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Jonathan Papelbon Imagines the Bullpen as the Strangest Grouping of Pro Wrestlers Ever

Jim Adair - June 26, 2014

Photo Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Photo Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

That’s a solid Ric Flair impression up top: Noted crazy person and part-time closer Jonathan Papelbon believes in his fellow bullpen residents. In fact, he believes in them so much, he’s found out who all of their spirit-animal pro wrestlers are. According to CSN:

“Papelbon is a pro wrestling aficionado. Over the last few weeks, he has given his mates in the bullpen nicknames to go along with pro wrestlers.

Diekman is Jake the Snake Roberts.

De Fratus is Goldust.

Giles is Diamond Dallas Page.

Martin is the Iron Sheik.

Hollands is Eddie Guerrero.

Mike Adams is The Hulk.

Antonio Bastardo is Rey Mysterio.

B.J. Rosenberg is Stone Cold.

Jeff Manship is Mankind.

Bullpen catchers Jesus Tiamo and Bob Stumpo are The Bushwhackers.

Bullpen coach Rod Nichols’ nickname is a classic — Vince McMahon.

Papelbon, of course, is Ric Flair. He enters games to a sound track of Flair’s booming voice at Citizens Bank Park.”

“I gave Diekman the nickname Jake the Snake,” Papelbon said. “When he takes the mound, I want to see Jake the Snake out there.

“When I take the mound, I don’t want Pap out there. I want Ric Flair out there.

Somewhere, Cinco Ocho is PISSED.

Papelbon, of course, considers himself the same as a man who is a 26-time World Champion, even if all 26 of those championships are fictional. The rest of those I’m not sure I see. Jake Diekman is Jake “The Snake” because of the whole Jake thing, sure. De Fratus as Goldust? Okay. Bastardo as Mysterio? We all know what he did there. The rest of them? Jeff Manship is from Texas, while Mankind is from the Boiler Room [Editor’s note: The Man thing, Jim. The Man thing.]. Ken Giles throws pretty hard, and DDP does yoga now. I can’t say I get it, but if I did, and my mind and Papelbon’s followed the same paths? That’d be more worrisome.

…

In other news: WWE SummerSlam Heatwave Tour is coming to Wildwood.

Jonathan Papelbon Hath Seen No Leaders

Kyle Scott - February 21, 2013

image from mobilwi.typepad.com

Somewhere, Jimmy Rollins just made a big frowny face.

Speaking yesterday to Mandy Housenick of the Allentown Morning Call, Jonathan Papelbon gave us our first real memorable quote – for better or worse – of the 2013 season:

“Since I've been here I haven't seen any leadership.”

“Every good team that I've been a part of has had a good core group of veterans and an influx of a good group of young guys and I think that's a recipe for success. But at the same time, that doesn't mean we're going to have success. In my opinion, this team has way more to lose than to prove. I think a lot of guys on this team have proved a lot. But I think this year if we don't go out and do what we're capable [of] and supposed to do, then we have a lot more to lose.”

 

Well, he’s not wrong.

I wasn’t a huge fan of the Papelbon signing, but he surprised me last year. He was one of the few guys on the team you could count on to do his job, and do it well. His intensity wasn’t just some shtick (what it seemed like in Boston). Rather, it was a genuine disdain for losing not winning (those things are different). Without being too cliché, he seemed to take great pride in his craft. But while there are many things for which you can criticize the (2012) Phillies – chasing bad balls, poor fielding, bad bullpen – leadership, on a team with Rollins, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Roy Halladay et. al, isn’t on the top of most people's lists.

Papelbon didn’t put all of the blame on others, however:

“I felt like I could have been a little bit better leader than what I was, and I held back at some times. Hindsight's 20-20.”

 

Good stuff from Housenick, who has more quotes on the matter from Halladay and Charlie Manuel.

Jonathan Papelbon Speaks About Using Controversial Anti-Inflammatory in Boston

Kyle Scott - February 11, 2013

image from mobilwi.typepad.com

Jonathan Papelbon was happy to about the Red Sox's (legal) drug policies. Speaking to Gordon Edes of ESPN Boston, Papelbon said that, as a member of the Red Sox, he frequently took Toradol, a legal but controversial anti-inflammatory that has been known to cause internal bleeding: [ESPN.com]

Papelbon said that when he was administered a physical by the Philadelphia Phillies prior to signing as a free agent after the 2011 season, doctors asked him if he used Toradol. When he answered in the affirmative, he was told that he would have to stop.

"They told me, 'We don't do that here.' That kind of surprised me," Papelbon said Saturday, speaking by phone from Phillies camp in Clearwater, Fla. "I haven't had a single Toradol shot since.

