The Red Sox spring training is officially underway as the pitchers and catchers reported and for the first time in fifteen years, captain Jason Varitek is absent from the workouts. With a minor league deal on the table for Varitek to come to camp and compete for a spot, it appears as though the wily old veteran will hang up his cleats, joining teammate Tim Wakefield in the retirement category.
Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald tweeted that Bobby Valentine wasn’t expecting Varitek in camp today and Gordon Edes of ESPN Boston also via Twitter mentioned that Valentine hasn’t been told to get the captain’s uniform ready. Meaning we may have seen the last of #33 in a Red Sox uniform.
We learnt last week that Varitek was likely going to decide to retire although his agent, Scott Boras, won’t comment one way or the other.
Reaction is already pouring in from teammates on the thought of not having their captain in the midst of the spring activity. Jarrod Saltalamacchia who has learnt first hand from Varitek for the past two seasons appears ready to take over the leadership role behind the plate, but is quick to point out the valuable lessons the captain has passed on.
“He signed a jersey for me, and on it it said, ‘catch with pride.’ You take that and that’s what he’s done his whole career and I’m going to do the same.” – courtesy of Mike Petraglia WEEI.com.
So as we get set for the split squad games and the exhibition games against Northeastern and Boston College we will turn our attention to which players are standing out early on in the spring. But in the back of our minds we will be curiously awaiting that decision from our captain as to whether or not he’ll give it one more shot or ride off into the sunset and into his much deserved place in Red Sox history.
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