On the day when everyone is Irish, the guy that jigged and hornpiped after two World Series just isn’t the same pitcher. Jon Papelbon, on the brink of the season he has been waiting his entire career for, is having a miserable spring. Despite his failings on the field, he claims there’s nothing to worry about.
“No, I don’t feel like I’ve fallen out of it. I still feel very locked in,” Papelbon said. “For me, right now, I’m just a tick off on my mechanics. I’m not searching, I know exactly what’s going on. I can feel it in my delivery. For me it’s not a big deal at all because I know it’s just a minor detail.”
“Just a tick”…where have I heard that before? Anyway, Paps may not be worried, but if not for a couple of guys named Bard and Jenks, I’d be pretty freakin’ worried.
Speaking of Irish, if I hear one more commercial with a crappy fake Irish accent or a leprechaun trying to sell me something, we may have a hostage situation. Meanwhile, tomorrow is the much anticipated return of Red from his “business trip” – which either means he started his St. Patrick’s Day celebration on Monday and is currently face-down in a puddle of green beer, or that whole “Amalie incident” finally caught up with him.
And if you’re watching the brackets, it was all I could do not to come up with an inappropriate headline concerning Rick Pitino and Morehead.
