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| Height: 6-2
Weight: 230
Throws: R
Bats: S Born: Apr 11, 1972, Rochester, MI Contract: Signed through 2008. |
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| Profile | Player News | Articles | Split Stats | Game Log | Eligibility | Player Comparison |
| 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 |
| Player Notes |
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August 29, 2008 There is a good chance Jason Varitek will return to the Red Sox next year, despite his horrendous year offensively, according to the Boston Globe. Our View:Varitek has a .225 average and .316 batting average, with over 100 strikeouts. He is clearly not someone fantasy owners should have on their rosters. |
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August 23, 2008 Jason Varitek has scored 157 runs as a catcher with Boston and is only one shy of Carlton Fisk's team record, according to the Boston Globe. Our View:Varitek has scored five runs over his last three games, with three coming Friday at Toronto. |
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August 19, 2008 Jason Varitek socked his 10th homer of the season on Tuesday night. The shot is remarkable because Varitek has become the first Red Sox catcher to reach double-digit home runs in nine seasons, the Boston Globe reports. Our View:We also have to believe that Varitek holds the Red Sox record for catcher homers on Thursdays when there is a full moon. |
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August 17, 2008 Jason Varitek ended an 0-for-15 streak with a single against the Blue Jays Saturday, according to the Boston Globe. Our View:The struggling catcher is 5-for-33 (.152) in his last 11 games, and 32-for-199 (.161) in his last 62 games. |
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August 10, 2008 Jason Varitek was dropped to ninth in the batting order against Chicago Saturday, according to the Boston Globe. Manager Terry Francona noted that the move had nothing to do with the veteran catcher's slumping over the last two months. Our View:Varitek is batting just .170 (31-for-182) with two home runs over his last 56 games, but is currently on a four-game hitting streak, and went 1-for-4 with a run scored from the ninth spot in Saturday's win. |
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July 15, 2008 Jason Varitek said the irritation in his right eye has cleared up considerably, according to the Boston Globe. His eye was nearly swollen shut Sunday but reportedly looked normal Monday. Our View:He should be fine when play resumes after the break, but he remains a poor fantasy option, as he holds a .218 batting average with only 28 RBI and 20 runs scored over 78 games. |
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July 10, 2008 Jason Varitek got out of a 6-for-63 slump by going 2-for-4 with an RBI, according to the Boston Globe. Our View:Regardless of his All-Star berth, Varitek is now hitting just .220, and his OPS is a meager .660. There is no reason for him to be on a fantasy roster of any kind. |
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July 8, 2008 Jason Varitek is not in Tuesday's starting lineup, according to the Providence Journal. Kevin Cash will start in his place. Our View:Over his last 35 games, Varitek is hitting a meager .128. His extended slump should force fantasy owners to look for younger more productive players at the position. |
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July 3, 2008 Jason Varitek is slumping again. He is hitless in his last 17 at-bats and last night he went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts. According to the Boston Herald, he twice failed on hit-and-run attempts in the ninth inning, effectively snuffing out a potential game-tying rally. Our View:Varitek has three hits in his last 48 at-bats to go with 16 whiffs. His average is down to .216 and it may be time for the Sox to start looking for an alternative to their 36 year old catcher. Currently, he is irrelevant in most fantasy leagues. |
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June 25, 2008 Jason Varitek is 2-for-8 in his last two games after breaking an 0-for-24 slump, the worst of his career, reports the Boston Globe. Our View:A switch-hitter, Varitek is hitting .293 as a righty but just .216 left-handed. Unfortunately, 167 of his 209 at-bats have come from the left side of the plate, and he is hitting .230 on the season as a result. |
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June 15, 2008 Jason Varitek returned to the starting lineup after missing three games to strep throat. Our View:Varitek was available as a pinch-hitter and emergency catcher. |
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June 13, 2008 Catcher Jason Varitek, suffering from a case of strep throat, won't start tonight but will serve as the emergency catcher backing up Kevin Cash, notes the Providence Journal. Varitek isn't expected to start before Sunday, at the earliest. Our View:As usual, Cash will catch Tim Wakefield who starts on Saturday, so Varitek won't return to the starting lineup until Sunday, if then. |
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June 12, 2008 Jason Varitek will miss the Red Sox game on Thursday night because of strep throat, according to the Boston Herald. Our View:Kevin Cash, who has served as the personal caddy to knuckler Tim Wakefield, figures to play until Varitek is healthy enough to make a go of it. |
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June 2, 2008 Jason Varitek will sit out tonight's game against the Orioles, according to MLB.com. Our View:Manager Terry Francona wants to give the veteran team captain a night off, and Kevin Cash will start at catcher. Varitek had three hits in his last game on May 31. |
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May 22, 2008 The Red Sox have announced catcher Jason Varitek will get another day of rest on Friday, according to CBSSports.com. Our View:Varitek had Thursday off as well as manager Terry Francona just wants to give the team camptain a rest. Kevin Cash will get the start behind the plate. |
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May 20, 2008 According to the Royals team website, Jose Guillen said no player or team wants a no-hitter pitched against them, but he was shining when talking about those involved. "You never want to see a no-hitter go against you like that, but, unfortunately, that situation happened," Guillen said. "I give a lot of credit to the pitcher, but most of the credit I give to Jason Varitek ." Our View:Varitek, who caught Lester's no-hitter on Monday night, became the first in history to catch four no-hitters in his career. He was behind the plate for Clay Buchholz's no-hitter last September, for Derek Lowe's in '02 and for Hideo Nomo's in '01. |
