Bleacher Report - Articles by Eddie Jackman

NY Yankees Opening Day: The Half Billion Dollar Disaster Unfolds

Eddie Jackman — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 22:40:57 -0400

Opening day was the first chance for baseball fans across the nation to see the NY Yankees off-season strategy come to life on the field doing what it is supposed to do—win ballgames...and in a dominant manner.

The Yankees spent the 2009 off-season doing what they always do—filling their roster with the latest round of high-priced free agents and, by doing so, maintaining the leagues highest payroll at just over $200 million.

Much has been written and analyzed about how much success all of this money would bring the Yankees. As they enter their new $1.5 billion dollar stadium, guaranteed was a return to championship caliber baseball, a return to the playoffs, and the recapture of the AL East crown from either the Red Sox or the (imposter) Tampa Bay Rays.

Over a half billion dollars spent on just four players supposedly guaranteed all of the above...at least that is what we all read all winter long.

But Opening Day wasn't about statistics, projections, or salaries...it was about reality.

For the New York Yankees...reality turned out to be...ugly.

The Yankees No. 1 pitcher CC Sabathia strutted out to the mound in Baltimore for an easy outing against the perennially inept Orioles, but reality set in—and the reality is, he got blown up. Sabathia gave up eight hits, six earned runs, five walks, and registered zero strike outs over 4 1/3 innings leaving with a 12.46 ERA to start the season.

What do you think Brian Cashman was thinking as he watched Sabathia load the bases over and over like he was putting kids on a merry-go-round? I think Sabathia's very large $161 million paycheck stub sitting in Cashman's wallet had to be poking his ass a little bit...

The Yankee bullpen came in and didn't help matters, giving up four runs and three walks.

What about the rest of the half-billion-for-success club?

Alex Rodriguez, the quarter million dollar man himself, sits on the disabled list rehabbing his hip, which doesn't seem to work as well as it did back in those steroid-enhanced "loosey-goosey days."

$180 million dollar first baseman, Mark Teixeira, also started the season with a thud. He went 0-for-4 with a walk, and was the only player in the No. 1-7 lineup to not register a hit against Orioles pitching. He did strand five base-runners though...

Again, this will obviously not be the case every day as Teixeira is a very good player—but all together it has to make Yankees fans a little nervous (and Red Sox fans a little happy) to see the Yanks open the season with a well-rounded 10-5 beating from the Orioles.

Should this trend continue, it obviously wouldn't be the first season where the Yankees spent a ton of cash in the off season only to under perform in the regular season and then the post season (...if they make it). It seems to have become the standard result that stems from this standard equation designed and implemented by the Steinbrenner's many years ago.

But will a Yankee lineup filled with $100-200 million superstars really perform below expectations? Well today was not a good indicator that they will do anything else but that.

If the Yankees are not suffering from a lack of talent, what causes them to struggle?

Could the difference on the field be the dreaded "clubhouse chemistry," which is often talked about as lacking in NY while conversely existing so well in Boston?

All reports are that Red Sox clubhouse chemistry has been rock solid since the end of last season, when the team removed the dread locked 'cancer' in Manny Ramirez as described by Red Sox closer Jonathon Papelbon, and as evidenced by Red Sox GM Theo Epstein, who pointed to the "significant increase" in runs scored per inning for the Red Sox over the last third of the 2008 season.

So is it team chemistry which can't be bought, or do the Yankees just continually pin their hopes on players they overpay for?

Either way, the roughed up Sabathia might be back at his hotel tonight wondering if he should have stayed in the National League which had treated him so well. (He was 6-8 last season in Cleveland before going over to the National League and registering an 11-2 record with a 1.65 ERA for the Milwaukee Brewers)

It's a long season, and while today, Opening Day, is just one day of it, it could be an indicator that the 2009 season may not play out as smoothly in the Bronx as many had predicted.

The Red Sox Think Jason Varitek Is Done...Is He Just Carlton Fisk in Disguise?

Eddie Jackman — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 18:36:10 -0500

It appears that everyone in Red Sox nation, despite our emotional attachment to our beloved Captain, has written off Jason Varitek.

“Come on” everyone says, “it's his 12th season….he's getting old…he’s lost his bat speed…his arm has gone soft…he can’t even throw out old ladies trying to steal second.”

