sox would win the American League pennant will be walking around with puffed-out chests, saying “Whadidwetellya?”

A double dose of dynamite Daisuke can have that effect on people. Not to mention two hits by Carl (No. 8 hole) Crawford, the first RBI of the season by Jason Varitek, two singles, two stolen bases and two runs scored for leadoff man Jacoby Ellsbury, and another home run by sore-shinned Kevin Youkilis.

Daisuke Matsuzaka held the Angels scoreless on one hit through seven innings Saturday, striking out nine. In his last start, the Patriots' Day matinee, Matsuzaka held the Toronto Blue Jays to a hit in seven innings, striking out three.

Varitek, hitless in his past 19 at-bats and just 1-for-25 after making outs in his first two at-bats, lined a double to right in the fifth for his first RBI of the season. On Thursday, after striking out in all three of his official at-bats, Varitek had responded to a question about how off he was at the plate with a sarcastic "I'm freaking locked in."

Saturday, he smiled when asked how "freaking locked in" he was now.

"A lot more than yesterday, or the day before yesterday,'' he said.

You can read the rest here.

You can listen a post-game audio-interview with Jason from WEEI here.

Also, check out Mike Silverman's column at the Boston Herald on the state of catching here.

Tek-nically Speaking - Funny Quote of the Weekend:

"Varitek is calling a Rondo-like game out there!" -- 'Radsoxfan", member of the popular Sons of Sam Horn forum, during last night's game thread.

"Tek Support"

April 22-23, 2011

From The Boston Herald on Friday afternoon:

Jason Varitek started last night and is slated to catch tomorrow night. Not coincidentally, Josh Beckett started last night and Daisuke Matsuzaka will pitch tomorrow. Both right-handers have pitched well with Varitek behind the plate.

Going forward, though, the catching situation remains unsettled.

Entering last night, Red Sox pitchers had a 2.50 ERA with Varitek behind the plate. But the 39-year-old captain is no longer capable of catching a majority of games and has been, in Francona’s words, “sluggish” at the plate, going 1-for-23 (.043).

"Oh, I'm freaking locked in," Varitek said with a smile. "You can't hit much worse. I don't mean that in a funny way. I can't. I've never hit this bad. I just need to use my eyes a little better. Fortunately, I have a mind that I can help us win in a different way right now."

You can read the rest here.

Also Friday:

MLB Network's Kevin Millar was a guest on WEEI Radio this afternoon and talked about Josh Beckett's strong performance as well as his take on the catching situation.

You can listen to his interview here.

Tek-nically Speaking - Quotes of the Weekend:

"I thought Rondo had one of those great catcher games, a (Jason) Varitek game. He called a terrific game." -- Celtics coach Doc Rivers, post-game on Friday night after the Celtics beat the Knicks.

"I think there's certainly some things that may well erode over the course of playing so hard for so long. But on the defensive side, there's definitely a level that he can still bring a presence behind the plate. I don't think there's anybody that controls a game behind the plate better than Jason still does. I know that guy on the hill, they appreciate that." -- Angels manager Mike Scioscia, from an interview in the Boston Herald on Saturday morning.

Talkin' Tek on the Radio

April 19, 2011

"I think sometimes a catcher can put down the same signs, but depending on who it is, the pitcher throws with a little more commitment. I think Tek has earned that. It’s always going to be hard for the next guy to come in to compare themselves, the way the game’s being run, with Tek." -- Terry Francona on "The Big Show" today.

From WEEI this afternoon:

Red Sox manager Terry Francona, in his weekly interview on The Big Show, acknowledged that he has been trying to increase Jason Varitek’s playing time in recent games because of his strengths in working with a pitching staff.

Francona said that he talked with starting catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia about the idea that it would take time for members of the pitching staff to become as comfortable with him as they are with the longtime Sox catcher.

You can read the rest here.

You can listen to his interview here.

From WEEI this morning:

ESPN baseball analyst John Kruk, in his weekly interview on the Mut & Merloni Show, suggested that the combination of Tek behind the plate and the good starts from both Beckett and Matsuzaka was not a coincidence.

Through the first 15 games of the season, Red Sox pitchers have a 2.40 ERA with Jason Varitek behind the plate and a 7.29 mark with Jarrod Saltalamacchia calling signals.

"To me, the thing that Varitek does back there with that pitching staff, they trust him. They know that when he puts a finger down, there’s a reason why he wants that pitch and they throw it."

You can read the rest here.

You can listen to his interview here.

New Fan Photos Added

April 18, 2011

Nancy Nutile-McMenemy had a good seat and her camera at the ready for yesterday afternoon's game at Fenway and got a great shot of the team's catchers celebrating a win.

She was also at the April 10th game against the Yankees and took some more great photos of Jason in action.

You can see her latest right here.

You can check out all of her beautiful Red Sox photography on her website here.

*Thank you Nancy!

Also Today:

WHDH Channel 7 in Boston has a new video available on their website from their recent interview with Jason (see April 14th news below).

You can check out this latest one here.

And:

Jason is in the line-up for this morning's game at Fenway for the fourth of the four-game series against the Blue Jays. He is catching Daisuke Matsuzaka and batting 8th.

The game starts at 11:05 a.m.

You can see the complete line-up here.

Post-Game Update:

Daisuke Matsuzaka threw a one-hitter for seven innings, shortstop Jed Lowrie banged out four hits and drove in four runs and the suddenly red-hot Red Sox won their third straight game at Fenway Park this afternoon overwhelming the Toronto Blue Jays, 9-1 with a 13-hit barrage before a crowd of 37,916.

After Matsuzaka left in the seventh, Alfredo Aceves and Tim Wakefield wrapped up the win for the Red Sox who begin a West Coast road trip in Oakland tomorrow night.

You can read more from the Boston Globe here, and from ESPN here.

From CSNNE's Maureen Mullen this afternoon:

Matsuzaka was paired with Jason Varitek against the Blue Jays.

"Before the game I had a chance to talk to Varitek and I agreed with what he said," Matsuzaka said. "He told me to focus and throw right to his mitt. I know he tried to help my pitching."

The right-hander got better as his outing went on, Varitek said.

"I think he was still getting his delivery in the first," Varitek said. "He got away with a few pitches and then was able to work his way from there but he was better in the first. Location was better than it was in his prior two outings and then he settled in. He had a pretty good cutter today, had decent life on his fastball, had a tough feel for his slider for a long time and then we were able to find some spots to get him comfortable with it. Threw some good changeups.

"Most important thing he stayed down when we wanted him down and up when we wanted him to go up. I think sometimes it’s the hitters too. Able to make some pitches in hitters' counts and they got some balls put in play."

You can read more here.

A Saturday Win For The Sox

April 16, 2011

Red Sox 4, Blue Jays 1

"He definitely should feel good about himself the first three outings. At least he's had his health to build on that since spring training." -- Jason talking about his pitcher, from the article below.

From the AP's post-game summary:

Beckett had his second straight strong outing, holding Toronto to one run over seven innings, and Jed Lowrie provided a spark at the top of Boston's lineup with a two-run homer to lift the struggling Red Sox to a 4-1 victory over the Blue Jays on Saturday.

Pitching in chilly conditions, with wind chills in the mid-30s and a stiff breeze blowing in from right field, Beckett allowed two baserunners in an inning only once. It came when the Blue Jays scored their only run against him.

"I definitely pushed myself a little bit more. I definitely felt good today," he said. "That was one of the things where on a day game like today, where maybe the energy is down a little bit. That's a way of picking myself up."

You can read the rest here.

From Steve Krasner, ESPN.com:

Beckett limited the Jays to one run on three hits in seven innings. He whiffed nine, five of them called, as Beckett and Varitek surprised Jays hitters with strikeout pitches. And he used all his pitches in recording the punchouts -- five on fastballs, three on curveballs and one on a cutter.

It was the second dominant outing for the battery. In his previous start, also paired with Varitek, Beckett blanked the Yankees on two hits over eight innings in a 4-0 win. He fanned 10 in that start.

You can read more of Mr. Krasner's "Rapid Reaction" here.

You can check out a couple of game photos here.

Tek-nically Speaking - The Quote of the Weekend:

"You go around the league and there isn't anybody who would say, 'No' to Jason Varitek catching. That doesn't mean they don't want Jarrod Saltalamacchia catching, but nobody is going to say no to Jason Varitek catching. The guy is a Hall of Famer. Its all good." -- Josh Beckett setting the media straight yesterday, from WEEI.com.

Tonight on WHDH-TV (NBC Boston)...

April 14, 2011

Jason opens up during an interview scheduled for the 11:00 p.m. edition of the news on WHDH-TV.

The Red Sox Captain talks about everything from his hobbies to his pre-game rituals as well as the four lovely ladies in his life - his daughters Alexandra, Kendall, and Caroline, and his fiancee Catherine.

You won't want to miss it!

The station also has a video of the interview available online here.

*Thank you to Cheryl for the heads-up!

Also Today:

Jason spent his day off on Thursday playing wiffle ball with local children in Weston, MA.

The event raised money and awareness for Good Sports, a local organization that increases youth participation in sports and fitness by donating sports equipment to underprivileged children.

NESN caught up with the Captain during a break from the action.

You can watch the interview here.

More Playing Time For Tek?

April 14, 2011

NESN's Tony Lee thinks it's a good idea:

There should be no overt efforts to prove that Saltalamacchia is the catcher of the future, just for the sake of proving that they made the right move in bringing him aboard and labeling him so.

That does not mean that the former Atlanta Brave and Texas Ranger should not get the lion's share of starts. He should. But sprinkling in Jason Varitek a bit more, perhaps two of every five starts, might be the way to go for now. It could help Saltalamacchia to stop pressing at the plate, and for him to take one extra day a week to watch the master at work can only help.

Perhaps it's too late to be saying this. Maybe this is how it should've been mapped out to begin the year, rather than starting Saltalamacchia in four straight games and in seven of the first eight, only one of which resulted in a win, and an ugly one at that. But the impact of a time-share could be twofold. While having Varitek in one more time a week could take some pressure off the starting catcher, it could also have an immediate impact on the win-loss record, which as we know is horrible right now.

The team ERA with Varitek behind the plate is 3.86. With Saltalamacchia, it is 8.06. Those figures will normalize over time, but some of the separation may have to do with their respective comfort levels, and those of the guys throwing the pitches.

You can read the rest here.

Lisa Takes The Cake...

April 13, 2011

And turns it into a work of art!!

Lisa Kobes works at Michaels Creative Baking in Hyannis, MA. She was called upon to make the birthday cake for the Red Sox Captain's 39th birthday celebration held last Saturday night.

As you can see, she created a true masterpiece!

"I have been decorating cakes for over 20 years," said Lisa. "I currently work at Michael's Creative Baking in Hyannis MA where this cake was made and we at Michaels are very proud that we had the opportunity to make this cake for 'The Captain!'."

And I am very glad that she chose to share the photos of her incredible (and edible) creation with us!

Michaels is located at 115 Corporation Street in Hyannis. Their phone number is (508) 775-8555.

You can see a larger photo of the cake as well as a side-view here.

You can also check out the website for Michaels Creative Baking here.

*Lisa, thank you so much!!

