There’s no secret that I think very highly of Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon. But there’s one thing about him I don’t understand. Check out this head scratcher from Jonathan Papelbon:
I’m here to get my fair share of money,” he said. “My main priority is to stay healthy and be able to make money, not to go out and try and hurry up and win a championship this year (at the risk of injury). It’s not like I’m hurrying up and going back to the closer’s role because we have a good team this year and I’m going to blow (my arm) out and try and win as many games as we can (at any cost). No, it’s not going to happen.
“I’ve got a lot of money to be made in this game, whether it’s with Boston or not. My goal is to make sure I’m ready to play every day and to make money, and you can’t make money if you’re sitting on the bench. That’s the way I look at it.”
????? Yeah, I’m sure Lucchino and Epstein loved reading that. Well, since Rod Tidwell raises the point, why did Papelbon move back to the bullpen if not to hurry up and win a championship? One thing is for certain, the Red Sox better lock him up soon, because he’s not a guy you want to just let go — he’s the best closer in the game, and probably would be an awesome starter too. Oh yeah, and make sure you give him a sweet signing bonus for good measure.
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This entry was posted on Thursday, May 3rd, 2007 and is filed under Baseball. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
I like the Papelbon as much as the next guy, but what a fucker?
I have an idea, 2nd Year Major-Leaguer, you don’t get to decide how much money you make. Wait until your 6 years of service time are up and become a free agent, kid–that’s how it works.
If you’re really good and healthy (and maybe you are), the BALLCLUB gets to decide if they want to extend you an offer to lock you up during your arb years.
Keep pitching, avoid your arm falling off and wait for that pay-day. Don’t go chirping away about how much money you want to make, it’s bad karma.
Out.
Nice — when are the guys going to realize that they don’t hold their own fates?
gotta get paid man
it’s a bidness
yeah, but unlike ‘Nam, there ARE rules in the business of baseball
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