BBTF's Newsblog Discussion :: MLB: Papelbon sounds off on Manny

Baseball Primer Newsblog
— The Best News Links from the Baseball Newsstand

Thursday, March 12, 2009

MLB: Papelbon sounds off on Manny

So help me…If he made that Ziva Rodannesque pursed lip look while sounding off…I’ll freak!

Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon had strong words about former teammate Manny Ramirez in an interview in Esquire magazine’s April issue.

“It just takes one guy to bring an entire team down, and that’s exactly what was happening,” the right-hander told the magazine. “Once we saw that, we weren’t afraid to get rid of him. ... He had to go. It (stunk), but that was the only scenario that was going to work. That was it for us.”

Papelbon detailed Ramirez’s controversial acts last year before the Red Sox shipped him to the Dodgers in a three-way deal at the July 31 trade deadline, including Ramirez’s suspicious injuries and physical confrontation with Red Sox traveling secretary Jack McCormick.

“He was on a different train!” Paplebon said. “And you saw what happened with that. We got rid of him, and we moved on without him. That comes from the manager, and it comes from guys like Jason Varitek and Tim Wakefield and David Ortiz.

“So Manny was tough for us. You have somebody like him, you know at any point in the ball game, he can dictate the outcome of the game. And for him not to be on the same page as the rest of the team was a killer, man!”

Repoz Posted: March 12, 2009 at 11:40 AM | 65 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: red sox

Reader Comments and Retorts

Go to end of page

Statements posted here are those of our readers and do not represent the BaseballThinkFactory. Names are provided by the poster and are not verified. We ask that posters follow our submission policy. Please report any inappropriate comments.

1. karlmagnus Posted: March 12, 2009 at 12:04 PM (#3100858)

Knuckle-dragging Dixiecrat!

2. Nasty Nate Posted: March 12, 2009 at 12:57 PM (#3100877)

Delusional Duquettophile!

3. CraigK Posted: March 12, 2009 at 01:26 PM (#3100895)

Gat-dang moronic Cajun!

4. OCD SS Posted: March 12, 2009 at 01:29 PM (#3100898)

Food-eater!

5. Pasta-diving Jeter (jmac66) Posted: March 12, 2009 at 01:32 PM (#3100901)

Spartan dog!

6. Perros Posted: March 12, 2009 at 01:44 PM (#3100912)

You have somebody like him, you know at any point in the ball game, he can dictate the outcome of the game.

Manny's always been Manny.

7. Frisco Cali Posted: March 12, 2009 at 01:48 PM (#3100918)

he can dictate the outcome of the game

Like, win it?

8. Joe Bivens, Idiot Posted: March 12, 2009 at 02:06 PM (#3100937)

Anglo Saxon Hun!

9. Dock Ellis on Acid

Posted: March 12, 2009 at 02:11 PM (#3100938)

Mouth-breather!

10. The District Attorney Posted: March 12, 2009 at 02:43 PM (#3100960)

Spartan dog!

This is madness!

11. DCA Posted: March 12, 2009 at 02:52 PM (#3100968)

Like, win it?

No, he just says it out loud, and someone else writes it down.

12. Gonfalon Bubble Posted: March 12, 2009 at 02:53 PM (#3100971)

*Oh... you mean... worm?
*No, that wasn't it.
*Was it... swine?
*No. It was a seven letter word.
*Oh yes! UPSTART!
*That's it!
(Takes gloves from Trentino's breast pocket and socks him across the face)
*Why, Mrs. Teasdale, this is an outrage! This man is impossible! My course is clear; this means WAR!

13. tfbg9 Posted: March 12, 2009 at 03:23 PM (#3100999)

Like, win it?

Well, if you believe Fangraphs, Manny wasn't earning his money. Until last the half-year with LA.

I like how Torre put his foot down on the haircut matter, BTW. I'm against haircut rules, mind
you all, its just that Torre is an always will be a bogus phony. Manny's hair's down to his as$.

