Projo Sox Blog

By STEVEN KRASNER
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON -- Struggling catcher Jason Varitek (right with Daisuke Matsuzaka last night, Journal photo by Bob Breidenbach) is being given Tuesday night off from the starting lineup.

Varitek is being replaced behind the plate by Kevin Cash for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is the fact that the Sox' captain is in a horrendous slump.

His 0-for-3 performance Monday night dropped his season average to .215. Varitek, who was voted to the All-Star team by American League players and managers, is batting a woeful .128 (15 for 117) over his last 34 games.

Also figuring into manager Terry Francona's decision to give Varitek a breather was the schedule. Boston came home Monday from a 10-game trip that ended with four intense games against the Yankees at four different times of games. Varitek appeared in all of the games, and started Monday night's game against the Twins.

It was Francona's intention to give Varitek a night off for one of the two night games against Minnesota because he wants Varitek to catch Josh Beckett in Wednesday's matinee series finale, which will be followed by a scheduled day off for the team.

There wasn't any discussion with Varitek about a night off.

"You can't just ask Tek," said Francona. "He wants to do whatever's right. He wants to play. But we're coming off an emotional series, a whole lot of one-run games. You feel it. We were all (more tired) coming home."

Varitek took early batting practice Tuesday afternoon. He acknowledged that the opposition has been pitching him up in the strike zone.

"They've always pitched me up. I've been over-aggressive at times. Last night I swung at a pitch that was too high (flyout to center) and one that was marginally high (another flyout to center). Lately they've been pitching me all kinds of ways and they're all working," said Varitek with a rueful smile.

 Tags  jason varitek night off slumping

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