How much of a rebound can we expect from Varitek?

EnderSwarm · 11-24-2006, 04:45 AM

Varitek's 2006 stats, courtesy of ESPN.com

Last year he started off the season hurt (bruised buttocks or something like that), played through other injuries that popped up, and then finally went down just after the trading deadline. He never really got going with the bat. The previous three years saw Varitek put up some pretty good numbers overall.

Can we reasonably expect a 2003-2005-like season from Varitek in 2007, or is this the beginning of his decline? He's not exactly getting any younger, and catchers age quickly performance-wise. Do we need to expect a 2003-2005-like season from Varitek in 2007 in order to have a fluid offense?

AutomatedTeller · 11-24-2006, 09:02 AM

In my mind, it depends. If the Sox want Tek to bat 5th, then yes - the Sox need a peak-type season from him. If he's going to bat 7th or lower, then no.

Varitek is a little different from many catchers - he got a late start to his career, and I'm not sure he's in a decline phase. Of course, as Ender points out, he's not young, so we have to worry some.

I guess it depends on 3 questions:

Can Coco rebound?
Who is playing short?
Can Pedroia hit while playing 2B?

If the answers to these are no, Cora, and no - then the Sox need Tek to be at top form. I think it's likely that 1 of those positions won't work out as the Sox hope, so Tek had better be at least good.

stormshadow · 11-24-2006, 10:00 AM

The problem with Varitek is two fold. A) he cant catch the knuckleball, so they need a second C just for that nevermind giving Jason a rest and B) he is gettting older. He is reaching the age where most catchers start to slow down. I really expect that the Sox will look very serioulsy into another C in the very near future.

11-24-2006, 04:45 AM	#1 (permalink)
EnderSwarm Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 15	How much of a rebound can we expect from Varitek? Varitek's 2006 stats, courtesy of ESPN.com Last year he started off the season hurt (bruised buttocks or something like that), played through other injuries that popped up, and then finally went down just after the trading deadline. He never really got going with the bat. The previous three years saw Varitek put up some pretty good numbers overall. Can we reasonably expect a 2003-2005-like season from Varitek in 2007, or is this the beginning of his decline? He's not exactly getting any younger, and catchers age quickly performance-wise. Do we need to expect a 2003-2005-like season from Varitek in 2007 in order to have a fluid offense? Last edited by EnderSwarm; 11-24-2006 at 04:48 AM.

11-24-2006, 10:00 AM	#3 (permalink)
stormshadow Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 22	The problem with Varitek is two fold. A) he cant catch the knuckleball, so they need a second C just for that nevermind giving Jason a rest and B) he is gettting older. He is reaching the age where most catchers start to slow down. I really expect that the Sox will look very serioulsy into another C in the very near future. __________________ 2001, 2003 and 2004 SB Champs! Your New England Patriots

11-24-2006, 09:02 AM	#2 (permalink)
AutomatedTeller Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 545	In my mind, it depends. If the Sox want Tek to bat 5th, then yes - the Sox need a peak-type season from him. If he's going to bat 7th or lower, then no. Varitek is a little different from many catchers - he got a late start to his career, and I'm not sure he's in a decline phase. Of course, as Ender points out, he's not young, so we have to worry some. I guess it depends on 3 questions: Can Coco rebound? Who is playing short? Can Pedroia hit while playing 2B? If the answers to these are no, Cora, and no - then the Sox need Tek to be at top form. I think it's likely that 1 of those positions won't work out as the Sox hope, so Tek had better be at least good.