14. Obama Bomaye Posted: March 12, 2009 at 03:38 PM (#3101014)

he can dictate the outcome of the game
--------------------
Like, win it?

Yes, that was his point.

15. We don't have dahlians at the Palace of Wisdom Posted: March 12, 2009 at 04:05 PM (#3101038)

Dear Papelbon -

You're not the GM of the Red Sox. You have never been GM of the Red Sox.

16. Styles P. Deadball Posted: March 12, 2009 at 04:05 PM (#3101039)

This is madness!

Madness?.... This is Sparta!

Apes don't read philosophy.

17. Perros Posted: March 12, 2009 at 04:15 PM (#3101049)

I like how Torre put his foot down on the haircut matter.

Torre finally realized he wasn't in The Bronx anymore.

still remember Steinbrenner making Mattingly trim his locks.

18. Ray (RDP)

Posted: March 12, 2009 at 04:20 PM (#3101060)

Papelbon detailed Ramirez's controversial acts last year before the Red Sox shipped him to the Dodgers in a three-way deal at the July 31 trade deadline, including Ramirez's suspicious injuries and physical confrontation with Red Sox traveling secretary Jack McCormick.

Cripes do I hate bad reporting. Papelbon "detailed" Ramirez's acts. But where is this "detailing" in the story? Did the writer not bother to include it or did Papelbon not "detail" anything at all?

I'd be interested in Papelbon's read on which acts by Ramirez were done with negative intent. The alleged Rivera at bat? The flop on the field?

19. Tripon Posted: March 12, 2009 at 04:29 PM (#3101072)

"And after, you could feel it in the air in the clubhouse," he said, according to the magazine. "We got Jason Bay -- Johnny Ballgame, plays the game right, plays through broken knees, runs out every ground ball -- and it was like a breath of fresh air, man! Awesome! No question."

Paps loves concept of false hustle.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3972796

20. Tripon Posted: March 12, 2009 at 04:32 PM (#3101083)

That comes from the manager, and it comes from guys like Jason Varitek and Tim Wakefield and David Ortiz. Nobody is ever going to be allowed to do that. Even a guy like me, just heading into my fourth year in the big leagues — if David Ortiz gets a little, you know — I’ll tell him what’s up! I’m not afraid to do that. I’m not afraid to put him in his place, because I think everybody needs that.

Paps was going to say that Ortiz was uppity, wasn't he?

21. cercopithecus aethiops Posted: March 12, 2009 at 04:42 PM (#3101099)

I'm gonna go way out on a limb and guess that a) nobody in that clubhouse tells David Ortiz what's up, and b) David Ortiz would kick Jonathan Papelbon's pale butt if he ever tried to tell him what was up.

22. WhoWantsTeixeiraDessert Posted: March 12, 2009 at 04:47 PM (#3101112)

Nothing like fresh air through a Bay window. Bah.

23. WhoWantsTeixeiraDessert Posted: March 12, 2009 at 04:50 PM (#3101119)

Yeah, Ortiz's place is in the middle of the lineup every day. Yours is rapping on a bullpen ceiling for two thirds of the year.

24. jmurph Posted: March 12, 2009 at 04:56 PM (#3101127)

and b) David Ortiz would kick Jonathan Papelbon's pale butt if he ever tried to tell him what was up.

Tough call. Crazy/redneck-y are pretty good characteristics to bring to a fight. Even when the other guy is bigger.

25. phredbird

Posted: March 12, 2009 at 04:57 PM (#3101129)

Gat-dang moronic Cajun!

i know he was born in baton rouge, and his mom played softball at LSU, but i still don't think he's a cajun. as a moronic cajun myself, i hope i'm right.

26. Drew (Primakov, Gungho Iguanas) Posted: March 12, 2009 at 04:59 PM (#3101135)

Is Papelbon Schilling 2.0?

