Jason Varitek Shows Why He’s Captain By Accepting Diminished Role With Class

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Oct 8, 2009

Jason Varitek Shows Why He's Captain By Accepting Diminished Role With Class Jason Varitek is no longer Jason Varitek — that's not breaking news. But accepting a lesser role as your team makes a run at a World Series title is tough for any player, let alone a captain.

Yet Varitek, who is not expected to be a starter for most of the playoffs, seems to be handling the change with grace.

“It’s different, but the fact of the matter is that we need to put our best lineup out there,’’ Varitek told The Boston Globe. “I have one job to do — support my teammates and be prepared if the bell rings. … You can’t control your playing time. But you can control the other parts of what you can contribute. It may not be by playing. It may be by being on the bench.

"It’s not the time of year to be selfish.’’

The 37-year-old catcher was helping the team win games in a big way in the season's first two months, batting .239 with 10 home runs, nine doubles and 22 RBIs in 38 games. However, his production steadily declined from June through the end of the season, as he hit just .190 with four long balls and 29 RBIs in 71 games.

With Varitek and the team set to face a mutual option at the end of the season, the veteran refuses to discuss anything regarding his contract.

“Honestly, this isn’t the time for me to worry about me,” he told the Boston Herald. "I’m not equipped to answer that question now. I can’t entertain that right now, and I don’t think it’s fair to me or this team. Your level of how special this opportunity is goes well beyond anything personal."

Even if he spends the entire postseason on the bench, Varitek knows that he can help the team.

“Sometimes, you can’t control playing time, but you can control the other things you do to contribute,” he told the Herald. “It may be just being on the bench. There are things you see, things you can offer."

Before a pitch has even been thrown, it's obvious that he's already offered a first-class lesson in leadership.

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