Jonathan Papelbon News: Pro Sports Daily

Papelbon not above hearing it, for crying out loud

Comment

October 13

Boston Herald

"By all accounts, Los Angeles Angels center fielder Torii Hunter is a solid baseball citizen and one of the game's eloquent spokesmen. He can also play. But where does he get off lecturing Red Sox fans about which players they choose to boo? Following the Angels' Division Series-clinching, 7-6 victory against the Red Sox on Sunday at Fenway Park, which included a three-run rally off closer Jonathan Papelbon in the top of the ninth inning, Hunter took a timeout from his team's celebration to make known his disappointment that fans at Fenway booed the relief ace. "Why would you boo one of the best closers in the game?" Hunter said. "The guy brought you guys titles, different things like that. ..."

Angels sweep Red Sox out of playoffs

Comment

October 11

Los Angeles Times

"The Angels were one out from an extra night in Boston. But now they're on to either Minnesota or New York after staging an improbable two-out ninth-inning rally against one of the game's best closers to beat the Boston Red Sox, 7-6, completing a sweep of their American League Division Series. With the Angels trailing, 6-4, Erick Aybar got the rally started with a two-out single to center. Chone Figgins then worked a walk before Bobby Abreu doubled off the Green Monster in left field, cutting the Red Sox lead to a run. The Red Sox then choose to walk Torii Hunter intentionally to load the bases for Vladimir Guerrero, who needed just one pitch to make them pay, slapping a Jonathan Papelbon ..."

Papelbon is saving his best for last

Comment

October 6

Boston Globe

"Jonathan Papelbon, less than two months shy of 29, carries a rare burden for a man his age. He believes he must, at once, burnish and protect his legacy. Papelbon could never throw another pitch and still be one of the greatest postseason pitchers in history. That may sound like hyperbole. But there is this: 25 innings, zero runs, the only man to accomplish that. He is perfect. His record is a "near and dear thing to me, for sure,'' Papelbon says. But it is also at risk each time he takes the mound in October. A walk and a bloop double, one pitch left inches higher than he wants, and Papelbon suddenly becomes like everyone else. He actually gives up runs in the playoffs."

Papelbon under pressure to be perfect

Comment

October 6

Boston Herald

"The playoffs are here, which means perfection is once again on the line for Jonathan Papelbon. The next run the Red Sox closer allows in a playoff game will be his first. Papelbon carries an astounding 25-inning scoreless streak into Game 1 of the Division Series against the Los Angeles Angels, likely to be played on Thursday night in Anaheim, Calif. Papelbon's streak covers 16 appearances and dates to his first playoff game in the 2005 Division Series against the Chicago White Sox. Facing presumably the best teams in the game, Papelbon has allowed only 10 hits while striking out 22. The right-hander was asked what the lifetime postseason ERA of 0.00 means to him. "A lot," Papelbon said. ..."

Papelbon wants you to know he brings it in October

Comment

October 1

Boston Herald

"Jonathan Papelbon admits he's not much of a baseball historian or the kind of guy who sits up late at night and meanders through dusty tomes on Carlton Fisk's home run in Game 6 or Don Larsen going perfecto on the Brooklyn Dodgers. But he knows this much: If you do great things in October, people will remember you. And even if he doesn't read baseball history, he knows that there are those who do. So 20, 30 years from now, Papelbon very much wants people to be reading about him. "You bet I do," Papelbon said yesterday after he finished speaking with a gang of reporters at his locker. "I want to be one of those guys that people remember." Just a few minutes earlier, Papelbon had touched on ..."

Jonathan Papelbon delivers on vow

Comment

September 15

Boston Herald

"When Jonathan Papelbon was fighting command issues earlier this season, the Red Sox closer maintained all along that he wasn't concerned. Papelbon was in the middle of making some adjustments to his delivery and the increase in walks - he set a single-season high by July 8 - was a temporary reflection of that. Eventually, Papelbon vowed, he would gain better control of his fastball while taking unnecessary stress from his shoulder. In the long run, he would benefit. As the season reached the All-Star break, the expected turnaround had yet to materialize. More outings than not seemed like real battles, with clean innings the exception rather than the rule. Papelbon never wavered in his ..."

