It all Starts With Tek

October 29, 2007 | Boston Herald | By Tony Masarotti 

 

DENVER - Ten years later, with the Red Sox on the verge of another coronation, the catcher remains their most fundamental building block.


So as the Red Sox prepared to play the Colorado Rockies last night in Game 4 of the World Series, do not be surprised to learn that Jason Varitek seemed entirely unaffected. Varitek emerged from the Boston clubhouse toting his equipment, as usual, and methodically went about the business of preparing for the 53rd postseason game of his career.


In the history of the Red Sox, nobody has played in more.


"He’s had a great run," said Dan Duquette, the former Red Sox general manager who traded for Varitek during the summer of 1997. "The catcher’s involved in every out. Twenty-seven times a game, he makes a decision that helps you win."


Twenty-seven times a game. Is that the way to quantify what Varitek means to the Red Sox? Since the start of the 1998 season, when Varitek began to emerge as a Red Sox mainstay, the Sox have gone 676-522 in games started by their current catcher. Multiply 676 by 27 and what you get is 18,252, a very rough approximation for the number of outs Varitek has contributed to during his Red Sox career.


Along the way, during that 10-year stretch, Varitek has batted .268 with 148 home runs and 611 RBI, numbers that have made him more productive than any American League catcher but Jorge Posada or Pudge Rodriguez. Factor in defense and game-calling ability, and Varitek might be the best catcher in the AL during his era.


An exaggeration? Not really, not if you believe those who have an appreciation for the depth of Varitek’s contributions to a Red Sox team that has been wildly successful for the last five or 10 years, depending on where you draw the line.


"A good catcher who prioritizes the pitching staff is a huge asset to the organization," Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein said last night at Coors Field as the Sox sought to clinch their second World Series title in the last four years. "He’s like the command center of our organization as far as run prevention. It’s a great asset."


Said Duquette: "He’s a switch hitter with power, but day in and day out, you can talk to the pitching coach and the manager he plays for, and they’ll tell you he’s the best in the business at understanding his pitchers and understanding how to get the hitters out."


And when you get right down to it, isn’t that what winning baseball is all about?


For a moment, stop and think about it: During Varitek’s career as Red Sox catcher, the Sox have been to the postseason six times reached the AL Championship Series on four occasions. Entering last night, they had one world title and were closing in on another. During all the comings and goings at Fenway Park over the last 10 years - even ownership has turned over during this period - Varitek is the one positional player still in line for a gold watch.


Lest anyone underestimate the value of the stability Varitek has provided, look carefully. The one greatest similarity between the Red Sox and New York Yankees over the last 10 years has been the catchers; if and when the Sox wrap up this title, Boston and New York will have accounted for five of the last 10 World Series winners. One of the remaining five (the 2003 Florida Marlins) had Rodriguez behind the plate, and Rordiguez also caught for last year’s AL champs, the Detroit Tigers.


Given the shortage of catching - and despite Rodriguez’ relative drop in play - the Tigers recently exercised a $13 million option on the player.


"It’s huge," Epstein said about the benefit of having a catcher who can also provide offense, particularly in the American League. "Having Jason is invaluable in the preparation process and getting through the land mines of the game. It’s a great feeling having ’Tek in those meetings."


For all of the euphoria surrounding the Red Sox as the team closed in on another world title last night, here is the one hole: There is no heir apparent to Varitek. The captain and leader of the Red Sox will be 36 in April 2008 and will be a free agent at the end of next season. Reluctant to give Varitek a four-year deal following the 2004 season, the Red Sox might now be in a position where they have to extend Varitek’s contract.


More than 10 years ago, when Duquette acquired Varitek and Derek Lowe for closer Heathcliff Slocumb, even Duquette could not have known what Varitek would become. Yet now, it hardly seems a coincidence that perhaps the two most successful eras in relatively recent Red Sox history came during times when the Red Sox were built on the broad backs of their catchers, Varitek and Carlton Fisk.

"The guy’s still the heart of the team," Duquette said of Varitek last night.

And still beating strong.