If you scrutinize JUST the last season and one-third of Varitek’s work, then yes, all of the above rings true. But I think it would be prudent to look at other aging catchers and how their career paths have progressed before writing Tek’s eulogy.

For Red Sox fans, we only have to go back to our last great Red Sox catcher: Carlton “Pudge” Fisk.

Author’s Note: If you thought the Red Sox’ last great catcher was RICH GEDMAN, PLEASE stop reading this article now...and PLEASE refrain from reading any more of my stuff in the future…you make me feel dirty...Thank You.

After 1980, Carlton Fisk's 11th season with the team, the Red Sox’ bumbling management partners of Buddy Leroux and Haywood Sullivan failed to offer Fisk a new contract before he became an unrestricted free agent.

Once Fisk entered free agency the Red Sox lost him for good when they would not match the multi-year, big-money contract offer made by Chicago White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf.

But I mean who could blame them? In 1980, Fisk was getting ‘old’ (like Varitek is now...the ‘aging’ catcher) as he was preparing to enter his 12th year behind the plate.

Fading into the distance was Fisk’s heroic blast in the 12th inning of Game Six of the 1975 World Series where a waving and bouncing Fisk seemed to “push” the ball fair…fair enough so that it struck the left field foul pole and won the game.

In 1980, Red Sox ownership believed they were about to see Fisk's numbers decline rapidly in a similar fashion to fellow veteran teammates Butch Hobson, Jerry Remy, and Fred Lynn; all who missed at least 50 games of the 1980 season with injuries.

The team failed to re-sign him despite the fact that concerns over his age and longevity were 100 percent speculative...After all, Fisk had just finished the season hitting his standard .290 and was still beating up Yankees at the rate of one bench-clearing brawl per series.

So was it a smart move to let Carlton Fisk go?

Well fast-forward to 2009…how much would Red Sox Nation be howling to hold onto Varitek if he was hitting an automatic .290 every year?

Ummmm…Right…Yes…Exactly.

So what happened when Fisk went to the White Sox?

They managed how many games he caught, he stayed relatively healthy, and he continued those stellar numbers for three more seasons until 1984 when his batting average plummeted down to .231. In 1985 and then 1986, Fisk continued to flounder at the plate, hitting .238 and then .221 respectively.

So it was in the winter of 1986, after 17 years of service, that most in Chicago and in baseball thought the career of Carlton 'Pudge' Fisk was DONE. (HELLOOOooo...Jason Varitek anyone???)

So here's the point where Red Sox Nation needs to sit up and pay attention...

The White Sox stayed with Fisk in '86 and that decision paid off brilliantly for four more years. The next four years, Fisk's unbelievable 18th, 19th, 20th, and 21st seasons in the major leagues, he hit a VERY respectable .256, .277, .293, and .285.

It wasn't until his 22nd season behind the plate in 1991 (when he hit .241) that injuries caught up to him and began the actual end to his great career. In 1992 and 1993, Fisk’s injuries limited him to part-time duty where he caught just 62 and 25 games, hitting .229 and .189 respectively.

After the 1993 season, after 24 years behind the plate, and at 46 years of age, Carlton Ernest Fisk took off his leg guards and his mask...and retired.

Jason Varitek is only half way there...

OK...so before you say it...I know...I know—Jason Varitek is NOT Carlton Fisk…

But my point is that if you use Fisk's career as a comparison, then Varitek's current 220-game stretch of .220 ball is not a large enough body of work to say with absolute certainty that he is done.

So what has caused Varitek to look like a third grader with Tourette’s syndrome and a learning disability at the plate?

It could be personal stuff. Throughout 2008 and this winter, Varitek has been going through the breakup and dissolution of his marriage. You never know how something like the ending of a marriage can affect a person. We all handle it differently, no matter whose fault it is.

And we all know how much “on-field" baseball success is tied to the player's "off-field" life. A player's emotional control, confidence, and stability all translate to continued excellence on the baseball diamond. It’s the main reason baseball players are such creatures of habit.

So while everyone is shoveling dirt and dropping flowers on top of the baseball coffin of Varitek, keep Carlton Fisk's mid-career slump in mind (and his hitting resurgence that followed).

