A catcher's home is behind home plate. On one August day, both Sox catchers roam the field like lions. As one takes batting practice, the other roams off into the area that is home to Nomar Garciaparra. However when it is game time, Jimy Williams either lets Varitek or Hatteberg assume their role behind the plate. Their togetherness has had a great effectiveness of the pitching staff, which owned the league-best ERA for most of the season. Whoever gets penciled in to start, the Sox pitchers are in good hands.
Varitek, who came over from the Seattle Mariners (along with closer Derek Lowe) in a 1997 trading deadline deal in which the Sox parted Heathcliff Slocumb, prides himself on his play behind the plate. "The catching responsibilities have to come first," Varitek says. "It doesn't matter what happens. Those responsibilities have to be first. If we don't pitch well, then we don't stand a chance."
After being called up and sent down for two seasons, Garciaparra wasn't the only impressive rookie for the Sox in 1997. Hatteberg, a third-round draft choice in 1991, also relishes the responsibility the catcher's job brings to each game. "To be a good catcher, you have to separate [hitting and catching]," agrees Hatteberg. "You have so much more of an effect on the game than you do at the plate. What you do at the plate is really gravy."
Both players bring impressive resumes to Fenway. Varitek: twice a first round pick in Major League Baseball's First Year Player Draft, an Olympian in the 1992 Barcelona Games, and the National College Player of the Year at Georgia Tech. Hatteberg: a member of the Sox organization longer than any other player on the team. Hatteberg developed his big league pedigree playing alongside big league All-Stars Aaron Sele and John Olerud at Washington State. When asked about his nine-year career spent with one organization, Hatteberg says, "I've seen so many guys come in and out of here. You look around the league, and guys I signed with in the draft have been with four or five teams."
Hatteberg had a healthy and promising first season, as he batted .277 with 10 homers and 44 RBI. He carried consistency into 1998, as he hit .276 with 12 homers and 43 RBI. In 1999, however, an injury to his right elbow sidelined him for much of the year. Despite seeing limited action, not surprisingly, he batted at a .275 clip. With Scott out, Varitek filled in and produced.
With a solid rookie season in 1998, Jason enjoyed a breakthrough year last season at the plate. As an everyday player, Varitek hit 20 homers, batted .269, and drove in 76 runs. With Ivan Rodriguez and Mike Piazza as the star receivers, Varitek has put himself in the top 5 caliber catchers in the game. "Jason had a great year last year," Hatteberg says. This season, both are healthy, and each has contributed to the Sox success.
"They complement each other. They both deserve to catch. They're both doing well. I think [the platoon] keeps them both healthier. It keeps them both sharp and gets them their at-bats," Williams says. "Their work ethic is outstanding. They focus on trying to get outs and trying to help those pitchers."
Let's remember. Catchers have some of the brightest minds in baseball, with many becoming managers. What's great about all this is that they both pull for each other. It's not artificial. It's real. This is what they do as a tandem back there.