Former Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon might be losing it

It would appear former Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon is starting to channel the spirit of Rickey Henderson, the current reigning champion of speaking of one’s self in the third person. Either that or he has basically completely lost it. On Wednesday Papelbon sat in for a scheduled Boston station radio interview. He made some, well, interesting comments. Enjoy the pick of the bunch, below.

On the Red Sox training staff (telling him what to do every day)

"The previous trainer there tried to tell me everything and that he knew everything about me. It's just not the case. I know myself. I know how to get through a 162-game season. The trainer don't know how to do that and the trainers here (in Philadelphia) have been phenomenal. They understand that I am going to be successful because I know how to be successful. I still did things my way when I was there in Boston. I just had someone chirping in my ear the whole time."

This is easily something you could believe attributed to fictional superstar Kenny Powers;
‘’ They understand that I am going to be successful because I know how to be successful.’’

Did you feel (bad) about leaving the Red Sox after the chaos of the collapse last September?

"I don't feel bad. No. Cinco is gutless man. I don't feel bad for people."

You would assume he meant ‘heartless’ perhaps, but, onwards and upwards…

On his ability and confidence to close?

"I am confident in my ability and ain't nobody going to tell me what to do. Nobody tells Cinco what to do."

Nobody puts Papelbon in a corner! One thing does have to be said, Papelbon is fiercely loyal to his former team mates in Boston.

What did you think of the Red Sox clubhouse? Does it need to be blown up after what you saw last year?

"That starting staff is some professional pitchers man. I don't care who you are in the big leagues. You are going to go through rough patches, especially in that division, but the thing is that personally I would want those guys to go to war with to go through those rough patches cause they know how to get out of it. There is no doubt about that."

For the complete interview including sound bits, check this site out

The Terrific Ten: IrishCentral's MLB top ten power rankings May 16th 2012

Here we go. Our sometimes weekly, occasionally accurate, often controversial, Top Ten MLB rankings. Assuming this article leaves you feeling confused, angry and upset, as it often will, the comment section is open and available for your top ten!

Please note, this is a Top Ten with a twist. This list details one through ten the ten most likely teams to win the World Series, not the current ten best teams. Consider that before you charge into the comments section all bluster and anger!

For example, and we hate to break this to your Baltimore fans, the Orioles are not going to win the World Series. They will appear in many a MLB power ranking, just not this one. Let’s just get that out of the way right now. No chance at winning the big one so, no Orioles.

We fully expect our top two to play the World Series against each other. So confident, are we, that we will put their World Series and NL and AL Championship odds beside them, despite the fact you cannot place a bet in the United States, even though you can own a gun. Go figure.

Right, let’s chop it up.

1. Our current most likely AL representative: Texas Rangers, 23-12. 21/10 to win the AL and 7/2 favorite to win the World Series.
As long as Josh Hamilton stays healthy, the Rangers are a monster. He is the leading light in a powerful offense that is devouring the AL’s pitching, and spitting it back out disdainfully. Texas leads the majors in runs scored, averaging half a run more per game than the next-best offensive team. It all starts with Hamilton, who in one single game last week blasted four homers and a double, tying the all-time AL record with 18 total bases in a game and becoming just the 16th player ever to hit four homers in a game. Texas are about to embark on a cupcake portion of their schedule also. Their next six opponents are the Royals, A's, Astros, Mariners, Jays, and Mariners again. Of course, waiting in the distance, those cold September and October months that Texas will no doubt get a taste of, but will they be able to handle it? Playoff pitching, cold weather, balaclavas and Nolan Ryan's enormous head  freezing to death angrily in the front row.

2. Our current most likely NL representative: Los Angeles Dodgers, 23-11. 13/2 to win the NL and a great value 14/1 to win the World Series.
Matt Kemp this, Matt Kemp that. Kemp’s injury is a minor setback. He will be back soon. It is not a season ending injury. The Dodgers are built on solid pitching, a couple of big bats (Don’t forget Andre Ethier!) and tight defence. Their starters have been superb in 2012, led by Clayton Kershaw, and their closer, Kenley Jansen, who is averaging almost 14 strikeouts per 9 innings pitched. Outstanding.

