"In the end, it was neither the 2.94 ERA nor even the 31 saves in 34 chances that most impressed Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein about closer Jonathan Papelbon.

It was the maturity.

"I actually told Pap earlier today, I think he took his overall game to a new level this year," Epstein said yesterday at Fenway Park [map]. "Not just on the field, but demonstrating some leadership capabilities. There was a time earlier in his career that I never thought I'd say that about Pap.""