Papelbon to Rays: Payback's coming

The Rays are preparing for a weekend series against the Marlins, who are supposed to be their "natural" rivals.

But if there was any doubt about who their true rivals are - at least this season - check out what Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon said Wednesday night on his weekly Comcast Sportsnet segment (Mohegan Sun Sports Tonight) when asked about last week's brawl, and the upcoming June 30-July 2 series:

"In my opinion, it is a bunch of bull what they did. All I got to say is what comes around goes around, man. Payback's a b----, I'll tell you what. In my opinion, and the way I feel right now, this thing isn’t all settled and done. 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."

Papelbon also praised the Rays when asked about them staying in the AL East race:

"Those guys have a lot of talent over there. Obviously, as you can see, it’s a war when we go play those guys. It’s the big leagues and you got guys that can pitch over there and you got some guy 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." 

To see the segment, click here: http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2008/06/pap_to_rays_pay.html

Comments

[Patrick]

These jerks wont let it die.

[Tim]

Put a bat in Jonathan's hands and let him stand in the box for a 90+ fastball in the ribs...

[HAROLD]

Coca is a primadonna and Papelbon wont do anything except run in from the bullpen. The Rays arn't going to be bullied anywhere anymore and certainly not in the Trop. Papelbons a closer he not fighting anybody.Papelbons a lover not a fighter ask any 19 year old boy in boston

[Bill]

Agreed. Easy for him to say that in the AL. Looks like they are baby's.....the Rays have moved on....you know, professionals.........besides, every major network called the Sox out for them being in the wrong.

[Bill]

"Papelbons a closer he not fighting anybody.Papelbons a lover not a fighter ask any 19 year old boy in boston"

Gay marriage is legal in Massachusettes! So that doesn't surprise me. Papelbon is just sour because he couldn't cut it as a starter.

[Roman]

Forget about the classless Red Sox. Let's focus on having a fish fry.

[Hawkeye]

As one great coach used to say, "Papelbon needs to 'shut yer yap'!"

[Mike]

I hope he does throw at someone so that he can get his @$$ kicked too. What a loser. Pappelbon is an annoying little punk anyway.

Go Rays! We'll have your back in the stands and will beat down any chowd that tries to make a peep in the Trop on 6/30-7/2.

[McLovin]

Somebody tell Cookie Crisp that he's a bad influence on little kids like Jonny Paps here...

What's Papelbon going to do about anything? Dance in his underwear like he does up north?

Papelbon has absolutely nothing to do with any of what happened last week. It would be like if Grant Balfour came out tomorrow and said, "Crikey! Those blokes are grouse, but we're still gonna bog in those fellas for brekkie!"

I have a feeling not one person is going to understand that last one though... (use the internet, I did)

[rayray]

I have my tartar sauce & I'm hungry for some fish.

[Phil J.]

What a jerk. What are the Rays supposed to do? Roll over and play dead like the old days? This is a new team buddy! SHUT YOUR YAP!!

[Papelbon]

Stop making fun! I'm serious. I'm gonna make you pay, so crazy am I. Run fast, I always say, and don't trip. Here I come!

[Bill]

He should immediately get suspended........this is what starts all this crap....it is what Coco Krispy did....started talking. The commish needs to step in and put and end to this non-sense and let the baseball rivalry continue.

[Ryan]

SQUISH THE FISH baby!!

[Adam]

Boston players and their fans are the most insecure lot in sports. They HAVE to be liked. They're like the kid in your neighborhood who'll let you borrow any toy as long as you'll be their friend.

[Caleb]

Hope Papelbon loves the suspended list because that's where he'll be for two weeks if he throws at someone.

[Jake]

If Jon Papelbon does anything whatsoever, Jonny Gomes will ground and pound him until he knocks him out. Papelbon is a loser for saying this, he's gonna get what's coming to him. Johnny Gomes KO's Jonathan Papelbon.

[Tony]

The Sox will have to have a lead in order for Papelbon to get into the game. Not likely to happen at the "PIT"!

[Brian]

Papelbon is a little crybaby. He will eat his words if he tries something stupid.

[Another Brian]

Let's take over The Pit!

[Ray F]

I agree Bill,

Coco flat-out said he was going to hurt somebody and he wasn't suspended. After that, we had to take matters into our own hands and a brawl happened.

Papelbon needs to be suspended because it will obviously not be good for either team to have another brawl going into the playoff stretch.

That's a very irresponsible thing for him to have said and MLB needs to get their teet out of the Red Sux mouths and grow a pair and stop this B/S

[Bodog]

Ray F and Bill, You can't get suspended for making comments - no matter how inciteful they may be. After the brawl in Boston and the results of that brawl, I'm sure MLB will be sending both teams memo's that will outline severe penalties to players if either team does something stupid. Probably a stiff penalty for the organization as well. I don't think MLB wants or need another Boston Massacre.

