110 replies to this topic

[E5 Yaz]

A friend of Jason Varitek told me at the Wakefield press conference that Varitek is leaning toward retirement.

https://twitter.com/...646992052170752

This would be right. Then Wake could throw out the first pitch at Fenway this year, and Tek could chase it to the backstop

Edited by E5 Yaz, 27 February 2012 - 05:07 PM.

[catomatic]

https://twitter.com/#!/nickcafardo/status/170646992052170752

This would be right. Then Wake could throw out the first pitch at Fenway this year, and Tek could chase it to the backstop

Fantastic. Thank you for the last chuckle of the day.

[joyofsox]

Too much to hope for:

Varitek: Cafardo "leaning" towards retirement

[MartyBarrettMVP]

Maybe not....

General manager Ben Cherington said yesterday that the Red Sox have offered Jason Varitek a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training. But that is as far as they will go.

http://www.boston.co...on:twit:abraham

[The Boomer]

https://twitter.com/#!/nickcafardo/status/170646992052170752

This would be right. Then Wake could throw out the first pitch at Fenway this year, and Tek could chase it to the backstop

Not only should they retire together and share that ceremonial first pitch but their numbers should be posted on that wall together. ML careers longer than 15 years with a single team are a rarity in modern times but, as here, such longevity exemplifies quality careers that justified this mutual loyalty. Hoisting those numbers together would be nice for the franchise.

[opes]

retirement? As opposed to what? Backup for the Lowell spinners?

[CoRP]

retirement? As opposed to what? Backup for the Lowell spinners?

Pretty sure they don't want to waste a roster spot.

[E5 Yaz]

Jason Varitek, a two-time World Series champion and the captain of the Red Sox from 1997-2011, will announce his retirement on Thursday in Fort Myers sources told the Globe today.
Varitek is expected to stay with the organization in some capacity.

http://www.boston.co...ek_to_anno.html

[Ted Cox 4 president]

Win . . . and maybe even win-win.

[tims4wins]

His contributions will never be forgotten

[SoxVindaloo]

http://www.boston.co...ek_to_anno.html

Lazy as always Glob. Sox were really progressive in having a rookie captain in 1997, must be the Sabermetrics.

[Gene Conleys Plane Ticket]

Not only should they retire together and share that ceremonial first pitch but their numbers should be posted on that wall together. ML careers longer than 15 years with a single team are a rarity in modern times but, as here, such longevity exemplifies quality careers that justified this mutual loyalty. Hoisting those numbers together would be nice for the franchise.

It would be great, though just as a nitpicky point, Varitek was with the Red Sox for only 14 years, unless you count a single at-bat in a single game in 1997 as a "year."

Still, I would guess that careers of 10 years or more that begin and end with a single franchise are virtually unheard of these days. How many have there been in the past 20 years?

[Saints Rest]

It would be great, though just as a nitpicky point, Varitek was with the Red Sox for only 14 years, unless you count a single at-bat in a single game in 1997 as a "year."

Still, I would guess that careers of 10 years or more that begin and end with a single franchise are virtually unheard of these days. How many have there been in the past 20 years?

Jeter, Rivera, Posada, Williams are four that spring to mind.

[Nomar813]

This was the right time for Wakefield and Varitek to retire, but it will still be strange to open Red Sox season without them. It looks like Ortiz becomes the longest-tenured member of the MLB roster.

[SumnerH]

Jeter, Rivera, Posada, Williams are four that spring to mind.

Ripken.

[dbn]

His contributions will never be forgotten

I hope this doesn't sound too day he became a true Red Sox-ish, but that game signaled a change from my always having really liked Varitek to he becoming one of my favorite Red Sox (which is significant, as I usually don't have "favorite players" on teams I cheer for; I'm more of a laundry guy). I've always had a soft spot for Wakefield as well, so I find it heartwarming that they are retiring as Red Sox during the same off-season. It is the right time for both of them, and I'm glad that at least 'tek had a decent year (at the plate, anyway) in his final season.

[Hyde Park Factor]

His contributions will never be forgotten

We don't throw at .260 hitters.

[tims4wins]

Lazy as always Glob. Sox were really progressive in having a rookie captain in 1997, must be the Sabermetrics.

