New Poll Question:
Which Red Sox veteran will have the biggest impact on the 2010 team?
- Jason Varitek
- Tim Wakefield
Which of the younger players stand the most to gain from these two as teachers?
Previous Poll results:
Which Red Sox catcher would you least like to see go on free agency?
- Victor Martinez (89%)
- Jason Varitek (7%)
- George Kottaras (4%)
dude the point of poll questions are that they will hopefully have more than one side to each of the options. obviously since both varitek and kotteras are seen to be trash in the previous poll question, no one is all the sudden going to think varitek is worth something. Let's see, a starting pitcher who routinely wins 12-15 games per year and who was an all star at the age of 41 (or was it 42?) or Varitek who not only lost his starting job but has proven himself to be nothing more than a backup catcher.
Unless Varitek is allowed to call pitches from the dugout, his effect on the team's catchers will be minimal. Similarly, unless the Red Sox acquire R.A. Dickey or Charlie Haeger, Wakefield's influence on the younger pitchers will be negligible. Both men can be equally effective in providing "veteran leadership" by showing young players how to prepare and grind out the regular season. Otherwise, I have to agree with DaveL – this isn't really a Ginger-or-Maryann-type question.
I wonder how many people are voting Wake because they really do think he'll have a bigger impact and how many of them are voting for Wake because they think/hope 'Tek won't even be on the team next year.
I voted for Tek because if he plays, and I hope he does, he will be valuable to Victor, as well as Kottaras, Brown, Wagner, Expo, Fedex or whomever else will spend time on the roster this year. He'll doubtless be of considerable help to Tito and the new bench coach. However, I think this poll isn't quite fair, as Wake's ability to keep producing in pain, showing up, pitching from the rotation or the pen, sitting out postseason games for the good of team, all while being on of the best #5's in the game, makes him a rare positive role model for everyone from Beckett and Pap to Buch, Bard and Kelly. They are both good for the team.