27. Randy Jones

Posted: March 12, 2009 at 05:01 PM (#3101140)

Is Papelbon Schilling 2.0?

No. Schilling, as much as I dislike him and think he is a blowhard and an #######, also appears to be rather intelligent. Papelbon, not so much.

28. RJ in TO Posted: March 12, 2009 at 05:02 PM (#3101142)

Is Papelbon Schilling 2.0?

I doubt it. I'm fairly sure that Schilling can read.

29. Swedish Chef Posted: March 12, 2009 at 05:05 PM (#3101145)

Is Ryan Jones Randy Jones 2.0?

30. Random Transaction Generator Posted: March 12, 2009 at 05:05 PM (#3101146)

I wonder, if in 5 years Papelbon becomes a free agent and other teams start to make outrageous offers for him, will we see articles in Boston newspapers talking about how various Red Sox players found Papelbon's antics "distracting" and "detrimental to the team"...

31. SoSH U at work Posted: March 12, 2009 at 05:11 PM (#3101152)

I'd be interested to know how many Red Sox players have to claim on the record that Manny's conduct had become a legitimate clubhouse problem and he probably needed to go before we can conclude that it was more than just a Gammons creation or FO plant?

32. Shooty: Applying to be Fearless Leader

Posted: March 12, 2009 at 05:14 PM (#3101155)

Manny is a dope. Papelbon is also a dope. They should have to travel cross country together in an ice cream truck with a bear.

33. RJ in TO Posted: March 12, 2009 at 05:15 PM (#3101159)

There will never be enough players on record. You see, they're:
a) all part of the conspiracy, or
b) manipulated by the media to believe that Manny was a problem

34. cercopithecus aethiops Posted: March 12, 2009 at 05:17 PM (#3101161)

Crazy/redneck-y are pretty good characteristics to bring to a fight. Even when the other guy is bigger.

Papelbon's a pretty damned big dude himself. But I suspect that the crazy redneck schtick is just that -- an act -- and he wouldn't have a freakin' clue about how to handle himself if he got in a teammate's face and said teammate took exception. Totally unfounded speculation of course.

35. Drew (Primakov, Gungho Iguanas) Posted: March 12, 2009 at 05:17 PM (#3101163)

I doubt it. I'm fairly sure that Schilling can read.

Would have spit coffee onto my screen, if the damn pot wasn't still self-cleaning.

Per the other thread, I don't really think Papelbon is a dope. He just acts like one. Kind of like how I don't think Manny is a dope or an ass--he just lives in his own little world.

36. Drew (Primakov, Gungho Iguanas) Posted: March 12, 2009 at 05:19 PM (#3101166)

I wonder, if in 5 years Papelbon becomes a free agent and other teams start to make outrageous offers for him, will we see articles in Boston newspapers talking about how various Red Sox players found Papelbon's antics "distracting" and "detrimental to the team"...

Probably. I also wonder whether the organization has encouraged players to badmouth Manny. And I'm a Red Sox fan.

37. villageidiom Posted: March 12, 2009 at 05:22 PM (#3101170)

Varitek tells me all the time, ‘Just shut up. Do what you’re supposed to do.’

Uh, Jonathan, there's a Mr. Varitek on line 3.

EDIT: The above quote is from the Esquire article the interview is from.

38. Shooty: Applying to be Fearless Leader

Posted: March 12, 2009 at 05:25 PM (#3101173)

Per the other thread, I don't really think Papelbon is a dope. He just acts like one.

He must be a method actor, then.

39. SoSH U at work Posted: March 12, 2009 at 05:26 PM (#3101174)

Is Ryan Jones Randy Jones 2.0?

It can be troubling keeping up with the Joneses, particularly when they're in the same thread, but the two R.J's are separate posters.

And at least in one case, Ryan's 33 has proved accurate.

40. Crispix Attacks Posted: March 12, 2009 at 05:28 PM (#3101175)

He must be a method actor, then.

