As bad as Varitek is at the plate, no way should he be benched for Kevin Cash. Maybe if you had someone like Soto on the team waiting for his chance, or any young stud catcher, but Cash is just as brutal and doesn't bring the leadership and experience that Tek brings.
Varitek should be starting, but he should also be bunting anytime he comes up with a runner on with less than two outs. He should also always be pinch hit for in key situations.
Varitek should be starting, but he should also be bunting anytime he comes up with a runner on with less than two outs. He should also always be pinch hit for in key situations.
This aspect is so overstated.
Does he show leadership by not blocking the plate in the 2nd inning, allowing Gimabi to score when Drew's throw beat the runner by 5 feet? How about that great leadership he's provided by going 12 for his last 91 at the plate? He's hitting .242 and slugging .401 over the past 2.5 seasons. That's worse than guys like Rod Barajas (.254/.419) and Gregg Zaun (.257/.429) over the same stretch. That's right, the Toronto Blue Jays have 2 catchers on their current roster who have been more productive than Varitek over the past 3 seasons. Fuck leadership. The guy sucks, period.
How about the stuff that isn't on the stat sheets? He is one of the best at calling games behind the plate, and don't underrate that aspect of the game.
Barajas and Zaun and both better hitters than both Tek and Cash, so I don't get your point there.
Does Varitek suck lately? Yes he does. Would they be better off with Cash starting? No.
Barajas and Zaun and both better hitters than both Tek and Cash, so I don't get your point there.
Does Varitek suck lately? Yes he does. Would they be better off with Cash starting? No.
Blah, blah, blah.
Every Varitek supporter will say this, but it's completely subjective. Does he really call a better game than the majority of catchers in baseball? His reputation in this regard is entirely bolstered by the fact he's the captain and been a member of such a prominent team for so long.
One more thing -- he's thrown out 8/43 (18.6%) runners this season, near the bottom of the league.