Papelbon sharp at this point in time

Comment

September 14

Boston Globe

"The beginning of Jonathan Papelbon's season brought too many base runners, too many games the Red Sox could have lost. There were certainly questions about his effectiveness. His WHIP (walks and hits per innings pitched) was far too high, and some wondered what had happened to the closer. Those concerns no longer appear to be valid. Coming in with a two-run lead in the ninth inning of yesterday's first game and getting the save, Papelbon continued to demonstrate that he's at his best as the season winds down. Including his one inning yesterday, in which he allowed one infield single to Akinori Iwamura, Papelbon has a 0.73 ERA over his last 10 games, over 12 1/3 innings. In that time, ..."

Papelbon sharp at this point in time

Comment

September 14

Boston Globe

"The beginning of Jonathan Papelbon's season brought too many base runners, too many games the Red Sox could have lost. There were certainly questions about his effectiveness. His WHIP (walks and hits per innings pitched) was far too high, and some wondered what had happened to the closer. Those concerns no longer appear to be valid. Coming in with a two-run lead in the ninth inning of yesterday's first game and getting the save, Papelbon continued to demonstrate that he's at his best as the season winds down. Including his one inning yesterday, in which he allowed one infield single to Akinori Iwamura, Papelbon has a 0.73 ERA over his last 10 games, over 12 1/3 innings. In that time, ..."

Papelbon fined again for slow play

Comment

September 4

Boston Globe

"Jonathan Papelbon's slow play once again drew the ire of Major League Baseball, which fined the Red Sox closer today for taking too long to deliver a pitch for at least the fifth time this season, an infraction incurred Tuesday night."

Red Sox in good mood

Comment

September 4

Boston Herald

columnist John Tomase

"Don't look now, but the Red Sox [team stats] are suddenly one of the best teams in baseball again. The offense is humming. By and large, the starting pitching has been pretty good, and projects to get even better when Josh Beckett [stats] rights the ship. The bullpen boasts half a dozen guys with closer stuff. Last night all of the above was on display in a 6-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field that virtually knocked the hosts out of the wild card race while reinforcing the notion that the Sox are picking a good time to start playing their best baseball of the year. "I like our spot right now," said left fielder Jason Bay, who drove in a pair of runs. "There's still a ..."

Jonathan Papelbon's extra effort saves Red Sox from Rays

Comment

September 2

Boston Herald

"Billy Wagner has recorded 385 saves in the big leagues, good for sixth on baseball's all-time list, and even he didn't relish the situation Jonathan Papelbon found himself in last night. After Hideki Okajima allowed the first five hitters he faced to reach and the Tampa Bay Rays climbed to within three runs of the Red Sox [team stats], manager Terry Francona summoned Papelbon to get his club out of a bases-loaded, no-out pickle. In the eighth inning, no less. "I told (Papelbon) I was glad it was him and not me," Wagner said. "I hate that. That two-inning thing? That's for young people, not for me." Papelbon never blinked. With some considerable help from an acrobatic catch by center ..."

Jonathan Papelbon stays calm

Comment

August 29

Boston Herald

"Even before he loaded the bases, his team clinging to a one-run lead, the count almost full on Travis Snider, the game hanging on his next pitch, Jonathan Papelbon had seen enough drama for the week. Last weekend, asked about the possibility of left-hander Billy Wagner joining the Red Sox bullpen, Papelbon spoke first, thought later. He wondered aloud about Wagner's status and readiness and from there, everything snowballed. As the waiting period on a trade for Wagner commenced, it sometimes sounded as if Papelbon had decided to block the clubhouse door to make sure the veteran lefty wouldn't trespass. Even after Papelbon tried to explain himself and the Red Sox staff rallied around him, ..."

Wagnerian drama plays out

Comment

August 24

Boston Globe

"First of all, it really doesn't matter what Jonathan Papelbon thinks about the Red Sox possibly getting Billy Wagner. He is a pitcher for the Sox and not the general manager, thank goodness. Fact is, if the Red Sox and Wagner's agent, Bean Stringfellow, can work out some contractual issues, and barring a change of course by the Mets, there's a good chance the 38-year-old reliever will become a Red Sox tomorrow. The Mets could either trade the lefthander to Boston, which was awarded the waiver claim on Wagner Friday, or award him to Boston outright. Wagner also could be pulled back, but given the financial mess the Mets are in and the limited payroll flexibility they have this offseason, it ..."