Sure, he's just spending an especially long time embedded with idiots, preparing for his role in "Simple Jack".

41. karlmagnus Posted: March 12, 2009 at 05:40 PM (#3101195)

Those like Papelbon who are still tied to the Red Sox and have large $$$ hopes resting on their relationship with Sox top management need to be careful in what they tell the media.

Saying "Manny was a great guy, we'd have won the World Series in 2008 if they'd kept him, and management's bad-mouthing him out of town really sucked" might not get them top dollar at negotiation time.

Probably even Papelbon is smart enough to realize that -- or maybe he has a good agent who has repeated it several times v-e-r-y s-l-o-w-l-y

42. Shooty: Applying to be Fearless Leader

Posted: March 12, 2009 at 05:47 PM (#3101203)

Those like Papelbon who are still tied to the Red Sox and have large $$$ hopes resting on their relationship with Sox top management need to be careful in what they tell the media.

Yeah. This is veering a bit towards tin foil hat land. I think I'll apply Occam's Razor. Papelbon is just a dope.

43. SoSH U at work Posted: March 12, 2009 at 05:58 PM (#3101217)

Yeah. This is veering a bit towards tin foil hat land.

Shooty, when it comes to the Red Sox FO, km has to drive for miles to see the sign proclaiming "Now Leaving Tin Foil Hat Land."

44. Shooty: Applying to be Fearless Leader

Posted: March 12, 2009 at 06:01 PM (#3101222)

Shooty, when it comes to the Red Sox FO, km has to drive for miles to see the sign proclaiming "Now Leaving Tin Foil Hat Land."

I imagine a world in which the Red Sox are succesful overdogs has got to be disorienting for a lot of you guys.

45. Rowland Office Supplies Posted: March 12, 2009 at 06:04 PM (#3101228)

Madness?.... This is Sparta!

I do so love a good "In The Heat Of The Night" reference.

46. Tripon Posted: March 12, 2009 at 06:29 PM (#3101260)

Is there a Red Sox superstar that doesn't leave the team on bad terms?

Pedro? Schilling, I guess?

47. Styles P. Deadball Posted: March 12, 2009 at 06:35 PM (#3101266)

I do so love a good "In The Heat Of The Night" reference.

Thanks for lightening mine up a bit. I felt very Papelbonesque putting that out there.

48. Jose Can You Seabiscuit Posted: March 12, 2009 at 06:46 PM (#3101291)

Is there a Red Sox superstar that doesn't leave the team on bad terms?

There was nothing particularly difficult in the Pedro leaving. In fact when he returned with the Mets in '06 the Sox played a video tribute to him on the scoreboard (Joe Castiglione was orgasmic on the radio over it). Schilling was obviously fine and I never thought the Damon thing was that nasty. Really it was pretty straight up except for the fact that he went to the Yankees, had he gone anywhere else he'd be getting standing ovations everytime he came to Boston like Orlando Cabrera does.

Manny, Nomar and Mo were ugly of course though Mo got a pretty nice hand in his return.

Roger has said many times that his issue was with "one man" but he had no issue with the fans and got huge ovations when he returned with Toronto. That all changed when he went to New York of course.

49. Hubie Brooks (Not Really) Posted: March 12, 2009 at 07:26 PM (#3101364)

I wonder what Lester thinks about calling someone cancer?

50. RJ in TO Posted: March 12, 2009 at 07:29 PM (#3101366)

I wonder what Lester thinks about calling someone cancer?

Mike Lowell also gets a bit testy when he hears someone use that word.

51. MikeinMI Posted: March 12, 2009 at 07:32 PM (#3101370)

It’s like cancer. That’s what he was. Cancer. He had to go.

FTA. I think Jon Lester would disagree that he was cancer. He'd know.

