Jason Varitek Performance thread.

[SCM33]

Has anyone else noticed anything different about him other than less time crouching behind the plate? To me, it seems he has changed his batting stance a little bit. He looks a little more upright. Maybe less time behind the plate/going over matchups on a daily basis is allowing him to concentrate more on hitting?

[TedWilliams101]

Well, throughout his career he's been more of a first half hitter. Career SLG By month: March/April - 0.461, May - 0.487, June - 0.413, July - 0.463, Aug - 0.419, Sept/Oct - 0.371.

 

Even more important, this is the EXACT same thing that happened last year. 2009 April: 0.533 SLG, May: 0.513, June: 0.391, July: 0.369, Aug: .250, Sept: 0.178. That's as drastic a drop off as it gets.

 

2008 was pretty much the same, 0.432 SLG in April, 0.506 SLG in May and then just .358 SLG in the 2nd half including a terrible June under .200 SLG.

 

2007 and 2006 weren't as drastic, but he did drop off as the season progress. So no, I don't think there is ANY reason to believe Tek will be able to sustain this. I do believe he might have a better 2nd half as he isn't going to be catching as many games, but I don't think he will be anywhere near this good.

[Dojji]

So can anyone think why a starting switch hitting catcher who's used to catching 130 games a year starts to wear down as the season goes on? I mean he only has to take BP from both sides of the dish, go over matchups, drill the pitchers, and deal with the wear and tear of a regular season's starting play. No idea why an older guy might have a hard time playing up to his talent with all that on his plate.

 

All I'm saying is, cutting his workload might squeeze more life out of him than we're counting on. Did wonders for Gregg Zaun.

[BSN07]

So can anyone think why a starting switch hitting catcher who's used to catching 130 games a year starts to wear down as the season goes on? I mean he only has to take BP from both sides of the dish, go over matchups, drill the pitchers, and deal with the wear and tear of a regular season's starting play. No idea why an older guy might have a hard time playing up to his talent with all that on his plate.

 

All I'm saying is, cutting his workload might squeeze more life out of him than we're counting on. Did wonders for Gregg Zaun.

 

I think it's reasonable toe expect Tek to be more consistent at the plate if he is being rested properly. He still hits pretty well from the RH side. If they could limit his exposure to mid-upper tier RHP it might help.

[jacksonianmarch]

I have an interesting idea. Tek hasnt slowed a bit from the right side, but his LH splits have been abysmal the past 2 yrs or so. How bout ditching the whole switch hitting idea and he hits primarily from the right?

[Dojji]

you and everyone else in the last 4 years. But he identifies as a switch hitter. Oh well, what can you do?

[TheMino007]

He started off well last year too, not this well, but he had power last April and May too before really slowing down. Hopefully, not having to catch every day will save his body and his bat and he'll be more consistent throughout the course of the season.

[SCM33]

I have an interesting idea. Tek hasnt slowed a bit from the right side' date=' but his LH splits have been abysmal the past 2 yrs or so. How bout ditching the whole switch hitting idea and he hits primarily from the right?[/quote']

 

This has been talked about many times over the years. I think as a fulltime player, being a switch hitting catcher, regardless of his splits allowed him to stay on the field all the time instead of becoming a platoon player. As he ages I would mind seeing it, maybe he has a lot more worth from the right side than any of us realize.

[SCM33]

2-3, Another HR (6).

[Chamomile]

Varitek is now hitting .342/.419/.868 (1.287 OPS) on the season. The first thing I check when a player gets off to such a hot start is their BABIP. But Varitek's BABIP is the same as his career BABIP. The only part of his production that's been lucky is his home run per fly ball ratio. I don't think it takes someone who knows stats to realize he's not going to slug .868 the rest of the year though.

 

He's always been someone who hits very well when rested, hits very well against lefties and hits very well at Fenway. So it stands to reason that by giving him normal rest and starting him in spots that maximize his offensive potential, the Red Sox should get some solid offense out of him.