Red Sox's Jonathan Papelbon takes shot at in-limbo Billy Wagner

Comment

August 24

New York Daily News

"The next save Jonathan Papelbon makes should be against himself. First, the Boston closer dissed Mariano Rivera before the All-Star Game last season. Now he's pulling a similar act with the Mets' Billy Wagner. The Mets put Wagner on waivers and the Red Sox were awarded the claim, so it's likely the hard-throwing lefthander is going to be joining Boston in the coming week. Papelbon's reaction? He questions the wisdom of a move that most would call a no-brainer. "I like the way our bullpen sets up right now," Papelbon said Sunday. "We have a good dynamic in the bullpen. We have guys who know how to work well together. ... It's not that simple." Relief pitching has been one of Boston's ..."

Papelbon not sold on Wagner deal

Comment

August 24

Boston Herald

"The Red Sox' pursuit of Billy Wagner reportedly hit a stumbling block last night. And closer Jonathan Papelbon wasn't so sure that was a bad thing. Asked before the Sox' 8-4 loss to the Yankees if he thought the team should acquire the left-handed reliever from the Mets, Papelbon had mixed feelings. "It's a tough decision, because do you disrupt what we have now or do you make it better?" he said. "It's a tough decision, and I'm glad I don't have to make it." What makes the decision "tough" in Papelbon's mind appears to come out of a sense of loyalty he feels to the current bullpen. As in, if it's not broke, why fix it? Sox relievers have been mostly productive since the arrival of Daniel ..."

In Red Sox' Bullpen, Arms Not Exactly Open

Comment

August 24

New York Times

"Jonathan Papelbon is a superb closer for the Red Sox, but he has moonlighted as a general manager for the past two days. Papelbon has shown why he is better at firing fastballs than he is at assembling a bullpen. With the Red Sox claiming the Mets' Billy Wagner off waivers Friday, there is a good chance Wagner will soon join Papelbon in the Boston bullpen. Papelbon noted that Wagner's arrival would mean "somebody has to go," and he lamented how adding a new pitcher might even adversely affect the Red Sox. "Wagner is an All-Star-caliber pitcher," Papelbon said Sunday before the Yankees' 8-4 win. "He's a phenomenal pitcher. There's no denying that. What I'm trying to get across is it's just ..."

Bullpen thrown for a tough loss

Comment

July 29

Boston Globe

"In his most recent outing, Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon loaded the bases in a 3-1 game against Baltimore, but escaped unscathed. In his last appearance against the Oakland A's, July 8, he entered with a two-run lead, surrendered one run and put the winning run on base before striking out Jack Cust to end the game. Last night, Papelbon couldn't get out of trouble against the A's. Instead, he entered the ninth inning with a three-run lead and left with the contest tied, blowing the save opportunity in a 9-8, 11th-inning loss at Fenway Park. When he was given a chance to explain, he was remorseful but not one to dwell on the outcome. "What are you going to do? That's just the way I look ..."

Jonathan Papelbon, bullpen fail Red Sox

Comment

July 29

Boston Herald

"No one was expecting the Red Sox bullpen to go scoreless from the All-Star break to late September. But by blowing up for seven runs from the seventh through 11th innings in a 9-8 loss to the Oakland Athletics last night, the relievers fell back to earth way too abruptly. The ninth was particularly brutal. Bad defense - two costly throwing errors by shortstop Nick Green in the three-run inning - was an accomplice to the misdeeds of closer Jonathan Papelbon, who entered the game with a 7-4 lead. Papelbon responded by walking the leadoff batter, Jack Cust. Two quick outs later, a double by Tommy Everidge, his first major league hit, knocked in one run. Then a pair of infield singles hit to ..."

Jonathan Papelbon walking on heir

Comment

July 15

Boston Herald

"The box score for last night's All-Star Game always will hold a special place for Jonathan Papelbon. Here's what he'll see at the bottom: W - Papelbon (1-0). S - Rivera (1). The Red Sox closer views himself as the heir to the throne of Mariano Rivera, and the symbolism of the Yankees great saving Papelbon's victory was not lost on the young right-hander after the American League beat the National League, 4-3, in the 80th Midsummer Classic before 46,760 in a tidy 2 hours, 31 minutes. "Me being the winning pitcher and Mo saving the game, that's pretty neat and special," Papelbon said. "It's things like that in this game that will be at the top of my memory list throughout my career, for ..."