Happy Birthday Jason!

April 11, 2011 - Contest Update (see below)

Today is Jason's 39th birthday and one lucky fan will receive a gift!

In honor of his birthday...

My 39th emailer will receive a Jason Varitek autographed MLB baseball with a Gold Glove engraving to commemorate his 2005 Gold Glove Award (the same year I started this site).

The baseball is from Steiner Sports and comes complete with a COA - a $200.00 value.

However, before you email, please follow the two rules below:

1. Emails for the contest WILL NOT be accepted until 12 NOON ET and after (this gives fans in different time zones a chance to participate).

2. Please, one email per email address only (subsequent emails from the same address will be discounted).

*The winner will be notified later this afternoon and their name will be posted in an UPDATE.

Send emails to: erin@jason-varitek.com

Good Luck!

UPDATE: I have a winner! Congratulations to Jerry Hoban from Virginia!

Thank you to everyone who participated!!

Speaking of the Birthday Boy...

From CSNNE's Sean McAdam today:

It's hard not to find a link between Josh Beckett's masterpiece Sunday night and the presence of Jason Varitek behind the plate.

Surely, there were other factors beyond Jarrod Saltalamcchia in Beckett's first unsuccessful start in Cleveland, not the least of which was the weather.

But denying that Varitek impacted Beckett's superb outing Sunday night is folly. One person in the Red Sox clubhouse Sunday night theorized that Saltalamacchia might well have called the exact same game as Varitek did, made all the same decisions -- and the results might not have been the same.

You can read the rest here.

Sox Win Sunday Night Game Against Yankees, Take The Series

April 10, 2011

"I think Tek has an impact on everybody! That's why he's been catching for so many years. He's one of the best in the game." -- Terry Francona, when asked during the post-game press conference if Jason's presence behind homeplate had an impact on Josh Beckett.

"He's just so calming, he put's on that face - Salty does that too. Tek and I were really clicking, we do that a lot!" -- Josh Beckett, when asked about having Jason behind homeplate.

"It was great, one of his best. We needed a good, quality start, especially when you have that other guy on the mound over there. And we got a huge quality start out of Josh." -- Jason, post-game.

From The Republican's Ron Chimelis, after the Red Sox 4-0 win against the New York Yankees:

No Red Sox pitcher has thrown a nine-inning shutout at the Yankees since Roger Clemens in 1991. Beckett, who threw 103 pitches with one walk and a hit batter, was denied the chance only because manager Terry Francona wanted to save some pitches for later on.

Not since 1958 Chicago White Sox ace Early Wynn allowed 33 had one pitcher allowed so many runs to New York in a single year. Beckett outdueled CC Sabathia, who left in the sixth inning with a 1-0 deficit.

Boston finally gave Beckett some cushion in the seventh. Marco Scutaro, who came into the game hitting .143, scored two runs with a bases-loaded double off Joba Chamberlain.

Beckett had his 11th career double-digit strikeout game, but first since 2009.

His catcher Sunday night was Jason Varitek, who was getting a spot start. His performance will leave Francona some choices.

The manager has said he does not want to pair off specific pitchers and catchers. But Beckett’s comfort level with Varitek is well known, and this performance might make it hard to break up the battery.

Varitek did the catching with optimum results.

You can read the rest here.

Also:

Check out the post-game report from the New York Daily News here.

And Gordon Edes "Rapid Reaction" on ESPN here.

He May Not Be In The Lineup Today...

April 9, 2011

But you can always see plenty of Tek here!

Thanks to the new photos from Kelly O'Connor that I just added to the photo gallery!

Once again , she doesn't disappoint! She has captured some great shots (usually, when they're not looking).

Kelly behind the camera is just one more reason to look forward to the start of Red Sox baseball!

You can see her latest of the Captain here.

You can see her photos of all of your favorite Red Sox players here.

*THANK YOU Kelly!!!

Oh...

and we wouldn't anyone to miss THIS photo from the Red Sox Welcome Home Party!!

The Scene At Fenway For the Home Opener

April 8, 2011

Jason did not play in today's home opener against the New York Yankees, but his presence was still felt around the old ballpark!

A couple of cool tweets from the Boston media -

Mike Petraglia, WEEI:

"Jason Varitek by far the biggest cheer. Wakefield, Papelbon a solid cheer."

Sean McAdam, CSSNE:

"Old favorites Tim Wakefield and Jason Varitek with the biggest ovations so far."

And from Gordon Edes, at his ESPN Rapid Reaction blog:

"Cheers may have been more muted than if the team had opened 6-0, but applause across the board, with the old folks --Jason Varitek, Tim Wakefield and 91-year-old Johnny Pesky --getting the warmest receptions."

You can read the rest of Mr. Edes "Rapid Reaction" here.

The Red Sox Captain catches the first pitch from a former Captain -

Also from Gordon Edes at ESPN:

The Red Sox never disappoint with the Opening Day ceremonies at Fenway Park.

That was the case again Friday afternoon. After player introductions for both the Red Sox and New York Yankees, there was a moment of silence for the victims of the Japan tsunami and for Lou Gorman, the former Red Sox GM who passed away last week. A trumpeter played Taps and, after the national anthem, there was a flyover by F-16 fighter jets. Then, under the giant American flag that draped over the Monster in left field, former Red Sox outfielder, captain and Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski emerged to throw out the ceremonial first pitch.

Current Red Sox captain and catcher Jason Varitek did the honors and received the pitch.

You can read the rest of his blog here.

You can watch video of the first pitch here.

You can see a few photos from today here.

Oh, did I mention the Red Sox won? Yup! Red Sox 9, Yankees 6.

Also Today:

"Will you still call me Superman?"

The Boston Globe's Meredith Goldstein looks at the at-music for the 2011 Boston Red Sox:

[Fenway Park’s music director TJ] Connelly, who has DJ’d for Fenway since 2005, is putting together the list of the players' chosen songs for tomorrow’s Opening Day. Some of the Sox are still undecided about what they want to hear, but Jason Varitek has gone with the 12-year-old 3 Doors Down hit “Kryptonite." Jacoby Ellsbury wants "Let It Rock" by Kevin Rudolf. Jed Lowrie is leaning toward "Stylo" by Gorillaz. And as usual, Jonathan Papelbon will walk to the mound with "I'm Shipping Up to Boston" by Dropkick Murphys in his ears.

It's no surprise to Connelly that J.D. Drew has requested no music at all. Some players don't want the distraction of a song. "J.D. Drew, I think, is our current walking-up-in-silence guy."

You can read the Red Sox at-bat music list here.

Tek Takes The Blame

April 7, 2011

From Ian Browne, RedSox.com this morning:

Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek, a 14-year veteran, takes pride in being ready for any play that might come his way during the course of a game. But the one that occurred in the bottom of the sixth inning on Wednesday night flummoxed him.

While calling it "probably the weirdest play I've ever been part of," Varitek also took accountability for making the wrong play -- one that proved to be a big mishap in Boston's 8-4 loss to the Indians.

"I obviously had no idea [Youkilis stepped on third]," said Varitek. "I'm still trying to learn that one right now. I should have went ahead and tagged him, also. I'm trying to secure an out and make sure we had the one out at the plate. With the way the ball ricocheted, I never saw him. It was totally my fault."

Though Varitek could probably play another 14 years and never be involved in a play just like that one, he will still try to learn from it.

"I'm trying to figure out -- it's probably the weirdest play I've ever been part of," Varitek said. "I'm trying to see and learn what I could have done different besides, obviously, tagging him, but I didn't actually see the play. I saw him scramble. For me, it looked like, when he threw the ball, it was from behind the base, so I just tried to secure an out. Obviously, he touched the bag as he threw the ball."

You can more read about "the play" here.

Tek Catching Daisuke Matsuzaka Tonight

April 6, 2011

Red Sox vs. Indians, 7:05 p.m. on NESN.

This evening's lineup:

1. Ellsbury - CF

2. Crawford - LF

3. Pedroia - 2B

4. Gonzalez - 1B

5. Youkilis - 3B

6. Ortiz - DH

7. Drew - RF

8. Varitek - C

9. Scutaro - SS

Pitching: RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka

(Boston Globe)

Also Today:

From HOF MLB analyst Peter Gammons on WEEI's Mut & Merloni this afternoon:

"I thought maybe they would have Jason catch Beckett. Because even though Saltalamacchia is much better over his career against right-handers and Varitek is much better against left-handers, I was told that essentially the catching duties are going to be split up by who catches who. So, it's not going to be necessary a platoon - right-handers, left-handers. It's going to be more which guy catches - Saltalamacchia certainly will catch Buchholz almost all the time. And I'm guessing once he's settled in, that Varitek will catch Beckett most of the time."

You can listen to his interview here and read more about it here.

Tuesday: Notes & Quotes

April 5, 2011

"Time seems right for Varitek"

From The Boston Globe's Peter Abraham this morning:

Jason Varitek is the only Red Sox position player yet to get into a game. With Josh Beckett on the mound tonight against the Indians and regular catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia struggling, that could change.

Beckett long has said he prefers to have Varitek catch him. Of his 143 starts for the Red Sox, 111 have come with Varitek behind the plate. Beckett has a 3.95 earned run average in those games.

With other Red Sox catchers, Beckett's ERA is 5.53.

You can rest here.

Also Today:

From an article at NESN.com entitled, "Red Sox aware of importance of balancing family time, workouts in the offseason":

Baseball players, due to the specialization of the game and age, all have different offseason routines.

But in a sport that is played almost every day for eight or nine months, one fact remains the same for every player: The offseason is about rediscovering what's important.

Jason Varitek, who could be going into his final season, took stock of his future, with family in mind.

"If my body holds up and I'm able to do the things I am able to do, I'll play as long as I can," Varitek said. "If I start compromising my livelihood or my kids later in life, then I have to start questioning myself."

Each of these connections and discussions with family helps to put baseball and life in perspective. Cameron, Papelbon, Beckett and Varitek, for instance, are among those who probably wanted to reflect a little more than usual after either injury-plagued (Cameron, Varitek, Beckett) or subpar (Papelbon) seasons.

You can read the rest here.

And:

From Tony Lee's mailbag column at NESN.com:

The questions -

Meg Black: Tony, would you say it's fair to assume the pitchers quite simply are NOT comfortable with Saltalamacchia yet? I find it hard to put the opening weekend on pitchers that "weren't ready." Nobody knows our staff like Jason Varitek. Do you see him getting more starts sooner, rather than later, to build up momentum? Or am I talking crazy?

Robert Sexton: Why did Terry Francona start Saltalamacchia again instead of Varitek on Sunday?

You can read Tony's answers here.

Ten Years Ago Today...

April 4, 2011

Jason caught his first of four no-hitters, the first no-hitter for the Sox in 35 years!

"I've always heard what a horse Nomo is and he really proved that tonight. He got stronger and his fastball got better as the game went on. His fastball is what made it tonight. He was phenomenal tonight."-- Jason, on the accomplishment of his pitcher Hideo Nomo, after his no-hitter on April 4, 2001.

From Sports Illustrated:

Another no-no for Hideo Nomo.

