Papelbum wants nod to close over Mo

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.

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."

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.

Far be it for me to criticize anything Jonathan Papelbon says or does, but I have a real problem with what he said here. To be specific, I have a problem with the part where he backtracked. Why, Paps, why? Why back off your original statement when everything you said was right on target? F- New York. F- the Yankees. F- Mariano Rivera and the New York media that's been clamoring to have him close, start the game, bat leadoff, sing the anthem and bang ARod's wife on home plate. What in God's name does Terry Francona owe these worthless nitwits anyway? Isn't this the same press corps that's been ripping him for years and calling the Sox classless every time there's bad blood between the two clubs? And who cost Pedro an MVP he deserved? Isn't this the same fan base that boos every Sox player from Papi to Johnny Pesky? And the same Yankee organization that when Joe Torre used to get to manage the All Star game (it was a long time I ago I know, but try to remember back that far) used to put 15 of his own players on the roster? And now they're demanding Tito worship at the altar of Rivera the way they do? They're like a kid you grew up with who treated you like crap your whole life and as soon as you hit it big he calls you looking for favors. A frenemy.

Papelbon's first comment is of course right. You want to manage the game, win the goddamned World Series. Unless you do, STFU. The Red Sox earned Terry Francona the right to do whatever the hell he wants. And if I was him, I'd bring Sandman in in the 6th, if at all.