Jason Varitek and David Ortiz join us at the 22nd annual weei/nesn jimmy fund radio telethon
Jason Varitek and David Ortiz join us at the 22nd annual weei/nesn jimmy fund radio telethon
Transcript
00:00We are joined by the man who really needs no introduction.
00:04I guess we could just say the captain.
00:06We are joined by the captain, Jason Veritech.
00:09Jason, good morning.
00:11Good morning, everyone.
00:12How are you doing?
00:14I'm good.
00:15I think I listened to the first part of your commercial.
00:17And yeah, when you're up late and you don't have much sleep,
00:22you got to test your testosterone because that was a long one last night.
00:27Well, absolutely.
00:28And you know how it goes.
00:30I mean, we're not getting any younger.
00:33Sometimes low T can be an issue, Tech.
00:36Yeah, well, it is what it is.
00:38Although I'll tell you, I mean, I see out there from time to time,
00:41emergency catcher role behind the plate.
00:43Look like you could step right in there.
00:46If you needed to catch, you could step right in there tomorrow.
00:49It's called I can fall right in there tomorrow.
00:52By the way.
00:54Also, I need one of the V Tech Fight Club T shirts that I see the guys wearing.
01:00Can you get me one of those?
01:02Well, I think you know me well enough to know I had zero to do with that.
01:05And I don't wear one.
01:08So our last motto T shirts are last change to lows or from lows to loss.
01:14OK, we can work that.
01:15I'll be I'm part of that.
01:17But I'm not a part of that.
01:19No, no.
01:20Tommy McLaughlin.
01:22But it's I mean, it's it's it's a nice homage to you.
01:25Certainly that the guys are that the fellas are wearing those.
01:28Yeah, it's pretty funny.
01:31The Red Sox always have pretty good T shirt game like the underdog T shirts last year.
01:36There were reports that maybe you were the ones that put them in people's lockers.
01:39I mean, none of my business, but the T shirts always kind of hit.
01:44Yeah, rumors are rumors.
01:45You know, sometimes you're sneaky.
01:47I I don't I was trying to say this earlier, Jason, that we have a new generation of Sox
01:53fans that wasn't living and dying with that 014.
01:57I'm just curious, you know, when you think back to those days, is it is it possible to
02:03explain just how intense it was and what it was you guys finally overcame?
02:09Like just game seven, Yankee Stadium, Damon hits that home run.
02:14Well, I think that, you know, over the time, it's it's what's been built for years and
02:20what's been built over time.
02:22I mean, we're not there without, you know, Pesky and Jim Wright and Johnny Valentin move
02:30on and Dewey Evans.
02:32Like we're not in those positions without that, because it's it's it's it's it's it's
02:38it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's it's
02:44it's it's it's it's because it it took a lot, but the burden had been felt by what later
02:50became Red Sox Nation or known as was felt across the board.
02:55And that put a sense of relief to it that hold on big big poppy has finally decided
03:02to arrive here this morning.
03:04Do we find him for being late or something good, David?
03:09You can sit right there.
03:10We've got Jasonshirt on the phone.
03:12Right here is great.
03:14It's when you when you look at kind of this team post-trade
03:18trade deadline, you're there every day with them.
03:21How do you how do you feel like they are?
03:23These guys are feeling and what's sticking out with you
03:26as far as this this this team of guys right now?
03:30Love your brother. I mean, we we went out, David.
03:34So, you know, we've we've played well.
03:37Things haven't gone record wise as well in the second half or
03:41post post and been fine just second half.
03:43But we're in games until this past weekend with Houston.
03:48We lost a punch in the face on Sunday.
03:51You could have flip flopped either one of the first two games.
03:54So and that's what they're doing.
03:54Put themselves in positions to to win every night.
03:58And, you know, it's the ebb and flows of sometimes pitching carries hitting.
04:03Sometimes hitting is going to carry pitching.
04:05If they don't match up, you lose the game.
04:07And they're doing a good job of mixing, matching bowl.
04:10It's a relentless group, a relentless mix of young and old that we can.
04:16I want to say old, but, you know, veteran players.
04:18And but the youth have some serious dynamic abilities
04:22that we've been able to wait through the course of time and they've come out.
