Jonathan Papelbon Rips the Phillies’ Clubhouse Culture

Sep 24, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher Jonathan Papelbon (58) throws in the ninth inning against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

The Phillies have made no secret of the fact that they are trying to trade Jonathan Papelbon and his ridiculous contract. Well two can play at that “making no secret” game can’t they? Papelbon is now making no secret of the fact that he thinks the Red Sox have a great clubhouse culture while the Phillies are basically a bunch of selfish losers.

How’s this for a not-so-subtle shot? Papelbon talked on the Hot Stove Show about watching the World Series and rooting for his old team in Boston. “I watched every game of the World Series, every inning, every pitch. I loved it, man. I was calling pitches when Koji [Uehara] was in there — you know how you do when you’re watching games, ‘He’s going to go to this,’ or ‘He’s going to go to that.’ I tell you what, I was pulling for them,” Papelbon said.

“I knew, I don’t want to say this now, but I knew they were going to win. I knew what that clubhouse was like. I knew what was probably going on before the games, how it was, I knew what kind of leadership they had over there with David [Ortiz] and Dustin [Pedroia]. I just knew, if I was a betting man, I would have bet on them. But I’m not a betting man. I was happy for them. Dustin’s one of my best friends in the game. I couldn’t have been happier.”

Papelbon was even more blunt with these remarks. “On our team, I honestly believe we have more talent than any other roster out there. But if you don’t take that talent and mesh it together, figure out each others’ little pros and cons and figure out how to make a 25-man roster form into one, nothing will work. I don’t care how much you spend or how many guys you have in the bullpen or how many starters you have and it just doesn’t work,” he said.

“Look at the Red Sox last year. John [McDonald, who was traded to Boston in August] will probably tell you the moment he walked into the Red Sox clubhouse there was an entirely different feel from when he left Philly. I’m not putting those words in John’s mouth by any means, but when you have a group of guys who go for 162 games plus spring training plus the playoffs, you have to have each other’s backs and know what he’s going to do before the next guy from you is going to do before he does it.”

I’d say Papelbon has done a pretty good job burning his bridges in Philly. While doing a masterful job of sucking up to management in Boston. But he should give up now because there’s no way Boston is bringing him back. The Red Sox are done with him.

Going to be a fun season for him in Philly if they can’t trade him. Just enjoyable as heck.

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