Listen closer to Jonathan Papelbon

Comment

July 14

Boston Herald

""Hopefully I won't have to wear my bulletproof vest," Jonathan Papelbon was saying yesterday, referring to a parade that will be held today in honor of the players who will participate in tonight's All-Star Game at Busch Stadium. And you read that quote and you want to say, "Uh-oh. Here we go again." But the challenge facing anyone who poses a question to Papelbon is to listen to the entire answer before moving on to the next topic. Case in point: his comment about the bulletproof vest. Papelbon wasn't expressing any fear about riding in a parade through St. Louis. No. He was talking about last year's All-Star Game, and about Yankees closer Mariano Rivera, who will be his American League ..."

Jonathan Papelbon, Red Sox show no concerns

Comment

July 10

Boston Herald

"If a closer's principal responsibility is to preserve the ninth-inning lead to which he's been entrusted, then Jonathan Papelbon is performing his job as well as anyone, converting 22-of-24 opportunities before last night. But a closer look at the numbers - and even a casual observation of some of his appearances this season - tells a different story. The Sox' usage with Papelbon has been nearly identical to last year. Last season, he made his 38th appearance on July 6; this season, Papelbon's 38th outing came Wednesday night, exactly two days later on the calendar than a year ago. In those first 38 appearances a year ago, Papelbon pitched 37 innings; this year, in those same number of ..."

Pap becomes Sox's all-time saves leader

Comment

July 2

MLB.com

"Jonathan Papelbon stood in front of his locker after Wednesday's game, getting ready for the trip back home after the Red Sox rallied for a 6-5 victory over the Orioles in 11 innings. The assembled media then saw the two baseballs the Boston closer had in his possession and asked where they were going."They're in my bag right here," Papelbon said with a smile. "They're going on the plane with me."Those baseballs are special to Papelbon, because they represent the final outs of the games on Monday and Wednesday. The Monday ball was the save that tied Bob Stanley's record for career saves, and the ball from Wednesday's win represented the save that made Papelbon tops in franchise history in ..."

Papelbon adds to savings account

Comment

July 2

Boston Globe

"Jonathan Papelbon, off the top of his head, doesn't know the precise contents of the trophy case he keeps at home. The case displays the baseballs he used to notch milestones, the tokens of his increasingly historic career. He does not know how many. "I got a bunch of them, man,'' Papelbon said. Papelbon tossed two more balls into his suitcase, the one he carries on to the Red Sox team charter, because he wanted to make certain they arrive safely in Boston. The balls will move into his case alongside the others, the most recent earned yesterday in a thrilling 6-5 win. With a perfect 11th inning, Papelbon redeemed his second blown save of the season Tuesday and, two games after tying him, ..."

Papelbon is Boston's saving grace

Comment

June 30

USA Today

"Jon Lester did the grunt work for the Red Sox Monday night, blanking the Orioles with seven innings of five-hit, eight-strikeout, no-walk ball. But closer Jonathan Papelbon faced one batter and, with an assist to Jason Bay, grabbed a share of the headlines in Boston. Papelbon's 19th save in 20 chances this season, tied him with Bob Stanley atop Boston's career saves list with 132. All of Papelbon's saves have come in the last four seasons. Stanley recorded saves in 11 of his 13 seasons with the Red Sox but also posted 30 of his 115 career victories as a starter. "When Bob pitched it was such a different game," observed Papelbon, prior to Monday's game. "Now it's so specialized. You have ..."

A tie that binds Papelbon and Stanley

Comment

June 30

Boston Globe

"Before the ball landed in Jason Bay's glove, a sliding snow cone grab, Jonathan Papelbon had already considered it a hit for Matt Wieters. "I was pretty much thinking, 'What's my first pitch going to be to Luke Scott?' '' Papelbon said of the batter in the on-deck circle. "Pretty exciting.'' Bay finished off last night's 4-0 win over the Orioles, giving Papelbon his 132d career save for the Red Sox on just three pitches. That tied Bob Stanley for the franchise's all-time record, with Papelbon reaching the milestone in just four years. And he did it in a four-run game, entering with men on first and second and two down. "It's an exciting feeling, but at the same time I just want to keep ..."

