CENTER FIELD :: This Is Your Closer

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This Is Your Closer

Ladies and Gentlemen: this is your closer.

As Remy said during tonight's broadcast, this is the guy that is going to lead us to the promised land. This is the man who is one of the most feared, most intimidating closers playing the game today. This is the guy whose ferocious penetrating stare makes grown men wet their pants, and whose nasty stuff on the mound makes grown men lose control of their bowels. This is the man who is the lights-out, rock solid foundation on which the entire Red Sox bullpen is built.

This is Jonathan Papelbon. And by god, I wouldn't have him any other way.

After the jump, PAPELBON VIDEO OVERLOAD! I've got a whole little smorgasbord of Jonathan videos- his goofing off with the cameras tonight, his irish jig and crazy dance with Youkilis last night, and the funny thigh-banging bullpen band he's formed with the other relievers.

Tonight during the Twins-Sox game, the bullpen cameras followed Papelbon around for a bit while he roamed around and rummaged in a bag. When Papyboo realized the camera was on him, this is what happened:

Brilliant Moment #1 from last night's AL East celebration: Papelbon dancing a full-on irish jig on the field, clad in nothing but a tiny tshirt and sliding pants.

Brilliant Moment #2 from last night: Kevin Youkilis starts up with a weird, crazy robot-like dance, and Papelbon cannot help but join in. Both guys are sans shoes.

From back on September 7th, the NESN cameras captured Papelbon, Timlin, Lopez & Delcarmen forming their own little bullpen band- except instead of instruments, they used empty water bottles and whatever was handy to bang them on.

Comments (18)

[ Jai/MoonstarMA ] says:
on September 30, 2007 9:03 AM

Thanks Texas Gal! I had missed Papelbon doing Riverdance on the field the night before and hadn't seen the Youk dance from that angle. Totally awesome.

I may be on Team Beckett, but I will gladly follow Cinco Ocho to the promised land. At the very least, he'll keep us well entertained on the journey there.

BTW - I would love to be a fly on the wall when Papelbon has to explain these videos (as well as his Friendly Scoop ones) to his kids someday!

[ Ian ] says:
on September 30, 2007 9:31 AM

You rock for putting these up.

Just shows us how crazy Paps really is.

Team Cinco Ocho all the way

[ Laura ] says:
on September 30, 2007 9:37 AM

Thanks for sharing!

Is that Theo joining Paps at the end of the Irish jig?

[ Soxx Girl ] says:
on September 30, 2007 9:39 AM

Amazing.
I love the Irish Jig. I was laughing to hard to eat my breakfast, and my mom was telling me to be quiet because some of my family was still sleeping.

And then there's the Youk/Pap Dance...and I can't even put into words how much that made me laugh.

Cinco Ocho is incredible. =D

[ Liza ] says:
on September 30, 2007 11:22 AM

CINCO OCHO LOVE

[ beth ] says:
on September 30, 2007 11:44 AM

jerry remy's commentary was the final icing on the papelbon dancing cake. dancing papelbon cake? phew, it's sunday. i am always brain-dead on sundays.

anyway. ditto to you rock for putting these up. the face on papelbon while he's dancing is just...i just can't get over it.

laura, you'll notice theo's "participation" in the jig is grabbing papelbon around the waist and dragging him back into the group, forcing him to stop. rather than joining in, i believe that's the first time we've ever seen theo give papelbon the hook.

[ kate ] says:
on September 30, 2007 1:02 PM

cinco ocho...the man taking us to the promised land.has he been watching slapshot w/beckett again...thank you for the full video...i haven't stopped laughing since saturday morning. that was one of the best post season celebrations i've seen...and everyone knows its not a true celebration until someone loses there underwear....lets get to the promised land w/ papelbon leading us we can't go wrong.

[ Texas Gal ] says:
on September 30, 2007 4:33 PM

I think that Theo was having frightening visions of his closer injuring himself while dancing around like an idiot, and ran over quick like a bunny to protect his asset.

He is simultaneously the most intimidating man and goofiest little kid that I've ever seen.

[ Bernie ] says:
on September 30, 2007 5:46 PM

I am an avid red sox fan and thanks so much for the videos. I hadn't seen the "irish jig" one yet but did the rest. It was very entertaining. Go Papelbon !!!!

[ Kyle ] says:
on September 30, 2007 6:05 PM

Thanks for posting, this stuff is pure gold.

/kff

[ Clare ] says:
on September 30, 2007 9:11 PM

Is Papelboner wearing a girls' Under Armour shirt? I love it.

[ Soxx Girl ] says:
on September 30, 2007 11:25 PM

I'm torn between Paps and Clay now. It used to be Clay by a long-shot, since I've seen him pitch lots of times in Pawtucket, and twice in the major league [debut and no-no!] but the insanity of Cinco Ocho just makes me laugh so fucking hard everytime I see it...

[ Signal to Noise ] says:
on October 1, 2007 12:27 AM

Cap, goggles, drenched t-shirt, and only his cup on below the waist. He's clearly insane in the best way.

[ wz ] says:
on October 1, 2007 3:28 AM

man, i want to download the two dancing videos so badly! too too funny

[ Liza ] says:
on October 1, 2007 3:30 PM

About his antics, he said, "The aftermath was a lot of headaches, a lot of sore muscles, achy bones. A little throwing up here and there. But, you know, it was fun. No regrets."

I wonder how many hours of collective hangover the team experienced Saturday.

[ Anonymous ] says:
on October 5, 2007 8:06 AM

priceless

[ pap & papi lover ] says:
on October 5, 2007 2:58 PM

Great stuff! I woke up to see the Bud light box and had to stay awake to see who was under it. Thanks and

BELIEVE

[ christine ] says:
on October 24, 2007 8:27 PM

that was the best! loved the bud light box

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