"But here's the thing you have to understand. There are so many organizations that do it. Not only baseball, but every sport. Football, basketball, hockey. It's not just the Red Sox."

 

We don’t do that here. I like that.

Papelbon, who said that he used the pain-killer maybe once a month, as needed, was one of many notable users of Toradol, according to the ESPN.com article– Clay Bucholtz, R.A. Dickey, NFL players and others have enjoyed its benefits. Or suffered from its side effects. Bucholtz says it probably contribued to the esophogitis that hospitalized him last year.

Papelbon’s claim comes just days after Curt Schilling said that, in 2008, he was told by a member of the Red Sox organization that performance-enhancing drugs were an option for him to aid in his recovery from a shoulder injury.

You get the sense that Paps – and Schilling – was eager to throw the Red Sox under the bus a little bit, especially once you see this parting shot in the article:

Papelbon said he is happy in Philadelphia and doesn't miss Toradol.

"They use safer anti-inflammatories here, have other ways to keep you strong," he said.

 

Read: Papelbon says he took Toadol while with the Red Sox

The Phillies Won a Game Last Night and Jonathan Papelbon’s Post-Game Interview was Awesome

Kyle Scott - August 19, 2012

Screen Shot 2012-08-19 at 9.44.37 AM

After recording a much-needed four-out save last night, not even Gregg Murphy’s softballs, lobbed across the interview plate at about six miles per hour, could bring Cinco Ocho back to reality. Those eyes, man.

Video after the jump.

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Winning Streak

Kyle Scott - July 24, 2012

 

UPDATE: Jonathan Papelbon Prevents Fan From Dismembering Every Single Phillies Reliever (Now With Video!)

Kyle Scott - July 8, 2012

Screen Shot 2012-07-08 at 9.43.45 AM
Photo via the best, or worst, Twitter handle ever, (@moo4KOW)

Hey, here’s something!(?) Who’s with me?!

– looks around, no one… oh, you, a 33-year-old legal clerk who watches Phillies games from his man cave in his mom’s South Philly basement.. alright! welcome! – 

The crowning of achievement of the 2012 Phillies season happened last night: Jonathan Papelbon stepped up big time in the seventh inning when a fan tried to climb into the Phillies bullpen, presumably to suicide-bomb Antonio Bastardo.

The above picture is the only one that exits (or, that we can find), but there were numerous accounts of the incident, which is surprising, because I would have assumed that most folks threw in the towel by that point in the game.

Here’s one version of how it happened, from Tom Dabomb Jackson on Facbeook:

went to the phils game tonight with my brother and my father who i haven't hung out with in almost 15 yrs, they lost but i had an awsome time!!! saw a fan try to jump into the phillies bull-pen right in front of my seat and Jonathan Papelbon put him in a head lock!!!!! that shit was wild! ……..and then Jeremy Horst threw me the ball he was warming up with right before he went into the game!!!! WHAT A GAME!!! AND I WAS SOBER!!

 

Neat. 

Anyway, were you at the game? Had you not slit your wrists before the seventh inning? Have pictures? Video? Evidence that there are live bodies in the Phillies’ bullpen? Let us know!

UPDATE: (@kevinpmcw) sends along somewhat grainy video. You can view it after the jump.

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Carlos Ruiz Makes the All-Star Team

Kyle Scott - July 1, 2012

image from mobilwi.typepad.com

MLB announced the All-Star selections today. Cole Hamels, Jonathan Papelbon and Carlos Ruiz have all been named to the team. Ruiz was added as a manager’s selction. Annnd that was just the most exciting moment of the season.

It’s Unclear Whether Jonathan Papelbon Paid Jim Thome $5,000 for His Walk-Off Home Run

Kyle Scott - June 23, 2012

Screen Shot 2012-06-23 at 8.44.56 PM

Cinco Ocho may or may not have paid Jim Thome cinco mil after today’s game.

After blowing his first save of the season, Jonathan Papelbon told his teammates that if someone walked it off, he would pay them $5,000. Thome did. And Papelbon paid up. Or at least he said he did.

“I came in the clubhouse and I said, whoever walks this guy off, I’ll give them five grand.  I didn’t think Jim would do it right off the bat. Not that he needs the money. But…”

Is that something you pay up on? 

“Yeah, I just wrote him a check for $5,000.” 

 

That’s a good story and all, but Thome denies any money changed hands:

Screen Shot 2012-06-23 at 8.45.50 PM

Someone’s lying, or Paps hadn't yet handed over the check. We'll keep you updated.

Mandy Housenick of the Allentown Morning Call has video of Papelbon talking about it here. 

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