[Bodog]

The Rays hitters need to step it up tonite, we're facing Ryan Tucker - this guy is one game removed from AA ball. I know he pitched a good game against the Reds in his first start, but we have much better hitters. I expect to see some lighting in those bats tonight, see ya at the weekend series, sec:212, rw:B, seat:23. I'll be wearing my Rays gear. Go Rays!!!!

[melissa]

can they fine him like what they're talking about doing to CC? I know they make so much money he might not care... but MLB should be able to do something right? I enjoyed watching our guys kick the sox's butt's but I don't want to see any of them suspended again.

[Amanda]

Melissa-
Not only do I not want to see them suspended, I don't want them to get hurt! And I don't mean to say our boys are weak... I'm just saying that Shields would do something crazy like break his pitching hand on someone's skull.

[melissa]

Amanda,
Yea Navi really protected him last time. If he would have made contact things could have been much worse. I kinda wish we hadn't gotten home plate seats for tomorrow. It woulda been nice to have those seats when the sox came to town. As it is I'll have to settle for screaming from the outfield.

[Craig]

Wow, a week later and he wants to get all puffy about it - did someone finally explain to him what happened?

Idiot.

[Bodog]

Man! Joe really got some ball bangers in the line-up for this kid tonite. It ought to be some lighting in the ole Thunderdome tonight. It's about 5:38 p.m. on my side of town (Pinellas Pointe ) and it is lighting and thundering something fierce, but it won't stop me from being at the game. let's go Rays fans!

[Nathan]

STFU, Papelbon. Though, I have to say, I was right that the Rays are not yet "there." I predicted a road trip meltdown and, as we saw, we finished the swing 3-6. Not good. Particularly when one of those losses was to a nobody, subpar Texas pitcher.
As pessimistic as I am about this season - no, we will NOT make the playoffs - Pap better wathc his fat, chowdah-filled yap.

[Anthony]

I don't know what's worse, the fact that at least 20% of rays fans seem to be homophobic or the fact that the rest of you don't seem to mind. No wonder the civilized world doesn't take you seriously.

[melissa]

Anthony,
1 comment of like 23 mentioning gay marriage and 20% of us are homophobic? I know my math isn't perfect, but I wouldn't make generalizations about a group. I believe that is called prejudice. Some of us may be a little insecure about our sexuality, but lets leave it off the Rays blogs.

[Anthony]

Two in this thread actually, out of fewer than ten that actually employ pejoratives. And let me help you out with that big three-syllable word you tried to use: "prejudice" implies prejudgement, but there's ample evidence here to support my claim. Let's face it, the gay jokes come awfully quickly and easily on this board.

[Nathan]

I'm with you Anthony - non-gay baseball fans cannot (or will not) understand that put-downs don't have to be vicious or unequivocally-hateful; the nudge-wink of comments like those from Bill clearly attempting to use Massachusetts' recognition of gay marriage as a knock (presumably) on Papelbon's toughness. It's not the knock-out punch that wears ya down, it's the "death by a thousand cuts" that gets old. Sadly, these boards are not different from sports radio (with some exceptions like J.P.), sports blogs, or society inn general.

[Papelbon]

I'm probably going to throw at Nathan and Anthony too, just because they are the sort of always-crying, prideful don't-hurt-my-feelings-everything-must-be-on-the-up-and-up-or-I'll-tell-mom girls that deserve my heat.

[Kyle E]

So anyway, back to baseball. I would call a 3-6 roadtrip disappointing but not a "melt down". Very few teams do well on the road and our road record is still better than the Red Sox.

[Kalind]

When did Baseball turn into Hockey/Football? I;m getting my contact sport withdrawl alleviated a bit here. And when did Johnny Gomes become the Rays 'Enforcer'? 'cause i kinda like that idea.

[T]

Pappybon is just mad because the Rays won't roll over and die like they have for years. This year the Sox thought they would walk away with the East (since the Yanks are so bad) but the Rays just won't let them have that satisfaction. Now Paps and the rest of the Sox have to actually work for a win vs. the Rays

[The Doctor]

I agree that Papelbon and Crisp should shut their pie holes, but the Devil Rays are still the Punk Rays despite their makeover. Gomes likes to pound people that are pinned to the ground. Talk about a classless performance...and he's your hero?

[Sandyneck]

I agree with th' doctor. Paps needs to keep his nose out of this and Coco needs to concentrate on his hitting - not his running (his mouth). Gomes is another matter - he is cheap-shot artist and needs to get his clock cleaned.

[J. Beck]

Ha Ha Ha Ha, is that all you idiot tampa bay fans have to do, is sit around and put the red sox down. Jealousy is the color green and so is your faces. Ha Ha Ha your just jealous of the red sox as are all other teams fans. Jerks

[J. Smith]

All you tampa bay fans can go straight to hell - you only wish you had guys like we have in the Red Sox team. You must think people are stupid and don't know how jealous you are of the Red Sox
Go Red Sox - Go Red Sox - Go Red Sox. You tampa bay fans can go eat s--t.