"No, I don't [think so]," Papelbon said of whether the Sox properly valued his durability. "I feel like I have [been one of the most durable closers in the game]. ... I feel like I've been durable just as much as anybody else out there. I know myself better than anybody. I know myself better than any trainer in Boston, [who] tried to tell me that they knew me better. That goes with experience, knowing yourself, trusting yourself and listening to what you have to listen to and not listening to things you know aren't going to make you stay durable.
"The previous trainer tried to tell me that he knew everything about me. It's just not the case. I know myself. I knew how to get through a 162-game season. A trainer doesn't know how to do that. The trainers here have been phenomenal. They understand that I'm going to be successful because I know how to be successful. I still did things my way when I was there in Boston, I just had somebody chirping in my ear the whole time. … You stay in your own lane, you'll be fine. I'll stay in my lane, I know what I need to do, I'll be fine."
"A huge light bulb went off in my head," Papelbon said of his feeling when Francona's fate was determined. "I wouldn't say that was it, but it was about 99.9 percent [sure of not returning]. Yeah, I was shocked (WEEI)."
This interview was hard to listen to because he kept talking in the 3rd person referring to himself as "Cinco". After getting through all of that there were some interesting nuggets. First, his hatred for the training staff, which I think we can all agree on. They have given trouble to Dice-K fooling around with how he prepares, they messed everything with Ellsbury and could be a big reason why he walks out the door in a couple years, Lackey pitching when he needed Tommy John, and the list goes on and on.
I think most players backed Francona and we all knew that, but if they wanted to save his job they certainly had enough opportunities.
Yet, even though I can agree with some of the stuff he says the bottom line is that the Phillies paid him a lot more than the Red Sox were willing to. Papelbon had stated for years that he wanted top dollar. If the Red Sox offered a bigger deal he would be here, that's the bottom line and no one should lose site of that. Papelbon is 10 for 10 in save chances, and he certainly could've helped the Sox this year, but I was fine with letting up walk, and to think Papelbon left for any reason but money is foolish.
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