The ups and downs of Fisk's offensive pedigree are a reason to believe that it is possible that Varitek COULD bounce back from the nasty black hole his bat has taken up residence in.

So in the end: Am I glad the Red Sox seem to be posturing to bring in the team's next franchise catcher soon? Unequivocally...Yes.

But do you think the Red Sox regret letting Carlton Fisk slip away in 1981?

I guarantee you they do...I know I sure as hell do.

So don't give up on Varitek yet Red Sox Nation.

The two-year contract he recently signed gives him a chance to get his groove back...and it gives us a chance to support a man who has done this town justice for 11 years.

Boston Red Sox Prepare To Sign Their Next Franchise Catcher...in 2010

Eddie Jackman — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 17:27:13 -0500

Peter Gammons in his column at ESPN.com and Kevin Rozell in his Bleacher Report column “Could Yanks’ Land Mauer on the Open Market After 2010 Season?” both highlight the possible bidding war that may ignite between the Red Sox and the Yankees when current Minnesota Twins catcher Joe Mauer becomes a free agent in 2010.

The Yanks need to replace their aging catcher, 13-year veteran Jorge Posada. Last season, after shoulder surgery ended Posada's year, the team relied on Jose Molina and also brought in 17 year veteran and soon to be nursing-home resident, Ivan Rodriquez.

The results: Molina hit .216 and Rodriguez hit .219.

Likewise, the Red Sox also need to replace their aging catcher, team captain Jason Varitek. While he may still be an essential part of the clubhouse, Varitek's play has declined considerably. His offensive performance has plummeted (.220 BA since the 2007 All-Star break), and his ability to throw out runners is now mediocre at best.

The first point for any reader interested in this situation is: Who is Joe Mauer? And why would these two clubs want to fight for him?

Joe Mauer is a 25-year old catcher for the Minnesota Twins, who, after five years in the league, is just hitting his stride. He has by some accounts, the tools to become the best catcher in baseball...EVER.

Offensively, Mauer is clearly a top five catcher in the league. A career .317 hitter, last season he hit .328 and drove in 85 runs, claiming his second batting title in three years.

His .328 batting average was the highest of any catcher in the major leagues. Out of the 54 catchers in 2008 who caught more than 50 games, only five hit .300 or better. Among catchers, Mauer finished first in runs scored (98), first in hits (176), first in on-base percentage (.413), fourth in RBI (85), and fourth in at-bats (536).

Defensively, Mauer is just as stellar. In 2008 Mauer’s glove work earned him his first Gold Glove. His .997 fielding percentage was fourth among catchers who caught at least 50 games. Mauer was also in the top five in catching base runners, throwing out 36 percent (29 of 80) of attempted stolen bases.

Compare that stat with Jason Varitek, whose value is often touted based upon his defensive "abilities," who last season only threw out 22 percent (16 of 72) of base runners.

There is one concern though with Mauer: his history of injuries. Although appearing to be a young, solid athlete, Mauer has missed significant playing time due to injury twice so far in his short career. He missed most of his rookie season in 2004 with a knee injury, and missed 40 games in 2007 when he hit the disabled list with a strained left quadriceps. Mauer is also currently recovering from a minor surgical procedure he had a few weeks ago to eliminate a kidney obstruction he has had since childhood.

Despite the injuries, Mauer is clearly a great catcher who would be an impact player for either the Sox or Yankees. But before we can start the speculation, the next question remains: Will the Twins preempt any free-agency bidding and sign Mauer to a contract extension?

Mauer’s performance at the top of the catcher ranks dictates that he will get big money the next time he signs a contract.

So can the Twins afford an expensive multi-year deal? I know they would like to, especially given that the fans in Minnesota love him. Mauer is a hometown hero who grew up nearby and went to the same high school as Twins Hall of Famer Paul Molitor.

But in this economic downturn, depending upon how hard their ownership has been hit, the Twins simply may not be able to afford to keep their young team leader. Minnesota is a small budget team which in 2008 sported the fifth lowest salary in baseball ($57 million).

Compare this to the Yankees and their Major League-leading payroll of just under $210 million, who have continued their lavish spending this offseason, giving huge contracts to CC Sabathia, AJ Burnett, and Mark Teixiera.

