Pap on his contract

Pap hasn't paid his dues yet. Another great year or two are required before he gets the big bucks.

He's awful full of himself. Shut up and play.

I say pay the man. His current salary is a joke

Are you serious???

Comparing yourself to Rivera's career after 2 years. Wow, another arrogant Boston prick.

Play out your contract buddy.

Whatever, Pap. Remember that most people in this country won't make in ten years the kind of money you will make in one. Yes you are special. Yes you are dominant. Yes you are at the top of your game. But the Sox went all out with Foulke and look where that got them...one year. Granted it was also the year they broke the curse, but you can bet they are going to be careful before signing any closer to a long term big money contract again.

From the very first time Jonathan opened his mouth, it's only been about the money. There is no doubt he's a great pitcher, but with him, there has never been word one about the team. He's no Tom Brady, Tedy Bruschi or Randy Moss.The Nation better get itself prepared for a year or two down the road when he'll be pitching for the Yankees.

You have got to be kidding? $70 mil for outfielder whats-his-name. $600K for a second (gulp) string catcher. Give the kid what he wants so that he stays here long-term.

Shut up and pitch, you'll have your big pay day soon.

Hey, I love the Red Sox, but please, how much you guys ask for is absolutely insane. Do you really think you are justified in asking for these huge salaries while social workers, teachers and people who care for our elders make so little.
It just baffles me. I know you'll have comments from others telling me to shut up. These are the people that are the real "IDIOTS".

Paps - I love you but you have only done it for one and a half seasons - you certainly deserve more money, but to put yourself into Riveras catageory is absurd. For you to make these comments, you have taken yourself out of the team philosophy, and into the me philosophy. Get over yourself - to the Sox management - I don't ever remember Rivera demanding anything from the Yankees... Give the big-headed dink nothing...

I agree that Papelbon does deserve a well-paying contract and the Sox shouldn't profit off his work without sharing the wealth with him, so to speak.

But I don't quite understand how him making buckets of money necessarily helps or benefits the game of baseball. It certainly doesn't benefit the fans who can't afford to take their kids to baseball games anymore.

MMMMmm AAhhhh, spring is in the air, and with it, the stink of greed. When will players learn that even at league minimum, they make more money to play a game than most people make. It's nice he feels obliged to continue the greediness for the sake of others. Too bad thats not passed on the the fans, who by the way, are the ones paying the highest ticket price in baseball to come see him work an average of 2 innings a game. I love baseball and the RedSox, but its time the owners stopped the bleeding.

all do respect to Pap and the job he's done....he's not Rivera yet

all do respect to Pap and the job he's done....he's not Rivera yet

Patience, my boy, You've had two good years. Mariano Rivera has done it his whole career. You're very good, but you have a long, long way to go to be put in the same class as Mariano. You'll get what you deserve in due time.

"with me coming up behind him...." (Pap's reference to Mariano Rivera),

Easy Papelbon, youve only been doing this for 2 full years, not 10.

Somebody keep him in check!!!!

Actually the past 11 years, Pap. Get it right.

ahh pap, mo has been doin it for 10 yrs. right, not 3 so dont disrespect him or yourself . the money will come my friend, in time . so just watch yer mouth for a couple more yrs.

ahh pap, mo has been doin it for 10 yrs. right, not 3 so dont disrespect him or yourself . the money will come my friend, in time . so just watch yer mouth for a couple more yrs.

Ugh ... Papelbon's behavior is ridiculous, but not unexpected. He's a rock head. This is a guy who has played ONE full Major League season. He should not put himself in the same sentence as Mariano Rivera, a Hall of Fame closer.

Pap has the stuff to get there, but these remarks are uncalled for. Sox management should not consider throwing tons of money at him until he can prove that he's got at least one more healthy season in his arm/shoulder.

I am sure Francona and the veterans are ignoring these rants of an immature kid.

How many years did Rivera play for cheap money before he got paid?

Love you Paps, but you're still just a pup, keep it up and you'll get yours.

I so dislike reading stories such as this. It changes the way I view the player. Papelbon is such a great pitcher and has done an amazing job for the Red Sox. He's talented, he works hard, he should be paid well. But the notion that he and his agents are haggling over money with the Sox because they are motivated by altruism is so lame!

He seems pretty cocky comparing himself to Mariano Rivera.

oh please-give me a break--he has a contract--if he were losing he would still expect to be paid and would be paid that figure--i know he's young, but he is acting like a little baby-pitch and earn yourself a nice big contract-don't upset your fan base-and don't be a spoiled brat.

No offense Pap but Mariano you are not yet......

Oh shut up allready dude. earn your take like others did before you.........geez !!

