There’s a really good article by Gordon Edes on Jason Varitek in the Globe, including this choice bit on the 1999 ALDS Game 5:
“[Pedro] pitched in a totally different way than he’d ever pitched before, in the middle of what was then the most important game of his career,” Varitek said. “He was a power pitcher, and that game he pitched backwards. He had to finesse people. He used his curveball, he used a cutter, which he’d never used before, and all of a sudden he’s in a different realm.
…
The only times I really helped him were the days he didn’t feel like being there. He was just like anybody else; he might have family issues on the day he happened to be pitching. That made it more difficult, and that’s when he might have needed me.”
Seems like Game 5 marked a transition from raw pure power Pedro to the master craftsman. Indeed, who would’ve thought he could’ve topped the 245 ERA+ in 1999? Then that 2000 season came along, with a 1.74 ERA and a 285 ERA+. Unreal.
Clearly Tek thinks a lot about his role as a manager of pitchers (wouldn’t be surprised if he actually did go on to become a manager in the future). I thought his thoughts on Burkett were also interesting - I mean, of course it’s great catching for Pedro and Schilling, but they have a whole arsenal to work with, and could probably pitch a great game even to an average catcher. I actually think Tek’s value as a catcher might show in how he manages pitchers whose natural stuff isn’t that great:
“It’s unbelievable how much I learned from Burkett. Taking that risk when you need to. Going that extra little step beyond thinking. Just how devastating a located fastball down and away can be, when it’s located right and properly. Different things.”
Burkett was a junkballer trying to do his best within his limitations, and I think it’s telling about Tek that he learnt a lot from the experience. We’ll see how he manages the staff this year.