Nomo became the fourth pitcher in major league history to throw a no-hitter in both leagues, using his unique hesitation windup and a brilliant mix of offspeed pitches and high heat in Boston's 3-0 victory over Baltimore on Wednesday night.

"I felt pretty good throughout the game," Nomo said through an interpreter after his spectacular debut for the Red Sox. "As I was going into the ninth inning, I was not nervous."

Second baseman Mike Lansing saved the no-hitter when he made a back-handed, tumbling catch of Mike Bordick's soft looper to center field for the second out of the ninth inning.

Two pitches later, Delino DeShields lofted a routine fly to left field that Troy O'Leary caught for the final out.

Nomo was lifted up by catcher Jason Varitek and mobbed by his new teammates as O'Leary ran in to give the right-hander the ball.

The 32-year-old Japanese pitcher, who threw the first no-hitter in Colorado's Coors Field on Sept. 17, 1996, for Los Angeles, walked three and struck out 11 in a 110-pitch outing for the first no-hitter in the 10-year history of Camden Yards.

Nomo joined Cy Young, Jim Bunning and Nolan Ryan as the only pitchers with no-hitters in both leagues.

Signed as a free agent during the offseason, Nomo delivered the first no-hitter by a Boston player since Dave Morehead in 1965.

You can read the rest here.

"He's Just Like Tek"

April 1, 2011

"He's got the outgoing personality to not care who he's talking to. He'll go up there and talk to you and figure out, 'Hey, this is what I'd like to do; what do you like to do in this situation?' And when he gets out behind the plate, you know who's in charge. He's just like Tek." -- Jon Lester, from the article below.

From The Boston Globe's Michael Vega this morning:

This season, his first as the Red Sox’ starting catcher, the 25-year-old Saltalamacchia will likely stretch and strain every muscle group of his strapping 6-foot-4-inch, 235-pound frame to shoulder the weighty responsibility of handling the Boston pitching staff.

Apart from remaining healthy, Sox manager Terry Francona said Saltalamacchia has to concern himself with one thing above all others: game management of the pitching staff.

It has helped to have a veteran presence like Varitek to assist him.

"It's been great," Saltalamacchia said. "We're friends, and he helps me out any way I need it. I can help him out if I can catch a certain pitcher he hasn't seen and I can tell him what I see, so it’s good being around a guy like him.

"He's been through everything. What he went through with the Mariners was a lot like what I went through at Texas. We're sort of on the same page and we're able to help each other out."

Said Bard,"You see how hard he's worked to prepare to be an everyday guy for us. That right there gets my respect, because I know he's going to put the work in and he's going to study the hitters and he's going to know the scouting reports going in. And I know he’s probably taken a lot of that from the way Tek prepares for games. You see a lot of similarities there.

"But Salty probably talks a lot more, and that's probably the only difference."

You can read the entire article here.

Celebrities for Charity: Red Sox Opening Day Raffle

March 29, 2011

Help the Northeast Arc in its mission to deliver life long support services to people with developmental disabilities and you could be enjoying opening day with the Red Sox at Fenway.

The Grand Prize winner will receive:

- Four premium seats to the Boston Red Sox Fenway opener against the New York Yankees: April 8, 2011 @ 2:05 p.m.

And:

- An autographed Jason Varitek Red Sox jersey

- A $100 allowance for parking and other expenses

Tickets are just $2.00 each (Minimum Purchase of 5 Tickets).

Entry Deadline: 11:00 AM EST on Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Drawing Date: Wednesday, April 6, 2011

For more information and to purchase your raffle tickets, click here.

Also Today:

Sox leave City of Palms Park behind

From Ron Chimelis in The Republican this afternoon -

The Boston Red Sox spent their last day of a 19-year tenancy on Tuesday at City of Palms Park, their spring training home. Next year, they will stay in Fort Myers but move to a new, much more modern facility.

Jason Varitek grew into a major leaguer at Fort Myers. No one except Wakefield has spent more time in this clubhouse.

And Varitek, more than most players, sees the bigger picture or is at least willing to express it. Surely, this must be a moment of some sentiment and many memories, hopefully good ones.

"I've been here 14 years. Same spot, same thing," Varitek said.

He paused. I don't know whether to take it as fond memories or penance.

"It's like home," Varitek finally said.

You can read Mr. Chimelis' article here.

Tek's Transition

March 26, 2011

"He's a proud guy. He doesn't just accept things. I think part of what made him so good last year backing up Vic was that he prepared like he was the starter. That never changed." -- Josh Beckett, from the article below.

From The Boston Globe's Peter Abraham this morning:

It can be an awkward transition for an accomplished player to take on a secondary role. But Red Sox captain Jason Varitek appeared to handle it gracefully last season, uttering no public protest when his playing time was sharply reduced.

Varitek did all he could to help Victor Martinez manage the pitching staff, and produced when called upon.

"Sometimes as guys get older, it's difficult. With Tek it has been a blessing," manager Terry Francona said yesterday. "He's taken that 'C' on his shirt and lived up to every bit of it. He's a huge leader for us."

Varitek said earlier in spring training he hopes to keep playing several more years. When his career is over, like so many other catchers, might Varitek coach or manage?

It's a question he claims never to have considered.

"[Playing] takes enough of my concentration, focus, and training," he said. "I think I'm cheating myself if I start thinking about what I’m going to do next. I've kind of had that philosophy. I put everything I have into what I'm doing right now. That answer, I do not know."

You can read the rest here.

Photo above from Kelly O'Connor. You can see a larger version here.

Tek In The Friday Evening Lineup

March 25, 2011

Jason will be catching Josh Beckett and batting eighth tonight at City of Palms Park as the Red Sox take on the visiting Blue Jays.

The game starts at 7:05 p.m. and will be televised LIVE on NESN.

The lineup:

Ellsbury - CF

Pedroia - 2B

Crawford - LF

Gonzalez - 1B

Youkilis - 3B

Ortiz - DH

Drew - RF

Varitek - C

Scutaro - SS

*From the Boston Globe's Extra Bases blog this afternoon.

For the weekend: Jason will be catching Jon Lester on Sunday during an intrasquad minor league game in Fort Myers for Lester's "final spring tune-up".

Also Today:

Check out this YouTube video of Jason's new commercial for the MTA's "Reading Matters" campaign.

Kids can win free tickets to a game at Fenway Park by entering the MTA Hanover Insurance Red Sox Reading Game. Go to www.readingmaters.org for details and a downloadable entry form and poster.

(Yes, I know "literacy" is not spelled correctly on the video title! I didn't post it! lol)

Jason Varitek & Dustin Pedroia Summer Baseball Camp

March 22, 2011

The 2011 Jason Varitek & Dustin Pedroia Summer Baseball Camp will take place from July 31st – August 5th at Stonehill College in North Easton, MA.

The Day Camp is conducted from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm each day for boys and girls ages 7-16.

The Overnight Camp starts Sunday July 31st @ 5:00pm through Friday August 5th @ 12:00pm. Tuition for overnight campers is $849.00, which includes all day and night activities, sleeping facilities, and three meals per day.

Tuition for day campers is $549.00 which includes daily activities and lunch each day.

Jason and Dustin will appear at camp one day during the week to speak to campers as a group and also go from team to team to meet every camper! You might even see a few more players throughout the week!

Each camper can look forward to:

- Jason and Dustin appearing for one day during the camp to meet the kids and talk baseball

- Five days of top level instruction on the fundamentals of hitting, pitching, fielding, throwing, catching and base running.

- Baseball games and instructional drills daily

- Autographed 8 x 10 color photo of Jason for each camper

- Team photo with Dustin

- Guest appearances by current or former professional baseball players.

- Nightly activities and accommodations organized by age

- Daily recreational activities

For more information on this exciting baseball camp, click here.

Tek In The Sunday Afternoon Lineup

March 20, 2011

Jason will be catching Daisuke Matsuzaka and batting eighth today at City of Palms Park as the Red Sox take on the visiting Cardinals.

The game starts at 1:05 p.m. and will be televised LIVE on both NESN and MLB Network.

The lineup:

Ellsbury - CF

Pedroia - 2B

Crawford - LF

Gonzalez - 1B

Youkilis - 3B

Ortiz - DH

Drew - RF

Varitek - C

Scutaro - SS

*From the Boston Globe's Extra Bases blog this morning.

End-of-the-game update: Although the Sox lost, Daisuke Matsuzaka had a good outing before being replaced in the sixth by Andrew Miller. The Cardinals had not scored while Matsuzaka on the mound - he threw 50 of 79 pitches for strikes.

Tek was replaced behind the plate prior to the start of the seventh.

Also Today:

Even wonder what Sean "The Mayor" Casey is up to?

Well, our fun-loving former first baseman is up to something very good, starting in his hometown of Pittsburgh, PA!

His charity, Casey's Clubhouse is bringing the game of baseball to children who may have never had the opportunity to play on a real field. By building a custom-designed field with a cushioned rubberized surface to help prevent injuries, wheelchair accessible dugouts and a completely flat surface to eliminate any barriers to wheel-chair bound or visually impaired players, Casey’s Clubhouse has eliminated the challenges that prevent many children from playing the game of baseball.

For more information and to donate, click here.

Tek Gets The Vote!

March 18, 2011

Just for fun, the Boston Herald polled the players that were in the Red Sox clubhouse today on ten different categories concerning their fellow teammates...

Tek was the big winner, capturing four of the ten categories:

- Strongest (11 votes)

- Highest baseball I.Q (13 votes)

- Hardest worker (8 votes)

And...

- Who they would want on their side during a brawl (8 votes)

Do you agree?

You can see the full survey results here.

You can see a larger version of that photo here.

Speaking of voting...

Update on the "Boston's most beloved catcher" poll from the Boston Globe:

Tek is in the lead with 48.86% of the vote, but Carlton Fisk is closing fast with 47.53% of the vote!

It's not too late to cast your vote here.

Also Today:

The Providence Journal's Tim Britton on Terry Francona's ideas for his catching tandem this season.

Tek Helps With Tsunami Relief Effort

March 17, 2011 - St. Patrick's Day

From the Boston Globe's Peter Abraham this afternoon :

Varitek joined teammates Hideki Okajima, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Junichi Tazawa and Itsuki Shoda at the gates of City of Palms Park today.

The group raised nearly $5,000 at the last home game.

You can donate on line via the Red Sox Foundation. Go to redsoxfoundation.org.

You can check out a much better (and larger) version of the photo here.

Also Today:

ESPN's Gordon Edes interviewed Tek (while he was trying to eat his lunch) on a number of topics involving the pitching rotation.

You can read the interview here.

"Jason Varitek Is Winding Into Form"

March 15-16, 2011

"Game-wise, I'm adjusting to the changes that come with age. That takes a little time." -- Jason.

From John Chimelis in The Republican this evening :

The captain still gets huge cheers from the fans, but Jason Varitek is more than living history for the Red Sox.

It is his handling of the pitchers as a backup to Jarrod Saltalamacchia that will define Varitek's role in his 14th season.

He helped Daisuke Matsuzaka get back on track Tuesday. He also caught reliever Matt Albers for a scoreless inning.

Varitek turns 39 in April. A backup for the first time last year, he formed a bond with starter Victor Martinez, who signed with Detroit in the offseason.

