After Varitek, the Sox have questions at catcher

March 12, 2008 | Providence Journal | By Joe McDonald

 

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Believe it or not, there will come a time when Jason Varitek, who will be 36 next month, is no longer catching for the Boston Red Sox.


Whether that's through retirement or free agency, someone will eventually have to replace The Captain. Varitek's current contract expires at the end of this season, and despite reports that he could re-sign with the club prior to the end of spring training, the two sides have not had a serious conversation regarding an extension. Either way, the Red Sox need to focus on their future catching plans.


The development state of catching in professional baseball is at a low point when it comes to organizational development league wide, and the Red Sox feel this effect first-hand.


"We have some promising pitching prospects," said Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein, "but we don't have the catcher of the future in the organization. So, I don't think we are the ones to talk about how to develop catchers just yet."


"These days, it's hard to find catching talent," said Epstein, "or anyone developing who can make an impact in a competitive big-league situation."


Dusty Brown and George Kottaras hold the reins to a future job in Boston. That's not to say either one is a shoo-in.


"They are two promising catching prospects," said Epstein. "They have their own style."


Both, along with veteran Kevin Cash, have impressed management this spring.


Brown has proven to be a solid catcher with fine defensive skills, a strong arm and the ability to call and control a game. His offensive numbers need work, but the Red Sox feel he has a future behind the plate.


If he wants to succeed The Captain, Brown will have to make strides with his bat. The 6-foot, 180-pounder split time between Portland and Pawtucket last season and combined for a .260 average with 9 homers and 46 RBI in 77 games.


Kottaras, who was acquired from San Diego to complete the deal for David Wells in September 2006, struggled for the Pawtucket Red Sox last season and missed an opportunity to play in Boston when a sore knee kept him sidelined when the Red Sox needed a backup. He hit .241 with 9 home runs and 39 RBI in 87 games.


Cash was called up instead and was brought along as a nonroster player for the postseason. Cash re-signed during the offseason, leaving a traffic jam of potential starting catchers in Pawtucket.


The Red Sox are not alone in the hunt for catching talent.


"There's just not a lot out there," Epstein added. "There just aren't kids growing up, saying, 'I want to catch.' It's not the most glamorous position, and also, I think in the industry, we're sort of too hard on catching. There are 60 big-league catchers out there, and there are catchers in the minors who will go on to comprise the next generation of 60 big-league catchers. We're so hard on them, because we want everyone to be perfect."


Epstein pointed out that Kottaras has had more productive offensive seasons than Brown, plus Kottaras is a left-handed hitter with a good sense of the strike zone. Brown, a right-hander, really made strides with his swing in the last few seasons in the minors, according to the GM.


A catcher's résumé should have these elements: soft hands, a quick release, strong arm, good offensively and tough, both mentally and physically. Epstein said it's not always easy to find that prototype.


It can't be easy for any catcher in the Red Sox organization to live up to the standard set by Varitek.


"I don't know if that's a fair benchmark," said Francona. "We've got a pretty special guy."


A veteran catcher with more than 10 years of major-league service, Varitek must know that there's a young player wanting to take his job. Still, Varitek has worked with both Brown and Kottaras and is impressed with the job they have done this spring.


"We all bond pretty good," said Varitek, "because we go through a lot as a group. We talk and communicate as much as we can. Their development is going good. I've seen Dusty for years and he's come a long way. They have both done their work and have worked their butts off."


Hampering the Sox' ability to develop a potential successor to Varitek is Doug Mirabelli's role as Tim Wakefield's personal catcher. Because there's no room in Boston, Kottaras and Brown will remain in the minors.


"They've had a good camp," said Francona. "They get the short end of the stick a little bit. They come into games late and we're trying to get them at-bats. They've both had a very solid camp. We kind of challenge them to make the most of it, and they certainly have. They look good."