It's Been More Cinco Ocho Than Jonathan Papelbon So Far
By Spike Eskin
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – What you think of Jonathan Papelbon after you speak to him, may depend on which version of Jonathan Papelbon you speak to. According to one writer, it's been the the more "edgy" version so far.
"He'll tell you this himself, there are two Jonathan Papelbons. There's Jonathan, and if it's Jonathan there, you're fine. Nice guy, always willing to talk. And then there's "Cinco Ocho," his alter-ego, who's a little bit crazy, and a little bit edgy, and not always the most approachable guy," Scott Lauber, Red Sox reporter for the Boston Globe, told 94WIP's Angelo Cataldi and The Morning Team on Tuesday. Papelbon wears jersey number #58.
Papelbon made several references to Cinco Ocho in the press conference introducing him as the Philadelphia Phillies closer, including suggesting Cinco Ocho was the personality responsible for the extra $58 in his new contract.
"So yesterday Jonathan showed up, and we were happy to see him in Clearwater, and had a nice conversation and that was great. But from what I understand, from some of the reporters i talked to in Philadelphia, who have been down here all Spring, they've seen a lot of Cinco Ocho this spring," Lauber said. "It's not always a bad thing. I think you see Cinco Ocho on the mound. If you catch him right after an appearance, you get Cinco Ocho. That's kind of how he channels his focus, going into a game. So there are two definitely different Jonathan Papelbons, and Jonathan happens to be a pretty nice guy."
Papelbon (or Cinco Ocho, we're not sure) made national headlines earlier this month when he said that Phillies fans are more knowledgeable about the game of baseball than Red Sox fans.
