THEY'RE PAID TOO MUCH TO LISTEN:

New stance is on tap: After dismal '08, Varitek changes (Adam Kilgore, March 5, 2009, Boston Globe)

Dave Magadan first wanted Jason Varitek to alter his lefthanded batting stance two years ago, a notion met with resistance by a proud man. Varitek's style - tapping his front foot for timing, wiggling his hands high above his shoulders - had made him one of the best hitting catchers in baseball. There was no reason to change.

"I think it was just a matter of what he felt he was capable of doing," said Magadan, the Red Sox' hitting coach. "He felt very comfortable doing the toe tap. It was something that he had done for a long period of time."

Varitek hit the offensive nadir of his career last year, batting .220 overall, and .201 lefthanded. He met with Magadan after the season and offered a promise: If he remained with the Sox, he would follow Magadan's advice.