04:27David Ortiz is here.
04:29Poppy, good morning. Good morning. Good morning.
04:31When you are let me ask this question.
04:33When you if you are running late coming to the ballpark,
04:35can you just pull over and park on your own bridge?
04:38Ah, probably.
04:41That's what I would agree.
04:42Like the governor said,
04:46that's what I would say.
04:48We were we were Curtis brought up 2004.
04:51And it's it's does it seem like it's been 20 years for we were just talking
04:55to Jason about that seem like it's been 20 years.
04:58Man, time is flying.
04:59I mean, it doesn't seem like it has been 20 years.
05:05I mean, I can remember things that happened back then that.
05:09And let me tell you, I'm not really good at remembering things.
05:14So everything is moving fast.
05:18But yeah, man, I mean, it's been a minute, but it doesn't seem like.
05:24I want to ask both of you guys about the relationship
05:27that the Red Sox have with the Jimmy Fund. It's really special.
05:30It's been going on since 1953.
05:32I think the longest running relationship
05:35between a professional sports franchise and a charity.
05:39What what what has it meant to you over over the last 20 years?
05:44Well, when I first got here.
05:51The team that I used to play for also, you know,
05:57every major league baseball club is into the community
06:00service and all those type of thing.
06:02But once I got here to Boston,
06:05the way the Red Sox manage and educate us as a player
06:11is in a different dimension.
06:14And I say that because once I got here, I see the Jimmy Fund,
06:20especially, you know, where this is something that.
06:25It brings so many things together, you know, it was something
06:29that it caught my attention right away when I first got here.
06:32You know what I'm saying?
06:33And being able to, you know, raise money to do what the Jimmy Fund does
06:38is just something that to me is very special.
06:41Jason, your perspective on that.
06:44Yeah, you know, it's something to me that rallies a nation.
06:50That rallies the Red Sox nation and has from the get go.
06:53And the longer you're here, you understand that growth
06:56from people that have grown up here,
06:59you know, like my wife, you know, born and raised up here.
07:02And it's a day that everybody looks forward to or a time period.
07:06Everybody looks forward to to give back.
07:08But our relationship with the Jimmy Fund
07:12allows us to to give back and to be supportive in those times.
07:17To give back and to be supportive in those areas.
07:20But it's it's more about the masses.
07:22It's more about the whole Red Sox nation than it is just the Sox
07:26and the Jimmy Fund.
07:28Well, it's interesting hearing David talk about how clubs that he was with
07:31beforehand, you know, all clubs do something in the community to give back.
07:37But it feels like Red Sox players, even after they maybe move on
07:40or they retire, stay connected with Dana-Farber and the Jimmy Fund.
07:43So for you two, was that something that you wanted to make sure
07:46happened after your time with the Red Sox was over?
07:49No, you have to. You have to.
07:51To me, it's basically mandatory, you know, because when it goes
07:55when it comes down to helping and giving back,
07:58it's something that to me goes a long way.
08:00You know, as you guys know, I got my own foundation also.
08:04And it's all about helping people.
08:05It's all about helping children.
08:07You know, the children are the future of what we are.
08:10And this is this is something that, like I say, the Red Sox,
08:16every single player that comes to this organization.
08:20After you retire, even when you move on to somewhere else,
08:23you carry that with you because the Red Sox emphasize big time on it.
08:28And it's not just that, it's just the way they do it.
08:32You know what I'm saying?
08:33The way they involve you as a player.
08:36I mean, I retired seven years ago and I still
08:40always want to do something for the Marathon, for the Jimmy Fund.
08:43I mean, everything that is going on around here,
08:46it's all collapsing in the same space, helping people, giving back, you know.
08:51And to me, that that is in a special place.
08:54And David, I feel like you embodied and owned the pressure of Boston
08:59in a way that I had not seen prior to 04,
09:03where you accepted how much that championship meant.
09:07You understood the anger and the stress and the angst of the fans.
09:12And you somehow were able to fuel it into performance on the field.
09:16Do you look back on those days and wonder just how you did
09:19what you did in that ALCS and marvel at the way in which you sort of
09:24put the team and the city on your back at that time?