Paps, get over yourself. You can carry out this "certain obligation" you feel when you're a free agent, not now. You have to suck it up for one more year - that's the way the system works for everyone.

I think Paplebon is great, but to say that his situation is tough? There are Americans going to be hungry (as i was as a child) and Americans losing there homes and Americans losing their lives in a time of war.

"That situation, man, it's a tough situation for me right now because basically I'm at a point to where I feel like the position I'm in, there's a certain standard that needs to be put in place here," "It's a TOUGH situation for me"? This sickens me!

Suck it up! You're only going to make $425,000 this year? I'm out of work!

wow...thats a bunch of crap....papelbom drinking a little too much of his own kool-aid....keep that stuff in-house kid, and dont go spouting off to the media about carrying the closer-contract torch...disappointed in this story

Quit crying crybaby. It must be difficult to have to follow the rules.

Do it like Mariano and they'll pay you. You have a long way to go.

Poor Paps. Stuck only making 6 figures for playing a game. Too bad for him the Union he's apart of agree to the salary structure. Maybe he should spend less time seeking out cameras and more time talking to his Union Rep.

I wish Pap would quit being a dildo.

I love what Paps brings to the game (excluding his victory celebrations) but he doesn't deserve a top tier contract at this point of his career. He mentions Rivera and there is a key difference: Sustained excellence.

He hasn't made it to arbitration yet!

wow, Jon, can you sound a little bit more self-righteous?

Remember, you are a year away from arbitration. Yes, you're great... you're one of the best on the team, but why don't you sit back and enjoy it? You'll get your payday in time. Remember, us workin' guys are all making wayyyyy under whatever salary you're even making now, and we're gonna stay that way forever. We're the ones that pay you. Just enjoy the ride, and take whatever deal you get handed to you. Work hard and you'll get yours... But to say that you deserve this for your family, and for the game of baseball??? who are you preaching to here? ? the other 900 guys making way more than all of us ?? or the millions of people that watch you and look up to you..

have some sense..

If the Red Sox don't show this guy the money......they are fools of the highest degree.

for once in my life i'd like to read about an athlete who wasn't all about the money. an obligation to his family? gimme a break. what did pap make last year 450,000 plus playoff and world series bonuses plus endoresments? most americans don't make that in a decade. don't get me wrong, i love the guy and am glad he's on our team, but comments like those make me think of Latrell Sprewell saying 'i've got my family to feed.' these guys are clueless. you throw a baseball for a living.

Hold your horses man... good as you are, comparing yourself to Mariano Rivera is a bit premature, don't you think?

Pap, shut up, play ball and, when you get to call the shots, make your choice as to where playing baseball and making money is best for you and the family. In the meantime, stop answering questions about it and trying to leverage public opinion in your favor. I know this is not the way things are done now, but it is the fair way and the way it should be done. Work with the system as it is now, and, like Asante Samuel, make your move when you can.

hey papelbon , after another 6 or 8 years maybe , but trust me you are no mariano rivera ...

hey papelbon , after another 6 or 8 years maybe , but trust me you are no mariano rivera ...

love you but you are not in Mariano's neighborhood yet. MLB is littered with closers who lit it up for 2 or 3 years and drifted away. I believe you are something special and hope to watch you for the next 8-10 years but wait your turn for the big $$$ it will come and it will be a fun ride for the fans

I love Papelbon as much as the next person but he needs to keep his mouth shut and just be the closer. His pay day will come. The media created his persona as a quote machine and very accessible. Now he's taking his celebrity too far with the way he's acting.

He is starting to sound like Roger....

Here we go. The start of a long miserable season. Looks like Paps has taken on the 25 players, 25 cabs mentality. He should shut up and pitch. Because the first blown save he gets, in say April, I will be the first one to remind him that he is no mariano riviera!

We kid ourselves into believing that these athletes are happy with an already overblown salary, but it always comes down to the same thing....championships? No. Love of the fans? No Living in a nice community? No. You've got to show the other guys that you earn more than them. Somehow, I'm in less of a hurry to plunk down hard earned money on a trip to Fenway this season.

You know, I like Papelbon a lot but he's lucky he can throw a hard fastball, otherwise he'd probably be flipping burgers.

Listen, Pap, you ain't no Mariano Rivera. You got a loooong time before you can put yourself in the same breath as Mariano Rivera.

Oh boy, here we go, the making of another prima donna. The dude is a stud, but comparisons to Rivera is a little premature. The Red Sox have shown, for the most part with the new ownership, that they recognize potential greatness and hang on to it. Show a little patience and maturity, Pap, you'll get yours. At least you didn't say, "I need more money to feed my family."

