Papelbon has Red Sox singing happy tune
Rookie closer making up for struggles of Foulke
 Charles Krupa / AP Jonathan Papelbon has an ERA of 0.30. |
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About the only thing that hasn't been consistent for Jonathan Papelbon this year has been his entrance music.
Papelbon, the rookie closer for the Red Sox, started with "Bodies" by Drowning Pool and its lyrics, "Let the bodies hit the floor." But he moved on to AC/DC and more recently has settled on "The Enemy" from Boston's own Godsmack.
"I've changed it like six times," Papelbon says. "I'll just change it from time to time, just out of curiosity."
Considering Papelbon began the year with 20 straight save conversions, this could be viewed as sheer lunacy. After all, closers have used theme songs as a huge part of their arsenals since Trevor Hoffman started strolling in from the San Diego bullpen to the peals of "Hells Bells."
Would Mariano Rivera or Billy Wagner dream of giving up "Enter Sandman" after all the saves that have followed that Metallica ditty?
Did Papelbon make his latest switch because he has become friends with Sully and the rest of the Godsmack dudes?
"I haven't met them," he says. "They just sent it to me and asked me to play it, so I tried it out. It's working for now."
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Papelbon, 25, finally blew his first save opportunity against the Rangers last week, but he still came back to pitch the ninth and pick up his first win of the year.
In his first 29 outings, Papelbon had an ERA of 0.30. That's not an ERA; that's a blood-alcohol level at spring break.
In 30 1/3 innings, Papelbon allowed 15 hits. He had 31 strikeouts against four walks. Right-handers hit .085 against him, lefties .193.
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Papelbon features a fastball that often hits 96 mph, a vicious slider that comes in at 89 and a split-finger that dives at 90.
"He was nasty when I saw him," a rival scout says. "If he can maintain what he's doing, my gosh, he could be a monster closer for a lot of years."
Papelbon has made everyone forget the continuing woes of deposed closer Keith Foulke. It hardly matters anymore that Foulke is making $7.25 million to be a setup man.
What is manager Terry Francona's confidence level when he hands the ball to Papelbon?
"It's been pretty good since his first day," Francona says. "(Otherwise) we wouldn't have put him where he is. He understands his role and being accountable every day."
Red Sox right fielder Trot Nixon says Papelbon's teammates appreciate his low-key approach and that he hasn't let his ego rage out of control.
"He doesn't go up there thinking he's the greatest thing since sliced bread," Nixon says. "He's having an extremely good year, but it hasn't gone to his head at all."
Indeed, Papelbon quickly deflects credit to his teammates, especially catcher Jason Varitek.
"He's reassuring," Papelbon says. "To learn from a guy like that and to start your career off with a catcher like that has been a blessing for me. I'll give him credit for a lot of my success. I'm not afraid to admit that."
Varitek says Papelbon's experience as a starter helped him master all his pitches and learn the importance of getting ahead in the count. Even with touted closer prospect Craig Hansen knocking on the door, Papelbon's starting days are over for now.
"I loved him as a starter," Varitek says, "and he's doing an awesome job as our closer."
Now if he could just settle on that entrance music.
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