One question I answered yesterday was concerning whether or not I thought the Red Sox and Jason Varitek would come to terms following the life of his current contract. I thought that would be the case, but at the right price and right circumstances.
I started thinking about Varitek’s importance a bit more thoroughly and immediately flashed to a story Jonathan Papelbon told me last year. This is from an August 13 story in The Eagle-Tribune:
When it comes to calling a good game, facts and stats aren’t easily obtained. That’s why the search for answers has to come from those who are there, such as Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon.
The question: “Have you shaken off Varitek this season?”
The answer: “Sure … once.”
The result: A 310-foot home run off the bat of Philadelphia’s Chase Utley at Fenway on June 26.
And then this from former bullpen catcher Jason Larocque:
“Tek is the LexisNexis of catchers. He has such a file on these hitters, it’s incredible.”
Scott Boras, are you paying attention?
