Super Sunday? Super Papelbon!

Today's Boston Globe had a nice piece about Jonathon Papelbon...so nice that I strongly recommend you read it. ALL OF IT. Just click on this post's title after you finish here. And now, a taste of that article, with a comment from me on the back end. Thanks.......

"Red Sox fans will miss the Wild Thing coming out of the bullpen with enough adrenaline flowing for 25 guys. The fist pumping and enthusiasm he showed on the mound will have to be curtailed. But Papelbon thinks while you can take the starter out of the closer, you might not be able to take the closer out of the starter.
"Those four days in between are for preparation," he said. "On that fifth day, I'm going to go out there and pitch with my heart as well as with my head. On that fifth day I'm going to lay everything I have on a line. Instead of doing it every other day or every day, I'll have that same intensity out there every fifth day. That's just the way I am and it's the way I pitch."

And that's what we'd LOVE to see! Peter here, and sure, we'll miss him at the tail end of a close game (and here we go into the future), maybe with a 2-1 Red Sox lead after Diasuke goes the first eight, allowing two runs, three hits while walking nobody. Another stellar outing for the kid from Japan. His future looks so bright, and the Sox seem genius-like in their successful pursuit of the young rookie. Today, his team, the Sox, were able to push across only a lonely pair of runs while collecting only three hits, the big one, of course, the two run tater by Big Papi. And so it's three outs and go home, as Jonathon Papelbon, originally slated to be a member of the strong Boston starting rotation, has been forced back into the closer's role, with the surprisingly strong Jon Lester, fresh from fighting a battle for his life, and doing it successfully, against the ultimate evil, CANCER, taking his place in the still strong Red Sox starting rotation. What a great story, and God bless him. As Paps' repacement in the rotation, he's 3-1 in this young season, with an ERA just south of 3. His future knows NO bounds, when just months ago, it looked bleak. Way to go Mr. Lester.....

ZOOM, back to today.....and needless to say, Paps saved that game, throwing only 6 pitches.
If Paps does return to being our closer (so very doubtful), we all know that would mean everyone else failed to become our lights-out guy. WE CANNOT HAVE THAT HAPPEN. Why? Because if no one can step up for the closer's crucial spot, how effective would he/they be, he/they being a question mark as I type these keys, in ANY crucial inning, be it the eighth, seventh, or the all-important ninth? We will learn so much in spring training, and all the possibilities are open for our Jonathon Papelbon. I have to hope, and I'm sure you agree, that there is a star, a late inning specialist star, light years away from our questioning eyes right now on this early February day, who is ready to, and WILL, shine. Right in front of us. So shine on.........give it all ya got, just as that excited young kid did last year with unbridled enthusiasm, talent, and lights-out stuff. And we were so happy in those one run tension-filled games last year when Paps jogged in from the bullpen. We were full of confidence, and of victory, and so was our Paps. Remember? He will take all those emotions into his starter's role. His training in this off-season has been intense, and his shoulder is strong and sound. It's all in the Globe piece. A must read, so do not forget to click on the title. Pap's title....namely, SUPER.

And enjoy your Sunday, my readers. I love ya all!!!!