Paps making friends in New York

[1msudawg]

As if Jonathan Papelbon wasn't unpopular enough in New York.</p>

While the rest of the baseball world heaped praise on Mariano Rivera for his Hall of Fame career during Monday's All-Star media day, the Red Sox closer declared that he deserves to be the American League's ninth-inning man at Yankee Stadium Tuesday.</p>

"If I was managing the team, I would close," Papelbon said. "I'm not managing the team, so it don't matter."

I hate the Yankees</p>

 

[Ford76]

...

 

[Todd4State]

Well, in all honesty, Paps probably is the best closer in the game right now. I do think that Rivera is the best of all time.

 

[seshomoru]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/stats?playerId=5357

 

[spiderformsu]

...#$%^& let the facts get in the way of a good post?

I'm sure he would argue that saves don't mean **** for a closer.

 

[PineGroveBully]

When K-Rod closes out a game he acts as though he has just saved the planet from an incoming asteriod. Paps dances like a drunken idiot wearing goggles and stogie hanging out of his mouth amongst the fans.

Advantage: Paps

 

[hatfieldms]

Well, in all honesty, Paps probably is the best closer in the game right now. I do think that Rivera is the best of all time.

Rivera has been a much better closer than papelbon has been this season, and with it being the last year of Yankee stadium Rivera should be the one closing the game out
</p>

 

[SteelDawg99]

Of course Rivera should close out the game at Yankee Stadium in its last year before they open the new stadium. Paps has done a hell of a job this year closing some tough outings. If he had had even some miniscule run support in a few of those blown opportunities, his numbers would be even better. But on the other hand, i guess that's why big time closers get the big time money, they close regardless if its one run or 6 runs. Paps probably would put himself in regardless of what game it was to close it out... That's just the competitor coming out in him...

Ron Polk taught him that... ha ha

 

[hatfieldms]

Closers dont need run support and they don't come in with 6 run leads. They come in in save situations and close them out

 

[state20006]

laa has 57 wins. of those 57 wins krod has saved 38. we're at the all star break. this is easily and by far the best season by a closer ever ever. if he goes down i would be extremely interested in seeing if laa can continue their semi-dominance in the al west.
he makes $10 million this year. this week he announced he will be filling for free agency in the off-season. we will see a ridiculous payday/multi-year deal for this closer in the not so distant future.