It has now been amended to 2005-2011. As usual, PeteAbe was in such a rush to break the story that he neglected to fact-check.

Edited by tims4wins, 27 February 2012 - 05:42 PM.

[mt8thsw9th]

Jeter, Rivera, Posada, Williams are four that spring to mind.

How many have done this with OPS+ or ERA+ under 100? Varitek: one of a kind.

Unfortunately for the Red Sox' staff, they'll no longer be able to throw to a .260 hitter.

[Rasputin]

It has now been amended to 2005-2011. As usual, PeteAbe was in such a rush to break the story that he neglected to fact-check.

That's not a fact you need to check. It was lazy writing, not lazy reporting.

[mauidano]

https://twitter.com/...646992052170752

This would be right. Then Wake could throw out the first pitch at Fenway this year, and Tek could chase it to the backstop

Classic! Let it end right there with that.

[Sausage in Section 17]

I hear there might be an opening for a manager in Visalia next season....

Congrats to an all time great Red Sox. The moment preserved on film above was the day when, symbolically, Jason Varitek stood up and spoke for the entirety of RSN, saying essentially, "we are not taking your shit or eating your dust ANYMORE!" It marks the end of one era of this franchise, and the beginning of another.

He remains destined for the dugout, and I expect he'll be back in MLB in the next 5 years.

[TheoShmeo]

His contributions will never be forgotten

From some quarters in NY: "No guts on that Varitek. He should have said: 'Time out, Mr. 260 Hitter, I need a moment to remove my mask before we joust.'"

That line always slays and amuses me in equal parts.

[Gene Conleys Plane Ticket]

Jeter, Rivera, Posada, Williams are four that spring to mind.

Technically, Jeter and Rivera haven't finishes their careers yet. Hard to imagine either playing out the string in another uniform, but you never know.

The Yankees are a bit of an exception for obvious reasons. Has any significant player left the Yankees in the past 20 years due to free agency or a payroll-motivated trade?

Among non-Yankees, there's Ripken as mentioned above, and Edgar Martinez. Ichiro could be a candidate, I suppose. Chipper Jones, too. We'll see.

A 10-year career that begins and ends with one franchise realy is a rare thing.

[ookami7m]

The guy who made me want to play behind the plate. Now both of the players I've bought replica jerseys from are retiring this off season. Farewell Tek. Looking forward to seeing you as a coach

[pokey_reese]

It is going to be really strange to watch the team without either of those guys this year. As someone who is almost 30, they have been playing for my entire adult life, and were the successors to the Mike Greenwell/Dewey teams that I watched as a kid.

It sure seems to me that if the team can't find some kind of position for Tek in the organization, then they aren't trying very hard, if that is indeed what he wants. He may want to just hang out with his family for a while.

No matter what he does next, he will get a lot of thanks from a lot of quarters for everything that he did while he was here.

[jon abbey]

Has any significant player left the Yankees in the past 20 years due to free agency or a payroll-motivated trade?

Pettitte, although that was because NY thought his elbow was going to blow, and they were right.

[ItOnceWasMyLife]

Turn the page.

But, I'll definitely be revisiting his chapters quite often, as they were among the best.

Apart from the playoffs of course, those last two no-hitters were some of the funnest times of my sports life.

Farewell Captain. Your loyalty will always be respected and appreciated.

Edited by ItOnceWasMyLife, 27 February 2012 - 06:30 PM.

[StuckOnYouk]

I know that no-hitters can be fluky but he caught four of them and I don't think that's any accident. Virtually all Sox pitchers preferred throwing him to anyone else. He guided our staff to two WS wins and in his prime was a pretty damn good hitting catcher.

Tek will be missed.

[sfip]

We don't throw at .260 hitters.

Indeed we don't.

[dbn]

Indeed we don't.

http://xfiles.weareh...ages/office.jpg

[dbn]

From lurker soxhop411:

Scott Isaacs ‏ @ScottIsaacs Close
.@LynchieWCVB reporting Varitek may start out as a roving minor lg instructor for #RedSox. If he likes, may move to managing next year #wcvb

i saw people on the main board wondering what his role would be. i didn't see this tweet posted

[Gene Conleys Plane Ticket]

It is going to be really strange to watch the team without either of those guys this year. As someone who is almost 30, they have been playing for my entire adult life, and were the successors to the Mike Greenwell/Dewey teams that I watched as a kid.

