Jason Varitek and a Very Special Episode of Sox Appeal

Jason Varitek is getting divorced. There is always two sides to every story and normally I would try to stay away from the personal life of another person (walk a mile, etc, I have my own issues to deal with, etc) but this situation made me think of something that I wanted to share. (And this has nothing to do with him being possibly linked with Heidi Watney.)

The Red Sox these days are known not just for winning (see 2004 and 2007) but also for squeezing every possible nickel out of "Red Sox Nation." These marketing ploys run the gamut from the pink hats, green hats, red home uniforms to the disgusting schilling of Jon Lester autographed "cancer" baseballs. My least favorite of these marketing gimmicks is the NESN produced show Sox Appeal. Here's how NESN describes the show:

On each episode of "Sox Appeal," a single fan (hero) is sent on three blind dates over the course of one Red Sox game. Each date lasts two innings. During the seventh-inning stretch, our hero consults the Fenway faithful. They help the hero decide which dater should come in from the bullpen to close the game.

OK here's my point. Jason Varitek is a free agent (with the divorce that designation works on a number of levels). His performance at the plate is way down this season (he's making Julio Lugo look like Babe Ruth at the plate). What if the Red Sox were to give Varitek a contract extension but include a provision that since he's now single that he has to appear on the show Sox Appeal as a contestant (or as they put it - a hero). Can you imagine the ratings? I bet the suits at NESN can. Varitek can participate during a game Tim Wakefield is pitching and where Varitek would normally have the day off. It's not like they'll need him to pinch hit.

If there ever is a very special Jason Varitek Episode of Sox Appeal - remember where you read the idea first.