Can I ask: what proof is there (that is “apparent” to Chad Finn) that Tek, at this point, is “important” to the pitcher? Especially since he can no longer throw AT ALL, and of late has even looked slow blocking pitches, leading to passed balls and wild pitches that would never have occurred even a year ago. The sad fact is that the Sox would be better on the field with Kotteras or even Dusty Brown as their back-up catcher. Not sure about Wedge…

Hopefully Beckett can get over his need for a safety blanket behind the plate as Varitek will not be there next year and truly should not be there for the post-season.  While I appreciate the chemistry argument and his preference for keeping his routine as intact as possible - Varitek is a greater liability to the team than he is an asset.  For the past several seasons he was borderline break-even on the liability (lack of hitting) and asset (calling a game/relationship with pitchers) ratio but this season his defense, as Jack mentioned, has clearly shifted onto the liability side of the ledger. 

Playoff baseball is won in large part by exploiting the other teams weaknesses and Anaheim lose to play small ball and must be chomping at the bit to face the Red Sox in the ALDS.  While Martinez may not throw out many more runners than Varitek he certainly brings many more offensive assets to help off-set his liabilities.  Lowell at third, Youk at first and Martinez behind the plate give the Sox their best lineup while minimizing the defensive liabilities.  Anaheim will still run wild on Boston but hopefully the better offensive lineup allows Boston to win games by scoring more than five runs.

Maybe Cleveland can interview both Farrell and Varitek this weekend as potential manager and coach for the Tribe next year.

Yes, with Varitek’s pitch calling abilities, you’d never have seen the great seasons that the Red Sox enjoyed from Matsuzaka, Brad Penny, John Smoltz, Junichi Tazawa, Justin Masterson, Paul Byrd, and… well… pretty much anyone not named Lester or Beckett. And then there’s Buchholz, who has specifically NOT thrown to Varitek since his return to the majors, though he did last year when he was posting an ERA of approximately elventy-billion.

Varitek’s pitch calling ability is the stuff of myth, legend, and outright fiction. And as of right now, he can’t do ANYTHING. Can’t hit, can’t throw, can’t block pitches, can’t run. If I forgot something, just assume that he can’t do it. There’s an argument to be made that he is the worst player in the majors who still gets regular playing time. And he’ll make the postseason roster because, hey, he’s the CAPTAIN.