Paps takes in Mo-ment

Comment

June 30

Boston Herald

"For the past few days, as the Yankees' Mariano Rivera closed in on his 500th career save, Jonathan Papelbon did everything but keep a scrapbook. Before the Red Sox series finale in Atlanta on Sunday, Papelbon approached a couple of sportswriters and asked them if Rivera had reached the mark. No, not yet, he was told. Late that night, when the Sox arrived in Baltimore and checked into their hotel, Papelbon walked past second baseman Dustin Pedroia's room. Pedroia, watching the Yankees-Mets game on ESPN, caught a glimpse of his teammate going by and gave him the news. Now stop right here for a moment. Jonathan Papelbon is 28 years old and in his fifth big league season. He has been named to ..."

Papelbon isn't shying away

Comment

June 26

Boston Globe

"With little more than a week remaining before baseball unveils its All-Stars, Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon is a good bet to make the American League team for the fourth time in his four-year career. And if Rays manager Joe Maddon selects him, he will participate. "I'll go every chance I get,'' Papelbon said. "Why not?'' Well, there was last year. Papelbon endured brutal treatment from New York fans after saying he would like to close the All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium instead of Mariano Rivera - even after he made it clear he wanted Rivera to close. The climate this time in St. Louis will surely be more hospitable, and Papelbon said last year's experience would not deter him from ..."

On final push, Papelbon pulled through

Comment

June 22

Boston Globe

"The Red Sox had gone through two relievers yesterday who couldn't hold a lead. It was uncharacteristic - statistically, the Sox have the best bullpen in baseball - but not implausible. Tied entering the ninth tied, it was time to give Jonathan Papelbon a try. The bullpen might fail on occasion, but it seems Papelbon struggles only when he feels he can get away with it. That was true yesterday. Papelbon struck out Matt Diaz with a high fastball to get out of a self-created, bases-loaded jam. On the first pitch in the bottom half, Nick Green wrapped a home run around Pesky's Pole and Papelbon and the Sox walked off with a 6-5 win. "It's been tough for me lately,'' said Papelbon. "I haven't ..."

Jonathan Papelbon clarifies comments

Comment

June 20

Boston Herald

"Jonathan Papelbon was in a clarifying mood yesterday. On Thursday, the Red Sox [team stats] closer went on a national radio show and said, if things did not work out down the road with the Red Sox, he would be open to playing anywhere, including the Yankees. Yesterday, Papelbon did not backpedal from his comments, but he wanted to make sure people understood what he meant. "I know I said what I said, I'm not going to deny that. But I think at times fans may see that and think I don't want to play here and my manager and general manager might think I'm not happy here, and that's nowhere even close," Papelbon said before last night's game. "It kind of (ticked) me off today because it made it ..."

Papelbon fined for pace-of-game violation

Comment

June 13

MLB.com

"Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon told a newspaper he was fined $1,000 by Major League Baseball earlier this week for violating pace-of-game guidelines. Papelbon told the Daily Item in Lynn, Mass., that he received word of the fine from Red Sox manager Terry Francona earlier this week, and that his infraction had to do with the time it takes him to enter the game. "The rules are the rules," he said. "But, I'm trying to figure out ways to where I cannot get fined. Obviously, I don't want to get fined or slow the game down, or be a nuisance to slow the game down. The fans want to see games that are three hours or so. I'm trying to figure that out right now to not get those fines, for sure." ..."

Jonathan Papelbon heats up, but Dustin Pedroia saves Boston vs. Yankees

Comment

June 11

New York Daily News

"This is what Dustin Pedroia thought as he ran out to second base for the top of the ninth last night at Fenway Park, ran out there with his team leading 6-5, ran out there with the Red Sox trying to go 7-0 for the season on the Yankees and the Yankees trying to come from behind and win the kind of game it seems the Red Sox have been winning from them since April: "I thought: Pap's going to have to face 'The Guys.' I thought: If you're going to get a one-run game off the Yankees, maybe you should have to go through 3-4-5 in the order." He was talking about his closer, Jonathan Papelbon. And talking about Mark Teixeira, who had two doubles on this night and a rousing single off the wall and ..."