In 2008 the Red Sox had the fourth largest payroll at $133 million. This offseason the team took an approach different than the Bronx Bombers and bolstered their roster in a parsimonious manner. The Sox signed veteran pitchers John Smoltz and Brad Penny, and outfielder Rocco Baldelli at Wal-Mart-like prices.

Looking forward, despite large contact extensions for Kevin Youkilis and Dustin Pedroia, the Red Sox appear to sit in the best position to outspend everyone including the Yankees to land someone like Mauer with a long-term contract.

This may explain why the Red Sox are not so interested right now in chasing available catchers like the Ranger’s Jarrod Saltalamacchia. Saltalamacchia, who batted .253 last season and .251 in 2007, would only serve as a modest improvement from Varitek and would come at a much higher cost.

In 2010, Joe Mauer will be a much better value dollar for dollar than someone like Saltalamacchia would be this year.

Will Mauer cost more? Absolutely. Will he be worth every penny? Absolutely.

So, in the next week, the Red Sox will most likely sign Jason Varitek to the bargain-basement $5 million contract they offered him, setting themselves up to stabilize the position long-term in the offseason by adding Joe Mauer.

Of course, the Sox could also potentially acquire Mauer via a midseason trade should the 2009 Twins not perform as expected in the AL Central. If this happens, Twins ownership may decide to offload Mauer and acquire the prospects they need to return to contention in 2010.

So Red Sox Nation, get ready for Theo Epstein and John Henry to possibly pull the trigger and finally outspend the Yankees on a player. In doing so they will signal the arrival of Boston's next great catcher, Joe Mauer.

Brett Favre Has a Comeback Itch...a Return Rash...What Is It?

Eddie Jackman — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 12:04:47 -0400

Pictured Above: Brett Favre describes to reporters the location and symptoms of his latest pig-skin condition. (Photo courtesy of AP Morry Gash)

Bleacher Report’s own Casey Fenton broke the national story that, according to a Wisconsin dermatologist, Brett Favre’s comeback desire “started as an itch and now has slowly spread into a full-blown skin irritation.”

Casey also reported that, “It is unknown as to whether the rash developed from his love and passion for the game he has been playing since childhood, or an insect bite from his family farm.”

Here is Casey’s full report.

As an aspiring physician, I am not convinced as to the etiology of Favre’s skin condition. It could be viral or it could be bacterial—hell, some people think Favre is fun, and some think, for the Packers, he has become a fun-gus.

So to clear things up, let’s break down the top-10 most likely causes of Favre’s itch, rash, irritation…whatever it is:

1) If Favre has a painless ulcer on his own green and yellow "helmeted warrior". It could be TREPONEMA PALLIDUM...otherwise known as SYPHILIS. Left untreated, this disease does cause widespread neurological problems and would be bad for a gentleman trying to throw coordinated end-zone strikes.

2) If Brett reveals that his solitary ulcer is painful...it could be HEMOPHILIS DUCREI...an easier to treat bacterial problem.

3) If Brett's rash is indeed genital, but consists of many ulcers, then we are looking viral—perhaps HERPES SIMPLEX 2—which appears to go away, but then reappears at inopportune moments...which matches the pattern of Brett’s offseason act over the last few years.

4) Brett's itch could be a result of the parasitic infection CHLAMYDIA TRACHOMATIS. Parasites are kind of like sports agents that live in your blood. This can lead to early arthritis and blindness—bad things for the heroic No. 4 and his comeback bid.

5) The Packers are treating Brett like an unwanted wart: He’s not something they really want to deal with, and they are hoping that he will eventually just go away on his own. Genital and skin warts are all various forms of the virus HPV—HUMAN PAPILLOMA VIRUS. There is a vaccine now for HPV, but it's for the cervical form of the virus that afflicts ladies...sorry Brett.

The key thing about all the above causes is that not only do they itch and cause rashes...but they are all sexually transmitted diseases. My guess: Deanna Favre is NOT going to be happy about that little revelation.

Other options?

6) The Packers are treating Brett like there is a “Fungus-Among-Us” and Brett has admitted he has the “itch to play.” That itch, depending upon location, could be the big-time athletic supporter TINEA CRURIS (a.k.a. Jock itch). If Brett is scratching his head trying to figure out what to do next—that would be its cousin TINEA CAPITIS. Both of those can be treated topically...but not tropically...like Brett moving to Tampa Bay.

