Written by slanch | 07 January 2010

Jonathan Papelbon gives interviews like he thinks the words won't actually get published. The outspoken self-professed hick from Mississippi is back there currently starting his offseason throwing program. With one toddler and his wife pregnant with their second child (a baby boy, "Got a name picked out,'' Papelbon says. "Gunner Roberts. The significance? Nothing, man. Just a badass name, so we went with it.'') the TV in his house is usually tuned to Nick Jr or the Disney Channel and so he hasn't been paying any attention to the Red Sox' offseason. 

"I had no idea we got [John] Lackey until [trainer Mike] Reinold came down to see me, just a few days ago,'' he said. "I swear to you. I don't know anything about the ballclub, but I know the words to the 'Mickey Mouse Clubhouse' song.''

Adrian Beltre deal? He hadn't heard. Casey Kotchman about to be traded to the Mariners? Nope. Mike Cameron? "Cameron, Mike Cameron?'' he said. "We got him? I swear to you, I didn't know.''

snip

"I heard about [Marco] Scutaro because my mother-in-law told me, and I know about [Jason] Bay because Maholm knew him on the Pirates and told me,'' he said. "And I know about [Mike] Lowell because we have the same agent.

Mensa candidate he ain't, however if there's one thing Papelbon has been his entire career it's consistent. From the first time he came up he has been this way, he's absolutely not the sharpest tool in the shed, but he knows how to throw a fastball really hard and that's ultimately all that matters. Yes he speaks his mind sometimes and it'd probably be best for him if he didn't but that's who he is. Papelbon never tries to be more than he is and in doing so he reminds us of something we too often forget, most athletes should be seen and not heard.

[ESPN Boston]

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