Varitek, Henry meeting goes 'OK'
by Randy Booth on Jan 17, 2009 11:47 AM EST
in News
38 comments
The 90-minute meeting between Jason Varitek and Red Sox owner John Henry went 'OK' according to Varitek:
Communicating via text message after the meeting, Varitek would say only that the meeting "went OK" and that there was "nothing to report." The Red Sox’ captain and longtime catcher said he met with Henry "to speak [about] how I feel" and answered "yes" when asked if his desire was to return to the team for the 2009 season.
Varitek declined comment when asked if the Red Sox similarly expressed a desire for him to return. He also declined to address any specifics as to why he remains unsigned less than four weeks before pitchers and catchers are due to report to spring training.
First, let me just point out one thing. What has the journalism world come to when reporters are getting quotes via a text message? Give me a break!
I understand these players probably don't want to talk to reporters after a thing like this, and texting is better than nothing, but why not a phone call? Even an e-mail is better than texting someone.
I'm not sure who to blame more in this situation, the reporter or the player, but I've seen this more and more lately. In a way it's lazy, and in a way it isn't. Because at least, in this case, Tony Mazz got the story somehow. But reporters should never have gotten to the point where accepting text message updates are acceptable.
Umm, so yeah. Let's talk about what actually happened -- the meeting. I won't go off on a tangent, but I'd like to see Varitek come back as a Sox. At this point he can't be worth than a few million. Let's give him $2M or $3M for a season or two and let him work with the young catchers. It would be another "low-risk, high-reward" deal, even if it's just to work with the pitchers and catchers.
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I'd do it for $150,000
Let’s give him $2M or $3M for a season or two and let him work with the young catchers.
2 or 3 million to do nothing that you can prove?????? Hey 2 or 3 million is a bunch of money in my world! If he cannot tangibly show that he helps the team and is not going to improve because of the human aging phenomenon, let him go!
by NG on Jan 17, 2009 12:47 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
The Sox make that much in one game, I would imagine.
And it’s tangible in the pitcher’s stats. If he’s gone, the pitchers will suffer.
For those children who claimed they’ve been a fan of their favorite team all their life, or even since they were about four or five years old: bullshit. There’s always that certain event or certain player that draws to the sport and draws you to a team. For me, Nomar Garciaparra was that reason. - Nick Coviello: I Try To See Rocco, But All I Think Is Nomar; 1/9/09
by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Jan 17, 2009 7:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Tek signing?
So what gives here? Is he going to be the starter over Bard if they sign him given his .220 season last year? And how much is he worth now? Yes I’m a fan but maybe he’s hit that wall.
It's the Sawks. They'll be good. We're gonna watch.
by Manush on Jan 17, 2009 1:03 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Apparently Tek requested the talks.
I hope he comes back, for purely sentimental reasons.
Manny ain't the only bad man.
by tommy.otm on Jan 17, 2009 1:13 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
There's no interest in him
What team will give up a #1 pick for an aging catcher?
I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.
by Drugs Delaney on Jan 17, 2009 2:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
A thought
Could the Sox, Tek, and another team work something out where the Sox sign him then flip him to another team for a prospect? That way the team got get him for less than a #1 pick. I wonder if there is a rule in place against, as it does seem like gaming the system.
Manny ain't the only bad man.
by tommy.otm on Jan 17, 2009 4:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I think...
if you sign a FA, you cannot trade him for a certain amount of time.
by BTLove on Jan 17, 2009 10:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t think that’s true, but I think that may apply to re-signing a A or B free agent…
by Randy Booth on Jan 18, 2009 1:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I think that's right
I don’t believe you can sign & trade in MLB like you can in the NBA.
"You know you're having a bad day when the fifth inning rolls around and they drag the warning track." - Mike Flanagan, Baltimore Orioles pitcher, 1992.
by SoxDevil on Jan 19, 2009 9:29 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Varitek probably offered to pay THEM to get back with the Sox…
by Randy Booth on Jan 17, 2009 2:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
your first offer is often your best offer
Tek screwed up listening to that rat bastard Borass. Tek will get a incentive deal like Smoltz and Penny for 3 mill up to 10 mill and a one year deal take it or leave it.
by Red Sox #1 Fan on Jan 17, 2009 2:33 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
His decision of not taking arb is getting dumber by the minute
He’ll play for incentives or not play at all.
Mother---- him and John Wayne!
by MerryGoByeBye on Jan 17, 2009 4:10 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Agreed
I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.
by Drugs Delaney on Jan 17, 2009 6:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Major miscalculation by Varitek & Boras
"You know you're having a bad day when the fifth inning rolls around and they drag the warning track." - Mike Flanagan, Baltimore Orioles pitcher, 1992.
by SoxDevil on Jan 19, 2009 9:29 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Leadership is worth a lot
But not a multi-year contract when the player in question has become an offensive black hole. Can see what Boras was thinking.
Can’t see how he won’t re-sign; what other possible outcome is there? Just admit defeat and get on with it, or keep your pride and stay at home. Its a shame it came to this really.
by DANNDANN on Jan 17, 2009 4:59 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I just want this settled and over with.
by matzushocka45 on Jan 17, 2009 5:27 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
+1
I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.
by Drugs Delaney on Jan 17, 2009 6:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Having Varitek back is not going to help
the Sox win another pennant. Look at his play the last few years; he’s on a steady decline and hurts the team more than he helps them, at this point.
Nobody wants Varitek, that’s obvious. That should tell you something.
