Leading the way in 2007

March 30, 2007 | The Providence Journal | By Steven Krasner

 

Jonathan Papelbon was tossing and turning every night this spring.

He was being tormented by the fact that he really wanted to return to the closer's role, convinced in his gut that if he
were allowed to do the job, he could stay healthy and be more valuable to Boston than in the starting rotation, which is where the Red Sox had him slotted out of concern for his valuable right shoulder.

So in whom did Papelbon confide?

Jason Varitek, the Sox' captain. Who else?

Varitek is the starting catcher, but he's much more than that on the Red Sox. The "captain" designation is not an
honorary title with Varitek. He takes the position quite seriously. He is one of the team's leaders, in so many ways.

But how important is it that a baseball team have a leader? As Mike Lowell points out, being a leader on a baseball team
is different than in some other sports. It's a tad more subtle.

"Baseball is such a daily grind,'' said Lowell, an eight-year veteran.

"It's not like you see in football, where they huddle up and start screaming. That's an adrenaline-rush game. In football,
they play 16 games, so you can't slack in two of them, or that might ruin your whole year. They're screaming because
they have to change things right now. In baseball, it's more a case of holding down the fort,'' he said.

The length of the season lends itself to peaks and valleys, and the leader on a baseball team has to know when say something and when to back off and let things smooth themselves out.

"You go through a year and you're going to have some pretty touch times, even if you're a good team,'' said manager
Terry Francona. "Last year for us was an example. But even when things are going well, it's nice to know you have some people who are going to help you through any tough times.''

The Sox, as a veteran team, certainly have more than their share of battle-tested leaders. Varitek and Lowell, even
though this is only his second year in Boston, are just two of them. Curt Schilling, Tim Wakefield and Mike Timlin lead in their respective ways for the pitching staff. David Ortiz has his leadership moments. Even backup catcher Doug
Mirabelli is considered a leader on the Sox.

"You don't have to be a star to be a leader. You can be a bench guy, too,'' said Lowell. "When I was coming up with
the Yankees, I sat on the bench with Luis Sojo and Tim Raines and learned a lot. (Ex-Sox outfielder) Gabe Kapler was that way here. On this team, it's more like guys are 'uniters' -- they unite guys in the clubhouse.

"David unites a clubhouse, and in a way that's leading. Gabe would get everyone together to play fantasy football.
That's leading. That breeds a good playing atmosphere where guys want to be at the park together,'' Lowell said.

On younger teams, such as the Florida Marlins when Lowell joined them in 1999, it was difficult to know the right way
to do things, from preparing for a game to off-field activities. That isn't a problem with the Sox, but playing in Boston still adds a little to the big-league equation, says Varitek.

"It's important to have veterans who have played here, because not everyone can play in Boston. In my opinion, it takes
a special type of player to play here. You're playing in a city where you have to win. You have to be able to handle some boos. You have to be a 'dirt dog,' '' he said.

"To me, a leader on this team is what kind of example are you setting for the players behind you and for the players
who are going to come later. But being a captain has made me more conscious of things. You still maintain that good example, but you have to do everything you can to make the team function well. Communication is the key,'' said Varitek.

And as players become older, they take on more of a leadership role. That's where Josh Beckett, 26 and in his sixth
big-league season, fits in on the Red Sox in his second year in Boston.

He is being asked to show a continued growth in maturity that the Sox hope will rub off on other, less experienced
pitchers.

"I certainly think this year is a new chapter for me,'' said Beckett. "I'm settling in, and Tito (Francona) and (general manager) Theo (Epstein) expect me to help out some of the younger guys through the parts of their careers that I just
got through.''

Then there's Ortiz, a clubhouse good-humor man who has had three monster offensive seasons for the Sox.

"He's an awesome guy regardless of his numbers,'' said Francona. "His personality is off the charts. He transcends
racial barriers. His smile is infectious. He does a great job in that regard.''

"But,'' added Francona with a slight smile, "David Ortiz, the great guy he is, with 40 RBI against the David Ortiz with
140 RBI, I'll take the 140.''

Which is another way of saying that you can have all the stable, down-to-earth leaders you want, but if they can't excel
on the field, it's not going to propel a team to a World Series title.

The Red Sox, though, seemingly have all the pieces in place for a run at a second World Championship in four years. There's talent on the field and, Manny Ramirez aside, quality veteran leaders in every corner of the clubhouse.

So when tough times hit -- and they will at some point during the long season -- the Red Sox are confident they'll be able
to keep things together until the good times return.

"I think there are some teams that are very cohesive in the sense they have a lot of guys who see things the same way,''
said Lowell. "And this is one of those teams.''