Varitek - Don't Boo JD Drew

[TheKilo]

http://www.newburyportnews.com/pusports/local_story_255120133?page=0

 

"I wish the fans understood how much power they have," said Varitek. "They can help J.D. Drew. They really can."

 

"I don't know if people understand this. J.D. Drew is not going anywhere. He's not only our right fielder now, but he's going to be here awhile," said Varitek. "If people can accept that fact, then maybe they might think differently."

 

"He's not the kind of guy that throws his bat," said Varitek, who is not in that "Kevin Youkilis" category either. "Is his hat going to be as dirty as Trot's (Nixon) was? No. But that doesn't mean he doesn't care. And that doesn't mean he isn't good."

 

"But you look at his swing. It's a great swing," said Varitek. "And he's a good outfielder. He has good speed. He's a good player. Is he having the year a lot of people hoped? No. But he can still help us. In fact, I really believe we are going to need him."

 

"Why not give him a standing ovation when he comes to plate," said Varitek. "They did it for Julio Lugo and it helped. It really did. The energy the fans give you can carry a team. Trust me, I know. I can feel it. But the fans can also make you want to get under a rock."

 

"I don't understand why fans don't understand that," said Varitek. "We need J.D. to hit. It's tough, though, to do in this climate. I really wish the fans would give him a boost. He needs it. And we do, too."

[See Red]

Glad to see Varitek do this for him.

[TheKilo]

Glad to see he did this to pick up a teammate when other captains have left people twisting in the wind.

[Thumper]

But will fans listen to Tek and actually start supporting drew? I know being 2,000+ miles away disables me for cheering when he comes to the plate, but I'm willing to give a little faith.

[ANiMAL]

You have got to love the spirits of the Captian.

[yankees228]

Glad to see he did this to pick up a teammate when other captains have left people twisting in the wind.

 

lol

[TheKilo]

lol

 

IKNORITE

[schillingouttheks]

So yeah, Tek is pretty much spot on.

[BoSox21]

hes dead on. thats why hes the captain

[yankees228]

IKNORITE

 

I actually agree with you. Jeter did nothing to help the A-Rod situation last year, and, as a captain, he should have at least said something.

[See Red]

I actually agree with you. Jeter did nothing to help the A-Rod situation last year' date=' and, as a captain, he should have at least said something.[/quote']

 

And if he had, maybe the whole A-Rod situation would look a little different in regards to the possibility of him opting out and maybe, just maybe, they'd still be having slumber parties together. :dunno:

[Ray10]

Just shows you why V-Tek is the captain of the Sox. Guy is a class act that's for sure.

[yankees228]

And if he had' date=' maybe the whole A-Rod situation would look a little different in regards to the possibility of him opting out and maybe, just maybe, they'd still be having slumber parties together. :dunno:[/quote']

 

I really think he would and will opt out no matter what, for other reasons.

 

And yeah, nothing better than 30+ year old married men (one of them married) having slumber parties lol. Really shows team unity. Have to love that.

[Taliesin]

Well no doubt it shows much more class from our Captain than their "captain" in the way the situations were handled. Captain..oh my Captain. Entirely different situation w/ more dynamics than Mr. Crunchy in The Combat Zone during a free .....ah nevermind. Mr. Ortiz is more clutch than the Fraud and I'll take him in October w/ or w/out The Great Dominican defender behind him. Or in front of him. Or whatever. Vastly underrated hitter because of the circumstances. Thrilled. Prove y'all wrong.

 

I'll boo gdamn JD Drew if I damn well feel like it (generally no w/ my players) but he's horrid and while admirable on Jason's end...if the pansy can't take some critique he doesn't belong on the big stage w/ the big boys. If I'm making 70 million at my government job and they boo me....I'd take it as par for the course and discuss it w/ my 45 analysts ala AROD and then go to the bank and then just do my f***ing work. Bunch of wimps. Really.

[TheKilo]

 

I'll boo gdamn JD Drew if I damn well feel like it (generally no w/ my players) but he's horrid and while admirable on Jason's end...if the pansy can't take some critique he doesn't belong on the big stage w/ the big boys. If I'm making 70 million at my government job and they boo me....I'd take it as par for the course and discuss it w/ my 45 analysts ala AROD and then go to the bank and then just do my f***ing work. Bunch of wimps. Really.

 

Aaaand you're a goddamned f***ing moron.

 

Boo the result, not the player.

 

And if 35,000 people told you you sucked at your job, I'm sure you'd love going to work every day.

[BSN07]

I've been advocating cutting Drew some slack and cheering him all season, now Tek says it and everyone jumps on?LOL Well guess it means I don't have as much pull as Tek on talksox LOL:)

[carltonfiskga]

What Tek should worry about learning is how to put the ball in play when there are runners in scoring position and I don't mean a friggin double play either. Has his hitting skills turned to s*** the last 2 years? Why does it seem whenever he gets 2 strikes on him, the amount of times he just automatically swings and misses on a 3rd strike increase so much more than his hitting to contact? I swear but doesn't he take some of the worse swings and misses on the team? HE is neck and neck with Dougie in that category.

 

I am really down on him this year. I don't think just because he calls a good game makes him a team captain. HE never takes the team on his back these days.

