Varitek needs to come back

[boxajoe]

With the current state of the 2012 season in serious jeapordy, or some may say beyond serious jeapordy, Red Sox Nation is in need of a solution. Some say it's time to fire Valentine, some say fire the pitching coach. I say bring Varitek back. The Front office needs to find out what it would take to get Jason Varitek back to work directly with catchers, and pitchers to fix this staff. The issues with this team are simple, starting pitching. While I sincerely hope the Front office goes out and picks up some quality starters before the trade deadline, I am not holding my breath. Varitek holds the knowledge about American League hitters and the knows how to help these veterans find it again. His presence alone could help, and may bring this staff back on track before it's too late. Is there more that needs to be done besides Varitek, yes, but I think this is part of the solution.

[wyo-sox]

his presence didn't help last year

[jung]

There are no quick fixes to this problem and nothing Tek would or could do at this point would have an impact. The Sox are likely stuck with trying to find another arm like Garza just to come in and take some load. Garza is not a solution ala' take us to the promised land but at some point this team will be looking for additional innings from starters. Beckett and Lester are a mess and Felix and Frank have got to be on innings limits. That leaves them with Buch and Cook. They need another starter just to get through the season without turning the whole thing into a larger embarrassment than it has been already.

 

The Sox did not get here overnight and it will take an offseason at least of heavy roster and coach activity just to begin the process.

[boxajoe]

His presence was not enough last year to stop the collapse at the end, but.......the win and loss record prior to that speaks for itself. They were a much better team during the first half last year and even beyond that. Now was it from Varitek ? who knows, but I think it's worth a shot. I'm just thinking there is no harm in bringing him along to help out in some capacity. Maybe Lavarnaway even gets in the mix and gets some instruction from him as well.

[User Name]

No, he really doesn't need to come back. At least not yet.

[SCM33]

No. Are they going to bring him back if they suck in 20 years as a 60 year old backup?

 

The thought of bringing back a broken down catcher who cant hit, run or throw speaks volumes about Salty.

 

They don't need to bring back Varitek, they just need to find a real catcher.

[Palodios]

No. Are they going to bring him back if they suck in 20 years as a 60 year old backup?

 

The thought of bringing back a broken down catcher who cant hit, run or throw speaks volumes about Salty.

 

They don't need to bring back Varitek, they just need to find a real catcher.

 

+1

[Brennan]

No. Are they going to bring him back if they suck in 20 years as a 60 year old backup?

 

The thought of bringing back a broken down catcher who cant hit, run or throw speaks volumes about Salty.

 

They don't need to bring back Varitek, they just need to find a real catcher.

 

 

 

+2

 

I think this is actually insulting to our intelligence as fans. If you want to try him on the coaching staff, I'm all for it.

[mvp 78]

f*** it, bring back Mike Stanley too then...

[Brennan]

We might find ourselves in a position like this after we again watch the names come of of the trade list one by one.

[redsoxbeatz]

We should bring back Ted Williams, too.

 

wtf is this thread?

[MANNYHOF24]

his presence didn't help last year

 

Beckett era under 3 for the season and Lester in the middle 3's... Didn't help my ass.

[SCM33]

Beckett era under 3 for the season and Lester in the middle 3's... Didn't help my ass.

 

Yeah. The issue is Salty, not whether or not Varitek made a difference.

 

He is gone, time to move on and address the real issue, our current catcher situation.

[SoxFanForsyth]

The Red Sox pitchers don't need Varitek back to catch.

 

The Red Sox pitchers need a pitching coach that they respect and, perhaps even fear a little. Someone who was with the organization when they arrived, and demanded their respect. It's really such a shame that Farrell is the Jays manager, because that's exactly who this team needs.

 

I wish Varitek knew more about pitching mechanics because he would be an excellent pitching coach, that's the type of stern, respected voice they need in that dugout.

[wyo-sox]

http://www.weei.com/sports/boston/baseball/red-sox/kirk-minihane/2012/07/23/blame-starts-and-ends-jon-lester-and-josh-be

 

Great article.

[Laser Show]

Can Scott Hatteberg still catch?

[wyo-sox]

Beckett era under 3 for the season and Lester in the middle 3's... Didn't help my ass.

 

Who caught most of the games when they were the hottest team last year?

 

Why are some pitchers pitching just fine to Salty?

 

Was Tek not here as ''Captain'' when the team fell off to the greatest collapse in baseball history?

 

Our woes are only due to a couple pitchers not playing to their potential.