7) If Brett had chicken pox as a kid, then this could be a return of the virus known as VARICELLA-ZOSTER. Which, when expressed as a rash in adults, is called SHINGLES. The virus will go away and hide deep in Brett's nerve's pathways, only to re-emerge at random intervals...just like Brett’s desire to play football keeps doing.

8) Some people think Brett is acting like an upset baby—well, perhaps he's crying because he has diaper rash. That would be the fungus CANDIDA ALBICANS. You don't want your lady friends to get this one fellas...whoo-hooo...no sir...trust me.

9) Has Brett been mulling his future recently, while pounding a few brewskis from the Jacuzzi on his back porch on his Mississippi farm? His rash could be a case of Hot Tub Folliculitis, which is from PSEUDOMONAS AERUGINOSA, which gives you nasty little necrotic lesions that do have the upside of smelling like grapes.

10) If Brett doesn't wash his hands after he's done reading the latest copy of Farmer’s Almanac while perched on the can...then he could have a nice case of the COXSACKIE A16 Virus, otherwise known as Hand-Foot-Mouth Disease. Which is really Hand-Ass-Mouth Disease, but the CDC is too politically correct to call it that.

Other than that, his skin rash could be due to more common problems like staph, or strep, especially given that Casey Fenton reported that new QB Aaron Rodgers was reported to have staph.

This makes me wonder if Green Bay's dueling QBs have tried to kiss and make up recently, while Aaron was still infectious...oh wait...that's EPSTEIN BAR VIRUS, which causes Mono...nevermind.

Whatever it is, I hope Brett gets a physician involved and gets a timely diagnosis and treatment. This way, both he and the rest of us can put his itches and rashes behind us and finally get to the 2008 NFL season.

Manny Ramirez and the Boston Red Sox: Is the Marriage Finally Over?

Eddie Jackman — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 19:45:54 -0400

The speculation continues to swirl around the future of the Red Sox's All-Star left fielder, Manny Ramirez, and whether the Red Sox will pick up the $20 million option on the slugger for 2009.

Picking up the option gives the Red Sox a pretty dependable 30 HR, 100 RBI performance, which they love. But they also would have to continue to endure his often child-like behavior, which they don’t love.

The 15-year veteran’s frequent annoying and embarrassing antics resemble that of a poorly parented eight-year old that doesn’t know how to behave in public.

The truth about Manny Ramirez is that he's like the Mike Tyson of baseball. He may say and do a lot of entertaining things, both in and out of the ring—but you never know what personally-crafted disaster may be around the corner.

Manny Ramirez is as feared by opponents on the baseball diamond as Tyson was in the ring (until Buster Douglas showed up). The difference is that Manny is surrounded by a very tight, stable, network of family, agents, and team officials who manage his personal negatives and keep both him and us protected.

Tyson was surrounded only by the protective arms of...ummm...Don King.

“Manny being Manny” has evolved into the perfect phrase for the left fielder because no matter what he does, both good and bad, the phrase fits. It’s the fans' way of expressing pride in the good things he does with his bat, and it is also their comfort food during his embarrassing episodes, which are otherwise hard to stomach.

The good is Manny catching a flyball and high-fiving a fan in the stands before bouncing off the wall and turning two. The bad is Manny calling out Sox ownership in front of the world at the All-Star Game or knocking down a senior citizen and team employee because he can’t get his way.

So what will GM Theo Epstein recommend to the Henry-Werner-Lucchino ownership team in terms of exercising Ramirez’s option at the end of the season?

In the world of paying $20 million to an outfielder, there is no doubt that home runs, RBI, slugging, and on-base percentage all talk much louder than any level of goofy or unpredictable personal conduct.

Since Ramirez signed his eight-year, $160 million contract, he has been very dependable at bringing in 30 HR, 100 RBI, and a .300 BA. But could the all-time postseason home-run leader have delivered more?

His poor defensive play in left field is often overlooked...but statistically, he is one of the worst defenders in the game. Offensively, his resume also has some holes, which seem to be getting bigger.

In 2006, Manny hit 100 RBI and 30+ HR, but then purposefully tanked the better part of September when it looked like the Sox were out of it and he refused to play.

