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Jonathan Papelbon: ‘We have to start finding our identity’ 09.18.11 at 9:29 am ET
By Rob Bradford

Jonathan Papelbon

After the Red Sox’ 4-3 loss to the Rays Saturday, Jonathan Papelbon explained that, with 11 regular season games remaining, now is the time the Sox must make their move.

“I think every game from here on out we have to start sending messages, not only to other teams but to our own team, and start getting that confidence flow as a team,” the closer said. “If we can do that at the right time, that’s all we can ask for.”

Papelbon also offered another priority for the Red Sox as they head into the last 1 1/2 weeks of the regular season, ahead in the Wild Card race by three games.

“We have to start finding our identity, and the only way we’re going to do that is play one out, one play at a time, and gain confidence with each play,” Papelbon explained. “And if we can find that identity and peak at the right time, we’ll be unstoppable.

Thus far in September, the Red Sox are 4-12, having been out-scored by their opponents, 100-85 while making 15 more errors than the other team (15-7).

The last three times the Red Sox made the postseason, they never experienced losing skids like this one in September. In 2007, they did go through a four-game losing streak in the middle of the month, but finished September at 16-11. In ’08, the Sox’ mark in the regular season’s final month was 16-10, with the team finishing out the ’09 campaign at 15-13, having lost six in a row before closing out the regular season with a four-game win streak.

“I think we’re close,” Papelbon said. “The whole puzzle isn’t put together because we still have 40 guys in here. So, we’ll see.”

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  • Jonah Falcon

    4-3, not 4-2.

  • Rongi

    Are you freaking kidding me Papelslob? Mid September and now is the time you think you should find your identity and chemistry??? Hey dumarse, that should be happening in February, March, and April. Holy crap. Almost $200 million for a bunch of short busers. What an embarrassing statement. Wow, what a dolt.

  • Aashish

    I agree with Rongi..That should have happened back in April..

  • Gigi

    Unfortunately, Francona is still the manager so their chances to make the playoffs are slim.

  • Patrick

    Another agreement with Rongi. Why wasn’t this done in April or May? No, instead it’s done in mid-Sept while the team is collapsing with piss poor play & injuries. EVERY SINGLE GAME COUNTS. This infuriates me when baseball players/coaches say “it’s a long season, it’s only April or it’s only May, marathon, and we’ll get em tomorrow.” Well if the Sox played better in April & May, they wouldn’t be pressing right now and they wouldn’t have the Rays right on their tail. The remaining 10 games are the Sox’ season. They have to show up every single 1 of em and want to win more than the O’s & Yanks. It’s the only way they’ll make it to the postseason.

  • Robert

    Just looked up Pap’s career ERA. Even with last years 3.90 abomination,his overall ERA is 2.27 Not to compare him with Rivera who has a similar career ERA, but has done it over hundreds of more innings, that is still outstanding. I could see NY dumping Soriano,(who is pitching quite well now, when it counts) to bring in Pap to setup Mo. Would Pap set up for the Yankees? Yes he would if the money is high enough. Can’t see another AL team that could afford him except maybe the Angels. In the NL,where he would be lights out,I could see the Cubs and Brewers as possibilities. With P.Fielder leaving, they could give that money to Pap. The Cubs new owner might like to make a splash by signing Pap, and the Cubs could sure use a closer like Pap. If the Sox don’t resign him, it will be along time before we see another WS at Fenway.

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