09:28I'll tell you what, when I first got here, I had no clue about
09:33how deep and connected the fans were with the team.
09:38But I remember when we lost those playoffs against the Yankees in 2003
09:45while we were playing here and even when they finished us up
09:49over there at Yankee Stadium,
09:52it took me a minute to look around and look at the fans' faces.
09:55And I swear to God, I feel like I was in a funeral.
10:00You know, that to me
10:04was an special moment and something that I
10:08never forget about until the last day I play.
10:11I saw people, you know,
10:15it means something special to win here in New England.
10:20I got that memo my very first year.
10:23I saw people really suffering for us not being able to continue,
10:30move on and win the World Series.
10:32And I took it personal.
10:34I love it.
10:35That's why this is our, don't say it.
10:40Don't poke me.
10:42It's our, it's our city.
10:43You already know.
10:44We'll leave the other word out. That's right.
10:47Winky!
10:48I'll say, I got a question for both of them.
10:50They're both still connected to the game
10:54and, you know, coming from the world of football
10:56and you watch the game and you try to stay connected.
10:59What do you think about the young players in today's game?
11:03You guys passed the torch to them and where they're taking the game.
11:06Do you like what you see?
11:08Are there things you'd like to see change?
11:09I mean, Jason, you're coaching.
11:12David, you're obviously an analyst.
11:16Do you like it?
11:16Would you like to see other things?
11:18What's your take on it?
11:20I guess I'll, you know, let you go first, David.
11:23Go ahead. Go ahead. Go ahead, Jason.
11:25No, no, go Papi.
11:28No, does he always, does he always defer to you like that?
11:32I would.
11:32No, actually, you know what?
11:34I always want him to go for it.
11:36He's the captain, man.
11:38I'm afraid of that guy.
11:40I do what he say.
11:42Just so you know.
11:45No, but I think the game right now
11:49had the best talent of all time.
11:51Really? I would say that.
11:52I mean, look at this guy's body.
11:55Everybody's athletic.
11:57Everybody is very powerful.
12:00Everybody. I mean, I enjoy it, really.
12:03I really enjoy it because
12:06during my time, during our time,
12:11the game doesn't have that many big guys.
12:15I would say if you go around, you know, like what you see out there right now.
12:21It's like a combination of MLB,
12:24football and NBA.
12:26You know, everything collapsing.
12:28Like the guys are incredibly athletic nowadays.
12:32Now, I will say this.
12:37I know that Cybermetric has changed the game
12:41in some different type of way,
12:45which is good because obviously, you know,
12:48everything has changed life-wise.
12:52So you had to just make an adjustment to whatever is out there nowadays.
12:57But the one thing that I'm a little concerned about
13:01in the game is, number one,
13:07I think we can.
13:09The one of the fun part
13:13about the game that I always enjoy was not just being a power hitter.
13:17You know what I'm saying?
13:18I want to remember.
13:21They used to play me, basically, everybody down this way, right?
13:27I used to enjoy hitting the ball down the line.
13:31Just just to prove you wrong, just to show you that I'm more than a power hitter,
13:37just to show you that I'm capable of,
13:41you know, use that barrel the way I wanted to.
13:44I don't I don't want you to predetermine what I'm capable of,
13:49you know, and I used to take a lot of pride in that.
13:52And watching the guys hitting nowadays,
13:56it's a it's a whole totally different game.
13:58Everybody basically get to be teached exactly the same thing.
14:03Yeah. Do some ball.
14:05Go to the plate thinking about hitting the home run.
14:08And it is OK. Yeah, it's OK.
14:11But I was during the All-Star game,
14:15I was interviewing Freddie Friedman,
14:19and he's one of the most he's one of the elite hitter in the league
14:24as of right now that he for power and for average.
14:28And the conversation end up like, Bobby, to be honest with you,
14:32nobody worry about me hitting for batting average.
14:35And I was like, that's sad, because to be honest with you,
14:40I prefer you to hit a blue for a bird, for a basic
14:43than just what you're striking out with bases loaded.
14:47You know what I'm saying?