'Red' Rage! Sox Snaps At Fotog

Comment

May 25

New York Post

"Talk about your sore losers! Boston Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon took out his frustrations on Post photographer Anthony Causi Saturday night, hurling a towel at the lensman after blowing a save opportunity against the Mets. Papelbon had just surrendered a two-run homer to backup catcher Omir Santos -- leading to a 3-2 Amazin' victory -- when Causi had the audacity to do his job and photograph the closer as he sulked in the Sox dugout in the bottom of the ninth. Papelbon screamed, "Don't take my f- - -ing picture," according to Causi, before throwing his towel at him It should be noted: Papelbon missed Causi. "I guess he missed with two pitches that night," Causi cracked. Papelbon then ..."

Jonathan Papelbon works out kinks

Comment

April 29

Boston Herald

"It's only natural. Things were going so well for the Red Sox before last night's 9-8 loss to the Indians, there's got to be some nasty beast hiding behind the next corner that is going to jump out and scare the bejeezus out of them, sending them into a tailspin. Right now, the best candidate to fill the role of that beast in the corner is, for lack of anyone else, closer Jonathan Papelbon. The Red Sox closer can't be all right, you say. Look at those season-high three hits and the one run he allowed to the Indians on Monday night. Look at those two walks he allowed and the 30 pitches he needed for three outs against the Yankees in his appearance before that, on Saturday. And don't forget ..."

Jonathan Papelbon seconds emotion

Comment

April 8

Boston Herald

"Jonathan Papelbon looked fine in spring training but there were precious few moments when he let his inner "Cinco Ocho" shine. In the Red Sox' 5-3 season-opening victory against Tampa Bay yesterday, Papelbon was very much himself. The Sox closer retired the Rays in order in the ninth inning, getting Dioner Navarro and Gabe Gross on strikeouts to end it. "Obviously me coming in here in Fenway and pitching in Fort Myers are two totally different things," Papelbon said. "I'm always going to be one of those guys that feeds off the crowd and the adrenaline. It was good to feel that emotion again." With the temperature peaking at 45 degrees at first pitch, by the time Papelbon came on, the Rays ..."

Jonathan Papelbon pops off on Manny Ramirez

Comment

March 12

Boston Herald

"Jonathan Papelbon minced few words about the dark, final days of Manny Ramirez' tenure with the Red Sox in an interview in the April issue of Esquire magazine. Papelbon described Ramirez as a "cancer." "It just takes one guy to bring an entire team down, and that's exactly what was happening," Papelbon told Esquire. "Once we saw that, we weren't afraid to get rid of him. It's like cancer. That's what he was. Cancer. He had to go. It (stunk), but that was the only scenario that was going to work. That was it for us." At one point in the Ramirez rant, Papelbon laid out the problems presented by the enigmatic left fielder, whose highly questionable claims of injury, as well as his altercation ..."

Jonathan Papelbon lays off fastball

Comment

March 2

Boston Herald

"For the first outing of a longer-than-usual spring, closer Jonathan Papelbon went back to the basics. “I basically wanted to go out there and just pound the strike zone,” Papelbon said after his spring debut, a scoreless inning in the Red Sox’ 2-1 win yesterday against the Minnesota Twins. “I felt like, my first time out there, all I really needed to do was just go out there and keep my legs underneath me and pound the strike zone. I feel like I was able to do that, so I’m happy with my first (time) out there.” The Sox deliberately had held back Papelbon, keeping him out of the first four days of exhibition play with an eye toward gradually ramping up his workload. With just 10 pitches ..."

The world can wait

Comment

March 1

Boston Globe

"When the questionnaire was handed to him, Jonathan Papelbon marked down that he was not interested in playing in the World Baseball Classic. That was it. He was never asked again to be part of Team USA's bullpen, and the Red Sox certainly didn't mind that. "With the baby, it just didn't work out well for me," Papelbon said. "And secondly, I just don't think with me not necessarily locked in with a long-term deal I'm going to jeopardize my career to go play in a three-week tournament. "I think a lot of guys aren't playing in the WBC because there's just no good time for it. It's a situation where you have guys that probably should be playing, and you've got guys that don't even have jobs ..."

