Papelbon says "It's not over"

Toaster Oven · 06-13-2008, 01:06 PM

Quote:

The Red Sox-Rays rivalry has turned into one of Major League Baseball's nastier feuds. And even after multiple suspensions for the teams' last dust-up, in which brushback pitches and punches were thrown, it's not over, Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon said.Papelbon, who has a weekly segment on a Boston-area sports talk show, said Wednesday that the Red Sox are not finished paying back the Rays. And while he also credited Tampa Bay for the way it has stayed in the AL East race, he also didn't mince words about what the Rays can expect when the two teams meet again for a three-game series in St. Petersburg, Fla., beginning June 30.
"In my opinion, it is a bunch of bull what they did," Papelbon said on "Mohegan Sun Sports Tonight" on Comcast Sportsnet, referring to last week's brawl between the two teams. "All I got to say is what comes around goes around, man. Payback's a b----, I'll tell you what."
With first place in the AL East on the line, tempers started to flare again between the teams on June 4 on a pair of plays on the baselines involving Crisp.
After a play at second, in which Crisp felt shortstop Jason Bartlett blocked the bag, Crisp slid hard into second baseman Akinori Iwamura on a stolen base attempt. Crisp and Rays manager Joe Maddon exchanged words about the incidents later in the game.

The tempers carried over to their June 5 game when Crisp was hit in the right hip by James Shields in the second inning. Crisp rushed the mound, ducked a wild right by Shields and threw a punch, and the Rays' Jonny Gomes rushed into the pile and started throwing punches at Crisp as both benches cleared.
In all, eight players were handed suspensions and fines.
Two days later, when punishment was meted out, Maddon did not back down. "I want to be very clear: I defend everything our guys did," he said last Saturday. "I feel actually proud of the way we handled the situation that was presented."
On Wednesday, Papelbon wasn't backing down, either.
"In my opinion, and the way I feel right now, this thing isn't all settled and done," Papelbon said. "We still got to play them a few more times. And I know when we go into Tropicana things will be a little different than when went in there last time."
The Rays swept a three-game series from the Red Sox on April 25-27 at Tropicana Field.
The Rays and Red Sox have had differences since 1999, when then-Rays outfielder Gerald Williams charged the mound after he was hit on the hand by a Pedro Martinez pitch. The teams have been exchanging words, inside pitches and punches ever since.
But now, the Rays are fighting for the AL East lead, too, and Papelbon is aware that they're a team to be reckoned with.
"Those guys have a lot of talent over there. Obviously, as you can see, it's a war when we go play those guys," Papelbon said. "It's the big leagues and you got guys that can pitch over there and you got some guys that can hit, so we've got to do everything we can to stay atop of those guys and keep fending them off because they can play."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.

What's the point in continuing it? I seriously don't get how hitting a player makes you more macho then them. Obviously Crisp was hit because of his bitch move sliding into second base. Of course every team has to get the last word. I really hate that. I don't care who it is. Exchanging hit batters is the dumbest shit in the world. It happened last night when I watched the Indians trounce the Twins. I think it was Brian Bass of the Twins whom accidentally plunked Jamey Carroll. JAMEY CARROLL. Not anyone horribly important to the team. Then later Mujica comes back and hits Alexi Casilla. To me the hit on Casilla looked intentional. THEN Dennys Reyes of the Twins comes back and intentionally plunked Andy Marte. Warnings were finally issued. I don't get what the point of doing that is. Like... at all. It makes no sense.

Jayman · 06-13-2008, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Suntan Superman
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 20 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

I think it was Brian Bass of the Twins whom accidentally plunked Jamey Carroll. JAMEY CARROLL. Not anyone horribly important to the team.

This is the one part I don't necessarily agree with. Are you saying here that, because he wasn't anybody spectacular, the Indians should've just dropped the whole thing? As a player on a team, I would be pissed if ANYONE on my team was hit (unless it was a complete and obvious accident), no matter what the talent level.

Slim · 06-13-2008, 01:18 PM

ya, I agree with jayman. Doesnt matter the talent level, the team should stick up for everybody on the team.

CM Diddy · 06-13-2008, 01:58 PM

Well, Tampa Bay/ Boston squabbles are pretty common. It never takes too much to get these teams fighting.

And beaning players is just as much a part of baseball as stealing and bunting. Its not the prettiest or sportsmanlike part of the game I admit, but it happens reguarly.

Toaster Oven · 06-13-2008, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jayman
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 20 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

This is the one part I don't necessarily agree with. Are you saying here that, because he wasn't anybody spectacular, the Indians should've just dropped the whole thing? As a player on a team, I would be pissed if ANYONE on my team was hit (unless it was a complete and obvious accident), no matter what the talent level.

I meant for a ACCIDENTAL hitting of Carroll. It was quite obvious the pitch rode inside and he had no intention of actually hitting Carroll. What I'm trying to get at is if he had ACCIDENTALLY hit someone like Grady Sizemore I could see a retaliation... just because he's an integral part of the team and you don't want him getting hit accidentally or not. Jamey Carroll isn't even a starter. I don't see a need to retaliate when a player is accidentally hit.

Take out the bolded words and yeah... if it was clearly intentional to hit Jamey Carroll then I guess "sticking up for him" is more understandable.

Understandably it's "part of the game" I'm not disputing that. I'm saying it's a ridiculously stupid part of the game.

DD · 06-13-2008, 05:51 PM

To be fair, batters were hit probably about 5 times the amount they are now in the 60's through 80's. The difference is batters didnt charge the mound back then.

I have no problem with it as long as they dont go near the head or hands.

Tampa and Boston havent liked each other for a while now. This is nothing new.

I also think Papelbon should STFU and just let his pitching do the talking.

Papelbon says "It's not over"

This is a discussion on Papelbon says "It's not over" within the North American Sports forums, part of the Sports Forums category; The Red Sox-Rays rivalry has turned into one of Major League Baseball's nastier feuds. And even after multiple suspensions for ...