52. SoSH U at work Posted: March 12, 2009 at 07:38 PM (#3101379)

It’s like cancer. That’s what he was. Cancer. He had to go.

Damn that Theo, Larry and JH, forcing Papelbon to make awkward cancer comparisons. Monsters.

53. PJ Martinez Posted: March 12, 2009 at 07:51 PM (#3101395)

#50: Nicely done.

54. BeanoCook Posted: March 12, 2009 at 08:16 PM (#3101429)

Where did all of the "chemistry is useless" people go on this Manny/Red Sox drama?

55. Petuniaviles Posted: March 12, 2009 at 08:21 PM (#3101437)

Is there a Red Sox superstar that doesn't leave the team on bad terms?

Dave Roberts! He was a superstar for about 3.1 seconds one day, and will remain one in the minds of many for as long as his name is remembered.

56. jmurph Posted: March 12, 2009 at 08:27 PM (#3101448)

Where did all of the "chemistry is useless" people go on this Manny/Red Sox drama?

Probably back to the little piles of straw they were a part of before they were turned into little straw men?

57. villageidiom Posted: March 12, 2009 at 09:44 PM (#3101541)

Is there a Red Sox superstar that doesn't leave the team on bad terms?

Derek Lowe, on a Dodgers' off-day, flew back to Boston and appeared in a Red Sox jersey to pick up his 2004 WS ring at the start of the 2005 season.

58. Lassus Posted: March 12, 2009 at 09:56 PM (#3101558)

Where did all of the "chemistry is useless" people go on this Manny/Red Sox drama?

Probably back to the little piles of straw they were a part of before they were turned into little straw men?

I'm a little confused. Doesn't Manny's presence during the 2 World Series titles add credence to this? If the chemistry was so terrible, it didn't seem to have much effect and was indeed rather useless positively or negatively.

Or am I missing something about your meaning?

59. Rafael Bellylard: Built like a Molina Posted: March 12, 2009 at 10:36 PM (#3101578)

BTF to Papelbon:

Are you going to believe us or your own lying eyes?

60. Nick Warino Posted: March 13, 2009 at 03:28 AM (#3101770)

Where did all of the "chemistry is useless" people go on this Manny/Red Sox drama?

Maybe the month or so period before the trade was a uniquely bad moment for Manny. So bad that it lessened his team's ability to win. But as far as his entire career, he's one of the most winning players ever.

-2 World Series titles
-4 World Series appearances.
-10 playoff appearances in 14 full seasons
-In the 4 years he didn't make the playoffs, his teams won 90 games (2000 Indians), 82 games (2001 Red Sox), 93 wins (2002 Red Sox), and 86 wins (2006 wins). That's an average of 87.75 wins in the few seasons his teams did not make the playoffs.

61. Biff isn't really an apt handle anymore Posted: March 13, 2009 at 04:04 AM (#3101808)

"Manny Ramirez is a cancer on this fair team! He is the cancer and I am the...uh...what cures cancer?"

62. IronChef Chris Wok Posted: March 13, 2009 at 04:30 AM (#3101842)

Btw, I believe I was the first primate to suspect Papelbon's illiteracy

63. Robert in Manhattan Beach Posted: March 13, 2009 at 04:32 AM (#3101847)

Edit: Removed for being poorly thought out.

Papelbon comes off poorly here.

64. Srul Itza At Home Posted: March 13, 2009 at 07:38 AM (#3101926)

So, if the Red Sox now don't win the World Series for 86 years, will we be looking at the Curse of the Rambino?

65. BeanoCook Posted: March 13, 2009 at 12:13 PM (#3101950)

Very impressive career winning numbers for Man Ram. My point is focused on last year. Manny was a cancer last year and was simply "exotic" during championship years.

You must be Registered and Logged In to post comments.

<< Back to main

Thursday, March 12, 2009

MLB: Papelbon sounds off on Manny

Reader Comments and Retorts

Support BBTF

Bookmarks

Hot Topics