If Only Things Turned Out Differently...

Sam Blackstone talks about Jonathan Papelbon's move from the Red Sox to the Phillies.

If he locates his last pitch a little better, maybe Terry Francona is still the manager.  If he locates his last pitch a little better, maybe Theo Epstein is still the General Manager.  If he locates his last pitch a little better, maybe all the beer and chicken clubhouse stories never surface.  If he locates his last pitch a little better, maybe the Red Sox make the playoffs and instead of chaos and gloom, there is continuity and optimism.  But he didn’t, and now he’s gone. 

Jonathan Papelbon, a mainstay in the Boston bullpen for six years, is now a Philadelphia Philly, pending a physical (4 years, $50 million).  It seemed inevitable to be honest.  The yearly off-season charade, always resulting in another one year contract and a disgruntled Papelbon, was never going to last for long.  Neither were the poor performances, setup man Daniel Bard and his 100 mph fastball waiting in the fold.      

At the moment, the fire in Fenway seems to have weakened to a simmer.  The matchbox was let go, the kindling left for Chicago, and now, the spark has parted ways and gone to Philly.