Martinez praised Varitek Tuesday for the veteran's help and wisdom.

"That means a lot to me. Victor was not just a teammate, he became a friend," Varitek said. "Those are the things you take with you when you're done with this game."

You can read the entire article here.

You can read the comments from Victor Martinez here.

You can check out the latest spring training photos here.

Tuesday: Notes & Quotes

March 15, 2011

"Believe it. The work, what we all saw, the grind he went out and endured when he came back from that thumb injury and played, and played, and played, and played. It was good stuff." -- Jason on the toughness and work ethic of Victor Martinez.

From WEEI's Alex Speier this afternoon:

The Red Sox will undertake a thankless haul on Tuesday, a bus full of players barreling over two hours into Central Florida to play in Lakeland against the Tigers. Yet some members of the club could not hide their enthusiasm for the undertaking.

That is because, for the first time, members of the Sox will get to see old friend Victor Martinez with his new club.

He made huge strides during a 2010 season in which, for part of the year, it was fair to wonder whether his days behind the plate were done as opponents ran wild on him.

Martinez worked tirelessly with catching instructor Gary Tuck, and had the unfailing support of both Tuck and teammate Jason Varitek.

"How many runs did he save by blocking the ball? Nobody's going to write that one down. He did a good job with his fingers behind the plate. Nobody's going to give him credit for that, either," insisted Varitek. "He made himself very well-rounded [with the Sox]."

There will be little time lamenting the fact that the partnership dissolved. Instead, both Martinez and the Sox will be able to look back fondly on a partnership that suited both parties while it lasted.

"I'm appreciative of what it was. It became a safe haven for both of us. He was a trusted on-field and off-the-field friend," said Varitek. "He'll always be a close friend."

You can read the rest here.

Also Today:

From the Providence Journal's Tim Britton:

Getting to know the pitchers is what manager Terry Francona considers the most imperative of Saltalamacchia's responsibilities.

"We start in stages," explained Jason Varitek, Boston's longtime catcher and, now, Saltalamacchia's mentor. The process, Varitek said, starts in bullpens and side sessions, extending into spring outings and regular-season games.

For Saltalamacchia, learning a staff consists of answering a series of questions.

“What is their strike pitch? What can they throw for a strike in any count? What do they like to do with two strikes?” Saltalamacchia asks in rapid succession. “What can they do?”

Varitek echoed his teammate.

"It's what they can do," he said. "It's what are their strengths, what aren't their strengths, where can we get better, where can we work on things, what they have the abilities to do. We kind of formulate that all together into a game plan."

Note Varitek's use of pronouns. It's what "they" (the pitchers) have the ability to do, and what "we" (the pitcher and catcher in tandem) can get better and work on. It's a collaborative process, and one Saltalamacchia has dived into headfirst this spring.

What's made it pretty easy is the presence of a veteran backstop such as Varitek, who's spent 15 years in the Red Sox organization.

"He knows the organization. He knows the staff. He's been around the game, so he knows a lot of the hitters," said Saltalamacchia. "It's great to be able to go to him whenever I need help."

You can read the rest here.

Tek-nically Speaking....

"He's big! I don't get tired saying it. If Jason wasn't there when I got there, it would have been way different for me. Jason helped me a lot. He's unbelievable." -- Victor Martinez on the Red Sox Captain, from an interview in the Boston Globe today.

Who Is The Most Beloved Red Sox Catcher?

March 14, 2011

The Boston Globe wants to know!

They selected five catchers for their online slideshow-style poll, you select your favorite:

1. Carlton Fisk

2. Jason Varitek

3. Rich Gedman

4. Tony Pena

5. Victor Martinez

You can cast your vote here, page 11 of the slideshow.

Also Today:

Join the Red Sox in their relief efforts to help those devastated by the earthquake and tsunami in Japan!

The effort is being led by Red Sox pitchers Daisuke Matsuzaka, a native of Tokyo, Japan, and Hideki Okajima, from Kyoto, Japan. They are encouraging fans to consider making donations through the team charity, The Red Sox Foundation.

100 percent of your donation will go directly to the Red Cross relief efforts in Japan. The Red Sox Foundation has committed to donate $50,000, and both Matsuzaka and Okajima, along with fellow pitchers Junichi Tazawa and Itsuki Shoda, are each making personal donations.

Click here for more information and to make a donation.

Orioles play the Red Sox tonight...

March 9, 2011

...and the Captain is catching!

Tonight's lineup: Scutaro, Pedroia, Ortiz, Drew, Varitek, Lowrie, Nava, Sutton, and Lin.

Clay Buchholz is on the mound.

The game can be seen on NESN and MLB Network at 7:05 p.m.

Quote of the Week:

"I'll tell you what I think about Salty, it's the same thing I thought about Jason. Jason's 38 years old, and he's a better catcher now than he was four years ago. Same thing can happen to Salty because of what he's required to do. And they both care." -- Catching instructor Gary Tuck, from an article in the Boston Herald on Tuesday.

New Fan Photos...

March 6, 2011

Juliana Penta spent last week at Fort Myers taking in some spring training games.

Luckily for us, not only did she have her camera with her, but she was happy to share the photos she took of one her favorite players!

Juliana is from Brazil and her introduction to both baseball and the Red Sox was just last year, but after one game she was immediately hooked and is already looking forward to attending spring training next year.

You can see her photos here.

*Thank you so much Juliana!

Tek To Catch On Friday...

March 2, 2011

Red Sox @ Yankees in Tampa, 7pm

From WEEI this afternoon:

Francona announced that regulars Jason Varitek, Darnell McDonald, Jed Lowrie, Ryan Kalish and Daniel Nava will travel to Tampa for Friday night's game against the Yankees, with Clay Buchholz making his second appearance of the spring, and first start.

You can read more here.

*The game will be televised on both NESN and YES as well as MLB Network!

Monday: Notes & Quotes

February 28, 2011

Catching the knuckeball again

From Comcast Sports Net this evening:

With Wakefield pitching exclusively out of the bullpen -- at least for now -- Varitek will have to be ready to catch Wakefield in the middle of a game. According to Varitek, the two weren't paired last season. Varitek said he thought the last time they worked as a battery during a game came in 2009.

"We're working on a stance and getting comfortable with it," said Varitek. "I thought some of it was good. Some of it, we've got to work. But all in all, it was pretty good. It's just [about] practicing."

Wakefield has a specially designed catcher's mitt to have his batterymates use to catch the knuckler, but it needs to be restrung and Varitek used his regular catcher's mitt to catch him Monday.

"We're settling into what we're going back there," said Varitek. "I almost tipped over a couple of times, trying to get my feet set up because I'm setting up different."

You can read more here.

Another young catcher learning from Tek

From the Hartford Courant this afternoon:

[Ryan] Lavarnway, 23, rarely has failed to impress with his hitting, first at Yale and now in the minor leagues. As he continues to work on his hitting, he has to learn the difficult art of the game's most demanding defensive position. He separates — one mind-set for the batting cage, the other for catching. As a catcher, he's a work in progress.

Lavarnway led the NCAA in hitting (.467) and slugging (.873) as a sophomore, and despite the wrist injury he hit .398 as a junior, finishing his career with a .384 average, 33 homers and 122 RBI in 120 games.

"A lot of college coaches like to call pitches from the bench, but I never do that," Stuper said. "So I think as far as calling a game, he has that down. He needs to work on his feet, his hands and his throwing."

That's where the Red Sox are concentrating their efforts, with catching instructor Gary Tuck, who has a drill for every need, and captain Jason Varitek working over Lavarnway in spring training. One day early in camp, Lavarnway found himself in the weight room with Varitek, 38.

"He was my favorite catcher growing up and now we were workout partners, yelling things like "all you, all you" at each other," Lavarnway said. "That was pretty cool."

Said Varitek: "His attitude is great. He's working hard. Like to see that."

You can read more here.

Saltalamacchia: "Jason is my friend, mentor, guide, coach"

February 24-25, 2011

From Peter Gammon's column at MLB.com entitled, "Family culture what binds Iglesias, Red Sox":

Some of us remember the days when Red Sox players said their team motto was "25 guys, 25 cabs." Or when they called themselves "idiots."

"There is an interesting culture here," said left-hander Jon Lester. "You'd like to think that it is this way with most teams, but I think this is different."

Everywhere veteran catcher Jason Varitek goes -- from the cage, to catching in the bullpen, to sitting in the catcher's training chair offered by catching coach Gary Tuck -- Jarrod Saltalamacchia is at his side. Just as Scutaro knows that a year from now, Iglesias could take his job, so Varitek said: "This isn't about me; it's about us winning."

Saltalamacchia knows that when Victor Martinez was traded to the Red Sox in 2009 and took Varitek's job, Martinez marveled at the time Varitek spent with him understanding pitchers and game plans.

Jason is my friend, mentor, guide, coach," said Saltalamacchia. I sense a tremendous sense of what it means to be a teammate here. I think most of the players believe it stems from Jason Varitek."

You can read the rest of Mr. Gammon's column here.

Tuesday: Notes & Quotes

February 22, 2011

"Baseball is played, not spoken." -- Jason, in response to Yankees GM Brian Cashman's comment that the Red Sox were "favorites" and Mark Teixeira's comment that the Yankees were "underdogs".

From the Worcester Telegram's Paul Jarvey on the Tek and Wake combo this season:

Varitek and Wakefield are the longest-tenured Red Sox, and they were battery mates often early in the catcher's career. He doesn't expect catching him now will be a problem.

"My first major league start was with Wake," he said. "I don't know if you can be any more nervous than I was then."

Varitek will adjust to catching Wakefield, just as he has to his changing role and to getting older. He feels great and sees no reason to stop playing now. There's so much about baseball he loves.

"I love talking about the game," he said. "I love sharing the game. I love listening about the game, too. As soon as you're arrogant or ignorant enough to think you know it all or can't learn, it's time to hang up the spikes."

He certainly hasn't reached that point yet and may not reach it for some time.

You can read the rest here.

Also from Paul Jarvey, in the Worcester Telegram on Tek's thoughts about pitcher Bobby Jenks:

At his best, Jenks has been — well, let Jason Varitek describe what's it's like to face him.

"Hitting left-handed off him, it was like he threw the ball out of a wall and you didn't know where the hole came from, which was good," the Red Sox captain said. "You can see that he's got some deception even when you catch him. He's one of the first guys in the league who threw the ball with control at 98, 96 (mph). He's giving us extra depth that that bullpen strongly needed."

You can read the rest here.

Did you know?

As the 2011 season begins, Jason's All-Time Red Sox Rankings are...

At Bats (4,877) - 11th

Runs (632) - 20th

Hits (1,258) - 16th

Home Runs (182) - 11th

RBI (721) - 14th

*From Comcast Sports Net.

"Red Sox Catchers Work Together To Get Better"

February 21, 2011 - UPDATE (see below)

From the Providence Journal's Brian MacPherson this morning:

All seven catchers in Red Sox camp sat in a circle in the bullpen on Friday morning, the four oldest on miniature chairs and the three youngest on milk crates. Catching instructor Gary Tuck left them alone — and alone they sat for more than 20 minutes, just talking catching.