Slow start for Jonathan Papelbon

Comment

March 1

Boston Herald

"Jonathan Papelbon’s stint as Red Sox closer has always had a double espresso-fueled feel to it. This spring, though, has been far more of an herbal-tea affair for Cinco Ocho. Don’t worry, Papelbon has not switched to decaf. He will have his full twitch on in a couple more weeks. His belated spring training debut this afternoon, in game No. 7, is simply evidence of a program designed by both the ballclub and Papelbon to ease him into the 2009 season. “My first three years of spring training here were kind of full throttle ahead,” Papelbon said yesterday. “It’s not like that this year. Definitely I’m taking it easier, especially with the workload I had last year, especially with the workload ..."

Bob Stanley happy to pass torch to Jonathan Papelbon

Comment

February 19

Boston Herald

"Bob Stanley never considered himself a closer, and yet nearly 25 years after he became the Red Sox’ all-time saves leader the record remains his. But not for much longer. Fourth-year closer Jonathan Papelbon needs only 20 saves to pass Stanley’s 132 in the record books, and yesterday declared, “I do plan on breaking that. There’s no question about it. It’s definitely in my sights and something I want to do.” The man known as “The Steamer” is OK with it. “Records are made to be broken and he’s one of the premier relief pitchers right now,” Stanley said from USA Training Center in Newington, N.H., where he’s a pitching coach. “Did I ever think my record would last that long? No. But people ..."

From Papelbon, great stuff

Comment

February 16

Boston Globe

"Since the Johnny Damon and Kevin Millar "Idiots" and "Cowboy Up" days the Red Sox have become a less flamboyant team. Save for Jonathan Papelbon, that is. Papelbon must have learned something from those guys because he's become one of the game's true characters. Someone who can create color on and off the field at a moment's notice and who can bring a bit of those '03 and '04 teams back in small doses. He has the rare combination of flakiness and intense competitiveness. He can be so loose - see the step dancing at the postseason celebrations and the high school dance video that was released to the team last summer - yet on the mound he's focused and flowing with adrenaline. When Papelbon ..."

Papelbon secure with current contract status

Comment

February 16

Boston Herald

"Closer Jonathan Papelbon revealed some of the details of his offseason contract talks with the Red Sox yesterday. The right-hander disclosed that he turned down a two-year deal in the range of $15-16 million before accepting a one-year, $6.25 million contract last month, avoiding arbitration. “We tried to do a long-term deal, but it never really came to a head,” he said. According to Papelbon, the Red Sox made the two-year offer after turning down his request for a four-year deal. By signing the one-year contract instead, he hopes to have another monster season for the Sox so they can revisit something long term in the future. However, rejecting the two-year deal costs him security should ..."

Papelbon says he’s happy with 1-year deal

Comment

January 22

Providence Journal

"With a record contract in his pocket, Jonathan Papelbon is now ready to set his sights on a long-term contract with the Red Sox. Or not. “I like rolling the dice a little bit, Tanguay, you should know that,” the All-Star closer told co-host Gary Tanguay during an appearance last night on Comcast SportsNet, his first interview since agreeing to a $6.25-million contract — the largest amount ever earned by a closer in his first year of arbitration eligibility — when asked if he preferred going year-to-year in contract talks or seeking a multiyear deal. “You have to weigh so many different things [in negotiating a long-term contract], and it’s so hard to put it in perspective,” he said. But, ..."

Landmark one-year deal a relief for Sox, Papelbon

Comment

January 21

Providence Journal

"A potentially painful arbitration clash between closer Jonathan Papelbon and the Red Sox has been averted after the Sox announced yesterday that they have signed their star reliever to a record one-year deal. The team has also signed its other arbitration-eligible pitcher, reliever Javier Lopez, to a one-year contract. Papelbon’s deal is reportedly for $6.25 million, the highest ever for a reliever in his first year of arbitration eligibility. The deal saves both sides the trouble of going through the difficult arbitration process. “In Pap’s case, we think we have one of the best, if not the best, closer,” said Red Sox assistant general manager Jed Hoyer. “You certainly don’t want to go ..."

Nothing arbitrary about Papelbon's deal

Comment

January 21

Boston Globe

"Before yesterday, Jonathan Papelbon had achieved every hallmark of an elite reliever during his menacing, three-year tenure as Red Sox closer except one. He saved 113 games and hurled 25 postseason innings without surrendering an earned run, glaring and fist-pumping his way into club history. Only his compensation was lacking; he had never earned $1 million in a season. Papelbon's salary now is commensurate with his accomplishments. Yesterday, he signed a one-year contract that, according to a baseball source, is worth $6.25 million - an 806-percent raise over his 2008 salary of $775,000. In awarding Papelbon the deal, a record for a relief pitcher in his first year eligible for ..."