3. New York Yankees, 19-15
No doubt there are issues. Their closers keep getting hurt (Rivera, now Robertson). Their first baseman can’t hit (Mark Teixeira is in one of the worst slumps of his career). They are patched together in places. However, their 57 year old shortstop, held together with glue and sellotape, is batting Ted Williams, and they are having absolutely no problem scoring runs. Also, you are completely deluded if you think the Yankees aren’t going to go out and trade body parts, money, scrap metal and whatever else they have left in their minor league system for a shut down starter or two before the trade deadline. That’s just who they are.

4. St. Louis Cardinals, 20-14
Have you ever heard of Lance Lynn? No? In your defence, not many had prior to 2012. He is currently leading the Cards in wins (6), ERA (1.81) and strikeouts (44). The kid can deal. Their rotation is solid, and Adam Wainwright will boost that to 'great' when he gets back to his usual self. The fun really starts with their offence. Rafael Furcal is absolutely murdering the baseball right now, while Carlos Beltran has a jaw dropping 13 long balls already. Carlos, who knew?!

5. Tampa Bay Rays, 21-14
How the Tampa Bay Devil Rays manage to lay in the weeds just out of the Zeitgeist is anyone’s guess. They are basically a stacked baseball team now, devoid of any of the trappings of the under-dog role they used to play so well. Maybe it is something to do with the absolutely pathetic attendances they get down there in Tampa. 9,000 people at a Major League ball game? Still, dangerous in October when the bandwagon fans show up.

6. Atlanta Braves, 22-13
Can a team win a World Series on the strength of its bullpen? Sounds ludicrous, but the Braves are going to give it a shot. When Atlanta take a lead from the sixth inning on, the game is effectively over. Their setup guy, Jonny Venters, would close for most MLB teams, and is averaging an absolutely disgusting 14.49 strikeouts per 9 innings. Swing and a miss. Their actual closer, young, inferno-baller Craig Kimbrel, is clocking up an average of 14.79 strikeouts per 9. That's just Dutch porn filthy. You better get ahead of the Braves, or you are going to be swinging and missing a lot.

7. Washington Nationals, 21-13
Bryce Harper and Stephen Strasburg may get all the column inches, but Gio Gonzalez is the real story in Washington. He has a pretty little ERA of 1.94 in over 40 innings pitched, and is averaging a hefty 10.80 strikeouts per 9 IP in 2012. If he can cut down the walks a little (17 to date) he can throw his cap in the NL Cy Young ring.

8. Miami Marlins, 18-16
Miami got off to a stuttering start, but alarm bells must be ringing with baseball 'purists' everywhere, as the Marlins cruised past .500 and start to look like a potential playoff threat. Fun fact, Carlos Zambrano, yes, that Carlos Zambrano has an ERA of 1.88.

9. Los Angeles Angels, 15-20
They might be way under .500, but over the course of the season, they have a better shot at winning the big prize than the Orioles. Even Baltimore fans know that.

10. Boston Red Sox, 15-19
Last week everybody hated Josh Beckett. This week everyone loves him. Welcome to Boston.

Respect and the Red Sox

Once again, Fenway Park was an ugly place to be last night. The ‘boo’ birds were out in full force.  In case you missed it, Josh Beckett was bashed around the park like a Piñata and for once, much maligned new manager Bobby Valentine had a quick hook, coming to get the former Ace of the Sox faster than many expected. Beckett faced a loud, angry wave of negativity as he trudged back to the dugout. Fans made all sorts of faces, gestures and finger signs your momma definitely never taught you.

It looked something like the ugly, angry crowds that ‘grace’ English soccer grounds every weekend, where the fans frequently chant in their thousands that the referee is into self-satisfaction.