14:48Yeah, I mean, every every every everything,
14:52all the good things that comes with a good
14:56batter, you have a lot to do with producing.
15:00And when you strike out, you do not produce.
15:02Jason, that's all I have to say. Jason.
15:05Well, I don't know if I can follow that.
15:08David, you're right, I should have went first.
15:10I know. Go ahead.
15:18No, go ahead. No, no, no.
15:20You got something.
15:21Well, well, I want to I want to ask you want to ask both of you guys
15:27in light of being here today about Tim Wakefield.
15:30Jason, you were as close as anybody to him.
15:34It's been a really tough year, I know, for this Red Sox family.
15:37But this event, the Jimmy Fund was so important to to Tim and to Stacey.
15:44Oh, absolutely.
15:46You know, with him being the face of the foundation for so many years,
15:49but that's just who he was, whether he was the face or not.
15:54His devotion to giving back to the community
15:57and being a responsible representative of it was something he took pride in.
16:02And, you know, yeah, it's it's tough around this time.
16:06I got punched in the face the other day because every day they, you know,
16:09Tim's part of the montage that they show pregame about 10, 15 minutes
16:13before game time.
16:15And for some reason the other day, it just punched me in the face.
16:17I don't know if it's because this is coming up, but it's like, man,
16:20you know, he's not here.
16:22And, you know, I've seen the montage a thousand times already this season.
16:26And oh, just Tim, what he represents
16:30and his care and his love for the community.
16:33You know, the Jimmy Fund, his space coasters from
16:38in Florida and Coco or Melbourne.
16:41And oh, it just represents what you should represent to,
16:46you know, set an example for and to give back with a good heart.
16:52I'll tell you what, there's not one time that I walk into Fenway Park
16:55and not think of him, you know.
16:59Tim was a masterpiece, you know, the guy.
17:03He he was special.
17:06Tim was a leader.
17:08Like I would say, Tim was
17:11a more than a human being because
17:15he cared about people in a type of way that I can't even describe.
17:19There's no words for it.
17:20You know, he he cared so much
17:25about helping people, about giving back.
17:27And when you think about the Jimmy Fund, you think about the rest of you.
17:32Definitely have to think about Tim and Stacy, because that's all they did.
17:37I'll tell you what,
17:40I have this event for my foundation.
17:44And the one year that they didn't come,
17:48it was very notable because they're there every year.
17:51Like that's what they used to do.
17:53Yeah. Help people.
17:55I learned so much from Tim Wakefield.
17:59That he made me a better person, you know, because that's what he
18:05that's what he used to do for everybody.
18:08Well, he made a great leader, you know.
18:11I mean, you name it.
18:12And you think about 0-4, Greg, 20 years later.
18:14But thinking back to Tim Wakefield in the context of that, what other player
18:19would the opposing Yankees manager single out by name after losing game seven?
18:24The way Joe Torre said, you know, it sucks for us,
18:27but there's a part of me that's happy for Tim Wakefield.
18:30Yeah, I mean, right.
18:31That's the type of respect that he had across baseball. Yeah.
18:35And and David and David,
18:38unfortunately, has to be on the set with A-Rod all the time.
18:43Yeah, I had to drop like it's hot once in a while.
18:46You know how it is on behalf of my Red Sox nation.
18:51Yeah. Just knock his purse out of his hand.
18:53Oh, they're still cheating.
18:57I know, but they're good guys.
19:00Yeah, they're good guys. Yeah, I know.
19:02It's easier to say that when you're being paid to be right.
19:07All right. Listen, both both of you guys, what you do for this event,
19:12what you've done as players for the for the Jimmy Fund and Dana Farber is
19:15extraordinary. So it's Jason.
19:18Thanks for taking the time.
19:19I know you're probably on your way to work, but we've oh, one final question.
19:23If it had to happen this evening,
19:26if either one of you were to be inserted into the lineup this evening,
19:30who would perform better?
19:33Right now. Yeah, right now, as you are right now.
19:39I will swing.
19:40I've at least I've at least caught maybe
19:45the other day, I got a better chance.
19:49All right. You agree?
19:51You think you're the captain?
19:56He's the captain. All right, guys.
19:59Thank you so much.