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Varitek keeps game in perspective

Father's illness adds another layer to Sox captain's year of transition

Updated: April 11, 2010, 1:39 PM ET
By Gordon Edes | ESPNBoston.com

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- There are the public faces, and the private sorrows.

Before his first start the other day, John Lackey had a sensitive personal issue, one that led manager Terry Francona to tell him that if he needed to stay home instead of pitch, the club would understand.

Lackey elected to pitch.

Jason Varitek was in spring training when he learned that his father, Joe, was very ill, and the catcher left the club for a week to be at his ...

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