The biggest news in Red Sox Nation of late is the Jonathan Papelbon interview published today in Esquire magazine. Paps has come under some criticism for the manner in which he blasted Manny Ramirez, saying all the things Red Sox fans have been saying since last summer but which the players have mostly kept to themselves.
If you thought Curt Schilling was a blowhard, it’s time to get acquainted with Jonathan Papelbon. The Red Sox closer is at least as opinionated as Schilling, and, as we learned today, is equally unwilling to sugarcoat things. Papelbon isn’t as political as Schill, but is more brazen. By the time he’s a 42-year-old veteran, he’ll be impossible to shut up.
Papelbon’s rant on Manny was entirely justified in my book. Francona stated that he would prefer his players not publicly discuss their teammates, but, guess what Tito, Manny is no longer a teammate. It’s nice for someone to come out and say that Manny’s behavior was inexcusable. It sets a standard for the Sox clubhouse, and personally, as a fan I’m tired of the Sox putting a Care Bears bandaid on every boo-boo the media gets a whiff of. If I were in the players’ position, I’d love the Sox’s policy of never publicly commenting on a player, but as a fan, it stinks. I’m still wondering what it was about Orlando Cabrera that made the Sox not want to sign him.
The Papelbon interview is disconcerting for reasons other than his Manny tirade. Author Chris Jones paints a portrait of Paps as a person so intense that it’s difficult to actually like him. He clenches his teeth so much the Red Sox tried to fit him with a mouthguard, which he hated. He calls the 2008 season a failure after the team reached the ALCS. He pounds the table and raises his voice when discussing Manny. He operates in fifth gear every day of the baseball season, so much so that one of the reasons the Red Sox wanted him to start in 2007 was to give him a few days off to relax in between appearances. Even with all these facts, Jones seems to take some, uh, liberties in his description of Papelbon. You get the sense reading the Esquire interview that Paps is a nearly inhuman creature, so intense he can barely function in society. But no one could be this intense and make it to the ripe old age of 28 without a massive heart attack or stroke. He couldn’t have a successful marriage, he couldn’t be a decent father, both of which are credits under Papelbon’s name.
One thing is unmistakeably clear, however. That intense facial expression Papelbon gives every batter in the ninth inning is no act. He wants to humiliate every opponent. Forget runs, every walk he issues or hit he allows is a failure to Paps. As he says, he wants “to be the best there ever was.” And that is great news for Sox fans.
Here’s the bad news. In December, Papelbon nearly ended Theo Epstein’s 6-year streak of never going to arbitration with an eligible player, but ultimately avoiding it while gaining himself a $6.25 million contract. For those of you keeping score at home, that’s a raise nearly of $5.5 million. While both sides showed interest in a long-term deal, they were unable to reach an agreement, although this offseason the Sox brass have succeeded in giving long-term deals to homegrown guys Kevin Youkilis, Jon Lester, and The Small Man with the Big Ego, Dustin Pedroia. Pedey, in particular, took somewhat of a hometown discount, but don’t look for Papelbon to follow suit.
Papelbon has publicly stated that while he enjoys being a Red Sox, he will not sell himself one dollar short to stay with the club past 2011, when he is eligible for free agency. Theo is famously opposed to overpaying for players, particularly pitchers, or giving long-term deals when there are questions about the player’s health. Papelbon hasn’t had any major injuries, but he’s only been in the majors for two full seasons and has already experienced some shoulder problems. If Papelbon demands a high-dollar, long-term contract in 2011, the Sox will kiss him goodbye. And with flamethrower Daniel Bard knocking on the door, they won’t feel pressured to keep Paps around.
The worst part of this, for Sox fans and the brass alike, is that Papelbon could well end up with the Yankees. Joba Chamberlain is being groomed to start for a large chunk of his career, and so, after Rivera - who is no young gun at 39 - retires, the the Yanks don’t seem to have a dominant closer waiting in the wings. (My apologies to Brian Bruney, I’m still skeptical). We’re all too familiar with the Yankees’ willingness to pay big bucks to stick it to the Red Sox, and there are few teams from whom Papelbon would receive offers that would be competitive with those he receives from the Sox. If Papelbon, God forbid, should hire Scott Boras as an agent, expect a long, messy bidding war between the two - or more - teams for Papelbon’s services. When the demands go beyond what the Sox are willing to pay, well…
Don’t be surprised if your 2012 Red Sox have Daniel Bard in the closer’s spot. Not a bad prospect, until it’s the top of the ninth in the Bronx and out comes that new Yankee closer with the terrifying facial expression. God save us all.