[BoSox21]

he brings up a good point when he says how people criticize Drew for showing no emotion when Varitek plays the game pretty much the same way.

[BudLight]

I'll boo gdamn JD Drew if I damn well feel like it (generally no w/ my players) but he's horrid and while admirable on Jason's end...if the pansy can't take some critique he doesn't belong on the big stage w/ the big boys. If I'm making 70 million at my government job and they boo me....I'd take it as par for the course and discuss it w/ my 45 analysts ala AROD and then go to the bank and then just do my f***ing work. Bunch of wimps. Really.

 

WoW, Taliesin, we agree here!! Drew is a grown man, suck it up. He's the moron who hired Boras. He f***ed Philly when he was drafted, never lived up to his "5 tool" potential in St. Louis , chirped about how great it was going to be in Atlanta, his home state, and then abruptly opted out on the Dodgers. Yeah, a real class act Drew is. No passion for the game. Maybe if the fans gave Willy Mo a standing ovation he would have turned his offensive numbers around right. Give me a break.

[BoSox21]

but honestly, what the hell does booing accomplish? who knows better than the player how s***** he's doing?

[elsrbueno]

but honestly' date=' what the hell does booing accomplish? who knows better than the player how s***** he's doing?[/quote']

 

what good does chanting "Yankees suck" at a Sox-Royals game?

 

Still happens.

 

The only thing booing can possibly accomplish is to piss off the player. The bottom line is that Drew doesn't give a crap what the fans think (Foulke-style) because he's laughing all the way to the bank.

 

Drew is horrible no doubt about it-- and fans judge players based on their salaries and he certainly isn't earning that. However, give him some support because like Tek said, we need him.

 

What are our alternatives? Manny's being Manny again, Ellsbury's got a sore wrist.... The Red Sox need Drew.

 

Like the rest of you guys said-- Varitek again is right on.

[BoSox21]

Fans don't think rationally but the reality is that whether we like it or not, Drew is here for the foreseeable future so we might as well support the guy, if only cause he wears the uniform.

[das11209]

I do not think that booing helps any player - it just frustrates him and he does not play upto his potential. Players who are genuinely good if left alone to find their groove will do so ( example ARod - he performed much worse when booed - but came back to his potential eventually). The fans do want to bring out the best in a player in the best interest of their team - so the fans do not help themselves by booing at all. But they still boo - how nice this world would be if we all think and act rationally.

 

That being said - I understand if they boo when they feel that the player is not trying at all. I think that could contribute to Drew booing. I am not saying that he does not give a crap - it just looks like he does not because of his style. And that probably pisses off lots of fans.

 

And yeah - I understand if Ortiz says those things. But Tek - give me a break what has he done in last 3 years? Even some of his game calling has been questioned lately. Again - it is not a knock on Tek alone ( Jeter falls in the same category) - but this 'Oh my captain' crap is ridiculous. In baseball I think - performance always trumps peptalks when it comes to leadership - am I not glad we do not have Millar in the club-house.

[KeepTheFaith1229]

I really think Drew's shoulder is messed up bad. I wouldn't be surprised if he got surgery in the offseason.

[BSN07]

Drew was our best option in the off season, Ill cheer for him while he wears the Sox uniform and hope this season was just an adjustment for a career NL player. He needs to put on a few pounds this offseason def. to help his power.

 

His main problem has been consistancy, one week he tears up everything( .471 AVG over last week) then he struggles bad. I say its a sign of a pitcher adjusting to Park/Pitchers he has never seen before.

[Mr Crunchy]

tek should shut the f*** up before people start booing him

he left an entire division of baserunners on last night without hitting the ball out of the infield

as far as passion goes w ith jd drew and tek

when tek bitch slapped arod it showed his emotion and commitment to his pitchers and teamates.

jd drew seems like hes on methadone 24/7

[VA Sox Fan]

tek should shut the f*** up before people start booing him

he left an entire division of baserunners on last night without hitting the ball out of the infield

as far as passion goes w ith jd drew and tek

when tek bitch slapped arod it showed his emotion and commitment to his pitchers and teamates.

jd drew seems like hes on methadone 24/7

 

Tek will get booed the same day Papi will (NEVER). And of course, I agree with him where Drew is concerned. Save the ignorant ass booing s*** for other teams, umpires and stupid fans.

[MANNYHOF24]

You Know, Jason is right. I was at the game where Lugo was a given a standing ovation, and he came through with a huge 2 run single, which was his first hit in like 30 AB's. I think its time to realize, that yes Drew is having a bad year but we do need him. The Fenway faithful should pull for the guy for the rest of the year and see what happens.

[das11209]

You Know' date=' Jason is right. I was at the game where Lugo was a given a standing ovation, and he came through with a huge 2 run single, which was his first hit in like 30 AB's. I think its time to realize, that yes Drew is having a bad year but we do need him. The Fenway faithful should pull for the guy for the rest of the year and see what happens.[/quote']

 

I think Mets fans got same result with Delgado when they started cheering him after he slumped badly and he came up big.

[He Hate Me]

Tek is being shortsighted, look at what that booing did to Arod in '07. If you cheer Drew, he'll think it's ok and always give you piss poor production. Maybe if you keep booing him, JD will get the hint and reward you with a .300/30/120 season next year. tough love baby