Who Does Papelbon Think He Is?

Honestly, who does this guy think he is? Lips-pursing Boston Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon made an ass out of himself on Monday, stating to reporters that he deserves to close the 2008 All-Star Game at Yankees Stadium for the American League rather than future Hall of Famer and New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera.

"We've both earned that right; us, by winning the World Series and having the opportunity of having our manager there and our team being represented, and Mariano by what he's done for this role, we're in Yankee Stadium and blah, blah, blah," Papelbon said. "It's not that easy."

Then he recanted.

"I feel I owe a lot to this game and that's one of the things I owe to this game, to let an elder statesman go ahead of me."

It’s not that easy? Yes, it is. Winning two World Series in your career is nice, especially if one of them was last season. Let me know when you win FOUR and play in SIX. Let me know when you are the best closer in the history of the game and have 466 saves.

Let me know when you’re a nine-time All-Star selection and World Series MVP. Let me know when you hold the MLB records for lowest postseason ERA of all-time (0.77), most postseason saves (34), most consecutive scoreless innings (34 1/3), most appearances in postseason history (76), most…do I really need to continue?

This is all not to mention the fact that the game is at Yankees Stadium, and it is the final season of its existence. But...it’s not about age, last season or who is managing the team. What it's about is who is the best closer in 2008.

Oh, and Jon, why don’t you take this into consideration: Rivera is having a BETTER SEASON than you are—1.06 ERA, 0.64 WHIP and 23 saves for Rivera compared to your 2.43 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 28 saves.

Pathetic. Shut your mouth, stop blowing saves and start worrying about whether or not your team can hold onto that AL East lead after the break...or at least what flavor your next chapstick is going to be.