Work with young pitchers? Beckett, Lester, Dice-K, Wakefield, Smoltz, Paps, etc – hardly people who don’t know what they’re doing and need ’Tek to help them. Theo knows this.
by ccthemovieman on Jan 17, 2009 7:55 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Nobody wants him because they don't want to give up a 1st round draft pick.
We don’t have to. And he works with all of the pitchers. He knows some Japanese to help with Dice-K, Okie, and the Japanese pitchers to come (Saito, Tazawa, etc.). He also has to work with Lester some more, and keep Paps from throwing fastballs every pitch.
For those children who claimed they’ve been a fan of their favorite team all their life, or even since they were about four or five years old: bullshit. There’s always that certain event or certain player that draws to the sport and draws you to a team. For me, Nomar Garciaparra was that reason. - Nick Coviello: I Try To See Rocco, But All I Think Is Nomar; 1/9/09
by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Jan 17, 2009 8:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
He'll be one the best back-up catchers in baseball.
Even with his crappy offense. He’ll bring a lot more to the park than Mirabelli’s meatball grinders.
Manny ain't the only bad man.
by tommy.otm on Jan 17, 2009 9:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Dude. It was chicken parm. Get it straight!
by Randy Booth on Jan 18, 2009 1:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I feel so ashamed.
Manny ain't the only bad man.
by tommy.otm on Jan 18, 2009 3:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
As much credit as Tek gets; it should also be pointed out it’s not like he has been catching bums since he has been in Boston. The lists of pitchers he has caught is pretty freakin impressive.
by matzushocka45 on Jan 17, 2009 8:01 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
But, were they more impressive with the Sox and Tek, or elsewhere?
For those children who claimed they’ve been a fan of their favorite team all their life, or even since they were about four or five years old: bullshit. There’s always that certain event or certain player that draws to the sport and draws you to a team. For me, Nomar Garciaparra was that reason. - Nick Coviello: I Try To See Rocco, But All I Think Is Nomar; 1/9/09
by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Jan 17, 2009 8:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I might get roasted for this,
but I believe Beckett pitched ‘better’ to Mirabelli. Memory is a fickle mistress, so…
"no1 has time to read your long comments, are you writing a book?"
by britsoxfan on Jan 18, 2009 6:42 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Well, even if that’s true, it’s a smaller sample size. Beckett, 8 times out of 10, is going to be pretty good, so if ‘Belli caught him rarely, odds are he’ll get good starts out of him.
by Randy Booth on Jan 18, 2009 1:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
2007
Beckett to Belli: 1 game, Opposing Batters hit .219 / .265 / .313
Beckett to Tek: 29 games, Opposing batters hit .246 / .287 / .380
2006
Beckett to Belli: 7 g, .238 / .314 / .417
Beckett to Tek: 22 g, .236 / .304 / .447
"It's just a tiny little nick, but it hurts when I get champagne in there."
- Jason Bay, on getting spiked scoring the winning run in ALDS Game Four.
by 0157H7 on Jan 18, 2009 1:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
That game in 07 must have made a great impression on me.
"no1 has time to read your long comments, are you writing a book?"
by britsoxfan on Jan 18, 2009 3:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Things happen like that.
For those children who claimed they’ve been a fan of their favorite team all their life, or even since they were about four or five years old: bullshit. There’s always that certain event or certain player that draws to the sport and draws you to a team. For me, Nomar Garciaparra was that reason. - Nick Coviello: I Try To See Rocco, But All I Think Is Nomar; 1/9/09
by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Jan 18, 2009 9:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I’d say it could go either way to be honest.
by matzushocka45 on Jan 18, 2009 10:12 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Honestly
Varitek really could either way at this point in his career. One the one hand he was absolutely abysmal with the bat last year, same story with 2006. He’s not good at throwing out baserunners and his speed on the basepaths is slower than your average high schooler. On the other hand, his 2007 season was above average, especially at the catcher position, and he was one of the best hitters from 2003 through 2005. I’m strongly opposed to a deal of longer than one year, but I wouldn’t at all be unhappy with him getting $7-8 million. Just last year he was worth $5.6 million according to fangraphs even though he had his worst year as a member of the Red Sox. If he improves at all on his 2008 performance he’ll earn his worth at $7 million.
by Gnick on Jan 17, 2009 11:40 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Pedro pitched his best to ’Tek.
"We're not going to give up," It doesn't happen, so who cares? There's always next year. It's not like it's the end of the world."
by revigik on Jan 18, 2009 11:01 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
he was also in his absolute prime at that point in his career.
by matzushocka45 on Jan 18, 2009 11:37 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
+1
I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.
by Drugs Delaney on Jan 18, 2009 5:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Something we won’t see if Tek isn’t re-signed: that ridiculous stand-up high fastball after two strikes. It worked about twice in the past five years.
"no1 has time to read your long comments, are you writing a book?"
by britsoxfan on Jan 18, 2009 3:21 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
I won't miss that
I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.
by Drugs Delaney on Jan 18, 2009 5:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I think he should start doing that and having the pitcher throw a slow curve or a changeup, and have him catch it in his gut.
For those children who claimed they’ve been a fan of their favorite team all their life, or even since they were about four or five years old: bullshit. There’s always that certain event or certain player that draws to the sport and draws you to a team. For me, Nomar Garciaparra was that reason. - Nick Coviello: I Try To See Rocco, But All I Think Is Nomar; 1/9/09
by bs.uf15bosox9bears23 on Jan 18, 2009 9:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
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