Last season, despite being a key to the Sox winning the 2007 World Series, he only hit 20 HR and 88 RBI...his lowest numbers since 1994, which was his first full season in the majors. Many feel that this could be the new baseline for an aging Manny...thus reducing his overall value even more.

These concerns, and Manny’s contract situation, lend credence to the belief that new agent Scott Boras inspired a "Manny-improvement plan" which the slugger appears to have begun implementing this past winter.

The "Reinvent Manny" plan seems to have had several principles:

1) Show you are committed to your team and your individual performance by working hard in the offseason.

2) Have a record year at the plate in 2008 (NOTE: Jason Varitek’s reinvention list obviously didn’t have this one).

3) Clean up your intangibles; make the Red Sox WANT to bring you back.

From the looks of things at midseason, Manny has overall failed in this plan to reinvent himself.

To his credit, Manny was very committed in the offseason, working out under professional supervision and with some hitting and clubhouse video/mental work to reduce his on-field blunders. As a result, offensively he is en route to a very good year at the plate.

But his bonehead errors in the field and his half-heartedness on the basepaths continue.

Manny may be admiring his home runs a little less (and even his flyball outs) and "jogging" a bit more around the base, but on infield ground balls, he continues to disappoint. Manny continues to fail to exert the hustle needed to avoid being thrown out on plays that marginal players make every day.

As for his intangibles, Manny is talking to the media more often and he started working on his interpersonal mojo in Spring Training by reading the bestseller THE SECRET (we know for sure he was at least looking at the pictures).

Minor alarms first went off after Ramirez’ shoving match in the Boston dugout with the always high-strung Kevin Youkilis. Then the line of acceptable behavior was crossed irreversibly on June 30 in Houston when Manny Ramirez knocked down Red Sox's traveling secretary, Jack McCormick, over a large and last minute personal ticket request for that night’s game.

According to conflicting Boston news sources, Ramirez was reportedly fined somewhere between $10-100K by the club over the incident, agreed to attend anger management, and now all supposedly has been righted. But assaulting a senior citizen is the first incident that even the most loyal of fans can’t explain away with "Manny being Manny".

If more incidents like this one occur, the 2004 World Series MVP may leave Red Sox management with no choice but to try and fill his spot in the lineup with someone not as good, but thankfully half as crazy.

Right now, there are several major questions for Boston fans, management, and Manny himself:

1) Does David Ortiz come back and restore the Ortiz-Ramirez combo that has wreaked havoc on pitchers across the American League? A healthy and hot Ortiz could change the equation a bit when it comes to Manny.

2) Will Manny continue his current strong offensive numbers and possibly lead the Red Sox to victory again in the World Series? If the Red Sox ride Manny to another championship, it may be tougher for them to not exercise his $20M option.

3) Most importantly, can the Red Sox find another outfielder on the free-agent market that will give them 30 HR, 100 RBI, and a better glove in left field for $20 million a year?

They also have to replace a postseason force in Ramirez, who most recently hit .348 in the World Series with four HR and 16 RBI in four games.

The list right now for that task seems both thin and complicated. Cincinnati’s Adam Dunn, Colorado’s Matt Holliday, Philadelphia’s Pat Burrell, or Atlanta’s Mark Teixeira are players that have been discussed as possible candidates.

4) Instead of going outside for help, do the Red Sox rely on their current non-Manny outfield package of Coco Crisp, Jacoby Ellsbury, and J.D. Drew, with additional help from youngster Brandon Moss?

5) Finally, if Manny’s not valuable enough for the Red Sox to exercise the one-year option on him...do the Red Sox really want to risk facing him 20 times a year as a Yankee?

As the season plays out, the answers to those questions will help determine whether, in 2009, Red Sox fans will find "Manny being Manny"...somewhere else.

Red Sox—Yankees...Is the rivalry back on?

Eddie Jackman — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 14:55:53 -0400

After Jonathon Papelbon's comments before the All-Star game about closing the game were inappropriately snipped and splashed on the back page of the NY Post, the Red Sox closer "got the business" last night in the All-Star game from the crowd.

In fact, all the Sox players were resoundingly booed last night by the All-Star crowd which was pure Yankee-faithful.