Now, it is clear to even someone as optimistic and hopeful as myself that changes are required with the Red Sox. Hopefully level headed, intelligent and logical changes, but changes none the less. If this means packaging up Beckett, Youkilis or another veteran with a prospect or two and going heal-for-leather after ‘King’ Felix Hernandez (This guy dreams of seeing him in a Red Sox uniform) or another ace-type starter, or whatever, change is required.

However, the level of anger and stupidity being displayed by Red Sox fans and writers, in the park and in social media, is nothing short of ignorant. Why so, you ask. Simple, it is very insulting to the players that are literally giving their heart and soul night in and night out for the Red Sox. They do not deserve the pathetic ‘support’ Red Sox fans are showing their team right now. Booing? Are you serious? Do you want your team to lose? Are you rooting for your team to do poorly?

How about the complete Muppet, the absolute clown of a chug monkey, who chose to show up in Fenway with a bag over his head last night? There are so many problems with this. First of all, dude, go watch a different sport. Baseball is not the sport for you. Secondly, the bag-over-the-head gimmick is meant for NFL teams who are 0-14, or NBA teams who are tanking a season to get a high draft pick. It was not meant for a team that has won two World Series in the last eight years.

And no, I reject the sentiment that the guy in the paper bag was funny. He was not funny. He was insulting to Dustin Pedroia, who is playing his soul out every night for the Red Sox. Pedroia would literally do anything to make Boston a better team. He is playing at 100% and is also playing at a very high level technically. He is on top of his game. How dare you put a bag over your head and express intimated disgust at the play of Dustin Pedroia. I would like to see that Muppet with the bag on his head, oh God how ironically funny you are sir, explain himself face to face with Dustin Pedroia.

With the bag still over his head.

What idiots like him are doing is insulting to Pedroia, it is insulting to David Ortiz also, a man who has dedicated himself to being in super athletic shape and bashing the hell out of the baseball at a pace that people are starting to ask, should we give this guy a new, long term contract. Ortiz is a man on a mission, and looks to be at a skill level in 2012 that he just might put the Red Sox on his back and pull them out of this mire all on his own. I would pay a cold hard $100  cash money to see that buffoon with the bag over his head explain himself to Mr David Ortiz.

In person, with the bag over his head.

That idiot, and his idiot friends at the park last night, on Twitter, on all the moronic social media entities you want to name, were insulting to Pedroia, Ortiz and also many other honest, hardworking Red Sox players. Ryan Sweeney is having a great start to his Boston career. Why does he deserve to have abuse hurled at him? Mike Aviles and Will Middlebrooks are exciting additions to the team.

Scott Atchison has played in 14 games and has a sparkling ERA of 1.23, local boy Rich Hill is pitching well as is Matt Albers.

Why do any of those guys deserve the disgraceful disrespect being show to the Red Sox by their fans and attached sports writers? The answer is simple, they don’t.

Look, nobody is saying change isn’t required. Nobody is trying to say that Boston are having a ‘good’ season so far. The fact of the matter is the team needs a bit of a shake-up. However, this does not give Red Sox fans the excuse to act like absolute morons, night in and night out.

Bill Simmons, ‘The Sports Guy’, used to say that once one of your teams have won a title, in any sport, you cannot gripe about them in any shape or form for five years. I guess we have hit that five year threshold, it would certainly appear there were a lot of people at Fenway Park last night ready to cash in on their goodwill chips and let the negative vitriol rain down from on high.

Those who follow the Red Sox are fast getting a reputation of being some of the worst fans in professional sports. Unhappy with that label? Then, do something about it.

The continuing evolution of Tom Brady's hair

So you thought we were finished with this whole fascination with Tom Brady's hair? Well, you couldn't be more wrong. The Internet is awash today with stories relating to Brady's appearance at the Met Gala in New York, and his choice of hair styles on the night. Gone is the buzz cut. Gone is the Justin Bieber, replaced by, well, nobody really knows what this is.

