Question About Varitek

[savage1]

Hopefully this will be answered and discussed rationally and without the controversy we have seen in some the other threads.
Anyways here goes:
We all know Varitek is in a state of decline-ok lets take that as a given.
My question is (and something I have never been able to figure out) is why is it that Varitek cannot handle Tim Wakefield's knuckleball, meaning someone else needs to catch on days when he pitches.
The two have played together for many years; Varitek was a great catcher at one time, and I am curious as to why simply Tek's practicing catching Wake's knuckler 100 times a day under simulated game conditions would not allow him to finally be able to catch it during real game conditions?
I would love to hear opinions on this especially from anyone who has ever caught the knuckleball on the high school or higher level and also from anyone who can actually throw one or has thrown one.
The other part of the question is that if you have ever caught on the high school or higher level(whether you have caught a knuckler or not), do you think YOU could sucessfully catch Wakefield's knuckleball if you practiced, practiced and practiced?
For the sake of this argument, lets also assume that Varitek is young and strong and doesn't need an occasional day of rest anyways when Wake pitches, meaning it is thus no big deal that he can't catch the knuckler and/or never was able to learn how to catch it.

[BillMill71]

Who said he can't handle it? You are closer to this team then any one so I am not sure this was the published case.

I spoke to my friend who caught minors and he always understood the reasons the Red Sox did this (as well as his "take") were as follows:

1) The is no time to take 100 simulated game condition pitches with the MLB schedule and travel, therefore the only time to do this would be spring training and this time was better spent having Varitek handle all pitchers at that time. There is usually also a different glove utilized which closely resembles a first baseman's glove, and takes quite a long time to get used to.

2) I believe it was Mirabelli as the back-up had caught knucklers before and was quite good at it.

3) Varitek needed scheduled days off as do most catchers, so this became the day

4) Varitek has never been a great defensive catcher

5) Varitek is a little bit of a baby and after some attempts to catch Wakefield, he bailed on trying

[Three Jack]

A better question would be that if Varitek is such a great game caller, why does Francona, in a four game series with the Yanks, put Tek behind the plate with Lester and Beckett pitching and Martinez with Smoltz and Buchholz? If he is so good, wouldn't you think he should catch the pitchers that need the most help?

[insidethe8thpol]

Maybe his religion does not permit him to catch knuckleballs

[tech fan]

iTS THE SAME REASON JAVY LOPEZ NEVER CAUGHT GREG MADDUX.iTS NOT THE FACT THAT HE CANT CATCH WAKEFIELD BUT WAKEFIELD LIKE MADDUX ENJOYS HIS OWN PERSONAL CATCHER THAT THINKS ALOT LIKE THE PITCHER.THAT WAY THE PITCHER DOES NOT HAVE TO SHAKE OFF SIGNS 35% OF THE GAME.ITS ALL ABOUT THE PITCHER STAYING IN RHYTHM.IF YOU WATCHED THE BRAVES AT ALL THE BACK-UP CATCHER WOULD SIT BESIDE MADDUX IN EVERY GAME HE DID NOT PITCH JUST TO FIND OUT WHAT HE WOULD DO IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS.


ON ANOTHER NOTE COULD YOU PICTURE BEING A CATCHER AND MADDUX AGREEING WITH YOU 90% OF THE TIME WHAT A GREAT CONFIDENCE BUILDER.

[gizmo]

I caught before and if you dont catch the ball correct not only do you take it out of the strike zone which makes it harder for the ump to call strikes but you can easily bruise or jam the thumb or top of the palm.

You need a loose glove even though it is bigger to catch knucklers and a few years back Varitek could still hit so I think they just said instead of him struggling back there and maybe getting hurt or having him look stupid give him a break on those days.

[savage1]

Who said he can't handle it? You are closer to this team then any one so I am not sure this was the published case.

I spoke to my friend who caught minors and he always understood the reasons the Red Sox did this (as well as his "take") were as follows:

1) The is no time to take 100 simulated game condition pitches with the MLB schedule and travel, therefore the only time to do this would be spring training and this time was better spent having Varitek handle all pitchers at that time. There is usually also a different glove utilized which closely resembles a first baseman's glove, and takes quite a long time to get used to.

2) I believe it was Mirabelli as the back-up had caught knucklers before and was quite good at it.

3) Varitek needed scheduled days off as do most catchers, so this became the day

4) Varitek has never been a great defensive catcher

5) Varitek is a little bit of a baby and after some attempts to catch Wakefield, he bailed on trying

From my perception and understanding,I agree especially with #5.
Re; #1 Would it though really be asking too much then for Varitek to just catch say just 50 pitches every other day?
Players are out there 3-4 hours out there practicing before the game;would it be that difficult for him to practice with with Wakefield?
This is just a thought and nothing else.