This sequence of events has led some to believe that the upcoming series in both teams ballparks are going to see some retribution amongst the players for the inappropriate treatment during the All-Star game.

As much as I love a good bench clearing brawl, the facts lead me to believe otherwise.

During batting and fielding practice, during the Home Run derby, in the dugout, and on the field during the game the players from both teams displayed nothing but friendliness and professional admiration for one another.

By winning two World Series in the past four years, the Red Sox players have been relieved of 86 years of built up fan angst they were carrying around on their shoulders with them.

Boston pro athletes have accumulated six titles in seven years—so it is obvious that everyone is fat and happy right now in Beantown.

Conversely, the Yankees haven't won a world series in a while and have dumped the "We are the unbeatable kings of the baseball world" crap that used to be the big ego maniacal chip on their shoulders.

And the players see each other 18-plus times a year now with the current division schedule...so they know each other better. So, as far as the players are concerned the tension has clearly loosened up between the two teams.

But this cooling off of the Red Sox—Yankee rivalry in the last couple of seasons has done nothing more than piss of each teams fan-base as we obviously still hate one another.

On the other hand, a lot of Boston fans have complained that its just too hard to hate the Yankees 18 times a year. Some feel the need to be able to concentrate our venom to less frequent yet more vitriolic episodes...like the good old days.

So recent All-Star off field static may cause the fans in New York and Boston to be juiced a bit for the upcoming series' in each park, but I don't think we're going to see Varitek feeding any Yankees with a leather spoon again.

I am not saying the rivalry can't get juiced up if the division stays tight as the season stretches toward completion...I mean the Yankees do still have A-Rod.

Throw in a few more un-classy acts by A-Rod such as shouting "MINE" on the base paths as a third basemen tries to catch a fly ball, or A-Rod swatting with his Hamburger helper mitt at a first baseman tagging him out...

Or maybe a Yankee base runner clearly sliding away from the bag with his spikes knee high towards a second baseman trying to turn a double play...

Or maybe throw in some skittish Red Sox pitchers dinging multiple Yankees on purpose to brush them off the plate.

If that stuff happens: All bets are off.

Jason Varitek: The Boston Red Sox's .218-Hitting All Star

Eddie Jackman — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 17:19:29 -0400

There is a healthy flow of Boston-sports haters out there that have made clear their vitriol about the number of Red Sox representatives at this year’s All-Star Game.

That’s what winning two of the last four World Series, in addition to three Super Bowls for the Patriots, and an NBA championship for the Celtics, in the last seven years will do.

Luckily, the fans inside Boston love the situation as much as the throngs of fans south of Connecticut are unhappy about it.

Given this situation, the last two weeks have seen a plethora of ire over the Red Sox's catcher, and team captain, Jason Varitek's selection to the All-Star game as a reserve for the American League team.

Everyone is rolling over his abysmal .218 batting average…which is the lowest average out of any starter on the Red Sox, never mind where it ranks in the AL.

What disappoints me with the current commentary from mainstream media and bloggers on this topic is that the All-Star selection for catchers should be such a different conversation than that for any other fielder in the game.

What also amazes me is Varitek’s selection by his peers is being written off as purely a “popularity contest.” So a selection from among hundreds of his peers stretched across dozens of other teams in other cities can be attributed to popularity?

I think this argument really disenfranchises the pride and respect that baseball players and other pro athletes have for their profession and for themselves as a group.

I believe the players of Major League Baseball collectively understand the game and the value a player brings to it more than the homers who sit on their computer and vote 25,000 times for the guy on their team that they have a man crush on and want to see on the All-Star team.

I believe the AL players got it right. Let’s look at what I believe led the majority of them to conclude that Varitek was one of the best catchers in the AL this season.

Yes, Jason Varitek is going to the All-Star Game batting .218—the third lowest batting average for a catcher of all AL teams, ahead of only Kenji Johjima and Jeff Mathis. I will concede that Varitek's offensive performance this season has been less than stellar…definitely less than All-Star caliber.

Besides his low average (his career average is only .264), you could also look at Varitek's caught stealing numbers and other fielding stats, which put him middle of the pack in the AL among catchers.

So is his selection an inappropriate collision of reality and fantasy?

