Boston Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon blamed New York tabloid journalism for what he said was some harsh treatment directed at his pregnant wife during a red carpet parade prior to Tuesday's All-Star game, according to MLB.com.

Papelbon was incensed at some harsh insults and threats hurled at his wife.

"I feel like I needed to be in a bullet-proof car," Papelbon told MLB.com. "My wife is pregnant and she's getting her life threatened. It's stupid."

According to MLB.com, Papelbon was so upset during his talk with the media on Tuesday, that he "used more than a dozen profanities over the course of four minutes."

The insults apparently were a reaction to comments Papelbon made on Monday about his desire to be the closer in the All-Star game (if such a situation arose) even though the hometown Yankee fans would prefer that Yankee Mariano Rivera, a future Hall of Famer, receive the honor.

He also said during that same interview that he would understand if Rivera got the nod.

But a headline in the New York Daily news on Tuesday read: "PAPELBUM! Red Sox reliever says he, not Mariano, should close tonight's All-Star Game."

Papelbon blamed the media for stirring up a reaction from Yankee fans, which led to the incident on Tuesday.

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"I've said from the very beginning, since two days ago, and talked to Tito about it, I said, 'I want Mariano to close.' I understand what it's about to pay your dues in this game and what it's about to put in your time," Papelbon told MLB.com. "If you were to ask me, of course I wanted to close. That's my competitive nature. I'm not going to back down from anything. That's not what the ... [newspaper] said. It was an easy headline for that [newspaper].

"That was an easy headline for that [paper] to say, 'Yeah, Papelbon said he wants to close.' Yeah, of course I do," said Papelbon. "That's my competitive nature. But I'm stepping away and saying I don't need to close."

Papelbon was so angry, he said he didn't care if he pitched at all in the game.

"I don't really (care) anymore," Papelbon said.