Don't Let Tek Go

Unfortunately I am a fan that roots with my heart and not with my mind. I didn't want to see Pedro go after the '04 season, obviously a good move. I didn't want to see the Pats let Willie McGinest go, obviously a good move. So, now that Jason Varitek has filed for free agency and the Red Sox only have a 15-day window to sign him, I don't want him to go, but I might be thinking with my heart again.

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Tek's numbers this season were obviously terrible and his post season production was less then stellar, but there's just something about him that I think is the glue to the Boston Red Sox. I don't think Tek is a guy you can expect to be an offensive powerhouse, but he certainly is a guy you can rely on to keep your pitchers strong through seven innings and call an incredible game behind the plate.So, what is Sir Theo to do? I think I know what he'll do, he's probably going to let Tek go. I don't think after the season he had that the Red Sox could even justify signing him, but they should. The things Tek brings to the organization will never show up on a stat sheet, but they are the invaluable pieces to us putting together another run at a title in '09 and beyond.

Another thing to keep in mind is that Tek got divorced this year and had a tough year personally. Don't think that affected him on the field? Think again. Even Curt Schilling referenced it in an interview with EEI earlier this year. Tek had a tough year. Let's give him the benefit of the doubt and resign him. If he gets hurt, we've always got Kevin Cash!! Hahaha!!

adam@wickedpissadude.com

Labels: Boston Red Sox, Jason Varitek, Pedro Martinez, Theo Epstein, Willie McGinest