As someone who's a little older than that, this is exactly how I felt when Yaz retired. He'd been on the Red Sox since before I was born and it seemed inconceivable to me in 1983 that the team would somehow go on without him. They did, of course, but it took some adjusting on my part. I know he was barely a shadow of his former self those last several years, but it still felt very surreal to watch the team without him

Twenty-three years with one franchise. Those days are long gone...

[CoRP]

Heidi and Varitek both gone...coincidence? I think not.

[staz]

Remarkable career. Always one of the 25.

Crown Papi as the winner of the Idiot Survivor pool!

[Buzzkill Pauley]

Remarkable career. Always one of the 25.

Crown Papi as the winner of the Idiot Survivor pool!

Pretty sure Youks was on the World Series roster, too.

[Red(s)HawksFan]

Remarkable career. Always one of the 25.

Crown Papi as the winner of the Idiot Survivor pool!

Youk is one of the 25 also. Don't crown Papi just yet, even if it's only a technicality.

[David Laurila]

A 10-year career that begins and ends with one franchise realy is a rare thing.

That's very true and given that Tek didn't actually begin his career in the organization, who is the last Red Sox player to meet that criteria? I'm guessing that it's probably Mike Greenwell?

[SocrManiac]

Wakefield hit me. Tek hit me harder. Thank you, Heathcliff- poster child for overpaying at the trading deadline.

[Oil Can Dan]

Yeah, Slocumb for Tek & Lowe - what a steal. Throw in the Pedro trade and it's unbelievable that they didn't give Duke a ring, too.

Thanks for the memories, Tek. Thanks for the glove to ARod's face, for the triple in Game 2 of the '04 world series that I got to see in person, and for the leadership you proved through the years. Your legacy speaks for itself, and it was a pleasure to watch you play during your time.

[staz]

Youk is one of the 25 also. Don't crown Papi just yet, even if it's only a technicality.

Youk. Of course. Duh.

[reggiecleveland]

His homer in the 04 alds has always been underrated IMHO.

[BucketOBalls]

Youk. Of course. Duh.

Well, Ortiz was a starter. Youk had 2 plate appearenses that postseason(He was at 3B for 2 innings in ALDS2 after Robers pinch ran for Mueller in the 7th).

[E5 Yaz]

Red Sox pitcher Jon Lester wrote on his Twitter account: "Can't believe Tek is retiring. Such an HONOR to have him behind my plate all these years! Awesome man & amazing teammate."

[amh03]

I'm going to miss Tek...another one of my favorites...truly a class act...

[gtg807y]

Tek is one of my favorite players of all time, maybe THE favorite. I have a signed picture of myself (at 8 years old) with him while he was at Georgia Tech, and still remember being excited a few years later when I found out he was with the Red Sox organization. Of course, the years since then have been pretty good too. Thanks for everything, Tek.
Edit: the famous picture of him with A-Rod hangs in my living room. A friend gave it to me and planned to get Varitek to sign it, but apparently he refuses to autograph that shot.

Edited by gtg807y, 27 February 2012 - 10:45 PM.

[Alternate34]

The man helped the lengthen the lineup of those great 2003-2004 offenses. Catcher is often a weak offensive spot, but he hit .273/.351/.512 in 2003 and .296/.390/.482 in 2004, OPS+'s of 120 and 121. 2005 and 2007 were both good years for Tek as well. A heartfelt thank you. Those World Series are unlikely without Tek.

[Tudor Fever]

Another very underrated Tek moment was his 10 pitch at bat against Lieber with two out in the fourth inning of Game 6, ending in a single to drive in Millar with the game's first run. Moments later he scored on Bellhorn's homer.

[mabrowndog]

No pithy quotes, no sappy remembrances, no repetitions of the sentiments already expressed herein by others.

The following should suffice...

[Beomoose]

His contributions will never be forgotten

May they cast a bronze plaque of this scene and hang it on the Yawkey Way facade.