In Dan Shaughnessys article, "Varitek: Captain Courageous" from the Boston Globe, Shaughnessy writes that Varitek is the quiet leader and is the reason why the Boston Red Sox are in a late season push for the American League East. Shaughnessy says, "You are the de facto captain of the Boston Red Sox. You are the quiet leader of this team, the man who turned a season around by shoving your mitt into the face of Alex Rodriguez." Shaughnessy is of course writing about the bench-clearing brawl in Boston that sparked an incredible turnaround that Red Sox nation is not used to.
             The Red Sox have won 21 of their last 25 games and went from 10.5 games back, to 3. The main reason that Boston is not in their annual August/September flop is because of Jason Varitek. Varitek has put up big numbers this year for Boston, but what is the most respectable thing about this year is his mind-set to just play baseball. Shaughnessy does not let it go unnoticed when he writes, "He's been able to get his work done without talking about his contract or allowing uncertainty to sandbag his season."
             Next weekend the Red Sox will face the Yankees in the Bronx for the last time this season with the American League east title on the line. The Yankees seem to be chasing the Red Sox with the way the two teams are playing, and it looks like this could be the fall of the Evil Empire. Shaughnessy could not put it any more simple when he writes, "The Red Sox should have beaten the Yankees last year. The Sox are better now and the Yankees are worse. Next weekend can't come soon enough." With last years bitter loss in game seven of the American League Championship Series this weekend will be even bigger and more important and all eyes from here on out will be on the Boston catcher. Varitek has kept his nose to the grindstone and is carrying Red Sox nation and his teammates on his back to October.
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