Big Show with Jason Varitek

We continue on with Jimmy talk radio telephone live at Fenway Park when your -- Michael Holley and the captain Jason Varitek great season. Thank you thanks for having me we don't this is all about you've been around here long enough to see the progress that they've made with the Jimmy Fund and what are all --

And say I mean it's really unbelievable I mean. And with it being out last -- we just had the basketball game you know was Children's Hospital but that you're you're you're talking -- same kids and the -- spoke last night I never Bennett charity event that the entire place was so quiet the entire time somebody spoke. And it just it shows she's five and half years old and just her story and who she is what you stand for and her fight. I mean I love the children's hospitals and I'm doing another one might think I was just say they do wonders was one of my children so I I have high. Regard for them.

It Jason does -- tell us when you when you've got it was this somebody. Who told you what Jimmy Fund was it just something your experience on your own when did you -- when did you get that moment or have that revelation and -- okay. I can see what this is all about.

I think it's gates pretty much today used stepped foot in this uniform I mean into -- everywhere. And then you learn okay what is it Jimmy -- the other story behind it and now I spend such a big part of the Red Sox for so long that you can't help to not know. And you know what that stands for and the medical attention that it brings. That the treatment that they're able to do for the kids here in this city is unbelievable. And I think it's like big names are synonymous and Boston Red Sox in the Jimmy Fund.

It's great to see young kids that we should again young kids Clay Buchholz was here in the last hour He comes in. And He embraces you know the Jimmy Fund right right away and you see all the kids when they show up like in Baltimore they show up in spring training. The teenagers who are probably on a real difficult time.

And you're not only you know only deal with the kids but -- the kids all have parents. And they're probably take your worst in the kids because usually everyone is so. Their spirits -- so high either eternal optimists. And you as adults can learn from them. And what. They don't want people phils are formed no one thinks like that they they would they wanna fight and wanna find a way to -- to be what's going on poor --

If baseball question you were just talking about Beckett Beckett -- last night and you know this better than anybody -- you've got so many guys behind that they'll play. What is it about a pitcher is it that final line that if a guy's got not even an injury. But something is just not right in functioning slightly -- his body. That He can go from being so good. To being so shaky on the mound and once He gets it back in the mechanics back He can be so brilliant again.

I mean entire game -- survives on a small percentage of being successful on the offense -- three at a time and and when decades. Compromise I would think that guys do on the mound so there they're not able back skew it. Third what they're capable of war or hand for that specific match up or person. And it changes the whole game. And for guides it. They don't go through those things everybody does at some point it just you learn you learn you -- and how quickly you learn and adjust. That is how small those those -- become.

You know we get this question all the time. From fans who have a great amount of respect for your knowledge. Handling the pitching staff and playing in this market post this question do you think Jason Varitek -- manager when they think he's -- we have player coach or something that you -- you have any any interest in pitching this game when you don't play.

Ryan and I think we teach now and you learn now way as you go through it so you know sometimes. I get announced as a coach every now and -- but yeah -- That.

Jarrod Saltalamacchia and you've you've seen him progress and obviously He was some of them had tremendous potential. And He talks about learning an awful lot for -- how. It's pretty easy is that difficult Europe. You know you've been here for years is that a difficult thing to do -- sit there and say OK I know my place this is a kid tonight. Can I help him can I teach you some of the -- things of the game.

I don't think it's hard my I think it's part of being a good teammate I think it's part of trying to win. If he's gonna be out there three out of five I'm going to be out there two out of five I need him to be good the three out of five for us to be good. And I think that. As I came up in different places I've learned whether it be coaches. Coaches can never can always coach and matter how long year in the big leagues and and how much goes on you can always learn and those -- the best coaches can still coach and 39 years old my -- coach teaches me something every day. And so I'm not really coaching salty that's -- job I must support -- sounding board on -- getting beat up with -- we're doing our drills. You know you can you can relate experiences you can relate vision. You can relate communicate you can communicate about what's going on but I'm I'm not his coach. And his team.

Patrick Tim Wakefield isn't here earlier talking about playing a 45 and buckles was next to me -- these guys give me a hard time talking about how long have been around. But you know 45 which to set 39 today include you in those conversations -- rip us knew about how long you've been around in the big leagues.

Yeah I kind of really didn't help that I was the oldest captured the triple the other day so. Before that I had they had there you know they got -- though -- isn't -- there and yeah I easily got a Fred and I hound out of my -- down kind of second man on totem pole when it comes and cage you know. At different times but they also still respect what. Yet to do on that dated -- basis and it's not about agents bouts of execution and and and abilities to do things you know. I think a lot of young guys and never treat them like they were twelve when they got here so they don't treat me like I'm eighty now let's hear me.

