'Jason Varitek Shift'

[MLBKING]

Outfielders Take Knee, Infielders Move Up In New 'Jason Varitek Shift' April 28, 2009

BOSTON—As the 2009 baseball season progresses, major-league managers are defending against Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek by employing what they call the "Varitek Shift," a defensive maneuver in which infielders move up past the pitcher's mound and outfielders take a knee and relax. "It's very effective," Minnesota Twins manager Ron Gardenhire told reporters. "If Jason makes contact with the ball, which is rare in itself, he usually hits slow dribblers that catch infielders by surprise because of how weak they're hit. So, by moving the infielders up, and having the pitcher rush home plate after the pitch has been thrown, [Varitek] has virtually no chance of reaching base. If runners are on when he comes up, we may have the outfielders cover first, second, and third to ensure a double or triple play." Gardenhire added that it doesn't matter if the switch-hitting Varitek bats right- or left-handed, as the shift is foolproof.

[smitch124]

Funny stuff, but he has managed to dribble 4 over the fence

[ZoomVT]

this would have been funny last year when he was hitting .160

[dhunter]

Originally Posted by ZoomVT

this would have been funny last year when he was hitting .160

yeah you're right...when he's hitting a robust .216 it just seems ridiculous

[MLBKING]

Originally Posted by smitch124

Funny stuff, but he has managed to dribble 4 over the fence

Yeah, but you still don't need the infielders or outfielders for that so it still doesn't affect the shift. I think the onion was just making fun of his poor batting average the past couple years

[huscroft6]

I think that grand slam in win 8 of their current 11 game winning streak is still going

[Slammer]

To think Varitek was seriously trying to get a Posada-like contract, not that Posada is necessarily worth the $10M or so he makes either. But he's a lot closer to it than Varitek.

[huscroft6]

Thats 8 dingers


2nd in AL in HR's and 5th in RBI for catchers



This re-verse jinx working as well as the Bisket LMAO threads

[Windy City Irish]

now, if we could do one of these for Julio Lugo and Dice-K we would be talking

nice work by Lugo on a sure double play to get out of the inning with 2-1 deficit. stands flat footed, cant get anything on the throw and Mets score two more runs. Dice-K now throwing 30 extra pitches.....

g'night