April 08, 2015
Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon got all existential in an interview with the Boston Globe.
In the article, Papelbon expresses his love for the Boston Red Sox organization and the success he had with the team in detail. However, he also spoke about the Phillies at length. His comments, while not necessarily negative, weren't exactly flattering. Here's some of the highlights of his quotes concerning the boys in red pinstripes:
“The Red Sox are a part of who I am, man. I don’t really feel much like a Phillie."
“It’s been a tough transition over here. I’m not going to lie. It’s been tough. Tough getting used to the way it is here. It’s two totally different organizations."
“The way they’re ran, the way they’re coached, the players that are on them. Two totally different styles of baseball. I don’t know if I can honestly tell you if I’m even used to it yet.”
On being a leader for the Phillies' young bullpen:
“I feel like with this bullpen here, it’s just been some young guys that have looked up to either me or other older veterans in our bullpen throughout the last three years."
“The great thing about our bullpen here is it’s easy because you have such great talent to work with. We have a really talented bullpen, but time will tell.”
Papelbon is six saves away from having the most in Phillies history. He currently sits at 107 saves, while Jose Mesa is the all-time franchise leader with 112.
Despite the Phillies inevitable futility this season, he'll probably break that record in 2015. Yet thanks to some circumstances outside of his control (talent around him) and some within his control (being annoying), he won't be remembered for this:
Or this:
Instead, he'll be remembered for this:
Despite the great numbers, you never felt like much of a Phillie to us either, Jonathan.