Saltalamacchia is the presumptive starting catcher for the Red Sox this year. But Varitek is the leader, the veteran with two World Series rings, the example for everyone else to follow. Even Saltalamacchia defers to Varitek — and does his best to learn from him.

A powwow like the one the catchers held last Friday — they looked more like they were cooking s'mores over a campfire than playing baseball — only encourages the younger catchers to ask their questions.

"Somebody could be going through an issue with blocking: 'I'm having a hard time with a changeup. What do you do? What do you think?'" Varitek said. "I might say), 'Well, this is what I was struggling with, and this is what (former 12-year veteran) Charles Johnson taught me way back when. It worked for me.' It's different things."

You can read the rest here.

Also Today:

From the Boston Herald's John Tomase, in an article entitled, "It all works out for Jason Varitek":

Just weeks shy of his 39th birthday, Varitek could easily pass for 10 years younger. His biceps ripple his jersey. His quads resemble a pair of tree trunks. His chest could pass for a Jersey barrier. His hairline hasn't even receded.

"The work and working out and training, that's the only thing I can control in my career," Varitek said. "That can't be a question mark when I get to spring training. Generationally, 15 years ago people used to go to spring training to get in shape. You can't do that anymore. The game has changed. You have to keep up with the Joneses."

More accurately, the Joneses are keeping up with him. No one knows Varitek better in this regard than his trainer, Leslie Eddins. The soft-spoken, 48-year-old Georgian is a former competitive bodybuilder who began working with Varitek in 1999.

"I’ve been with him for 12 years and he's the hardest worker I've ever been around in my life," Eddins said. "You don't have to tell him what to do. He does everything the right way. He's amazing."

You can read the rest here.

Tonight:

6:00 p.m. - Jason will be interviewed on NESN's "Red Sox LIVE from Fort Myers".

If you missed it, you can see the interview on video here.

6:30 p.m. - Jason will be interviewed on Comcast Sports Net's "Sports Tonight Live".

Tek & Salty Sit Down With Peter Gammons

February 20, 2011

"It's weird that you have the quietest guy in the clubhouse as your captain, and the reason is because he listens. He gets what you have to say and retains it and that's how he helps you. That's why he is such a good leader and such a good captain because everyone respects him." -- Jarrod Saltalamacchia, during the NESN interview.

Jason Varitek and Jarrod Saltalamacchia took time out from spring training to interview with Peter Gammons, which was shown this morning on NESN's "Red Sox LIVE from Fort Myers" show.

Some of the highlights:

Can you tell me about your relationship, of working together?

Salty: "For me, it was exactly what I hoped it would be. He was understanding, he worked with me, he talked with me. He was able to take time to sit down with me during the game and...it was cool to sit down and just be around someone like that."

Jason, Victor Martinez said in respect to working with you, "he spends more time with me than he does with some the pitchers." Can you talk about that?

Tek: "Well, I just feel like I'm doing my job and trying to be good teammate. Now Salty, our relationship - we have become friends, that developed last year. Same with Victor...If we want to win and get to where we want to go then I need [Salty] good, I needed Victor good, I need them better than they are right now. So it's one of those things that, hey whatever I need to do to help, I'm going to help."

How important is it to be unselfish as a catcher?

Tek: "I think it's hugely important and it's given me a job for a long time. I've gotten to play because of that and not because of my bat. Not because of anything else. It allows you to be on the field, durable, relied on. It's doesn't matter how your week, your day is going....you are unselfishly a part of that staff."

How important is it to build up a personal relationship/interaction with pitchers?

Tek: "I think it's huge. It's learning what kind of human being you have on the mound. You have to learn sometimes where a guy came from, who they are, and how they react in different situations. Sometimes, over my career it took going out for a team dinner before I can break through with some of those, because I stay so quiet on the field - do my work, do my job....but we were talking about this the other day that communication is so huge.

"Everybody has a story - they came from somewhere, they have a story about what they are going through, and where they want to go and we've got to figure out what that story is in [regards] to what they can and can't do, and trying to add what they can't do to the things they can and make sure they do them well."

You can watch video of their interview here.

Also Today:

"Varitek envisions playing beyond 2011"

From WEEI's Mike Petraglia this afternoon:

Saying he feels better than he has in years and can now go down stairs straight, Jason Varitek said Sunday he hopes to play well in 2011 and well beyond. The Red Sox regular starting catcher since 1999 was asked if he sees himself playing into his mid-40s like Carlton Fisk and Bob Boone.

"Is that what I envision? Yes, that is what I envision," Varitek, adding that it's conditional on his overall healthy and family considerations.

Varitek - who turns 39 on April 11 - said he has made it through the first two days of camp with quick recovery, telling him that his body is fresh and ready to get ready for the season.

"My body is going to dictate a lot and your performance also dictates a lot, how well your able to do things. It's allowed me my body to catch up the last couple of years. I'm kind of excited. Not kind of, I am."

You can read the rest here.

You can see video of parts of Jason's interview with the media today here and here.

Some other links of interest:

Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo has more from Jason's interview with the media here.

RedSox.com's Ian Browne has a good article on Tek here.

NESN.com's Tony Lee has Tek preparing to catchTim Wakefield again. Read it here.

And:

The latest spring training photos are here.

You can also check out a couple of pics from Red Sox Photo Day here.

Quote of the Day:

"I love talking to Pudge whenever he comes. I could sit and talk to him all day long. I wish he was around a lot more often. I think for me personally, the work I've done 10-15 years ago, this is when it's starting to show and pay off. It's put my body in position to handle different things. If I hadn't done that work it would be a lot different." -- Jason talking about Carlton Fisk, from his first media interview of 2011.

Funny Quote of Day:

"Having dinner at La Posada Restaurante in Arlington, I overheard a man, who was wearing a Red Sox cap, say to his companion, 'I'd feel better if this restaurant were called La Varitek.'" -- From the Boston Globe's Tales from the City column.

Jason Happy To Have Carl Crawford On His Team....

February 18, 2011

Or maybe "relieved" might be a better word!

Jason told the story today about his first conversation with Crawford after the former Tampa Bay Ray became a member of the Red Sox this past winter:

"Carl I'm so glad to have you. First, you never let me throw you out – and then I found out I did once. Secondly, you ran me over at the plate, jacked up my neck. You're the guy that caused all my neck problems. And then last year you fouled a ball off my foot and broke my foot.

"You're single-handedly trying to ruin my career. Thank God you're here. You just extended my career four years."

You can read the rest here.

Francona: Tek Is Tremendous

February 16, 2011

From WEEI's Mike Petraglia this afternoon:

As long as Terry Francona is the manager, Jason Varitek will be a Red Sox catcher, provided the veteran catcher still "wants to."

"If he wants to," Francona said when asked if he could catch until he was 45 like Carlton Fisk. "There comes a point where you get done with the season and are you willing to [train] because you have to work harder. That's not for me to say. I guess as long as I'm here, I hope he wants to keep coming back because he's tremendous."

You can read the rest of Mr. Petraglia's update here.

Also:

From the Hartford Courant's Dom Amore today in an article entitled, "Varitek Shows Saltalamacchia The Ropes At Catcher":

As the Red Sox added player after player in the offseason, one position was conspicuous.

They did not make a significant move for a catcher, even after losing 2010 starter Victor Martinez in free agency.

So it's up to the ageless captain, Jason Varitek, and perennial prospect, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, who is penciled in as the regular.

"It means everything," Saltalamacchia (photo above) said, "to have a guy who has done all that he's done. You never stop learning. Every situation is different, every pitcher is different."

Building trust with the pitchers is the part of catching that can't be taught.

"I don't know if there is a right way to do that," said Varitek, who'll turn 39 April 11. "It comes with proving that you can be relied upon day after day. It may take 10 games, it may take 50 or 100, but Salty's going to be a good catcher for us. I believe in him as a player."

For Varitek, diligent year-round work has kept him major league worthy long past the age when catchers are out of the game, or out from behind the plate. The grueling "Camp Tuck," with seven catchers going through the daily drills, leaves him with ice on both knees and on his right shoulder, but not tired.

"It's your job, it's kind of ingrained," Tek said. "For me, [conditioning] can't be a question mark in camp, because there are too many speed-of-the-game things I have to get used to in spring training. I'm not the catching instructor, I want to make that clear. I have my own things to do to get ready for the season."

You can read more of Mr. Amore's article here.

And:

Head over to NESN.com to check out a video of Tek, Salty and Luis Exposito doing fundamentals drills!

You can also check out the 2011 photo album here.

Quote of the Day:

"I laugh every year. It amazes me. I tease him, ‘You’ve obvoiusly quit working’. He goes out here and does those drills. He can embarrass some young kids. That’s why he’s still playing, because he’s willing to do that."-- Terry Francona talking about Jason, from his post-workout interview.

Tuesday: Notes & Quotes From Spring Training

February 15, 2011

Jason spoke to WBZ Boston today about his off-season conditioning, how tough it was to sit out games last season with the broken foot, and his goals for the new season!

You can watch the video here.

Josh Beckett also spoke with the media today in Fort Myers and was asked about pitching to Jarrod Saltalamacchia -

"I think I know him as a person. I definitely want to throw to him some. I'm looking forward to it. He's got the best catching instructor in the world I think working with him. It's funny. He does things like Tek now.

"It's funny. He does things like Tek now. There's a lot of things, and there's not a better guy to follow if you're in that position, I would think. Everybody said the same thing, 'He looks like Tek when he [catches] us.' That's a pretty damn good guy to look like."

John Lackey spoke with the media about his comfort with the new catching tandem of Salty and Tek -

"I, for sure, think [knowing the catchers] helps, just as far as the rhythm of the game. You can always shake to what pitch you want to throw but when you're up on the mound and the guy's throwing down the number that you're looking for, the rhythm and the flow of the game just comes better and you seem to do better.

"I had a couple of solid starts with [Saltalamacchia] toward the end of the year last year. And he's a really great guy. You can talk over the lineup or whatever and he implements the game plan well. And 'Tek is obviously 'Tek. Whatever he throws down you pretty much throw."

And:

From the Red Sox mailbag of NESN's Tony Lee today -

Q: How much playing time do you think Jason Varitek will get behind the plate?

Mr. Lee: We should see plenty of Varitek this year. He figures to get the bulk of the starts against left-handers, and we’ve also seen him serving as the personal catcher for certain pitchers in the past, Josh Beckett being among them. Varitek looks to be in extremely good shape and is content with his role as the backup to Jarrod Saltalamacchia. Expect the captain to be a vital component to the 2011 Red Sox and to receive 60 starts or so.

Quote of the Day:

"Jarrod Saltalamacchia has the longest name in baseball, forming more than half a circle over the No. 39 on the back of his jersey. He and Jason Varitek are virtually inseperable, and 'Salty' is starting to adopt some of the captain's mannerisms." -- Dom Amore, from his column in the Hartford Courant.

You can check out the new 2011 photo album here.

"Catching Tandem Offers Red Sox Promise of Youth, Wisdom of Age"

February 14, 2011

From NESN's Tony Lee today:

If Saltalamacchia and Varitek get through the season healthy and remain the two featured backstops, it would mark the largest age difference between the top two catchers (in terms of playing time) in one season in franchise history. It truly is a case of teacher and pupil. Frankly, the two figures may be perfectly suited for such roles.