[savage1]

iTS THE SAME REASON JAVY LOPEZ NEVER CAUGHT GREG MADDUX.iTS NOT THE FACT THAT HE CANT CATCH WAKEFIELD BUT WAKEFIELD LIKE MADDUX ENJOYS HIS OWN PERSONAL CATCHER THAT THINKS ALOT LIKE THE PITCHER.THAT WAY THE PITCHER DOES NOT HAVE TO SHAKE OFF SIGNS 35% OF THE GAME.ITS ALL ABOUT THE PITCHER STAYING IN RHYTHM.IF YOU WATCHED THE BRAVES AT ALL THE BACK-UP CATCHER WOULD SIT BESIDE MADDUX IN EVERY GAME HE DID NOT PITCH JUST TO FIND OUT WHAT HE WOULD DO IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS.


ON ANOTHER NOTE COULD YOU PICTURE BEING A CATCHER AND MADDUX AGREEING WITH YOU 90% OF THE TIME WHAT A GREAT CONFIDENCE BUILDER.

Ok but the reason I asked the question is that Varitek has a lot of trouble catching the knuckleball when he used to try to catch Wakefield; I was wondering if went all out and practiced each day, whether he could learn to improve his skills.

[savage1]

A better question would be that if Varitek is such a great game caller, why does Francona, in a four game series with the Yanks, put Tek behind the plate with Lester and Beckett pitching and Martinez with Smoltz and Buchholz? If he is so good, wouldn't you think he should catch the pitchers that need the most help?

I agree with that, and that is a very relevant question.

[savage1]

Maybe his religion does not permit him to catch knuckleballs

Or perhaps the real reason that he doesn't catch is that there is an unwritten agreement in his contract that he doesn't have to catch on days Wakefield pitches so that he can have plenty of time the day before and perhaps on the actual day that Wakefield pitches, to bang Hedi Watney.

[savage1]

I caught before and if you dont catch the ball correct not only do you take it out of the strike zone which makes it harder for the ump to call strikes but you can easily bruise or jam the thumb or top of the palm.

You need a loose glove even though it is bigger to catch knucklers and a few years back Varitek could still hit so I think they just said instead of him struggling back there and maybe getting hurt or having him look stupid give him a break on those days.

Thanks-you brought up a great angle which I was not aware of.

[wayne1218]

iTS THE SAME REASON JAVY LOPEZ NEVER CAUGHT GREG MADDUX.iTS NOT THE FACT THAT HE CANT CATCH WAKEFIELD BUT WAKEFIELD LIKE MADDUX ENJOYS HIS OWN PERSONAL CATCHER THAT THINKS ALOT LIKE THE PITCHER.THAT WAY THE PITCHER DOES NOT HAVE TO SHAKE OFF SIGNS 35% OF THE GAME.ITS ALL ABOUT THE PITCHER STAYING IN RHYTHM.IF YOU WATCHED THE BRAVES AT ALL THE BACK-UP CATCHER WOULD SIT BESIDE MADDUX IN EVERY GAME HE DID NOT PITCH JUST TO FIND OUT WHAT HE WOULD DO IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS.


ON ANOTHER NOTE COULD YOU PICTURE BEING A CATCHER AND MADDUX AGREEING WITH YOU 90% OF THE TIME WHAT A GREAT CONFIDENCE BUILDER.

Yes buddy, yes it is. Varitek looks like me & you behind the plate when he tries to catch Wakefield. It is an absolute TRAIN WRECK! A guy can score without a HBP, walk or hit when tek catches wake. Four passed balls and a run is in.

[wayne1218]

savage, Three Jack, Did you guys hear Schilling today on the Big Show on WEEI this afternoon? That is all they talked about.

[savage1]

savage, Three Jack, Did you guys hear Schilling today on the Big Show on WEEI this afternoon? That is all they talked about.

I missed it;I usually listen to that show too, but was kind of busy with errands and the like.

[wayne1218]

I missed it;I usually listen to that show too, but was kind of busy with errands and the like.

It was Big O, Schilling and Merloni. All Red Sox all day. Schilling gave some GREAT perspective about pitching and catching. Way too much stuff to type. They talked about Wake and Tek and they talked about Beckett and his struggles with Victor the other night too. It was a very interesting and a great show today!

Schilling was hilarious with the callers!