Jason Varitek, Red Sox Catcher

Let's talk a little baseball as the Red Sox are up under way down in spring training in Fort Myers joining us on the AT&T hot line that captain of the Boston Red Sox Jason Varitek Jason is -- Michael how are yeah. It's gone on Jason. I'm assuming it's a little warmer where you are than it is up here and how is the start of camp then for you guys so far.

And it's been pretty area nice weather hadn't been overly warm yet but -- that's -- warmer than we're reported that broke.

Jason I mean this is this is a completely different role for you. I guess I guess I'm feeling old because our our remember the days when it was Jason Varitek and got patty berg and try to figure out who's going to be the number one catcher than that was in the late 1990s. How do you approach spring training now how's it different. That you're you are slated to be the backup to Victor Martinez.

I have an epic that that's really not much it differed somewhat what ended up -- in the last year or so. You know I had few months the economy is that last year so. Colorado writes in eight different it's still crying in. Analysts that we get our work in India -- I think tropical spring training.

You still have the same approach in terms of you know meeting with John Farrell and meeting with the pitchers are. -- do you do something different now that. Instead of the workload of -- 120 games 125 games it might be. MIB fifty might be 45 or sixty DD -- approach because of the different workload.

Well I think that -- much more time and maybe if you were saying that at a different angle but the communication process that led Spain. You know which aren't. You know through being prepared at all but actor or. You know and -- stretchers so it's like about that at the square. -- triangular and rectangular fact. Of communication back and change.

How different is that when you see a picture as an opposing hitter. And then you suddenly start catching him in in this case were talking about John Lackey. It did when you're the first time you catch a guy like that deal man I wish I'd known that when I was trying to hit against them.

Achieve that try to game this game and game where you know. What can be exploited annuity hitter to -- differ according to the other hitters -- and different angles. You 10-Q what you see them pits were catching and or. You fish that figure out what -- what they can't do. And and you learn what they what they tend to do so at that barrel figure out if you're hitting it much and not hurt like. You know drastic. Strengths and weaknesses which I don't think -- at the success -- that he does Evan -- not at.

Do you find that that for you and probably for victory as well. You almost wanna spend more time with new guys than you do with guys Yunel because he got so much more to learn.

Well I I think that value -- spend it spend the time you EU mission let. When he catchment volt current Mac kind of stopped an elaborate -- credits. At first celebrate the on the real -- as well then let electoral mud and and how people react. It's a little -- so that's that's when -- learned the most.

You know Tito has talked about. That -- C that's on your Jersey and he said bye bye by no means are we even thinking about. Asking -- take Varitek can take that -- off we don't want the sea off the Jersey. How do you feel about that CI pick up. I've never asked you that question before about how do you go about the C and how do you feel about it now his sister role as things a little bit.

Well used to and change the person. I don't know I mean I don't know yet what would actually be at different sort of happened and on or off. With regards to changing role you're put in -- position because. No examples of things are gonna change don't might not play it play quite as much.

I always wondered what you thought about actually wearing and I mean hockey we're used to seeing it. Now on the NFL we have a baseball not so much what did you think the first time they ask you to put it on.

Outlook the actual body like check at a quite a bit a couple of cabinet nominee uniform and and guys you think about it it becomes from an organizational. Respect then in respect you know that they ask me where president then you know immediate word about you know. You don't wear where and where and little different. Actually not currently in the world.

Is this the just coming out of spring training I know -- we haven't played or a real game yet but just looking at it on paper. Is this the best rotation. You've seen that you've been a Boston.

I don't know because -- are still. A lot of you are still a lot of you know thing -- that that that's secure group where -- If trip people continued takes that and network -- I think you can beat the really good that I think it just just that name alone that it -- get better and everybody else. At work in in and push their game to make that that much better.

Jason how different was the Daisuke -- of September than the one who was pitching for the Sox earlier in the year.

Practical action. A little bit stronger. No not at that drastically hunger but. I think it's somewhat is is vocation and those things where we're better then there was this very special and it's. At best fired for -- that are supposed to being taught well why so. I think that air it it it worked in got stronger. -- that would definitely a big difference. But you know you're not not at wild card that for a couple. While Broward and an attitude shark that looked sharper.

We know we now know what we didn't know then that he had had some injury issues that he didn't share with. With the team could you sense that when you were catching him earlier in the year that he just wasn't right in in as you were catching the ball did you feel that.

Are you feel much use it in rotation weapon anything. In the rotation all you -- Yeah out that's quite yet it tends to. At you know what you're seeing guys ever do certain things then and what they are spread out and then. -- trying to step where that Paul wrote a little effort under very symbolic and the community for quite different rotations. -- Over the rotation Christmas revolution does not all. You know try to. Tend to not be as many you know it when guys are those that -- stamps -- when they're not as strong then and -- injured.

Jason wanna switch gears a bit and not talk about some of the things that you have going on. There's there're there are some lucky people out there or lucky person. Who's gonna have an opportunity to have dinner with you in Fort Myers tell us how that can happen.

Well refresh your attitude www. Net -- or. And humanitarian Jason Varitek spring training route -- and you know it's it's it's as much as and you know ten dollar raffle ticket and anybody can win. And in on the pretty much a grand prize visited there with Maine vote elsewhere accommodations. Tickets to. This spring training game -- that's what it's and 29. And you know much about. -- participate. In owner -- charity except for. Covering some of the costs for over at. And oh it's just an opportunity to. To get back and also give people opportunities to. Maybe it's something that that normally. You don't really get a chance that there are so. Now for ten dollars throughout that it in it many if you want and and that's the -- that opportunity.

Celebrities for charity foundation has done some great things for some local charities I know you guys have done some work with Travis Royce group in the past. This time the organization that's being benefited is called journey forward. I DN Cummings. Founded the organization. After he was paralyzed going for a swim with his friends. This is one of the many smaller organizations out there we might not heard much about what is doing great things.

You know that's that that's another era they they reach out of it different organizations -- for -- foundation. And they're trying not not stick -- necessarily just on how many different ones they can rate should not let you know they do that. And that you know and what again another break for that that allows them reach out to.

You noted www. Net -- dot org you can purchase the tickets up for an opportunity to win a I've had dinner with Jason Varitek it's spring training in Fort Myers -- travel expenses such you'd receive money to cover those and everything else it sounds like it be great time for somebody. We always appreciate chance to talk to you good -- down there. You take care Jason thanks. That's our Red Sox captain. Jason Varitek joining us from Fort Myers again it's not raffle dot org tickets cost two dollars each. On minimum purchase of five tickets were ten dollars and it's a pretty reasonable outlay for a a very good cause called the journey forward foundation I'll tell you one other thing about the organization they're -- gonna have a yeah. A casino night at Lombardo was march 6. Eyes they're gonna try to raise some more money for this organization is well.