Captain Jason Varitek: Why It Wasn't Just a Historic Night For Jon Lester

There is good reason why catcher Jason Varitek is captain of one of the finest professional sports franchises in the world. He works hard, but more importantly, he makes quality decisions.

You sure as hell have to make wonderful spot-on decisions for nine innings straight to call a no-hitter.  But to catch four of them?  That shows you how incredibly well Varitek can read his pitcher's mind. 

I am not sure if Varitek picks the pitcher's brain before the game, but to know the correct sign to throw down each and every time for over 100 pitches in a row, now that takes some serious talent.

First it was Hideo "Tornado" Nomo in 2001, then Derek Lowe a year later, then young prospect Clay Buchholz in 2007, and now the cancer-surviving pitcher Jon Lester. 

That's one heck of a ride for Jason Varitek.  The elation is still there, I'm sure, but wow, he's making this a habit.   As one of the best all-around catchers in the majors, fans have known who he is for quite some time, but now his name will be etched in history as the only catcher to call four no-hitters.

This feat is absolutely remarkable. Sure, the respective pitcher has to hit his spots, but to know the tendencies of each hitter coming to the dish takes intelligence. 

Varitek and Red Sox video coordinator Billy Broadbent must have gotten to be wonderful friends over the years.  Varitek has clearly been working hard in the video room studying his opposition.  To downsize his most recent no-hitter call as merely being against the Kansas City Royals is a sham.

Not allowing a hit for nine innings against any major league team is crazy talk.

In writing this article, the last thing I wanted to do was take away from the real history of tonight: Jon Lester throwing a no-hitter.  To come out and throw a no-hitter just a year removed from cancer is unthinkable.  But Lester did it.

To think the no-hitter is his third best accomplishment in just his third year in the pros, that's mind-blowing. Yeah, cancer is an obvious far-and-away first, followed by a win in the clinching game of the World Series.

But for Varitek to be involved in four no-hitters still leaves me in utter awe.  I'm sorry, Jon Lester, your no-hitter will sink in at some point, but right now it's hard for me to not think this one goes to Varitek.