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.

Yankees Surge; Red Sox, Rays Tussle

The AL East is always a topic of conversation when talking about MLB. Usually the conversation is whether or not a team other than the New York Yankees can win the division. In recent years, especially this season, that conversation has changed. It has become, "Can the Yankees come back to win the division or get a Wild Card?" and "Are the Tampa Bay Rays for real?"

I'll answer the latter question first. Yes, the Tampa Bay Rays are for real. Any team with Carl Crawford, B.J. Upton, Evan Longoria and Carlos Pena stands a solid chance to win a division, especially when their young pitching and supporting cast is playing well.

As far as the tougher Yankees question goes, it is looking like it might get a little easier to answer. Looking back over the last week in baseball, it seems the tides may be turning a bit in baseball's best division. The Bronx Bombers are 12-6 in their last 18 games and have won four of the last five. Alex Rodriguez's return from the DL, coupled with the reemergence of Johnny Damon and Jason Giambi has propelled the Yanks offensivley. They are averaging 6.5 runs a game over the aforementioned span and put up eight or more runs in six of those games (one extra inning loss). Their pitching is struggling a bit, but Joba Chamberlain and Dan Giese's recent appearances should give them some hope.

On the other side, the division-leading Boston Red Sox and Rays are struggling. Injuries have plagued both teams; David Ortiz and Daisuke Matsuzaka are out for the Sox, while Pena and Rocco Baldelli are out for the Rays. Fights are occurring for both teams on the field against each other as well as in each team's dugout. The on-field fights led to suspensions for both teams while match-ups of Kevin Youklis/Manny Ramirez and Matt Garza/Dioner Navarro have stirred up both clubhouses.

With the Yankees surging, this is the worst time possible for the Sox and Rays to start infighting. With over a month until the All-Star break, there is plenty of ground to catch-up before the Yankees have everyone dissecting them while they are in the spotlight and hosts of the game.