Well, it had to happen sooner or later. Jason Varitek, one of the longest serving members of the Sox teams of the 21st century got his walking papers today. It wasn't a free pass, but it had become very predictable. One of the best handlers of pitchers in the majors almost since his arrival, and the man who drove in 85 ribbies in 2003, the Captain had steadily seen his skills with the stick erode to the point that the past two seasons were arguably his worst by far at the plate. Yes, he still showed occasional bursts of power and could effect a game's outcome by his control of whoever was on the mound, but with the bat slowing down, and now his defensive skills starting to follow, it was time to cut the tie.
In my 62 years of watching the Sox, I've seen all types of players wearing the tools for the Sox, and, in my humble opinion, Tek was one of only two worth remembering (Pudge Fisk is the other). Tek not only had all of the instincts you want in a catcher, he had guts. Regardless of the situation or the opponent, he wasn't ever afraid to face his challenger. Whether it was standing in on 95+ mph heater, or standing up to someone on the other team who was a little too full of himself (hello, A-Rod), Tek never gave an inch. He protected his teammates and played the game. More than that no-one can ask.
Good luck, Tek. I miss you already.
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