Tag Archives: Jonathan Papelbon

November 15, 2011 · 7:32 AM

So Long Papelmania

You remember him rising through the ranks. He was supposed to be this great started that the team just had to stretch out. He was in the Craig Hansen (remember him) and Jon Lester group of Sox pitchers that were going to be the next generation.

I remember in 2005 he was the lone bright spot in an awful playoff series against the White Sox. He started his career coming out of the bullpen and pitched four scoreless innings in that series.

Then there was the memorable meeting he had with Francona. The team had him slated for the starting rotation and he instead said he wanted to be a closer. Of course Keith Foulke was still in that roll but he struggled and Papelbon took the reigns.

He was a powerhouse as a closer helping the team win the World Series in 2007. He was dominant in 2008 and 2009 as well. Then in 2010 he started to struggle. Instead of being the lights out closer he’d been in previous seasons, his walk to strikeout ratio started to go down and opponent’s OPB and batting average against started going up.

Rumors persisted at that point that he would be gone when his contract was up. After all he’d gone to arbitration every year opposed to signing a long term deal. In fact many envisioned Papelbon in New York pinstripes.

This past season his numbers improved (coincidence in a contract year? I think not) but I think we’ll all remember that when the Sox season was on the line and their post season berth was in their grasp, Papelbon blew the game and the Sox lost the game and were eliminated from post season contention minutes later.

Rumors floated early Friday afternoon that he as gone to the Phillies and yesterday it became official after he passed his physical. $50 million over four years with vesting options that can make it $60 million. The Sox weren’t going to go four years but from the clip above, seems they never had a chance.

Unlike Johnny Damon or Pedro who played the Sox against their future employer, Papelbon took the offer and left.

We’ll remember the chucklehead dancing to Tessie in compression shorts and goggles. We’ll remember him coming into the game to the Ultimate Warrior theme and then of course Shipping Up To Boston.

Now it’s up to new boss Ben Cherington to either promote Daniel Bard to closer or bring in another free agent. We’ll have to wait and see.

For me, no hard feeling to Papelbon. I wouldn’t want to come back to this clusterfuck of an organization at this point. Way too much instability. I wish him luck going forward, just not against the Sox.

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September 29, 2011 · 5:44 AM

Success!

The Orioles eliminate the Red Sox and celebrate their last place finish

The greatest collapse in the history of baseball is complete. A nine game lead with 25 to play and the Sox completely blew it. This beats the old mark of 8.5 games blown by the Phillies in 1964 and seven games blown by the Tigers in 2009. Epic failure, epic collapse.

How did it happen?

I’ll tell you where I left off. There were two outs, two strikes in Tampa with the Yankees leading 7-6. Dan Johnson, a journeyman first baseman, who was batting .108 coming off the bench belted a line drive home run into right field and the Rays tied the game. By this time the Yankees had most of their starting lineup off the field and were on their 10th pitcher.

Again, that’s where I stopped watching.

I woke up at the wee hours this morning and checked out what happened after that.

The Sox had Scutaro thrown out at home in the bottom of the eighth. That would have given the Sox a 4-2 lead. They failed to get that insurance run and relied on their closer, Jonathan Papelbon, to close out the game. And as you know by now he failed to do so. Back to back doubles had the game tied and the save blown. A single to left that Carl Crawford (the team’s $142 million off-season acquisition) couldn’t catch and the Sox lost.

Shocking fact, it was Papelbon’s only loss of the season (good time to cash it in) and just his third blown save. But, it was his second blown save in eight days to the Orioles. He doesn’t blow those two saves, the Sox are in the playoffs.

So 3 minutes, yup, 3 minutes after the Sox lose in Baltimore we flash down to Tampa. Like I said, at this point almost all the Yankees starters are out of the game. They’re onto their 11th pitcher of night. And Scott Proctor gives up a line drive 317 foot home run that barely cleared the left field fence. Rays win, Sox are eliminated.

This is proof that you can not buy a championship. You think the Sox brass would know this after watching the Yankees attempt to do so for several years. Nope, they tried to copy them. Overpaying for Crawford who was a complete bust this season. Picking up Lackey last year for no apparent reason other then picking up a big name during their “bridge year”.

What happens now? Since you can’t fire the team, I say you fire the manager. I want a Lou Brown type manager that stops covering for the players and has some accountability in the clubhouse behind closed doors and with the media. I say you let Theo walk to the Cubs. Get a GM that is going to build a team with chemistry. No more JD Drew (read no personality) Red Sox. Bring back the Idiots. A team with a personality is much more fun to watch and root for.

