I want to make one thing perfectly clear about this post - I am not ripping Jason Varitek. I have the utmost respect for him as a player and as a leader, plus as a guy who at one time donned the "tools of ignorance" I've got a soft spot for catchers.
In fact, back when I was warming the pine for the Miami Hurricanes we played Georgia Tech in a weekend series in Atlanta and the two catchers were Jason Varitek and Charles Johnson.
Needless to say, there were a lot of scouts there that day...
Anyway, back to Varitek.
Like a lot of players, Tek is having a difficult time coming to grips with his changing place in Major League Baseball. I know he feels like his contributions merit a certain level of respect (a.k.a salary) but he turns 37 in April, his offensive numbers have been in a deep decline the past three seasons and there just isn't the demand for his services there would have been two years ago.
Just sign with the Sawx and get it over with.
Tek has already made a lifetime's worth of money and it's unlikely he'll ever be without a good paying job given that he could probably name his own career after he retires (future manager, broadcaster, etc.).
His best - and perhaps only - option is to sign with the Red Sox. Take what they are offering and be done with it. There is no reason to push this any further.
They need him, he needs them.
Seems pretty simple, doesn't it?
KW
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Well apparently he came around to your way of thinking...
ReplyDeleteThat's the kind of power The Baseball Gods have...
ReplyDeleteThe Sox don't need Varitek. He has become nothing more than a fan give-away. The Sox pitching staff is good enough that they don't have to have Varitek to survive.
ReplyDeleteAnd, just in case you're wondering - I was born in Boston and lived there until this past October. I was up there for both World Series.