Paps: Mariano will close
NEW YORK -- Jonathan Papelbon spent much of the 50-minute long media interview session with the AL All-Stars answering questions about who he thought should close tomorrow night's game.
He said that he'd love to close the game -- he wouldn't be who he is if he didn't feel that way -- but that he understood it would not be an easy call, since the game is in Yankee Stadium and Mariano Rivera is not only a hometown favorite, but maybe the greatest closer in the game. Papelbon said he'd talked it over with manager Terry Francona a couple of days ago, but that Francona had not made a final decision.
But after the interview sessions were over, Papelbon pulled a reporter aside outside of the hotel ballroom in the Grand Hyatt and said that he had something more to say.
Papelbon took the reporter's tape recorder, held it to his mouth like a microphone, and said: "This is Jonathan Papelbon, closer of the Boston Red Sox. Mariano Rivera will be closing the 2008 All-Star Game in Yankee Stadium.
"I'm making a statement right now, saying I don't want it, I want him to have it. I said all that earlier, but that's the way I feel about it.''
Francona will go with what the game calls for. If it's close and someone has a history of having Mo's #, he won't be afraid to go to Pap. If it's tight in the 8th, he won't be afraid to go to Paps. Francona will call it right.
Very classy move by Pap. Mo may have earned the right to close out this particular game simply by being who he is. But in the end, it is Tito's call.
Of course, this is all assuming the AL is winning the game at that point... I can't imagine the NL players are too thrilled with all this nonsense.
I like the gesture on Papelbon's part, but I don't think it's really necessary. I just espn.com'd the stats, and Pap has given up 11 runs in 40 innings, whereas Rivera has given up just 5 in about an inning more. The guys ERA is a little over a run better, and as much as I love pap if you go by stats Rivera has performed better so far this season and deserves the chance to close.
Mo's house, Mo's game to close. Besides, he's the best closer this year. No blown saves, (23 for 23), only 1 ER in save opportunities. Also, his ERA is 1.06
Papelbon: 4 blown saves (28 of 32), ERA: over twice as high: 2.43
Objectively, there isn't much of a discussion.
Susan, you are insane.
Biggest no-brainer move of the game. It doesn't matter what the numbers are, Papelbon's ERA could be zero this year, and Rivera will close it. To even suggest that not be the case is plain stupid. If the roles were reversed, and this was Fenway going out, who else would you want? Look at 1999, when it looked like Fenway maybe seeing its last ASG, Pedro goes out there and dominates. Granted, that was a little different, but imagine Torre or whomever managed that game went with the Yankee starter instead? All hell would break loose, and rightfully so. Most ASG's recently have been in new ballparks, but this is also a sendoff for Yankee stadium. Trust me, I am a diehard Sox fan, but even I can see the history here, whether the game "counts" or not.
snooooooooze
I'm a huge Papelbon fan, but this is Rivera's game to close ( or come in earlier if the game is on the line). Francona has great respect for Rivera, and he will do the right thing to honor the greatest closer this game has ever seen.
I just hope the NL isn't leading as the game winds down, complicating this secondary issue. First thing's first. Win the damn game and secure home field for the AL team that makes the WS.
This game is in Mo's house so if the AL has a chance to close ot out. I think Tito will go with MO. It's the right thing to do! Paps can have the 8th!
That's a nice thing Papelbomb did. He'll learn something by watching Mo
#6"susan you are insane,"...chill...it's the best of all possible worlds. It doesn't matter as long as the AL wins. Susan has her finger on the pulse. Either one can go in the 8th or 9th as long as we are in the game.
Nohitter
THIS GUY IS SO DELLUSIONAL ITS A JOKE. HE SOUNDS LIKE HE IS HANDING THE ROLE TO MO. HE ISNT EVEN THE 2ND BEST CLOSER IN THE LEAGUE AFTER MO...
Mo should close the game. Greatest closer in baseball history. I'm a Yankees fan, but if the game was at Fenway, I wouldn't be too concerned if Francona had gone with Papelbon.
KRod is going to set the all time save record this year on the best team in the AL. Papelbon is an afterthought compared to him and Rivera.
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