Mikey D

Jonathan Papelbon (pronounced pap-a-lap-pa-lap-pa-bom) stated (before retracting) that he thinks he should be called upon in the 9th to close out tonight's all-star game if the situation arose.

Apparently he thinks he is more deserving of the closer's role than Rivera. Well, let's let the numbers do the talking!

Jonathan Papelbon:
3-3 record
2.43 ERA
28 saves
4 blown saves
40.2 innings
32 hits allowed
51 strikeouts
7 walks

Mariano Rivera:
4-3 record
1.06 ERA
23 saves
0 blown saves
42.1 innings
23 hits allowed
50 strikeouts
4 walks

Record, innings, and strikeouts about the same. Even Steven. Saves: Papelbon has more, but has had 9 more chances than Rivera. The telling statistic is blown saves. Rivera has held EVERY GAME. Papelbon? Blew FOUR games. 100% save percentage to 87.5%.

Through approximately the same amount of innings, Rivera has given up 1/3 less hits than Papelbon and about 1/2 the number of walks. Meaning, less guys are getting on base, which means opposing teams have less of a chance of coming back.

Papelbon is sporting a nifty 2.43 ERA. Only thing is that Rivera has an even niftier 1.06 ERA. A full run and a half better. That's a good ERA, Papelbon, but just not a great one. 1.06...now that's a great one.

The numbers don't lie. Rivera is a better choice. Love the cockiness, Jonathan, but you aren't the most deserving. Even if you were dead even with Rivera in stats, it's Yankee Stadium. It's the last year. How could you still think you're the most deserving for that moment???

And how big of you to say, "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." Oh, you're letting him go ahead of you?

I admire your work fella, but shut the fuck up.

~Mikey D