[Scottish Red Sox Fan]

Bringing Varitek back would look like desperation and it would be a bit of a slap in the face to Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Kelly Shoppach. You would basically be saying they can't get the job done without Varitek holding their hand. Not a very positive message to be sending out.

 

Josh Beckett and Jon Lester are the biggest problems for this team at the moment, not the catchers. Both Beckett and Lester were at the heart of the clubhouse meltdown at the end of last season and they are both under-performing by a long way again this year. It's time they looked in the mirror and asked themselves if they're giving it everything they've got. It sure doesn't look like they are!

 

Anyway, back to the catchers..................I quite like Salty and I think Shoppach is a decent guy to have as a backup catcher.

[jacksonianmarch]

Salty is a good offensive catcher. He's a butcher behind the dish and is possibly the underlying cause of a lot of the sox pitching problems

[Scottish Red Sox Fan]

Salty is a good offensive catcher. He's a butcher behind the dish and is possibly the underlying cause of a lot of the sox pitching problems

 

Possibly. It's hard to tell though isn't it?

 

I've seen several people on here saying that Lester's mechanics are out at the moment and, as for Josh Beckett, well he's had struggles in Boston before Saltalamacchia was even a Red Sox player.

 

The only thing that is certain is that there is a problem somewhere with Beckett and Lester.

[jacksonianmarch]

a great catcher will also be a solid pitching coach. I cannot tell you how great it was to have a legit catcher behind the dish as a pitcher. I actually pitched to a guy who ended up in the bigs for a cup of coffee. They know what is working, what isnt, they'd come out and kick you ass when needed and also see if your arm is flying open or if your delivery is a little out of synch

[NativeBostonian]

Varitek lost the ability to caption, yes. But, he made our pitchers look good. He knew what should be thrown and what shouldn't. Granted, he wasn't the one throwing the ball. But, it helps when you have a catcher who can do the thinking for you so you can concentrate on getting the ball to the right spot. Salty is better offensively, but he isn't much of a catcher.

[wyo-sox]

Varitek lost the ability to caption' date=' yes. But, he made our pitchers look good. He knew what should be thrown and what shouldn't. Granted, he wasn't the one throwing the ball. But, it helps when you have a catcher who can do the thinking for you so you can concentrate on getting the ball to the right spot. Salty is better offensively, but he isn't much of a catcher.[/quote']

 

Was he making Lackey, Dice K and Wakefield look good last year?

[wyo-sox]

Salty is a good offensive catcher. He's a butcher behind the dish and is possibly the underlying cause of a lot of the sox pitching problems

 

While this is a possibility its tough for me to see since some pitchers do fine with him.

[NativeBostonian]

Was he making Lackey' date=' Dice K and Wakefield look good last year?[/quote']

 

No one could make Lackey and Dice K look good. That and he didn't catch Wakefield. He couldn't catch knuckle balls.

[SoxSport]

Varitek lost the ability to caption' date=' yes. But, he made our pitchers look good. He knew what should be thrown and what shouldn't. Granted, he wasn't the one throwing the ball. But, it helps when you have a catcher who can do the thinking for you so you can concentrate on getting the ball to the right spot. Salty is better offensively, but he isn't much of a catcher.[/quote']

 

So why isn't he the bullpen coach--teaching Salty how to call a game?

[Bellhorn04]

I hope Varitek does return as a coach.

[jung]

There are just so many things you can be teaching a guy at any one time before it just becomes sensory overload. When Salty got here he could not throw, could not receive, did not block the plate well, did not call a good game and did not provide pitchers with good targets.

 

He is throwing 100% better and has made a little bit of progress in some of the other mechanical/physical tasks.

 

Much of his problem with handling his duties as a battery mate seem to me to be a matter of focus and concentration. Not sure what to do about that. I think he might still be so concerned about the mechanical tasks of a catcher that he is just not able at this stage to maintain the focus and concentration needed to handle the battery duties. May never be that kind of catcher.

 

The numbers for Buch pitching to Shop vs Buch pitching to Salty are going to be ridiculous after tonight's game. They were already really lopsided in favor of Shop before tonight. Tonight's was Buch's 8th game to Shop and he has pitched 9 to Salty this year.

[wyo-sox]

No one could make Lackey and Dice K look good. That and he didn't catch Wakefield. He couldn't catch knuckle balls.

 

That was the point I was insinuating.

[NativeBostonian]

That was the point I was insinuating.

 

I’ll give you that point. But, when he was behind the plate, Beckett and Lester pitched better. He needs to return to the Sox as a coach, not a player. Salty needs to learn from him not be replaced by him. He is old and it is time to move on.