Oct 3, 2007 12:08 am US/Eastern
Jason Varitek Leads On And Off Baseball Field
by Lisa Hughes
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
While it's hard not to think about the World Series with the Red Sox winning the AL East Division Title, one player says the Red Sox are taking it one game at a time.
Red Sox catcher and team captain Jason Varitek is focusing on the post season. But he also finds time to visit the Children's Hospital and spend time with patients as part of his "Tek's 33" -- an organization he started three years ago as a commitment to the kids.
He visits the hospital, quietly going room to room, talking and handing out autographs.
"To have those opportunities to make a kid smile for the day and to give them that extra strength, that's been well worth it," Varitek said.
But it's the post season that has Tek's attention now.
When asked what will make the difference in the playoffs, Varitek said, "I think for us it's going to come down to our pitching. We pitch the ball the way we want to. Then we should present ourselves with a good opportunity to win."
"It's out-play the people in front of us with your heart, with your intensity, and how you go about the game," Varitek said of going into the post season.
"I love (the intensity)," he added. "That's what you play for."
Varitek agreed that the heat of the Red Sox/Yankee rivalry never gets old.
"No, and it doesn't as a player," he said. "You still have the excitement, which, that excitement is brought on by the support of the fans."
When asked when he feels best about what he's doing on the field, Varitek said, "When we walk away with a 'W.' Nah. Not only a 'W.' If I left what I wanted to leave on the field, I'm pretty, pretty happy with it."
When asked to describe his teammates in one word, Varitek said "Winner" for Curt Schilling, "Fast" for Jacoby Ellsbury, "Gamer" for Coco Crisp, and "Clutch" for Big Papi.
He said "Elvis" for Daisuke Matsuzaka, who has never played in a post-season game with the Red Sox, something Varitek is not the least bit concerned about, saying everything for Daisuke is new this year, so the playoffs won't be any different.
As for the Yankees, when asked about Derek Jeter, Varitek simply answered, "Clutch."
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