I wish Papelbon would just shut his Pie Hole for once.

[Fafnir]

TP right back at you crownsy. Nothing wrong with Papelbon thinking about his future.

Now if this becomes a big deal he should clam up about it, saying it once is fine. Once it becomes column fodder, you're best served to avoid the question.

[crownsy]

TP right back at you crownsy. Nothing wrong with Papelbon thinking about his future.

Now if this becomes a big deal he should clam up about it, saying it once is fine. Once it becomes column fodder, you're best served to avoid the question.

that i agree with you and celtic on as well.

if someone asks and you give an honest answer, thats fine.

If he brings it up  on his own or starts making demands on the red sox, that's not professional.

[indeedproceed]

maybe Im just old fashioned, but I appreciate the "I'm here now, and I'm going to remain here as long as I'm under contract" line way better than "I understand it's a business and who knows where I will be" line. Doesn't make it not true, but a lot of things that are true go better unsaid.

[Eja117]

maybe Im just old fashioned, but I appreciate the "I'm here now, and I'm going to remain here as long as I'm under contract" line way better than "I understand it's a business and who knows where I will be" line. Doesn't make it not true, but a lot of things that are true go better unsaid.

I agree with fanfir and crownsy. GMs commonly say "anyone can be traded" and it's fine. It's obvious that they're here till they're here. That's not really the question or why people ask it.

[CelticsWhat35]

TP right back at you crownsy. Nothing wrong with Papelbon thinking about his future.

Now if this becomes a big deal he should clam up about it, saying it once is fine. Once it becomes column fodder, you're best served to avoid the question.

That's the problem.  This isn't the first time with Papelbon, which is why the media continue to ask questions like that to him.  Because they know he won't just give the boring, typical answer.  He's made comments before that he's playing (paraphrasing) more for himself than he is for the Red Sox.  Call me a homer or whatever, but I think that's just plain stupid to say, for one.  And selfish for another.  Comments like that would make me wonder if the Sox are up 6-1 going into the 8th or 9th inning, is he at times hoping for a bullpen implosion so he can come in and save the day and make himself look better?

[johnnyrondo]

Let's say Paps wants to stay in Boston, but he also wants to get the best contract he can. If he eliminates the Yankees as a suitor, he loses a huge amount of leverage.

[Eja117]

TP right back at you crownsy. Nothing wrong with Papelbon thinking about his future.

Now if this becomes a big deal he should clam up about it, saying it once is fine. Once it becomes column fodder, you're best served to avoid the question.

That's the problem.  This isn't the first time with Papelbon, which is why the media continue to ask questions like that to him.  Because they know he won't just give the boring, typical answer.  He's made comments before that he's playing (paraphrasing) more for himself than he is for the Red Sox.  Call me a homer or whatever, but I think that's just plain stupid to say, for one.  And selfish for another.  Comments like that would make me wonder if the Sox are up 6-1 going into the 8th or 9th inning, is he at times hoping for a bullpen implosion so he can come in and save the day and make himself look better?

For what it's worth I would way rather a guy tell the truth and be like "Yeah I'd go play for the Yankees" than be like Damon and say "I will never play for the Yankees" and then go do it anyway.
It's only as big a deal as we let it be. Just cause the media wants to sell papers doesn't mean we have to buy them

[johnnyrondo]

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2009/06/papelbon_strong.html

"I don't want to go (expletive) play for the Yankees,"

[cdif911]

I've heard the sox are quietly trying to move him, which is why we've seen so much Bard lately...

[johnnyrondo]

I've heard the sox are quietly trying to move him, which is why we've seen so much Bard lately...

crotor?

[mahonedog88]

I mean I'm obviously not a fan of what Papelbon is saying, but I'm not surprised one bit.  We've known that he's not going to take a hometown discount.  He wants to set the market for closers, he wants to get paid biiig bucks.

If the Sox don't want to do that, with Rivera's career coming to an end soon, it wouldn't shock me one bit to see Papelbon sign with the Yankees.

I've already accepted that there's a good chance it could happen.

[cdif911]

I've heard the sox are quietly trying to move him, which is why we've seen so much Bard lately...

crotor?

haha no - from a beat writer... can't name names though, sorry

[Fafnir]

I've heard the sox are quietly trying to move him, which is why we've seen so much Bard lately...

crotor?

haha no - from a beat writer... can't name names though, sorry

What would they be looking to get for him?

[KG]

He's been saying the same type of thing for a while now.  It's not something we have to worry about for a couple of years regardless of what he says.  He's with the team through the 2011 season.  And who knows, maybe we'll want someone else in the closer role by the time his contract is up anyway.  Anything could happen over the next 2 1/2 years. 

[guava_wrench]

In baseball, younger players have little leverage in contract negotiations. He feels cheated and the only leverage a young player has is making the team that played hard ball suffer down the line, or to at least make that team think there is a real chance that how they treat him now will impact that decision.