"We have Tek and Salty and I think we’re pretty comfortable with that, maybe more than people realize," manager Terry Francona said Sunday in camp.

While Varitek is still an effective receiver and showed last season that he can be productive with the bat in a limited role (he hit .342 with six homers in his first 14 games last year), he is almost a coach on the field, and in the dugout. And what better subject for him to offer that veteran guidance to than the 25-year-old Saltalamacchia, who is trying to fulfill lofty expectations in this, his third organization.

If there was ever a "project" that can help Varitek put a professorial cap on a stellar career, it is Saltalamacchia. And if there was ever ateacher that a young catcher would want to have offering instruction, it is Varitek.

You can read Mr. Lee's column here.

You can check out the 2011 photo album here.

Sunday...

February 11, 2011

Pitchers and catchers report to spring training!!

Yes! Believe it or not, it's that wonderful time of year again when your Red Sox begin to arrive in Fort Myers!

From a personal standpoint, I had a busier baseball off-season this time around (although last Sunday didn't end as I had hoped) but just like you, I am SO ready for the new season.

- The first workout for pitchers and catchers is scheduled for Tuesday, February 15th.

- Position players report on Friday, February 18th.

- The first full-squad workout is scheduled for Saturday, February 19th.

And:

Regular updates will begin this coming week!

Just In Case You Missed It...

January 27, 2011

Earlier this week, MLB Network analysts discussed what Major League players they thought would be great in the front office.

One of the analysts, 11-year MLB veteran Mitch Williams gave his vote for a certain Red Sox Captain -

"There is one guy that really stands out to me and I'm going to say this guy's name because of what Mike Sioscia has done in Anaheim: Jason Varitek to me appears like he will make a spectacular big league manager. He has sat behind that plate, he has watched umpteen thousand hitters. He knows the game inside and out, he continues to play it, but when he is done playing it, I don't doubt for a second that he will make a tremendous big league manager some day!"

Now if you missed this segment on television, you can watch the video of it here (Mr. Williams comments start at around 2:52).

*Thank you to Sterling for sending the link!

"Pitching In For Kids" 2011 Events

January 11, 2011

It's not too early to mark your calendar for the 2011 Pitching in for Kids Tim Wakefield and Jason Varitek Kick-Off Poker Party & Celebrity Golf Classic, sponsored by The Capital Grille!

The Kick-Off Party & Poker Tournament will be on Wednesday, June 1, 2011 at 6:00 PM at Ned Devine's, located at Faneuil Hall Marketplace in Boston.

The Celebrity Golf Classic will be held on Thursday, June 2, 2011, starting at noon at Granite Links in Quincy.

I'll provide more details as they become available!

Learning From The Best

January 7, 2011

"We'll work together. He's a good teammate and he's very enjoyable to work with. He really likes the game. Just give him time, give him time to see what kind of player he is. It may take a week, it may take two months, it may take the entire season. But he's a pretty special player." -- Jason on Jarrod Saltalamacchia.

From Ian Browne's "Around the Horn" today at RedSox.com:

While Saltalamacchia is a bit of an unknown at the age of 25, his backup is not only a Fenway fixture, but a captain. Jason Varitek once again was a free agent, but as he has done several times in the past, he re-upped with the Red Sox.

This will be Varitek's 15th season with Boston, and even in a reduced role, he remains a key member of the team. With his knowledge, work ethic and skills, Varitek helps his team in a variety of ways.

Before breaking his right foot on June 30, Varitek had adapted well in his first full season as a backup. Now, he looks forward to doing it again, hopefully without another injury setback.

More than ever before, Varitek will serve in the mentor capacity this season.

While Saltalamacchia and Varitek are both switch-hitters, this combo could work out nicely. Saltalamacchia is a better left-handed hitter, and Varitek is more accomplished from the right side.

Varitek will probably play more behind Saltalamacchia than he did while backing up Martinez, an All-Star slugger.

"If you take away that broken bone last year, 'Tek was having a heck of a year," Francona said. "It was kind of a bounce back, 'Hey, I can do this and keep playing.' So 'Tek's going to play more than probably the average backup catcher."

Back in 1998, Varitek was the young catcher sharing the position with a more seasoned player in Scott Hatterberg. Now, Varitek eagerly anticipates getting the chance to watch Saltalamacchia come into his own.

You can read the full article here.

In Case You Missed...

December 20, 2010

Jason's appearance on THE TODAY SHOW with his daughters this morning...

You can watch the video here.

Also...

Take a moment or two to read this great story about two eighth-graders from Hampton Academy Junior High School who had the opportunity to dine with Jason at the Haverhill Service Clubs Holiday Luncheon that took place on December 9th.

You can read about it here.

You can check out a few photos from the event here.

Tek on "The Today Show"!

December 17, 2010

Jason and his daughters will appear on THE TODAY SHOW this Monday, December 20th.

The Show will have it's annual Toy Drive and Jason will represent MLB, donating toys to children from the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

Jason is also expected to talk about the Commissioner's Award for Philanthropic Excellence, which was awarded to the Red Sox organization on November 17th.

The segment is expected to begin at 8:30 a.m. on NBC (check your local listings).

You can check out their website here.

Jason: Return to Sox is "Awesome"

December 11, 2010

Jason spoke during "Christmas at Fenway" today -

From WEEI's Mike Petraglia:

Sporting the World Series championship ring from 2007, Jason Varitek sat comfortably Saturday in his seat at the end of a conference table in room off the EMC Club at Fenway Park, declaring that he’s is more than ready to return for the 2011 season.

"It's awesome, it's awesome," Varitek said. "Did I hope for it? Yes, I hoped for it and wished that it would happen. Did I necessarily think this go-around they may go in other directions? Yeah. I was excited I didn't have to make that final decision."

But he admitted that between the end of the season and Saturday, this was the off-season he actually thought he might not return as captain as the Red Sox.

"You don’t know what's going to happen. You never know what's going to happen with injuries, etcetera. So I have to prepare like I know how to prepare everyday to physically and mentally be ready to play every day. That's not necessarily the case but physically that’s what I have to do."

A broken right foot limited Varitek to just 39 games in 2010, when he hit .232 and belted seven homers for the Red Sox as a back-up to Victor Martinez. He comes back in 2010 and actually could have a more prominent role on the team as he helps Jarrod Saltalamacchia learn the pitching staff.

"Going into this last one, I figured a few more years but I don’t know," Varitek said. "At this point of my career it's almost a year to year basis of seeing where I'm at but physically, I think it's a few more years."

You can read more here.

From the blog of The Providence Journal's Brian Macpherson:

Varitek hit .232 with seven home runs in an injury-shortened season a year ago. A foul ball off the bat of -- who else? -- Crawford broke his foot at the end of June, and he appeared in just five games in the final three months of the season.

But the injury had a silver lining: He went into the offseason feeling far less beat-up than usual. As with most of the rest of the injury-plagued Red Sox team, he'll be ready to go at the start of spring training in February.

"I had less healing time at the end of the season because I could take steps and walk down stairs straight," he said. "When I did that (in the past), I knew it was time to start to really train and really get after that. I was doing that after week one."

"We really like everything 'Tek brings to the table -- his leadership, the way he handles the pitching staff, his mentorship of Jarrod Saltalamacchia, just everything he brings to this franchise," Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein said. "He's another guy who fits in to the work ethic and preparation and commitment to winning and the intensity. He's our captain, and it's wonderful to have him back in the fold."

You can read more here.

Happy to have Crawford on the team -

Jason also spoke about the Sox' aquisition of former Rays' running man Carl Crawford. From Mike Petraglia again at WEEI:

Crawford has been a living nightmare for Varitek and other Boston catchers, going 62-for-66 in his career in steal attempts against the Red Sox. Even the great catching coach Gary Tuck had reached his wits’ end with Crawford.

"I don't think I've thrown him out. I was telling him this [Friday]," Varitek said.

The game that haunts Varitek more than any other came on May 3, 2009 at Tropicana Field when Crawford was 6-for-6 against Varitek, tying the modern MLB record for steals in a game.

"There's probably been three times that I've known I've thrown the ball on Carl and said, 'I've got him. No, I don't got 'em.’"

Turns out Varitek was underselling his skills against Crawford as he has thrown out Crawford before – once in 2004.

"Oh, I did? Good for me," Varitek said in slamming his hand down on the conference table in celebration.

You can read the rest here.

You can see photos of that collision between Jason and Carl Crawford (above) here.

It's Official!

December 10, 2010 - Evening Update

Finally!

From NESN.com tonight:

The captain is back for his 15th season with the Boston Red Sox.

Red Sox GM Theo Epstein announced that catcher Jason Varitek will be returning for another season on Friday. The official addition of Varitek pushes the Red Sox' 40-man roster to 39 players.

The one-year contract salary was not disclosed with the announcement.

You can read more from NESN here, and more from the Red Sox official site here.

Haverhill Service Clubs Holiday Luncheon

December 10, 2010

From the blog of my wonderful friend known to all as "Fenway Fruitgirl", who attended the Haverhill Service Clubs Holiday Luncheon yesterday, where Jason was the guest speaker:

Jason is a "captivating" public speaker and got a bit choked-up when recanting his last game of the 2010 season. "I hadn't thought of how much this team and place mean to me until the last game of the year. My girls were there and really upset and crying, saying: Daddy, why are you going to be gone?" It really hit home and taught him about what it meant to be here. "I've never had to sit in the stands and watch a game....and I hope I don't have to for a while."

Varitek's speech focused on leadership. He spoke of the value of an education (carries his Georgia Tech diploma in his wallet) and outlined his responsibilities as a leader in the clubhouse: being prepared, being accountable, being accessible and communicating.

"Do the things that you CAN do to be in control."

The speech and questions afterward were very entertaining:

Q: You caught a record number of No-Hitters, but you almost had one with Curt Schilling, what pitch did he "shake-off"?

Jason: "Slider.....and he still can't let go of it." (Said with a smile!)

Q: Most memorable moment as a Red Sox player?

Jason: "The last 3rd out in St. Louis."

Q: What do you say to pitchers/players after a bad game or loss?

Jason: "They Stink, sometimes in Japanese."

Q: Will you coach after you retire?

Jason: "I focus completely on what I have to do now."

Q: What did you say to Alex Rodriguez? (His most-frequently asked question)

Jason: "Nothing...he said enough!"

But that's not all....

Fruitgirl also has a few photos to share! You can check them out here!

Thank you so much to "Fenway Fruitgirl"! And please check out her blog here.

Jason To Appear...

December 8, 2010

Jason will be the guest speaker at a holiday luncheon hosted by Haverhill's service clubs tomorrow, Thursday, December 9th from noon to 1:30 p.m. at DiBurro's Function Hall in Haverhill, MA at 887 Boston Road.

The event is open to the public and tickets are $25 each.

The event is being hosted by the Rotary, Exchange, both the Pentucket and Haverhill Kiwanis, and the Soroptimist clubs.

A portion of the ticket sales will go to reduce Haverhill High School student-athletes' user fees. Jason's appearance is sponsored by local car dealership owner Gary Jaffarian.