We are at such a loss, that we need your help! As we continue to track the evolution of Tom Brady's hair styling, we want you to tell us what you think this hair-do should be called.

Get voting, if you take too long, he may come up with something completely new, and we will have to start again!

surveys & polls

Winger James McClean subjected to sectarian abuse on Twitter after Ireland UEFA Cup call-up

Derry boy James McClean

As always, lurking behind any silver lining, is a big old gloomy cloud. Most of us celebrated the news that young, level headed and talented Sunderland winger James McClean was called up to the Republic of Ireland squad for the 2012 European Championships. Sadly, there were a vocal minority in the north of the country who were somewhat less than elated. McClean announced how happy he was about the call-up on Twitter, and was subsequently subjected to a torrent of vile abuse from some knuckle-dragging, pathetic idiots who went as far as to make confirmed death threats.

McClean talked about the call-up by 'Tweeting' “Absolutely honoured and couldn't be happier to have been called up to represent my country at the euros no better feelin! #COYBIG #ireland #euro12,”

However, some moronic, cowardly Twitter users made threats on McClean's life shortly after. The 23-year-old was born in Derry and took the decision to declare for the Republic of Ireland after representing Northern Ireland as a youth.  He declined an invitation to join the senior Northern Ireland squad in July 2011 in the hope of being recognized south of the border and, despite the fact that nobody should second guess another adults decision on a matter like this, that decision provoked hostility among a minority of Northern Ireland football observers.

“F*** up your dirty fenian b****** il make sure you get shot when you set foot back into gods country #FTP,” one user tweeted.

Another said: “U deserve to be shot for that comment!! Your playing for Ireland and not the country you were born in (NI). #p****”

Cowards, we say? Yes, cowards. Both accounts have since been deleted.

McClean displayed a nice sense of humor when he responded to the threats against him later in the day, saying, “Love the dogs abuse am gettin of shock N.I fans, just worry about watchin ur own country at the euros... oh wait #mybad #awkward haha.”

A PSNI spokesperson told the BBC: "We don't discuss individual cases, however, if we receive information that a person's life may be at risk we will inform them accordingly. We never ignore anything which may put an individual at risk."

McClean, who recently signed a new deal to keep him at Sunderland, gives both Mackem and Ireland supporters reason to hope for the future, with his honest work ethic, and swashbuckling runs down the left side.

Our advice to McClean on this whole sad affair? One of the simple beauties of Twitter is, if people don't have anything nice to say to you, just delete them! To quote the Jay-Z, brush that dirt off your shoulders, and then dip that same shoulder and whizz past an unsuspecting right-back at the Euros!

Mariano Rivera: ''Celebrate him as high as you can''

There is going to be a lot said in the next few days about pretty much everything and anything Mariano Rivera related. You will read all about his marvelous career, the World Series rings, his incredible 'cutter', perhaps one of the most feared pitches in all of Major League Baseball.

For me, one of the most biased and dedicated Red Sox fans you could find, not nearly enough will be written about the man's dignity and grace.

In a world of 'Me First', millionaire, playboy super-athletes, Mariano was or is, depending on whether this terrible injury ends his career or not, a pure diamond in the rough. A gentleman in the truest sense of the word, Rivera was a fierce competitor but a tremendous sports-man also.

For many years Rivera was the torturer, the executioner in chief for Red Sox fans like myself. How many late inning rallies did Rivera's cutter shut-down? Too many. He often did it like a man putting out a flaming match with a massive bucket of water. All too easy.

Then, finally, in 2004, we got to him.

In the infamous 2004 ALCS the great Rivera 'blew' two save opportunities, and the Red Sox created the best and most dramatic comeback in sports, roaring back from 0-3 down to take it 4-3. It was a jubilant time to be a fan of Ye Olde Towne Team.

