Random Rumblings: Sabathia has the option to just go home

• When Alex Rodriguez signed that $252 million contract eight years ago, the Texas Rangers were crucified by baseball people for giving the then-shortstop almost $100 million more than any other team offered. But for a franchise with no real history of winning, that’s the only type of bid that was going to land the game’s best player, especially with at least one northeastern team in the mix.
  
  Now, C.C. Sabathia is in the same situation, about to sign with one team for significantly more than anyone else was willing to give. Only this time, it’s not a second rate team from out west ponying up the extra cash; it’s the Yankees, the world’s most famous sports franchise, who had to do everything but literally kiss the extra large ass of their new ace to get him to come to the Bronx.
  
  It’s finally clear just how little interest Sabathia had in New York. Not only did he need $60 million more, but also the right to opt out in three years if things become too hard, if the pressure is too much for the cool California kid to handle. Say what you want about how poorly ARod handles everything in his life, but he does face the media every day and the guy wants nothing more than to succeed under the biggest spotlight in sports.
  
  Sabathia can learn a lot from the most scrutinized athlete in the country. He can learn how to say all the right things when everything is going well and how to handle himself if/when Tony Bleacherseat starts calling him a bum. Or he can just run away.
  
  The Yankees have given him that option.
  
  
• By the way, would it be too much if the Yankees asked LeBron James to throw out the opening pitch at the new Yankee Stadium?
  
  
• Why is that Kevin McHale, a man responsible for one good thing (drafting Kevin Garnett) in the last 13 years with the Minnesota Timberwolves, continues to get a pass from those that cover the NBA when Isiah Thomas is lucky to even be allowed into any building in the league?
  
  
• Spare me all the nonsense about what a good guy Jason Varitek is now. Here’s a guy that didn’t hit .250 in batting practice last season, who was unwilling to accept arbitration from the Red Sox. If he actually believes he’s worth more than the $10 million he probably could have made, then he is just as clueless as the fans who gave him a pass for hitting like the right fielder on your son’s little league team last season.
  
  
• You ever see those NFL/United Way active generation commercials. Part of the reason our children all look like mini-C.C. Sabathia’s is because ESPN has made it cooler to say “all-in” than “I got next.”
  
  But the World Wide Leader can remedy the situation. It just needs to push Speed Pool down our throats the way it does the WSOP. Think about it: Pool hustlers that actually hustle.
  
  Now that’s a generation of kids that I want to meet.
  
  
• It really sucks to be the UConn football team. Not only do they have to celebrate the New Year in Canada (yes fellas, New Year’s Eve is December 31 everywhere) but they’re also getting screwed when it comes to the gifts the International Bowl provides. This year, all Connecticut and Buffalo players will receive: A Timely Watch Co. watch, Two-piece Armor Gear rolling travel duffel bags and computer backpacks. In comparison, a number of other bowls are giving iPods or “Best Buy Parties” where players can spend up to $400 on electronics.
  
  One star gifts for one star recruits, I suppose.

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Time for Sox to get rid of Varitek

There is a scene in one on my favorite childhood movies, Little Big League, where the 12 year old manager of the Minnesota Twins gets pumped up following a weak base hit in the hole from his struggling favorite player. Afterwards, his bench coach explains that you know it’s time to make a change when a seeing-eye single makes you jump out of your seat.

It’s a quick scene that you probably don’t even remember because it really had little to do with the rest of the movie, but it’s incredible how similar Billy Heywood’s actions were to all of Red Sox Nation this year as the team’s captain became an easier out than almost any pitcher - in the American League. This off season, Boston’s boy wonder Theo Epstein, has a decision to make and all he really needs to do is follow the same advice. It’s time to get rid of Jason Varitek

From about June through Game Seven on Sunday night, a seeing-eye single was just about all you could expect to get from Varitek, who averaged about 15 hits a month this season. Here’s all you need to know about how poor an offensive season he had: If his 93 hits were all converted into wins, the Jason Variteks would have finished two games out of the American League Wild Card.

As he sunk deeper into one of the worst offensive seasons you’ll ever see from a regular starter, the excuses piled up like poor at bats, anything to deflect the heat from Varitek. It became laughable to listen to a game on the radio or NESN and hear about how “Jason really needs to get back to .220” or how he “is finally starting to make solid contact.” The truth is, he saw straight fastballs for most of the season and battled pitchers about as well as my 11 hitter on the little league team I coached this summer (we had a continuous batting order).

The worst excuse of all was that his ability to call a game completely absolved him from ever having to get on base. The guy gets praised for all the time he spends reviewing hitters, which last time I checked, was part of catcher’s job. And I realize that I’m in the minority here when it comes to questioning his impact on pitchers, but will someone please ask Clay Buchholz how much of an effect Jason Varitek had on him this year? Think about the rest of the stud pitchers that Varitek has caught in recent years. Would Pedro Martinez, Curt Schilling and Josh Beckett be any less dominant throwing to a different backstop? The one starter you can really give Varitek credit for helping develop is John Lester, but the catcher isn’t the one suddenly giving you the ability to throw 96-97 MPH when you had never throw even close to that hard before.

Epstein recently talked about needing to be at least league-average at every position and while it’s going to be difficult to find any catcher to provide that much of an upgrade, just about anyone will be better than Varitek. This is a franchise that, without hesitation, has gotten rid of players with far more ability left in them than Varitek does. If they value his presence that much, then keep him on the bench - as a coach. But if the Sox want to remain at the top of American League East, then the captain needs to go.

Must reads on this topic
The Varitek Question – Boston Blood Sox
Boras Talks Tek – Fenway West
Varitek: To Keep Him or Not to Keep Him – Sawx Heads
Eight questions Theo Epstein must answer in the off-season – Sox and Pinstripes

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