If the game was called the All-Offensive-Star Game then yes, it would be. But the catcher touches the ball every pitch for nine innings, when his team is on the field—and he is a director of that action—calling the pitches and coaching his pitchers through pitch-by-pitch scenarios as they arise.

The catcher by far has more impact on the fielding-half of his team’s performance every game than any other player on the roster. Recent evidence reminds us that Varitek is in a "League of His Own" in being able to run that operation better than anyone.

And here's where many of you may pull the fire alarm. Because of this evidence, Varitek may be one of the best catchers ever. You read that right. Ever.

What evidence?

Well out of the hundreds of starting pitchers who have stepped on the rubber since the last All-Star Game, there have been three pitchers to throw no-hitters in that span.

Two of those three no-hitters have been not only at the hand of Boston Red Sox pitchers—but both have been thrown by mere kids: Clay Buchholtz last September and Jon Lester this May.

It is reasonable to say that in a given baseball game, the catcher has probably a 20 to 40 percent effect on the outcome of the pitching performance. The guy on the mound still has to throw the pitches, he is the star actor, but the catcher is the director, the battle captain, the guy the team expects to know every batter: his tendencies, weaknesses, situational hitting tendencies, etc.

That guy has to prepare like no other player prepares. More importantly, he has to be able to teach and translate that knowledge to a diverse group of pitchers and turn that communal knowledge into a pitching plan. That's what they pay catchers for...not for hitting.

But Varitek called every pitch for two youngsters (both with undeniably great individual stuff) who went nine innings and did the unimaginable as far as baseball is concerned.

Are Buchholtz and Lester’s no hitter’s isolated incidences of great pitching performances for the Red Sox?

Last year, Curt Schilling had his first no hitter almost locked up—ninth inning, two outs, and Shannon Stewart strutting up to bat for the last out...and Schilling shook off Varitek's call and blew it.

Schilling threw a fastball when Varitek knew that Stewart was swinging at a first pitch fastball...because that’s what Schilling threw to the previous two batters.

Schilling said, "I was sure he was taking...Tek was sure he was swinging. I was wrong...and I get a big 'What if?' for the rest of my life."

Varitek deserved that no-hitter. Schill blew it.

Let's go back a bit further.

Remember Pedro Martinez, that guy who grew up as a pitcher in Fenway Park? Pedro Martinez also shook off Varitek in 2000 against the Rays and broke up his no hitter in the ninth.

Varitek’s other no hitters: Hideo Nomo’s April 2001 debut performance for the BoSox and Derek Lowe in 2002. See the pattern?

So translate the two latest no hitters, and apply Varitek’s work to Boston's outstanding pitching success this season and last October's postseason...anyone remember last October and the unbeatable Rockies?

Varitek's recent dominance and mastery behind the plate is so hard to overlook you have to be derelict to do so.

Bottom line: Managers and owners look for a catcher who can catch and call games pitch by pitch, every day against every team. So shouldn't that factor into All-Star criteria for catchers before BA comes into the argument?

Catchers don't hit. Most teams have their catchers near the bottom of the batting order because they typically are the weakest guy with the bat in the lineup. See the AL+NL Batting orders for the upcoming All-Star game where the catchers are batting eighth (Mauer .322) and 9th (Soto .288) respectively.

So why aren't more people applying that criteria when they debate catcher selections for the All-Star Game? Is it ignorance or just laziness?

That, my friends, is a separate column, but I think we can dispense with convicting Varitek as an imposter at the All-Star Game, based solely on his embarrassing batting average.

Jason Varitek has done, behind the plate, what no other catcher in the league has come close to doing since the last All-Star Game. And as succinctly noted by the NY Times on May 21, “Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek has caught four no-hitters, more than anyone in baseball history.”

You may not like this rationale, but it is the very reason why even if Varitek doesn't climb out of his season-long slump—the Red Sox will still most likely sign him to a two-year contract in the offseason and pay him another $8-10 million to bat an ugly .235 for them.

An ugly .235 that may include one or two more no hitters to add to Varitek's Cooperstown résumé. I will not argue that right now, when Varitek is beside the plate, he is not nearly as proficient as when he is crouched behind it. But Varitek is in no way playing in the Midsummer Classic because of his bat, and all of the players that voted for him know that.