Today is Jason Varitek's thirty-sixth birthday. There is no doubt that he is vital to this team-witness the monumental collapse of 2006 when he was out with a bum knee for proof. Josh Beckett needed to learn to trust 'Tek when he first arrived. You feel as if, given the opportunity, he is capable of steering the S.S. Boston Red Sox safely to port every time. There's no worry with Jason Varitek: He's got everything under control.
What's more, he seems like a quiet, stoic, decent human being both between the lines and outside of them. He comes to the defense of his pitchers both physically (saving Bronson from Rodriguez) and verbally/emotionally (steadfastly defending Jon Lester's performance from two nights ago.) He gave out autographs for Halloween. He's always been closed off emotionally-hard to get a good read on-but more recently, he's shown a little bit of a goofy side; suggesting to Pedroia that he look into Nutrisystem after the dance competition, pranking the Josten's salesguy.
He's not much of a hitter and he started off the season with a mini-slump (I don't really think you can call it a slump if it's only a couple of games) but tore out of the gates up in Toronto. Hopefully, he can have a fabulous 2008.
Any way. Many happy and healthy returns to Jason Varitek.
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