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May 19, 2008 Jason Varitek hit his fifth home run of the year for the Red Sox as he has every so quietly pushed his season average up to .290. Our View:With two hits tonight, Varitek is hitting .360 in May as he has really turned around what was a terribly slow start to the season. It would be a shock to see Varitek maintain this average, but that doesn't mean he is devoid of value in mixed leagues. |
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May 14, 2008 Jason Varitek hit his fourth home run of the season on Wednesday afternoon but it wasn't enough as Boston lost 6-3 to division rival Baltimore. Our View:Varitek has seen action 34 times this year. The left-handed batter has 15 RBI and 10 runs scored in 110 at bats. |
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May 6, 2008 Jason Varitek will ride the pine tonight against the Tigers, according to the Boston Globe. Kevin Cash will start at catcher, and bat eighth against lefty Nate Robertson. Our View:Varitek is hitting .258 with three homers and 11 RBI over 27 games, and the Red Sox can afford to give the 35-year old rest on the bench. |
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April 25, 2008 The Providence Journal reports that Boston manager Terry Francona gave his flu report on Friday afternoon, and everyone in the clubhouse appears to be improving. The Red Sox skipper said catcher Jason Varitek spent Thursday’s game at Fenway in the bullpen and “tolerated” it. Our View:Varitek was available to pinch hit on Thursday and is expected to fill that same role tonight with Tim Wakefield on the mound. According to the report, Varitek looks beat up from the bug and will probably need a couple days to fully recuperate. |
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April 25, 2008 Jason Varitek, who has been slowed by a bout with the flu, was available to pinch-hit if needed last night against the Angels, according to The Boston Herald. Varitek hopes to return to action this weekend against the Rays. Our View:Varitek struck out 14 times over 61 at-bats, but still generated three homers and six runs. The veteran catcher will be a welcome addition back to the Red Sox, as well as your fantasy teams. |
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April 23, 2008 Jason Varitek has missed the last three games due to flu-like symptoms, and won't likely start at catcher on Wednesday, according to MLB.com. Our View:Kevin Cash should make another start at catcher if Varitek cannot go. Varitek is hitting .262 over 61 at-bats with three homers, and Cash struck out three times against the Angels on Tuesday. Cash is not a worthy substitute. |
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April 22, 2008 Jason Varitek is scheduled to go home prior to Tuesday's game and rest, the Boston Globe reports. He has been dealing with the flu. Kevin Cash is listed as the starter. Our View:We imagine Varitek will be back within the next day or two. Fantasy owners in daily transaction leagues can feel free to use Cash, who isn't nearly as money as his surname would suggest. |
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April 22, 2008 Jason Varitek, who is dealing with the flu, could sit out Tuesday's game against the Angels, according to The Boston Herald. Manager Terry Francona commented that he may need another day of rest. Kevin Cash would make another start at catcher if needed. Our View:Varitek should be back soon, and fantasy owners shouldn't be concerned. |
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April 21, 2008 Jason Varitek will not start on Monday against the Rangers because he is dealing with the flu, the Boston Globe confirms. Kevin Cash will start in his place. Our View:The captain is presumably day-to-day, and most fantasy owners will still want to start him this week. |
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April 20, 2008 Jason Varitek will sit on Sunday in favor of Kevin Cash, according to the Providence Journal. Varitek has notably struck out 14 times over 61 at-bats so far. Our View:The veteran should benefit from a day off. Adjust your lineups accordingly. |
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April 16, 2008 Jason Varitek has not fared well against Chien-Ming Wang, tonight's opposing hurler for New York, according to MLB.com. Varitek only registered one hit over 19 career at-bats against Wang, who is currently 3-0 with a 1.23 ERA. Our View:Varitek is worth sitting tonight if you have a more favorable option at the position. |
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April 2, 2008 Catcher Jason Varitek went 2-for-4 today in Boston's 5-0 romp over the Oakland A's, hitting a homer in the ninth of Huston Street to complete the fun. Varitek finished with two runs scored, now touting a batting average of .250. |
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March 30, 2008 Jason Varitek continues to get drafted before his true value. The veteran catcher will enter the regular season with declining numbers across the board. As well, the left-handed hitter struck out in 9 of his last 11 spring at-bats. There are too many options outside of Varitek that offer fantasy owners more upside. At some point managers need to put the catcher's reputation on hold. |
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March 26, 2008 Jason Varitek went 0-for-4 for the second straight game against Oakland (with three more strikeouts) and remains hitless in the new season. Varitek only hit .255 in 2007 and his power numbers continue to decline, so hopefully he still has a little left in the tank. |
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March 25, 2008 Jason Varitek had a tough day at the plate in the Red Sox season opener against Oakland as he went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts. That was a brutal start from one of the league's finest catchers. |
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March 19, 2008 The Red Sox and major league baseball have ended a brief dispute over staff stipends, and the two-game series in Japan will happen. The Red Sox players had planned to boycott the trip. "They’re the basis of what takes care of us," Jason Varitek explains to the AP about the coaches and training staff. |