What a prima dona, while a future great player he may be he should show some class and acknowledged the fact that this is Rivera's arena....it's the last All-Star time he will ever pitch at The Stadium.
Paps while have a lot more opportunities in the future.
So sit down little boy and let the old man do his job.
Jonathan Papelbon says he should close All-Star Game instead of Mo
BY MARK FEINSAND
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
Monday, July 14th 2008, 10:28 PM
As if Jonathan Papelbon wasn't unpopular enough in New York.
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.
"If I was managing the team, I would close," Papelbon said. "I'm not managing the team, so it don't matter."
Papelbon, though, seemed to believe that Boston's championship a year ago not only ensured Terry Francona's place as the American League manager, but him being the closer.
"We've both earned that right; us, by winning the World Series and having the opportunity of having our manager there and our team being represented, and Mariano by what he's done for this role, we're in Yankee Stadium and blah, blah, blah," Papelbon said. "It's not that easy. Everybody thinks it's a cut and dry answer, but it's not."
Francona, meanwhile, was coy when asked about his ninth-inning plans.
"Out of the spirit of the game and competition, and having a little bit of fun, we're not going to announce the rest of our rotation yet," Francona said, saying he didn't want to give the NL any help by disclosing his plans.
When the subject of who should close out the game for the AL tonight was broached, Rivera respectfully tabbed himself as the most worthy candidate.
"It's definitely tough, but we're here in Yankee Stadium. I think I should get the shot," Rivera said. "I definitely would love to. Knowing Francona, I have a feeling he'll put me there if we have the opportunity to close the game."
Rivera's career accomplishments easily trump those of the other five closers on the AL roster, but the Yankees' All-Star could make a case for the closer's job tonight based solely on his numbers from this season.
Rivera is 23-for-23 in save opportunities, allowing just one run in those games. Baltimore's George Sherrill leads the AL with six blown saves, while Papelbon (4), the Angels' Francisco Rodriguez (3), Minnesota's Joe Nathan (2) and Kansas City's Joakim Soria (2) each have blemishes on their record. Rivera's 1.06 ERA is the lowest of the six relievers, and his four walks are less than half of his closest competitor.
Asked if Francona would make it out of the Bronx alive if he didn't use Rivera in the ninth, Papelbon said, "You're starting to scare me with that question. Do you have the mob after him or something?"
After his 50-minute media session, Papelbon backtracked on his statements, telling the Boston Globe that he had had a change of heart after answering questions on the subject for the better part of an hour.
Paps while have a lot more opportunities in the future.
So sit down little boy and let the old man do his job.
Jonathan Papelbon says he should close All-Star Game instead of Mo
BY MARK FEINSAND
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
Monday, July 14th 2008, 10:28 PM
As if Jonathan Papelbon wasn't unpopular enough in New York.
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.
"If I was managing the team, I would close," Papelbon said. "I'm not managing the team, so it don't matter."
Papelbon, though, seemed to believe that Boston's championship a year ago not only ensured Terry Francona's place as the American League manager, but him being the closer.
"We've both earned that right; us, by winning the World Series and having the opportunity of having our manager there and our team being represented, and Mariano by what he's done for this role, we're in Yankee Stadium and blah, blah, blah," Papelbon said. "It's not that easy. Everybody thinks it's a cut and dry answer, but it's not."
Francona, meanwhile, was coy when asked about his ninth-inning plans.
"Out of the spirit of the game and competition, and having a little bit of fun, we're not going to announce the rest of our rotation yet," Francona said, saying he didn't want to give the NL any help by disclosing his plans.
When the subject of who should close out the game for the AL tonight was broached, Rivera respectfully tabbed himself as the most worthy candidate.
"It's definitely tough, but we're here in Yankee Stadium. I think I should get the shot," Rivera said. "I definitely would love to. Knowing Francona, I have a feeling he'll put me there if we have the opportunity to close the game."
Rivera's career accomplishments easily trump those of the other five closers on the AL roster, but the Yankees' All-Star could make a case for the closer's job tonight based solely on his numbers from this season.
Rivera is 23-for-23 in save opportunities, allowing just one run in those games. Baltimore's George Sherrill leads the AL with six blown saves, while Papelbon (4), the Angels' Francisco Rodriguez (3), Minnesota's Joe Nathan (2) and Kansas City's Joakim Soria (2) each have blemishes on their record. Rivera's 1.06 ERA is the lowest of the six relievers, and his four walks are less than half of his closest competitor.
Asked if Francona would make it out of the Bronx alive if he didn't use Rivera in the ninth, Papelbon said, "You're starting to scare me with that question. Do you have the mob after him or something?"
After his 50-minute media session, Papelbon backtracked on his statements, telling the Boston Globe that he had had a change of heart after answering questions on the subject for the better part of an hour.