Red Sox close door on past with Papelbon

November 11, 2011|Obnoxious Boston Fan, Globe Staff

The Red Sox offseason circus claimed its first on-field casualty Friday as Jonathan Papelbon took the money and shipped off to Philly for about $50 million over four years, with possibly more to come. It's the biggest deal ever for a closer - Papelbon's goal all along.

Papelbon was one of the three or four players who managed to avoid getting burned by the chemical reaction of Popeye's and Bud Light. If anything, his reputation actually improved amid the nuclear ashes of October. In 2011, he converted 31 of 34 save opportunities with a 2.94 ERA. He was clutch up to the final week of the season. But like the Sox, he saved his worst for last, blowing a one-run lead with no one on and two out in Game 162.

Good riddance - he imploded on the mound in Game 3 against the Angels ending the Red Sox last playoff appearance, fanned in a key series against the Yankees in 2010 when there was still hope and was caught looking over his right shoulder at Carl Crawford "Manny-Ramirezing" the last at-bat of the season for the Orioles. Two doubles and a single with two outs. No big loss.

Not quite.

Papelbon was on the mound when the Red Sox closed out the 2007 World Series. And the only three runs he ever gave up in 27 postseason innings came in that late-morning loss to the Angels. That series was hopeless to begin with. Whatever issues he had this time last year - remember when the great debate was whether or not he or Bard will close in 2011 - he was able to right the ship and save games that could be saved. It wasn't his fault that the starting pitchers could not reach the 6th inning as the Sox fell apart. He was brutal on people with high-blood-pressure and anxiety disorders, for sure, but he closed the deal way too many times for him not to be missed.