Someone should set that arrogant little snot straight. To make comparisons to Mariano Rivera is absolutely ludicrous. The only standard Pap has set is to bring arrogance to a new level. Not bad for a young kid with two years experience in the majors!

the man has got to eat!!!!

the man has got to eat!!!!

the hell with him and his big mouth...go out and do it again this yr, then we'll talk

SHUT UP PAPS

If this guy isn't the best closer in baseball, he's certainly in the top 3. Why not pay him what he deserves now instead of letting this drag out to arbitration? Sure the Sox will save money in the short run, but in the long run all their doing is running the risk of pissing him off. Paps is well worth making happy. Do it.

i love pap, but he needs to start learning when to be quiet at times. and again, im a sox fan through and through, but he still has a long way to go before he can compare himself with Rivera

Whoa There Big Dog !!

Let me first say that I am a HUGE Papelbon fan! But to say that you are coming up behind Mariano is getting a bit ahead of ourselves, don't you think? Make no mistake about it, you are one of the best closers in baseball 99.9% lights out and you also have the makings of a HOF'r but you have got two years under your belt with one of them cut short to injury. So you'll have to excuse mgmt for not offering the blank check kind of respect you say you've earned. I am all for you getting a huge raise 2-3 million one year contract then to arbitration.

Any MLB player witheven an average level of talent and accomplishment that elects to play the, "I need to take care of my family" card when it comes to money, is an ignorant bufoon, totally detached from reality.

We all must be wealthy beyond our wildest dreams to "care for our families".

No wonder I have no use for such spoiled jerks, and NEVER watch them.

What a prick, we (the sox) grew this guy from the dirt, he would be nothing without us, be grateful you're on this team.

First! They should sign him to a long term deal - but not break the bank before his contract is up. Baseball deals are guaranteed anyway!

He is nasty give him the cash. They gave Coco an extension after one month and look what it got us. Pay the dude already.

Can somebody explain to Papelbon how this thing works? He's not a free agent - nor will he be for years. If he wants a long term deal at this point in his career, he has to take a huge discount. (Sizemore, Tulowitzki)

Don't think meat, just throw.

Still a pup and he wants to get paid. How about paying the RS for drafting you, training you, educating you, giving you the opportunity. Also, if you want to include your name in the same sentence as Mariano Rivera, you best have comparable stats, longevity et cetera. Sorry Pup, you don't.

Jonathan. . .Jonathan. . .Jonathan. . .the only thing that can totally ruin the thus-far excellent relationship that you have shared with Sox fans are unwise comments such as "I feel a certain obligation. . .for the game of baseball. Mariano Rivera has been doing it for the past 10 years. With me coming up behind him, I feel a certain obligation to do the same." The fans respect effort and a winning-attitude, not whether some other ballplayer makes $8 million instead of $6.5 million because you see yourself as a pacesetter for elite closers. Take a step back. . .get a little perspective. . .and remember that this is why you have an agent: so that you don't have to make arguments that the Average Joe or Jane will never understand because they can't even imagine that kind of money.

Slow down Pap....you are worlds away from being Mariano Rivera. You've had only 1 1/4 good years. And, you're not saving baseball by bitching for more money.

Hey Paps:
I make $17.00 an hour part time and also run my own business. My wife also works full time.
We are just making it, so shut up, throw the damn baseball and get your money next year. The $500,000 you'll make this year will take my wife and I about 7 years to make.
Don't be greedy.

Paps deserve a huge raise. He was the catalyst for the Sox World Series win. Give the kid his due

Give me a break...you've just completed one healthy season in a row....string a couple more together and than we'll talk. Did the Sox ask for any money back when you were injured in '06? Keep doing what you're doing and you'll have more money than you can spend.

Papelbon is getting too greedy. Yea he has won some big games for us, but to demand Rivera money so early in his career is a big reach right now.

What an ass. Shut up and pitch

Hey Pap!

I would play the game I love for a lot less! And I would love to have the security of a multi-year contract, as opposed to meeting an ever increasing sales quota every month!
I personally feel that Fans have added respect for Players and Agents who keep their contract dealings out of the public eye, and at the conference table, where they belong.
All that being said, given how much you bring to the game, as well as you have pitched, especially in the clutch, and how popular you have rightfully become, I am confident you will get your financial reward next year! Also, I get a kick out of your maniacal dancing.. You Sir, are a born Entertainer! Best of Health and Luck! Dan

the only "obligation" he feels is to get more zeroes on his paycheck. not saying he doesn't deserve to get paid, but that last part is a bunch of crap.