Tickets are still available! Call Peter Carbone at 508-320-7710.

Theo "definitely comfortable" with Salty/Tek combo

December 7, 2010

From Gordon Edes at ESPN Boston today:

Even though it's all but a done deal, Epstein wouldn't say he's officially re-signed veteran catcher Jason Varitek, but added he is very comfortable with the captain and Jarrod Saltalamacchia behind the plate in 2011.

"We’re definitely comfortable with it. If we were to sign Jason Varitek, we’d be comfortable with that combination. It would be a nice mix," Epstein said. "You have two switch hitters. You have a young catcher eager to learn, who’s always looked up to Jason Varitek. You’ve got a more veteran catcher who knows his role, who took a liking to the younger catcher and is eager to pass on his knowledge and wisdom, especially when it comes to handling a pitcher."

You can read the rest here.

Also Today....

From Rob Bradford at WEEI:

Speaking to reporters at the winter meetings at the Dolphin Resort Hotel, Red Sox manager Terry Francona said that catcher Jason Varitek will find his way into the Red Sox lineup a good deal, with the Sox taking advantage of the catcher's ability to hit left-handed pitching.

"Oh, I'm sure some of it will depend on health and production," said Francona when asked if Varitek would share time with Jarrod Saltalamacchia. " I think Tek's done enough where if you take away that broken bone last year, and Tek is having a heck of a year. He kind of a bounced back (saying), 'Hey, I can do this and keep playing.' So Tek's going to play more than probably the average back up catcher, if that's what you're asking, sure."

You can read the rest here.

Ortiz And Bard Happy To Have Tek Back

December 3, 2010

From the Boston Globe:

David Ortiz was greeting guests at his charity event here yesterday when he heard that the Red Sox had agreed to terms with catcher Jason Varitek on a one-year contract.

"That's like hearing my brother is coming back," Ortiz said. "He is part of the family and it's important for us to have him on the team. That is really good news."

Like Ortiz, Sox reliever Daniel Bard was thrilled to hear that the captain was coming back.

"I love when he's behind the plate," said Bard. "It's a comfortable feeling. Having him is like having another pitching coach with everything he knows. A lot of guys are going to be very happy to hear this.

"Tek's knowledge is something we wouldn't be able to replace had he left. He's going to mean a lot to Salty. I would bet those guys will work well together."

You can read the rest here.

To the Jason-Varitek.com fans out there...

I've been thinking about giving the site a "facelift", similar to that of my other site. Nothing too drastic: a new banner; larger news photos, magazine covers, and pics-of-the-week; a Birthday Wishes section...

The site hasn't had an updated look since 2007.

What do you think?

Send me your thoughts, I'd love to hear from you!

Jason Re-Signs With The Red Sox!

December 2, 2010 - Christmas comes early for Tek fans!

From multiple sports media sources this afternoon:

The Red Sox have signed Jason to a one-year deal worth $2 million. The deal also includes $300,000 in incentives.

It seems apparent now the at the Red Sox are prepared to move forward with Jarrod Saltalamacchia as their regular catcher and Varitek as the backup.

This will be his 15th season with the team. He will serve as the backup and mentor to Jarrod Saltalamacchia.

Sources: RedSox.com, Boston Globe, Boston Herald, ESPN

Update:

Here are a few article/columns you may be interested in reading:

WEEI - "Why re-signing Jason Varitek makes sense for Red Sox"

NESN - "Re-signing Jason Varitek gives Red Sox stability behind plate, in clubhouse"

ESPN - "Jason Varitek back in Boston"

SaltAlamacchia Hopes To Learn From Varitek

November 25, 2010 - Happy Thanksgiving!

The Boston Globe's Peter Abraham had a chance to speak to "Salty" about the possible return of Tek yesterday, and according to Mr. Abraham, the young catcher is hoping the Red Sox captain will be back:

"That would benefit everybody," he said. "In the two months I was in Boston, I saw how much trust and respect the pitchers had with 'Tek. That's the guy I want to learn from. If I'm with him, I know I'll be getting all the right information. His presence in the clubhouse is huge."

Saltalamacchia had thumb surgery at the beginning of the off-season. He has started throwing and has been cleared to swing a bat.

Peter Gammons agrees with Saltalamacchia! You can listen to his comments here.

You can read the rest of Mr. Abraham's interview here.

Jason Not Offered Arbitration

November 23, 2010

From ESPN Boston's Gordon Edes this evening:

The Boston Red Sox announced Tuesday they did not offer salary arbitration to catcher Jason Varitek, but that doesn't mean they've permanently cut ties with their longtime captain.

Arbitration would have all but assured Varitek of a raise on the $3 million salary he was paid last season. Now the Sox can try to sign him to a lesser figure, more in keeping with his status as a backup catcher who is turning 39 on April 11.

According to club sources, the Red Sox remain interested in Varitek, who also has drawn attention from several other clubs in the market for a backup. With Victor Martinez reportedly headed for the Detroit Tigers, Varitek's value to the Sox increases as a potential mentor to Jarrod Saltalamacchia, now in line to become the team's No. 1 catcher.

You can read Mr. Edes complete blog here.

Fan Photos Added...

November 21, 2010

I have added photos from Jason's appearance at the Makeovers Salon & Spa Open House yesterday in Easton.

Thank you so much to both Tammy Beckwith (left) and Dori Burke for sharing their photos and stories.

You can see their photos here.

*If you attended the Open House and would like to share your photos and/or stories, please email me!

A Spa Treatment AND Jason Varitek?

November 11, 2010 - Veterans Day

Ladies, does it get ANY better that that?

Makeovers Salon & Spa, one of the largest salon and spas in Massachusetts, is holding an Open House on Saturday, November 20, 2010 from 5 to 8 p.m.

Guests who purchase a $50 gift certificate will have the opportunity to meet Jason Varitek and receive an autograph. A portion of the proceeds from gift certificate sales will support the The Jimmy Fund.

"We're very excited about this event and there's quite a buzz among our staff and clients about Jason Varitek's special guest appearance and support of The Jimmy Fund. What better way to kick off the holiday season," said internationally renowned stylists and salon owners Edward and Norah Blum.

Makeovers is located at 574 Washington Street in the Marketplace Mall in Easton.

This event is open to the public.

You can get more info here.

Also Today:

November 11th - Remember Our Veterans

Massachusetts Soldiers Legacy Fund

Established in 2004, the sole purpose of the Massachusetts Soldiers Legacy Fund is to grant money to current and future college and university students who are children of Massachusetts Servicemen and women that have died in Afghanistan and Iraq.

"For the people that serve our country, do what they do, to have this opportunity to give them and their families something back and to help to provide that," said Jason during the Legacy Fund breakfast in 2007. "You know, they are so overlooked and don't get the attention they deserve."

For more information and to donate to the MSLF, click here.

While you are there, check out their new photo gallery, you may just see a few photos of Jason!

Wreaths Across America

2010 will mark the 19th anniversary of Worcester Wreath Company donating Maine wreaths to adorn the headstones of our Nation’s veterans in Arlington National Cemetery. In addition to the 15,000 wreaths destined for Virginia, Worcester Wreath will once again donate 7 ceremonial wreaths to over 410 State, National and local cemeteries across the Country.

In 2009 wreath-laying ceremonies were coordinated in 24 foreign cemeteries and aboard Naval ships on all Seven Seas, this tradition continues in 2010.

The goal is to one day see every veteran’s grave in the country adorned with a wreath to honor them during the holiday season.

You can help this wonderful project by sponsoring a wreath!

Sponsorships are just $15 each. Proceeds from sponsorships not only place a wreath at one of the participating cemeteries, but also assist in supporting their fundraising partners, and supporting educational and veterans service outreach programs.

For more information and to be a sponsor, click here.

*Thank you to Chuck Stewart!

Just In Case You Missed Part II...

November 4, 2010

NESN and Red Sox Productions presented Part II of a two-part special on Jason that premiered Tuesday, November 2nd on NESN's Red Sox Report!

For those who were not able to watch the Special, RedSox.com now has Part II, entitled "Jason Varitek - A Nations Captain", available for viewing on their website in five different video segments.

You can watch the videos here.

Just In Case You Missed Part I...

October 29, 2010

NESN and Red Sox Productions presented Part I of a two-part special on Jason that premiered Tuesday on NESN's Red Sox Report!

For those who were not able to watch the Special, RedSox.com now has Part I, entitled "Jason Varitek - A Leader is Born", available for viewing on their website in five different video segments.

You can watch the videos here.

And don't forget...

Part II - "Jason Varitek: A Nations Captain", will be shown on Tuesday, November 2nd at 7:30 p.m.

The two-part special included interviews with Jason, his parents, his brothers, past and present teammates Normar Garciaparra, Derek Lowe, Trot Nixon, Johnny Damon, Tim Wakefield and David Ortiz, as well as rival Yankees Captain Derek Jeter, and former Yankees manager Joe Torre.

*Thank you to Sterling for the heads-up!

Tek: Struttin' His Stuff For A Good Cause

October 28, 2010 - Update (see below)

Join the Friars of St. Anthony Shrine tonight at Anthony's Pier 4 restaurant in Boston for their Annual Cocktail Reception & Fashion Show.

Jason will also be there walkin' the catwalk with the Friars, modeling the latest styles generously provided by The GAP, located at the Northshore Mall in Peabody.

Event starts at 5:30 p.m. Fashion Show starts at 6:30 p.m. and tickets are $150.

All proceeds from the ticketed event will benefit The Shrine’s various ministries.

For more info, click here.

Update: You can see a photo of Tek from the fashion show here.

Red Sox Productions: Two-Part Jason Varitek Special

October 22, 2010

Red Sox Productions will present a two-part special on the Red Sox Captain premiering this month on NESN's Red Sox Report!

Part I - "Jason Varitek: A Leader is Born", will be shown on Tuesday, October 26th at 7:30 p.m.

Part II - "Jason Varitek: A Nations Captain", will be shown on Tuesday, November 2nd at 7:30 p.m.

The two-part special will include interviews with Jason, his parents, his brothers, past and present teammates Normar Garciaparra, Derek Lowe, Trot Nixon, Johnny Damon, Tim Wakefield and David Ortiz, as well as rival Yankees Captain Derek Jeter, and former Yankees manager Joe Torre.

You can watch a video preview here.

*Thank you to Karen W.

Messages From Fans

October 8, 2010

From Maddie Hjulstrom - Cape Cod, MA:

I moved to New England 4 years ago – so I haven’t had the pleasure of watching every Red Sox game for that long. My husband is from Massachusetts, so when we married, he made me a Red Sox fan. (I come from Niagara Falls. No team.) The first game I watched was Game 6 of the World Series in 1986. It took a long time for me to get over that one.

We lived in New York State for 11 years, so that time was spent rooting against the home team Yankees. We then moved to the Philly area for 13 years (more rooting against the home team), and it was there that I watched the Red Sox win their 2004 championship. We screamed, we cried, we drank warm champagne because we were afraid to put the bottle in the refrigerator before the game and curse the team.

When we finally moved to New England, we got the chance to buy Red Sox T-Shirts… so I chose Jason Varitek. I admire his unflagging loyalty, determination, hard work, sacrifice, and humility. No matter what’s happening, he’s positive. Such an amazing role model for his teammates, for young players, for everyone.