Then came the 2005 ring ceremony at Fenway Park. This for me, as a Red Sox fan, is the defining moment in Mariano's career, or at least the part that is compartmentalized and titled 'Mariano and the Red Sox'. As the sun-drenched Fenway crowd roared it's approval, the Red Sox received their World Series rings from the '04 finals. As the Yankee players were introduced to the home-opener crowd, the Red Sox fans booed mercilessly. One by one, to a man, a cascade of verbal abuse rained down on them as they came forth.

Then, something truly unbelievable happened. Mariano's name was called, and the Fenway Park crowd quite literally erupted into an enormous standing ovation. Mariano laughed, beaming from ear to ear, and tipped his hat to the crowd, drawing an extension to the already boisterous ovation.

The thing is, this was not a mocking or ironic ovation. Far from it. Anyone who witnessed it knows that. Instead, it was a moment shared between the massed ranks of Red Sox fans shoe-horned into Fenway that day, and the greatest closer of all time. It was a singular moment where a connection was felt between the two. There was nothing ugly or negative about it, something the current denizens of Fenway Nation could possibly learn from. It was an uproarious outpouring of relief, as if Fenway was throwing its arms in the air and roaring as one, 'Finally!! Finally we got to you, you glorious bastard you!''. It was a roar full of good natured humour, respect and, yes, even love.

The crowd offered it, and Mariano The Great validated it by laughing openly and tipping his hat.  

"It surprised me. I didn't know they loved me so much here. It was nice. I enjoyed it. I had to laugh. What was I going to do? Get upset and start throwing baseballs at people? You just roll with it. Why not celebrate it as high as they could? It's O.K. I have no problem with that."

Mariano, you are one in a million.

Get well soon.

Hideki Matsui signs for the Tampa Bay Rays and watches a lot of porn.

Two-time All-Star and MVP of the 2009 World Series Hideki Matsui  is now a  part of the Tampa Bay (Devil) Rays' organization. Matsui signed a minor league deal with the (Devil) Rays and will join the organization's extended spring program Wednesday in Port Charlotte. Matsui, who turns 38 in June, hit .285 with 173 home runs, 753 RBIs and 248 doubles in nine big league seasons, seven with the New York Yankees. The home runs and RBIs are the most by a Japanese player in major league history.

Right, enough with the pleasantries. Whilst this is a nice little MLB story, and we all hope Hideki makes it up to the ‘bigs’ and loses a few baseballs in the cavernous, largely empty stands in Tampa, much bigger related news is afoot.

In the latest issue of GQ, the following quote was attributed to Matsui.

That’s right. Hideki Matsui owns 55,000 adult movies.

A couple of quick fire and (as much as possible) PG thoughts on this alarming disclosure. First things first, as those noisy NFL Sunday guys say, C’Mon man! 55,000?! Is this like one of your buddies saying, ‘Dude, I had like, 75 Tacos last night’. We all know he did not have 75 Tacos last night, but he probably had more than usual. So whilst 55,000 is probably an exaggeration, it is safe to say that Hideki Matsui might own more adult movies than, you know, most people.

Secondly, has Matsui or his accountant ever heard of the Internet? Rumour has it there might be a few adult movies on that. How has anybody who cares about Matsui’s finances not tipped him off to this? ‘Eh, Hideki, nice collection and all, but, have you ever heard of the Internet? I think we can really save some extra walking around money with just a smidgen of online research on your part’.

Third, who gives out adult movies as gifts?! How profanely awkward is that? ‘Hey so, I picked this out for you, it has some boobs in it, I thought you might like it’. So many questions. Does the adult movie selected for you say something about what the person giving you the gift thinks of you?

You know what, let’s stop right there. Too dangerous. Let us all just agree that it is great to see Hideki Matsui swinging his bat again, and the fact is, whilst there is really no logistical way (I mean, where do you store 55,000 adult movies?!) he actually owns 55,000 adult movies, there is no doubt he probably owns more than 'most'.

And let's just leave it right there!

Linkage

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