But your position almost seems unfair because guys seem to develop late. And then a lot of guys do not survive the 36373830. -- certainly behind the plate. Or is it Joseph -- talking about moving him to to a different position. The week of the days gone by now tech where you're not gonna find catchers. We're gonna go out there and be offensive players they're gonna be guys that might have some reasonable numbers. Offensively but really their job is going to be I'd be on the public is just too tedious of the position.

I mean I don't know the statistical. Answers to that how that -- over the last you know thirty years or whatever but. As far as I remember you're not necessarily having that top guy in 380. You know 36343. To one game behind plays just I don't recall that even ever happening immediately Johnny benches we can go to you know through the -- to Carlton says there were some great you know knows how special that yeah. I really replace him running game for the shows how special they -- amazing -- Joseph -- they're already talking the possibility of moving from that position because they're afraid to do just get worn. Down and I I take it from your experience you get worn down that it right you can but you don't know you are. And -- what's what's worth more to your team and winning is that the that you being dependable back there that you can rely on. You know. Your pitching staff can rely on or is it for you to put up offensive numbers right. There's a fine line between -- you fit on that team at that particular moment of what they do the -- to physically. Physically. You know people -- I've been blessed that I've had. A small amount of major injuries that is kept me out of the lineup had a ton of injuries that have been able to play with. But when you're talking you know. Physical things that they want to that they know about you keep aware of and we need to keep -- get this guy's legs that means. Because his offensive production can be higher than what you can do.

your greatest your greatest. That the greatest thing you bring to the game is your knowledge of pitching staff working a pitching staff. Knowledge of the of the other hitters have you ever said to yourself. -- work and all the time figuring out the other guys trying to do -- game plan that I'm giving up some of the time that I could be in the batting cage and yet. What you brought to the table. And knowing that and working -- pitching staff was invaluable I mean far more important than maybe hitting an extra three home runs a year.

We've still got our work done the other way. My I think that it's more so. In throughout the importance of of games. Winning winning that day or preparing. For the future I mean I think that if you're mechanically sound and you do things offensively and and and He did things that we hear names I guess the vols are tired spots. Those are when your flaws are. -- show up and if you're perfectly fundamentally sound you're gonna have less flaws. So you know like it to Oman coach can still hit He can handle all his ego got bounced out of 300 innings yeah I -- you back to treat twentieth street forty. But that's a lot mechanically. It's a lot fundamentally.

You talk about being blessed you imagine bouncing down the 300 -- I was about -- at 300 go back I think what how directly you know I think there's a big contest. I don't think any catcher I've ever seen in baseball. As it has been able to back this dugout as quickly as you have put -- equipment on. And get ready to go I think you would win some kind of skills competition when the Cubs -- you let you may have.

Practice actually I did. That something jagged. A little. -- the -- take actually I'm slow the umpires economic actress -- oh yeah I got a shin guard I hit where if I've got -- of look thumb guard like I've got things and and I gotta find this fun back get back out there. I actually don't move very fast -- come to get -- here.

This isn't what I read don't do they know now when you they give you Jason Varitek and in my mind's -- and a bit. Home run sprints around it doesn't I had -- I don't Yale graduate away and we're okay. Do you sit down and get the stuff on I just think it's. That may be as free exercise there I mean that's I don't final question I went.

Only been around long time of -- you've talked and probably had many conversations with umpires behind you. And certain nights like -- when Tim McClellan has a strike so that's about six inches wider so Malia. One of those conversations. Like that you have for those umpires and is that a running thing now over the years -- they all know we.

Guy in and actually over the last probably three -- four years I've kind of opened up more the Giants at work -- anything you know. I've spoken the year like I do -- do my job goes very robot like she's trying to buy anything for them. Know some guys do I. I tend to be be honest with them. That's a strike that's not you know what do you think that's a ball. You know if I'm not someone in my honest answer and work knowing -- developers back but. I knew I was told something a year ago would deal -- with umpires was you know there. But like artist. They need to umpire has thrown artistic impression. And -- sit there and you look at that perspective it's like that that kind of takes a -- a little little -- gray area of dealing with them they're humans. But I -- the other night it was my favorite umpires German government that strike zone for the dark. Airline did nonexistent it's what you say hey Tim what can -- a little tonight feel like I've I've really do have those strikes. He's like I don't. Like I would say we've had a good revert relationship it like you with a sense then that really I that's a good hedge if -- the -- I could have. Half a couple caught up it's defensive. It's great senior thank you very much for coming -- sandwich -- really appreciate Jason Varitek the captain. Quick break and then we'll update still important hopefully you will pick up. Those phones right now -- of Jason Varitek 8777381234.