I think the Red Sox would be CRAZY to let him go – where would you find a better back-up catcher?? Most teams don’t even have a starting catcher who is this good. I hope I get to see Jason play for at least another year, but regardless, I hope you send him my best wishes and, as a fellow Christian, my prayers for his future.

From Kathy:

It took me quite by surprise. When you came out of the final game of the season to a standing ovation I burst into tears. I have been a Red Sox fan since I moved to Maine in 1999. I realized in that instant that I don't know the Red Sox without you. In some way, you have been a part of each moment of my beloved Sox experience. I hope fate smiles on you (and the rest of us) and brings you back to Boston where you belong and that eventually you may retire there when you wish. You have more than earned that right and our respect.

Many thanks to you for all your hard work, dedication and obvious love of the game.

From Carolyn Grimes:

I am so unhappy at the thought that he will not be a Rex Sox anymore---its hard to go somewhere else after being the Captain!! He clearly has the same thought. They should keep him in the same role as this year. Of course if Jason goes somewhere else, could he come to Baltimore or Washington, so I can see him in person? Off to the Cubs, like Nomar, maybe? Please, Theo, keep Jason!!

From Barbara Shaw, Arizona:

I hope and pray we have Tek back. We really need him!

From Vicki Jo Tarantino - Chicago, Illinois:

As I've said before, many thanks to you and your wonderful website. I visit almost every day to catch the latest news on Jason. I would love for you to post my email, and I send my heartfelt thanks for all the time and effort you have put into your website. I hope you plan on keeping it going--all the pictures and articles are spectacular!!!

I've been a baseball fan all my life. At 50 years old, I've listened and watched oh so many games, not unlike millions of other fans. Very few players have impressed me over the years. As a player, and maybe more so as a fellow human being, you stand alone. It's an absolute pleasure to see an athlete who doesn't take his professional career for granted. I've always seen your unique commitment to the game, as well as to your teammates, the Red Sox organization, Red Sox Nation, and the community. On the field, you play the game as it was meant to be played. You give it your all, minus the nonsense that seems to accompany the game these days.

"THANK YOU" hardly seems an adequate sentiment here. I pray you remain with the Red Sox. I believe that is where you belong. However, whatever the future brings, I wish you absolute happiness and success both on and off the field.

YOU WILL ALWAYS BE #1 IN MY HEART!!!

From Dale Kinnon:

Tek is the man, he'll always be the man - whether he's behind the plate in a Red Sox uniform or in another uniform. Personally, I would prefer it to be in a Red Sox uniform!

From Kimberly Cushing:

I can't believe that I just possibly watched the last Red Sox game with Jason Varitek playing...I hope that management realizes over the winter what a great asset he is to the team.

Sterling - Florida:

I became aware of Jason Varitek in 2005, after the Red Sox won their historic 2004 WS championship (though I knew about the team before that event), and started to read about Jason's leadership, professionalism, game preparation, which I thought was cool and admirable. Then in 2006, after spending a year reading about 'Tek, I became a fan, as I thought he would be a great athlete to follow and I was right, Jason Varitek is a great athlete to be a fan of.

I also like how 'Tek tends to avoid the spotlight, like when he has caught a great game, such as one of his record 4 no-hitters. As mentioned above, it's his team-first mentality that shows at times like this.

To keep this short, as I can write a book on 'Tek otherwise, I'll just say that following the career of Jason Varitek for the past 4 years have been awesome! I always look forward to "catching" 'Tek in a game, checking out the latest pictures and videos and reading news about him.

Erin, my friend and this site's webmistress, should also be commended on building a great site for a great athlete. She keeps the site up to date with news, updates and pictures about 'Tek.

I don't know what will happen in 2011, in terms of where Jason Varitek will be playing, be it with the Red Sox, where he wants to play, or with another team, but regardless of that, I know that I will be there to support The Captain!

From Dan Wheeler - Fairfax, VA:

Tek, there will never be another like you! More of today's athletes need to follow your example. I hope to see you in that dugout, the bullpen and on the lineup card next year! You deserve to play out your career as a Boston Red Sox.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to send your thoughts!

*To answer the question I have been asked again and again via email: The site will continue to follow Jason's career....wherever it leads him next. If it is somewhere else, I would love to have you come along for the ride!

Tito Talks Tek

October 7, 2010

From Terry Francona's WEEI phone-in interview on the Dale & Holley Show today:

Terry Francona joined Dale & Holley to take one last look at the 2010 season as well as look back at 2004 after the recent 30-for-30 documentary about the American League Championship series. The manager was asked about his decision to lift Jason Varitek during the season's final game so he could get an ovation from the Fenway crowd.

"I thought Tek's true colors really showed this year," Francona said. "Things didn't work out the way he expected them to. Going all the way back to when we acquired Victor [Martinez], this guy had a lot of chances to either want to go somewhere else or not show his leadership, and all he did was get better. He got more vocal. He got more open. He communicated. I just wanted him to have a chance to let the fans show their appreciation."

You can read the rest of the transcript here.

"Four Days in October"

October 5, 2010

Tonight: ESPN's "30 for 30" show features an MLB Films Special that looks back at the 2004 Red Sox and their quest to win the ALCS against the Yankees.

From their website:

"When the night of October 16, 2004 came to a merciful end, the Curse of the Bambino was alive and well. The vaunted Yankee lineup, led by A-Rod, Jeter, and Sheffield, had just extended their ALCS lead to three games to none, pounding out 19 runs against their hated rivals. The next night, in Game 4, the Yankees took a 4-3 lead into the bottom of the ninth inning, then turned the game over to Mariano Rivera, the best relief pitcher in postseason history, to secure yet another trip to the World Series. But after a walk and a hard-fought stolen base, the cold October winds of change began to blow. Over four consecutive days and nights, this unlikely group of Red Sox miraculously won four straight games to overcome the inevitability of their destiny. Using extensive archive coverage from that week, Major League Baseball Productions will produce a film in "real-time" that takes an in-depth look at the 96 hours that brought salvation to Red Sox Nation and made baseball history in the process."

The show premieres tonight, Tuesday, October 5th at 8:00 p.m. and again at 11:00 p.m.

Other dates and times:

Thursday, October 7th at 11:oo p.m. (ESPN Classic)

Monday, October 11th at 7:00 p.m.

Sunday, November 7th at 9:00 p.m. (ESPN Classic)

Thursday, November 18th at 11:00 p.m. (ESPN Classic)

You can learn more about the show here.

Standing Ovation For The Captain...Twice

October 3, 2010 - Evening Update

"Yeah, it caught me way off guard when I went to go hit. I can't really say that every bone in my body wasn't shaking. I had to really try to take a few deep breaths and try to relax a little bit." -- Jason, talking about the first standing ovation as he went to bat in the 8th inning.

"It's obvious how dear this place has been to me. I've been fortunate to be in one place my whole career. You have that kind of respect from the fan base. More importantly, you have that respect from your teammates. It's emotional. I feel like I can do some things still. I'll just have to see. You're not always in control of what is ahead of you." -- Jason, on playing in Boston.

From Sean McAdam at NECN.com this evening:

After the Red Sox' 8-4 win over the New York Yankees in the final regular season game, Varitek was not in the mood to place his season, his career, into perspective.

The emotion of the last week had been enough. In Chicago, five nights earlier, he had choked up when asked if he had given much thought to his career Boston possibly coming to a close. Sunday, he had his parents and daughters on hand -- just in case.

"I don't know what the future holds," he said. "But it was a good day today."

Fate had him coming to the plate in the eighth, and the fans, anticipating his last at-bat, saluted him with a loud and long ovation.

"I had to really take a few deep breaths,'' admitted Varitek.

After his warning track flyout in the bottom of the eighth, Terry Francona had Kevin Cash secretly put on the catching gear, ready to take over for Varitek in the top of the ninth, allowing the crowd to say "Thanks,'' one more time, and perhaps, however understated, "Goodbye," too.

Would he like to return to Boston?

"Absolutely," he said without hesitation. "We'll just have to see what happens. But I do appreciate the fan support, the respect of my teammates. This has been a special place for me.''

And then, typically, he began citing the contributions of others -- managers, coaches, and teammates who had come and gone.

Does he have difficulty imagining himself in another uniform.

"Yes," said Varitek.

You can read the rest here.

You can see video of the standing ovation for Tek here.

You can see a couple of photos here.

From the post-game press conference with Theo Epstein and Terry Francona...

Theo Epstein: "No matter what happens going forward, he's a Red Sox. More than anyone of us, he's a Red Sox. The future is uncertain. While that warmth the fans showed and his teammates showed may have seemed like a goodbye, it doesn't necessarily have to be that way. I think there's uncertainty with our catching situation, and we'll see how things turn out. That's the nature of the future. We just don't know. But for today, it was a very, very appropriate moment for a guy who has meant more to this franchise than just about anybody."

Terry Francona: "Nobody knows what's going to happen with a lot of things, so whether 'Tek is here for another three years, he deserves respect anyway. What 'Tek has done and what he will continue to do -- I know I've said it [before], that 'C' he wears, there's a reason.

"When you go through tough times or when you've been hurt, your true colors can come out. His did. This guy, he helped keep us together this year. That's not an easy task when you're hurt. And he went out of his way to be the captain. If anything, my appreciation and respect for him grew this year. He became more vocal. He tried to lead when he couldn't play. And he pulled it off."

Tek Stat:

Today was Jason's 1,478th Major League game, all with the Red Sox. He has 1,258 hits, 182 home runs, and 721 RBI.

*If you would like to send me your thoughts on Jason's career, being a fan, or if you just want me to your post your best wishes to him, please email me (erin@jason-varitek.com). I will collect and post them on Friday. Don't forget to send your name along with your email.

Tek Catches Last Game Of The Red Sox 2010 Season

October 3, 2010

"I'm just being honest. I can't say it's not on my mind. But I'm trying to do the best I can to continue to do my work, focus, those things. I have an emotional attachment. It's been my blood, it's been my heart, my soul. It’s been everything that I have been as a player." -- Jason, on the idea that this could be his last game in a Red Sox uniform.

According to Red Sox beat writer Ian Browne last night, Jason will catch John Lackey in the final game of the 2010 season starting at 1:00 p.m. today.

The Red Sox Captain also knows it could also be the last time he catches a game for the team he has played for since 1997.

As the Boston Globe's Amalie Benjamin said this morning in her column, this is not the first time he has wondered if his Sox career is over. The Sox re-signed him prior to the 2009 season.

"This one's a little different," Varitek said. "Every time it seems to be a bit emotional. But then, it's a little different, you have a chance in the postseason, you're getting a chance to play, there's not a definitive end. So now it’s a little different."

You can read Ms. Benjamin's column here.

Kelly Captures The Captain...

October 1, 2010

With her camera, of course!

Kelly O'Connor was in attendance on September 6th in Pawtucket to watch Jason's second rehab start and got some great pictures once again!

You can see her "Tek collection" here.

Check out all of her photos on her site here.

All Archived News Is Deleted After One Year!

To save bandwidth, I delete all news items after (or close to) one year.

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!

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