I sure as hell would.
Yesterday the Sox reached an agreement with Jonathan Papelbon, the best and most consistent closer in the history of the team, to keep Theo’s not-going-to-arbitration streak alive. There are some out there who have been advocating for a change in the closer’s role after the playoff meltdown and Papelbon’s heart attack inducing season, but I don’t get it.
Best Cutaway Ever.
The guy is 29 years old, has saved at least 35 games in the past four seasons (nobody in the 110 year history of the club had done that), and is still under Red Sox control until the end of 2011. He has worked hard to keep his shoulder healthy over the past few seasons and while some may say that he is dogging it to stay healthy for his big payday after next season, all I see is a pitcher who had a sub two ERA last season (in an off year), and has contributed to three straight 95 win seasons. Oh, and he is more entertaining than your average Family Guy cutaway.
Does this remind anyone else of one of their frat brothers on wet and wild night?
Daniel Bard may be the flavor of the month, but nobody knows if he has the mentality (borderline insane/borderline retarded) or the talent to become the closer that Papelbon has, and it’s not like just anyone can be the kind of year to year consistent closer like Mariano Rivera (who I will always have a soft spot for after he tipped his cap to the Fenway crowd in 2005) or Trevor Hoffman. Guys like David Aardsma (who wasn’t good enough to pitch the seventh inning for the Sox a few years back) and B.J. Ryan may be able to pull it off for a year or two, but finding a truly quality closer is a rare thing.
Let’s all just keep watching the insanity and let this play out after this year. Until then, I’m gonna stick with the guy wearing 58.
Go Sox.
29 Days.
Done.
