The dream of 9 league-average hitters is dead

Jason Varitek, you ended my dream. It may have been a long shot, but it's over. And although having you back at least fills the backstop, it does crush my desire to have nine league average hitters in the Red Sox lineup. Potentially now, eight of them, now that ain't bad. A lineup consisting of eight average or better hitters is actually very good, as long as some of them are above average. Because simply having eight average hitters and one below-average, well, that is a slightly below average lineup. Jason Varitek has been a supposed leader in the clubhouse. A supposed wiz with his game-calling skills. Some believe that there is a lot that Varitek does that cannot be seen in the numbers. And while that may hold true...it may not also. Having Varitek as the Red Sox catcher for the 2009 season isn't a bad option. After all, it could be much worse. But it probably wasn't their best (among realistic options) option either. Had the Sox traded away one of t...