Needless to say the off-season will be interesting following a second consecutive third place finish.

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September 8, 2011 · 6:14 AM

Still Waiting

As summer winds down and football season starts gearing up, many people have tuned the Red Sox out. I don’t blame them. When the playoffs are pretty much a foregone conclusion in early August, the next two months of baseball are pretty boring. You’re just waiting for the match ups to be finalized with who is playing who.

Lost in that two months of waiting of course are individual accomplishments. Like a few years ago when Ortiz was trying for the Sox team record in homers. Or will a guys on the team vie for the Cy Young, MVP, etc.

This year that individual accomplishment everyone is waiting on is Tim Wakefield’s 200th win. This has been a waiting game that has been on people’s radar since July. He won his career 199th game on July 24th and his 200th seemed to be an inevitability.

Well, we all know how that’s gone. He’s had seven starts since his 199th win and an 0-3 record with four no decisions. Last night was his eighth try. With an 8-5 lead, Wakefield left the game to the bullpen who absolutely imploded. Daniel Bard gave up a career high five runs walking in the tying run with the bases loaded when it can be argued Papelbon should have been brought in for a four out save.

So once again, Wakefield did not get his 200th win and the waiting game continues. It is unclear at this point if he’ll get his scheduled start next Tuesday at home against Toronto. At this point Francona should just get him a “vulture” win when the team is up 12-0 or something similar in the fourth and have Wake come in and steal the win. That way everyone can stop talking about it.

Maybe next time.

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May 4, 2011 · 6:15 AM

Almost There

Just putting it out there that I watch most of the Celtics game last night. But after tying the game they let Miami go on a 14-0 run taking them right out of the game. Thanks for wasting my time. The Perkins trade is looking worse and worse as the Celtics season comes closer to an end.

So let’s not talk about the Celtics. Let’s talk Sox.

The Sox have won three games in a row following a stretch that saw them drop two of three to Baltimore and Seattle. They’ve just beaten on the Angels this season and it doesn’t look like they’ll be letting up in the next two days.

Last night saw Jon Lester pitch another great game. Following a rough start his first time out this season, Lester has hit his stride. Last night he pitched seven strong giving up only one run early while striking out 11 and only walking one.

Then how was the final 7-3?

Well that would be our “elite” closer Jonathan Papelbon just taking a dump on the mound in the ninth. With the Sox up 7-1 following a four run bottom of the eighth they brought in Papelbon who was set to work the ninth in what would have been a save situation before those four runs.

He proceeded to give up three straight hits out of the gate. The third hit being a ground rule double that scored one. A sacrifice fly added another run and all of a sudden it was a closer game. He struck out one and then got a ground out to end the game but what the hell happened to the elite closer that would come out of the ‘pen and get a 1-2-3 inning?

Um, he’s gone. I just hope that Theo has another guy in the pipeline like Bard that can set up Bard next season when Papelbon is gone (you know it’s inevitable).

The better news, is that the team is almost there. To the .500 mark that is. When you consider the slow start the team had this season and they’re only four games back, I’m not too worried. It looks like the #8 spot in the lineup has Crawford coming out of his funk as he had another two hit game yesterday with an RBI and a stolen base.

Bruins at home tonight. Back tomorrow with a recap.

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December 22, 2010 · 7:10 AM

A Ruse?

Yesterday ESPN.com, bringer of all things spin for the Red Sox, had an article where Theo Epstein was quoted as saying that Jonathan Papelbon is and will be the closer of the Red Sox despite the team signing Bobby Jenks.

Well ESPN like the video above says, I don’t appreciate your ruse. Your clever attempt to trick me.

See, even with Epstein coming out and saying that Papelbon is closer just fuels my speculation that the team is shopping Papelbon and will certainly try to move him prior to the season.

Think about it, Jenks is signed only for a two year deal. That’s enough time for him to be the closer for 2011 and 2012 if Bard isn’t ready. So in essence he could be the “bridge” to Bard. And after last year it’s quite apparent that the Sox are comfortable with a bridge.

So why not trade Papelbon following his disaster season a year ago? I’m OK with it. It is very clear that following the 2011 season that Papelbon is looking to cash in big (he thinks he’s going to get Rivera money; I don’t think so) in the free agent market.

So how about instead of a draft pick or two the Sox would get when he walks, we get a couple players. Even in his last year following a career worst year, he should net some decent prospects in return.

Let’s trade him right fucking now.

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