[frodo]

I never really noticed it, but you're right he's a little more upright.

[TheMino007]

I never really read much into Varitek making that much a difference in pitchers and in general I don't like to look at catchers ERA, but his pitch selection and game management has been amazing when he has been in there. If Varitek likes and accepts this role, I hope the Sox bring him back so he can help groom a catcher for the future. Tek said he could play at least three more years, so it would be great if we would remain the teams backup.

[Wasatch]

Tek is having a very good year so far, kept it up Jason.

[Dojji]

I never really read much into Varitek making that much a difference in pitchers and in general I don't like to look at catchers ERA' date=' but his pitch selection and game management has been amazing when he has been in there. If Varitek likes and accepts this role, I hope the Sox bring him back so he can help groom a catcher for the future. Tek said he could play at least three more years, so it would be great if we would remain the teams backup.[/quote']

 

And when someone comes knocking looking to make a manager of DeMarlo Hale, maybe we can ease Varitek right into a part-time bench coach role

[YeAuldBroade]

Well .. Jason may get to play a few in a row... Has anyone heard if Martinez will be out for a few days?

[SCM33]

His offensive numbers are declining with more AB's, really par for the course over the past few seasons, but the pitching performances hes had behind the plate show his true worth to the staff.

[TheMino007]

Having Varitek out there doesn't hurt too much when you have a hot offense and the team is winning. But when Tek becomes an automatic out again and the Sox begin to cool off, we will hear the same bitching about Varitek again.

[a700hitter]

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2010/09/19/short_circuit_for_battery/

 

Whenever he has been out of action for a prolonged period, the Sox staff has gone into a nose dive.

[WhiskeyBreath]

That doesn't come as a surprise at all.

[Spudboy]

Long live Tek.

[example1]

I like Tek. I would love for Tek to have some rolling low-cost deal, similar to Wakefield's, but the lack of roster spots probably prevents that. I would also love to see him as a Sox coach someday.

 

If there is a single player who I cannot imagine being booed in Fenway, it is Tek.

[SCM33]

Any chance Tek hangs them up this offseason?

 

I think he is not back. I can see a team overpaying for him to help out a young staff, like Oakland or Baltimore.

[WhiskeyBreath]

tbh, I would be shocked to see Tek hang them up after this year. It's going to be very weird to see him in another uniform because I have a difficult time seeing him back in Boston in 2011.

[Dipre]

I see Varitek as the type of guy who feels as such a big part of the Sox organization that he either keeps playing for them or hangs them up, but that's just my opinion. Dude can still hit lefties, so he'd be useful to the Sox next year.

[WhiskeyBreath]

I always thought that way about him until the comments he has made this year when asked about his future after 2010.

[Dipre]

I usually see those types of comments as negotiating ploys to put pressure on the team's FO. He is a Boras client after all.

[WhiskeyBreath]

Of course, but I think this goes beyond money. He's the type of guy who wants to continue playing.

[BSN07]

This was written this morning,

 

http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100928&content_id=15183146&notebook_id=15208316&vkey=notebook_bos&c_id=bos

 

So he plans on playing next season and possibly longer. I can see him going somewhere else for a couple seasons and then possibly coming back to the organization when he is done. And that is fine. Because I believe if someone is willing to give you a roster spot you should play. Playing days don't last forever.

[Dojji]

if V-Mart moves on, Tek should be re-signed to mentor Saltalamacchia.

 

I would not be at all surprised if V-Mart moves on.

[a700hitter]

if V-Mart moves on, Tek should be re-signed to mentor Saltalamacchia.

 

I would not be at all surprised if V-Mart moves on.

If we go north with Tek and Salty as our two catchers, we will be in a heap of trouble. Tek is 38 and will be useful playing twice a week, mainly against lefties, but he can't handle a full load. It is debatable whether Salty is a legit major leaguer. Plus, he sucks beyond belief behind the plate.