Paps peeved at "Red Carpet" treatment

Jonathan Papelbon woke up this morning to the back page of the NY Daily News screaming "Papelbum," and ripping him for saying he wanted to close instead of Mariano Rivera. Deep in the story, they noted that Paps told the Globe that he wanted Rivera to close, but why let the facts get in the way of a good story?

The day worsened for Paps during this afternoon's Red Carpet parade of All-Stars down Avenue of the Americas, when he was booed unmercifully and said some threats were hurled at him and his wife.

"I should have worn a bullet-proof vest,'' he said. "Brutal.''

He said his wife Ashley was very upset by their treatment, and he said in hindsight he wished she had not been there to accompany him. Jason Varitek said all the Sox players got a going-over by New Yorkers.

"Listen to that, and you'd think my last name was Varitek, and my first name and middle name were, 'Bleepbleep,''" he said.

Dustin Pedroia said he was the first Sox player in the parade.

"I think they were waiting for the other guys.'' Said manager Terry Francona: "I learned two things: They want Rivera to close and I suck.''

Francona said he hopes all Sox players eligible to play will get in the game, and while he didn't reveal who will close, he made it pretty obvious that if the AL has the lead in the ninth, Rivera will get the call.

Francona revealed that tomorrow he will return to Boston for an injection in his neck designed to alleviate a disk problem that has robbed him of much feeling in his left arm. He said he has had problems gripping objects with that hand.

Also, bullpen coach Gary Tuck has a bad back and will not be at the game. Sox strength coach David Page will make his debut as bullpen coach, Francona said, at the All-Star Game.

Oakland pitcher Justin Duchscherer has a throat infection and may not be able to pitch, and Tampa Bay's Scott Kazmir, who pitched Sunday, also is unlikely to go at the request of Rays management.