Add one more greedy bastard to the list !!!

Based on the gramma used in this interview by PAPELBON, maybe his lack of communicating skills is the reason why he can not make his point.

I think Papelbon is right. He should make Mariano Rivera money.

Rivera's Salary by year: -------------------------------- Papelbon's Salary by year
1995----$109,000.00 -------------------------------------- 2005---- $?????
1996----$131,125.00 --------------------------------------- 2006---- $335,400.00
1997----$550,000.00 ------------------------------------- 2007---- $425,500.00
1998----$750,000.00 ------------------------------------- 2008

Hey Pap, still "feel a certain obligation to do the same."??

Pap-- you're good at what you do- don't get me wrong. But two seasons does not make you the standard setter. If you can show longevity, put up the numbers day in and day out like the best are expected to do- and not get hurt and miss time - then you will show me you are in the elite. Until then, be thankfull of your talent and your fan base.

Greedy bastard. Just shutup and throw strikes!

shut up and play you whiner. you have only been playing two yrs. you are not even arbitration eligable... camparing your self to mariano rivera is ludicrous. he is, or was a proven pro over his career.... and you are already showing shoulder problems..... see us in two years when you have a resume to go on!!!!!

the sox dont have to do a thing for 2 years....deal with it like every other mlb player has to...you concieted texan

while pro ball isn't for everyone he can come to work with me for a couple of day's and see what a job is like. i'd like to make the ml minimum. if he can't get his family fed on 2000 a game ,he better pick 6 numbers in the lotto. i'm losing my respect for the kid.

Hmmm, looks like a bit of a problem brewing here....lets see Pap says:
"We're chugging away at this thing and we want to get it done, believe me, and we can move on. At the same time, I feel a certain obligation to not only to myself and my family to make the money that I deserve, but for the game of baseball. Mariano Rivera has been doing it for the past 10 years. With me coming up behind him, I feel a certain obligation to do the same." How is pumping up your own status and demanding more money than (by tenure) you deserve help the game of Baseball exactly? What logic is he using there? Come on, just leave it at "I think I deserve more money than I'm getting now." and leave it at that? He'll get what the Sox brass thinks he deserves and what they can afford to pay. Given that Pap is not yet eligible for free agency, or even arbitration...he'll take what he gets. And change things when he is eligible to do so.

Shut up and wait your turn like everyone else... and I'm a lifelong Sox fan and was thrilled when you went back to closing last spring!

what a jerk, you've been doing it for 2 years buddy - you are not Mo Rivera just yet

give him a pass... I'm already tired of his ego and his antics after games. Throwing 13 pitches during the last 5% of the game does not entitle you to pretend you did it single handedly...jackass.

what a bunch of crap! shut your pie hole paps... when its your turn you'll get your big payday. If the sox want to be prudent and get something done early, then fine, and you know what? There's a trade-off. You want your money early, then you get less dough. You can't have it both ways.

I think he needs to increase his use of common sense somewhat and show more discipline in the way he handles himself on and off the field.
Good luck to both him and the Sox, but comments like his in such a delicate situation don't help all that much if he checks history.
If he doesn't let his ego or nievity get in the way, he might stay a few years.

Yeah.. I could understand his point of view. It must be really tough to make a small TON of money instead of the 10's of million of dollars like Mariano. I guess its not enough to be a hometown hero and be admired by every young kid that ever put on a baseball glove. Its amazing how quick these young guys forget what life in the real world is all about. Try being an average guy (like me) and buying tickets for your family to go to redsox game... Then come talk to me about money.

Paps is showing his age a little here. This shows a great deal of immaturity. The salary system and process of moving through arbitration years into free agent years is all pre-negotiated with the union, and he has to live with it. Airing his contract issues with the media is not a smart nor fan-endearing move.

What happened to the $ Million dollar World Series Baseball?

What happened to the $ Million dollar World Series Baseball?

I don't understand why Dirt Dogs cited Papelbon's comments as whining. He is clearly one of the top 2-3 closers in the game today. He's a young guy and not as savvy as he should be with the media but you cannot argue with his point that he should be paid as a closer at the top of his profession.

we love ya man...shut up and pitch. there's this thing called service time which you ain't got so....shut up and pitch.

Here's the deal Paps. Mariano has four rings, you have one. Mariano has pitched in six WS, you have pitched in one. Mariano didn't make a $1M in a single season until his fifth year in the bigs, didn't top $10 million until his ninth year in the bigs. You seem to want everything right now, on your schedule. That is why Dirt Dogs has you whining.

Trust us...the pants thing was cute when you were a champion. Now that you are whining, it looks childish.

What a muppet he's been.