Jonathan Papelbon, Red Sox close a deal

Comment

January 21

Boston Herald

"A year ago, getting Jonathan Papelbon signed to a one-year contract proved problematic for the Red Sox, with the team’s excitable closer taking his case public and vowing to try to “set the bar” for others at his position. This year, with Papelbon eligible for arbitration for the first time, the situation had the makings of a drawn-out negotiation and the potential for the first hearing for the Red Sox since Theo Epstein became general manager. Instead, the team signed Papelbon to a one-year, $6.25 million deal yesterday, hours before exchanging arbitration figures with Seth and Sam Levinson, Papelbon’s representatives. What’s more, the two sides made at least some headway on a multiyear ..."

Papelbon, Lopez get one-year deals

Comment

January 20

Boston Herald

"In something of a surprise move, the Red Sox have reached contract agreements with both of their salary arbitration-eligible players — closer Jonathan Papelbon and lefty reliever Javier Lopez — even before the team and the agents for the players got to officially file their arbitration figures. Papelbon, who was thought to be a tough sign because of his intention to help “set the bar” for fellow closers, agreed to a one-year deal worth $6.25 million, a huge increase after making $775,000 last year. Of course, players often make a huge leap when becoming eligible for arbitration. The agreement makes Papelbon the 11th-highest-paid closer in the game in terms of average annual value."

Jonathan Papelbon, Red Sox close in on arbitration

Comment

January 20

Boston Herald

"Since Theo Epstein became Red Sox general manager in November 2002, the club has avoided going to a salary arbitration hearing, managing instead to reach a settlement each time with eligible players. Starting today, that streak could be in jeopardy. The Sox will exchange salary arbitration figures with the agents for closer Jonathan Papelbon, who is eligible to take part in the process for the first time. Papelbon, who made $775,000 last year, frequently has said he wants to be the new standard-bearer for closers, and the best way to do that is to go to arbitration and win. Multiple industry sources agree that the likely midpoint figure for Papelbon would be somewhere in the area of $6.25 ..."

Papelbon wasn't set as a Game 7 guarantee

Comment

October 22

Boston Globe

"Had the Red Sox taken a late lead in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series, the ninth inning may have brought an unfamiliar sight: someone other than Jonathan Papelbon emerging from the bullpen. Manager Terry Francona remains uncertain whether Papelbon, the first pitcher ever to throw his first 25 postseason innings without being charged with an earned run, would have been fresh enough to pitch in Game 7. "I don't know," Francona said. "I really don't know." In Game 6, Papelbon recorded his third save of the playoffs by retiring all three Rays he faced despite diminished velocity. He threw in the 91-, 92-mile-per-hour range, a few notches below his typical speed. Afterward, ..."

Elder Papelbon sees series from both sides

Comment

October 20

Boston Globe

"It is a strange place to find a museum dedicated to arguably the best and most beloved player in Red Sox history. But here, in the bowels of Tropicana Field, home of the Tampa Bay Rays, on a wide concourse named Centerfield Street, located next to the Rays' pro shop, with the exterior of a strip-mall storefront, sits the Ted Williams Museum and Hitters Hall of Fame. What's even more unlikely is the fact the museum is operated with the support of the Rays organization and run by a former New Hampshire State Trooper, Dave McCarthy, the museum's director, and John Papelbon, the museum's deputy director and the 52-year-old father of Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon. "Neither one of us knew what ..."

Papelbon bluffs way to save

Comment

October 19

Boston Herald

"The playoffs are Jonathan Papelbon’s time. He knows it. His teammates know it. The Tampa Bay Rays definitely know it. So when the ninth inning started last night, Papelbon had one thought - I’d better fool ’em. From the moment he started warming up until he got Willie Aybar to line out to third to save the Red Sox’ 4-2 victory, Papelbon was operating at less than peak efficiency and he knew it. o find out more!“I knew in the bullpen warming up,” Papelbon said. “I didn’t have my A-plus stuff. I’ve got to go will myself to win, anyway.” If last night was a ‘B’ performance, the Rays had better hope Papelbon doesn’t rediscover his ‘A’ game, because they’ll have no chance in Game 7 tonight. ..."